Innovators - Prayer of the Children

[UTmouser1]

Brother Bestor - I have loved this song since I first heard it on your Innovators CD nearly 10years ago now. Thank you for writing such a beautiful piece of music. It is so inspiring. Makes me wish more people were willing to act as guardian angels for children all over the world. I pray for that.

[nerdherder4]

Kurt, This was moving and touched the deepest parts of my soul! This song is the epitome of what music can to. THANK YOU!

[chordboard]

Loved the FEELING in this song and the mix and harmonies. Great dynamics matching the message.

[icsouza68]

I can't find words to describe what I feel everytime I listen to this music.

great work, Kurt !!!

[bgirardo100]

well ... the original WAS sung by Christian ... and composed by Christians ... the words werr changed to be secular ... bummer.

[gonefishing34]

If Kurt Bestor's message could reach the entire world, those who are in gangs, deal drugs, or who bring to pass violence in any way.....it would help change the world. The Creator of this Earth is shown to exist through the innocence of children and the love they can be an example of to all of us. I really liked your comment about why you took Jesus out of the lyrics. Although I am Christian and wish that these children could come to know Jesus, they have their beliefs from where they're from

[amyerickson329]

Kurt- You are amazing. I love this song and feel a love for someone like you has such an amazing gift to invoke feelings in people through music. This song makes me want to hug my children tighter and tell my friends that I love them. Thank you!

[Mikes1000Toys]

Hey Kurt,

I Just wanted you to know that I love this Song very much . This Song meens so much to me . Some of my family / friends have lost there kids too . do to what ever.

Familys are for ever .

How can I get a copy of this song . Im woking on a talk in my ward ..

[obiwanda]

What's wrong with invoking Jesus in a prayer is that the victims of the genocide were Muslims, not Christians.

[kbestor]

@obiwanda I appreciate what you're saying. Lately, when I perform the song I end it singing the words in Arabic. Sometimes I use the words "Jesus" but I try and take into account who is in the audience. I don't want people to get hung up on whether I composed this song about Jesus, Allah, Elohim, etc. It's meant to be an "inclusive" prayer - but one that is felt at the deepest core of human existence - one felt during war.

[obiwanda]

@kbestor I didn't expect to hear from the composer himself, this is neat. No disrespect, I think it's a beautiful song and loved singing it. That does make more sense, to allow whatever culture to insert their own faith into the prayer. The contradiction I thought I had aside, children of all faiths are affected by the war, regardless of which side their parents are on. I agree with your words: "Those children didn't hate anybody..." etc.

[OutspokenWoman]

Brian Blosil is Marie Osmond's Ex-Husband. It's funny that he should produce this since he didn't show any emotion at the news of his Son's Suicide.

[kbestor]

@OutspokenWoman I usually don't respond to these type of posts, but I have to correct your observation. I know Brian Blosil (and Marie) quite well and both were devastated by the news of their son. Brian still has not gotten over it and I'm sure that Marie is equally traumatized. It's tragic for both. Divorce and death of one's child is hard enough without callous people on the outside saying cruel things like you posted here.

[lavvy2585]

@OutspokenWoman

so what he did not show any emotion, you have no idea of what the man was dealing with on the inside. I pray you never experience such pain.

[bgirardo100]

Why did they change the words?  What's wrong with invoking Jesus in a prayer?

[leydemurphy]

@bgirardo100 será para estar de acuerdo con las creencias de la iglesia mormona?

[deanmsands3]

@bgirardo100 I noticed that too. They changed it back in the last verse.

[jshhh890]

@bgirardo100 because it's supposed to be a prayer for all children, not just those that ascribe to a religion based on Jesus. other religions than Christianity involve prayer.

[kbestor]

@bgirardo100 It was decided to change the lyrics to better reflect the true spirit of the song. I always wanted the song to be non-denominational because that's what kids are typically. They don't see differences based on race, religion, gender, etc. By singing it the way we did - it was hoped that people would fill in the words in their soul. Jesus, Allah, Elohim, etc. Children of War use ALL those names. I hope this explanation helps.

