All of us have favorite Primary songs that we either grew up singing, or listen with rapt attention as the children sing these cherished songs, especially on the best Sacrament Meeting of the year: The Primary Program.

We owe a great deal of thanks to one composer in particular, who wrote such favorites as Reverently, Quietly, Teach Me to Walk in the Light, Kindness Begins with Me, My Heavenly Father Loves Me, and many others.

Clara Elizabeth Watkins McMaster was born in 1904 at Beaver Dam, Box Elder County, Utah. The youngest of eleven children, the entire family was musical. She and her husband later sang together countless times, and created a musical family together.

Clara was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 23 years and a member of the primary General Board for 14 years. She and her husband, J. Stuart McMaster, served as Mission President over the Kansas-Missouri Mission in 1970, where she wrote their mission song.

Her daughter, Diane, wrote the following “stories behind the song” for us.

“My mother wrote both the music and words to her songs. She felt they needed to be cohesive. Sometimes the words would come first, sometimes the music, but she was definitely inspired with each song she wrote to teach correct principles to the children of the Church.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

“The music came first for this song. She had the melody in her mind for a long time, but couldn’t find the words that would fit what she needed to say. She had prayed long and hard for an answer but she said, she realized that she had to be patient to receive the correct answer. One night as she was asking the Lord to help her find the words that would be meaningful to the children, she received a definite impression of someone saying, ‘Tell them what you know’. This was a puzzlement, as she had learned so many things throughout her life…Her memories took her back to her childhood where she remembered her years of simple pleasures growing up on a farm. She would wake each morning to the rooster crowing, the birds singing in the trees, the bleating of the sheep, the animals awakening to another day; sounds and sights of comfort and joy. A lilac bush had been planted by her bedroom window, while she and her sisters, lovingly attended the rose garden behind the house. The things that were dear to her, and the things that she loved and really knew about, were the beauties of the earth and the inhabitants she carefully attended to. The words came easily and quickly as she bore her testimony to what she “knew” beyond the shadow of a doubt…that her Heavenly Father did indeed love her.”

Teach Me To Walk In The Light

Her daughter also recalled, “The General Board had asked mother to write a song, for the General Primary Conference, which would be held the following year. They wanted a song that would involve children, teachers and parents. She really labored over this and after a month, she submitted her manuscript. The woman in charge said ‘I’m sorry but this isn’t quite what we want. So, mother went back to her task. After another month or two of re-writing, she again submitted her song. Again, the woman said, ‘Clara, this just isn’t it. I’m sure you’ll come up with what we want, so don’t give up.’ Once more, she returned to her assignment. She prayed, she cried, she worked and once again, it was rejected. She called the Music Chairman, on the Board, and told her that perhaps someone else should write this song; she evidently wasn’t in tune with what they needed. Besides, she had used every note and every word that she could possibly think of. Her mind had closed off. The woman insisted that she was the one that should write this song. The General Board prayed about it and there was no mistake that she had been selected. She spent the next week on her knees and felt like maybe she hadn’t been quite humble enough to receive the answer she so desperately needed. No words or music would come and for the first time in her writing, she felt despair. One night, as she went to her knees in prayer, and thinking to humble herself as much as she could, laid her face on the floor to beseech the Lord for inspiration. She remained in that position for the night, and upon arising the next morning, she felt a peace and refreshment of spirit. She went to the dining room table and began to write. She then called the Chairman on the phone and told her that this was her last attempt. There was nothing left in her mind and heart that she could put on paper. She sang the song over the phone and there was a very long pause…Her heart dropped because she knew the rejection was coming once more. The woman on the other end, after several moments finally said, ‘Don’t change one word, not one word!! Nor one note!! That is exactly what we needed’.

She always testified that we must learn to be patient. Things happen according to the Lord’s timetable, and not our own. When we have done all we can do, he will step in and give us the guidance and inspiration we need.”