“About the Hymns: Elijah and the Still, Small Voice,” About the Hymns (2026)
About the Hymns
Elijah and the Still, Small Voice
At a time in his life when he was discouraged and in need of guidance, the Old Testament prophet Elijah went to a mountain to seek God. While he was there, a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire passed by, but he realized God was not in any of them. After the fire, Elijah heard a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) and finally received the direction he had been seeking.
Author and composer Alan Patterson was inspired by this story. In his own life, divine comfort and guidance usually came as feelings, not as an audible voice or as dramatic manifestations of God’s power. He realized that while thunder and fire can testify of God, revelation usually comes through the quiet witness of the Holy Ghost.
Brother Patterson’s oldest two children are deaf, and when they were young, he and his wife wondered how to communicate with them. As he learned to sign with his children, Brother Patterson came to understand that our physical conditions or circumstances do not prevent God from communicating with us. We can learn to “hear” the voice of the Spirit in personal ways. In this song, Brother Patterson hoped to help others understand that affirming truth.
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Scriptures
Principles
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The Holy Ghost helps us feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
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The Lord often speaks to us through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost.
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When we pray and listen, we can feel the calm and gentle voice of the Holy Ghost.
Questions to Ponder
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How does it make you feel to know that Heavenly Father wants to speak to you through the Holy Ghost?
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What are some things you can do to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost?
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When have you felt the Holy Ghost?
Related Gospel Study Guides
From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:
Activities for Families
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Act out the story of Elijah. Read 1 Kings 19:11–13 and sing the first verse of the song together. As you continue singing, invite family members to take turns being Elijah and acting out the lyrics: “on a mountain peak,” “Elijah listened,” “wind blowing,” and more. Talk about things in your lives that might be distracting or interfere with your ability to listen to the still, small voice.
Invite family members to gather household items to represent the sounds described in the song: for example, turning on a fan for “wind blowing,” using a chair or stool for “a shaking of ground,” tapping a bowl with your hand for the “roar of a fire,” and striking a bowl with a spoon for “thundering voices.” Sing or listen to the song together, and invite each person to play their sound at the right moment. Then pause and talk about how we can tune out the noise in our lives so we can better hear the still, small voice of the Lord.
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Talk about listening for the still, small voice. Before praying together, sing the second verse of the song. Invite family members to take a quiet moment to listen for the still, small voice during or after the prayer. Encourage family members to share or write down any thoughts or feelings they notice from the Holy Ghost.
Music Helps
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This song uses a
time signature. Conducting hymns and songs in