[bgirardo100]

@kbestor

Kurt - that's the perfect answer. Thank you. I was hoping that it wasn't just PC going wild.

Bernard J. Girardot

Canton, MI

[xXblueXrainsXx]

@bgirardo100 because everyone affected by the ravages of war who pray arent just christians. duh -__-

[BASavage81]

I have the original promo CD called "Innovators" from Word Perfect in 1990. It didn't see wide circulation until 1991.

[SHOOTINMUTANT]

It's scary to think of the childrens situations... It's like a nightmare when you try to, but you can't scream or wake up... Maybe I'm too young to understand, but not much of this war and murder makes sense... Why? Some say religion, some say for resources or rights. But its hard for me to see it as anything but killing just to kill... And face it... Some of it is...

[tomgiac]

The entire Innovators CD has some of the best music I have ever heard!

[BASavage81]

Kurt Bestor wrote this song not only because of the tragedy of the civil war in the Balkans and the boy mentioned. Kurt also served a mission in Yugoslovia, one of just a hand full of Mormon missionaries to serve during the communist regime. Kurt's original lyric of "Cried Jesus help me" and "If I should die before I wake pray my soul to take" comes from a common Catholic childrens prayer taught to him when he was a young Catholic boy. He saw children say that prayer while serving.

[Onirayushizobura]

The video never said that Bestor wrote the song because of that boy. In fact, Bestor's song predates the story of that boy by a good amount of time. The woman said that the song was simply dedicated to that boy, and other children like him.

[BASavage81]

The Balkans war had been going on for a couple of years before he produced the song in 1990 for a Word Perfect promo album. He had heard of many of tragic stories in his beloved Yugoslovia so he wrote this song because of the Mormon belief "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me and shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads". Yes this song was a prayer to end that war.

[yumunja]

@BASavage81

Err, no it hadn't actually. It started in 1991.

[kbestor]

@BASavage81 I sing it both ways now so that people don't close their ears for the deeper meaning of a hearfelt child's prayer to Jesus, Allah, Elohim, etc. It's not about a certain religion. Never was.

[BASavage81]

@kbestor Thanks for the explination.

[DefendingMormonism]

Love it.

[DudeManThingamabob]

Absolutely gorgeous. The shocking truth of the song leaves you speechless. May God hear these prayers.

[TheRealityTVJunkie]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[chickeesue]

My goodness, David Archuleta performing this in Washington, D.C. next week! How I wish I could be there to see this. God Bless you David.

[CrazyLinns]

@chickeesue 1 part could never do this song justice even though David has an incredible voice.

[Difromtx]

Wow....to see David sing this will be very inspirational. Yes, you are on a mission David as you say.

[jjjsgrl]

Timeless, inspirational, awesome.  Thank you, Kurt Bestor!

[AnjuliMcDaniel]

Amen, Robbie, Amen! Bless the beasts and the children, for in this world they have no voice -- they have no choice...

[robbiefk]

It is always the children who suffer at the hand of the aggressor...and to me The USA is the biggest aggressor in history. Their constant need to 'run the world' has seen the worst attrocities committed against our fellow brothers and sisters the world over.

I pray that Obama can help steer the world in a new direction

[cdsnjs]

Every power in the world that has been in the situation like us, the super power has always done the same thing. Look up spain before the spanish armada, They were trying to fight all non catholics. I hope that obama can also stop us from following the same path all those before us have taken.

[rippinsteo]

robbiefk, if you sincerely believe that "the USA is the biggest aggressor in history," then I will suggest that you seriously need to read some history. Peace...

[randoman367]

Without meaning to raise conflict, I just thought I would point out Alexander the Great, and Nazi Germany.

But really the point is to strive for peace.

