St. George women partner to write hymnal

ST. GEORGE — A trio of St. George women have paired their creative talents with their love of the LDS Church to write a book of hymns.

Writer Marilyn Arnold, musician Maurine Ozment and Lisa Farr teamed up to write 32 hymns based on stories from the Book of Mormon, the central text used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The women say the project took nearly a year and half. Arnold wrote the lyrics, Ozment composed the music and Farr compiled Ozment's handwritten notes into a computer program in preparation for publishing.

The women say they've given copies of the hymnal to Mormon church leaders and Mack Wilberg, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They say they hope to someday hear their hymns sung during church services.