Lyall J. Gardner

Lyall J. Gardner is the composer of “Go Forth with Faith” (#263), a popular hymn published in the 1985 Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His wife, Ruth Muir Gardner wrote the lyrics. They also served a full-time mission to Tampa, Florida.

Gardner served as a member of the General Music Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ.

He was born on March 8, 1926, and grew up in Eugene, Oregon. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in musicology and organ from the Eastman School of Music. He did further graduate work at University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and the University of Michigan.

Gardner worked for a manufacturing company and oil refinery until 1962 when he joined the Church’s Advanced Planning Department. He was manager of Church Consultation Center and president of Gardner Micro-Systems, Inc.

He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS New Mexico during World War II.

Gardner passed away on February 18, 2012.