Theodore E. Curtis

Theodore E. Curtis was a poet and lyricist. He wrote the words for several songs or hymns that appeared in songbooks or collections published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which he was a member. Some of his songs appear in the Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including “Again, Our Dear Redeeming Lord” (179), “Awake and Arise” (8), “Come unto Him” (114), “Lean on My Ample Arm” (120).

Some of his poetry includes “A Nation Speaks From Out the Dust,” “Back to the Fountain Head,” “Cumorah,” “Hail, Cumorah! Silent Wonder,” “Historic Ramah’s Verdant Slope,” “The Gathering,” and “The Sabbath Sun Serenely Falls.”

Curtis wrote the words and composed the music to “Oh, Sheep of Israel, Pause and Behold,” “The Trailbuilders’ Hymn,” and “Thou Art Ev’rywhere Before Us.”

He was born on September 27, 1872, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and died on October 14, 1957. He married Bardella Shipp on August 14, 1901, in the Salt Lake Temple.