[obiwanda]

@robbiefk I entirely agree. rippinsteo is just some war-mongering "patriot" who thinks the US should run the world. Although "historically" the USA can't be the biggest aggressor because we haven't been around long enough, we're certainly not the best at foreign policy. Sadly, Obama isn't doing much...we're technically out of Iraq (which we shouldn't have been in in the first place), but we're increasing in Afghanistan. I wish conservatives didn't think all problems could be solved with bombs...

[bestemor3]

It drives me crazy that the US has been involved in causing so MUCH grief --- Iraq, Afganistan, remember Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, .....

[BASavage81]

You must remember that the Soviets slaughtered MILLIONS of children. The US tried to stop them in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and when we left millions were slaughtered. Sadaam murdered well over a million of his own citizens and those are based on the mass graves that were found. The Taliban had killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. The Communists, Sadaam and the Taliban would still be on a worldwide rampage if it wasn't for the US.

[Sharky345]

But how do you justify all the crap that America has done in South America during the Cold Wars. Assassinating democratically elected officials and putting in place barbarians. In Chile for example, was Pinoche (sp?) killed thousands of his people. And America did not try to stop the Kamir Rouge in Cambodia, it was Vietnam who finally did.

[bizshop1]

The Khmer Rouge tragedy was only allowed to happen because of domestic politics - we simply did not have the political will to mount a foreign military intervention - due to the Vietnam war protests.

Another example where lack of will to fight cost millions of lives.

[agirlie56]

i just want to cry...no wait. i am.

[carolynthesongwriter]

well done, Carolyn

[Electro0Westie]

This song is so depressing i feel so sorry for those children...... tomorow wen the donation bucket comes round at school assembly im gonna put 30 bucks in it (all muny goes to children in need in war torn countries) by the way this song is soo beautiful i want to put it on my ipod but i cant find it on Limewire or iTunes

[PunaKissa]

You can find the "Prayer of the Children" song and many others as great as this one at the Innovators CD (by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon). You'll enjoy every track on it. Regards...

[PunaKissa]

You can find the "Prayer of the Children" song and many others as great as this one at the Innovators CD (by Kurt Bestor and Sam Cardon). You'll enjoy every track on it. Regards...

[Drumlinebaby08]

I have it if you still haven't found it.

[innyawindow]

Thank you so much for this. I've just cried so much and it brought so many memories to me.. it's unreal how amazing this is for me to see... that someone so far away CARED!

- A.

[urtalented]

Kurt,this song is always amazing and touching.

[mbdesireed]

I just recently returned from a trip to Africa and while I was there this song was on the for front of my mind, it struck a cord with me when I sang it with my chior years back and I had listened to it many times but really it ment nothing like it means now. To see all of the child who get excited to find a stick on the ground to play with it breaks your heart and humbles your soul. I found myself singing this song many times! Thank you Kurt for putting into words what we all want to say!

[sbryson4]

I think I've listened to this song about 10 times tonight. Its absolutely beautiful and I can't find better words to explain how children around the world in war situations may feel. Absolutely genious Mr. Bestor!

[slooash]

So beautiful the lyrics! So beautiful the voices! Thank you.

[HiveRadical]

"cry Jesus"

[DeceptiveVI]

WHY DID THEY TAKE JESUS OUT OF THE LYRICS??? other than that perfect!!

[slooash]

they didn't.

[kd7gkn]

Cried Jesus help me.. to feel the sun again. that line is still there.

[bigtimejazzfan]

Kurt, you inspire me! As a novice composer, I really enjoy your work. I could only hope that one day I could touch the heart of the world as you have done with this piece. Absolutely amazing! Thanks!

[RebelFromTheWaistDow]

This song brings me to tears everytime I hear it.

[austrascruff]

wow.

[ESQUESUD]

hey.... WOW!! I konw, it´s really,,,

Felicitaciones, maravillosa canción...

[maidmarian4]

This song always gives me the chills. I love this presentation also!