Hasten the work.
I’ve heard it. You’ve heard it. We’ve all heard it.
My whole life, I’ve operated better with theme music. If you ever see me out somewhere and my headphoneless head is bobbing, don’t be alarmed. I’m just playing theme music in my mind to whatever I’m doing.
I guess this is what happens when you were raised on Karate Kid, Rocky, and basically any other 80s movie with theme music montages. OK, all 80s movies.
(For the record, the Karate Kid montage is the best one. “You’re the best… around… Nothings gonna ever keep you down!”)
This was my turn to do my own theme music for hastening the work.
When I think of the army of Helaman, I for some reason think of the civil war movie “Glory.” Don’t ask me why.
If you haven’t seen it, wait for it to come back on TNT. It’s rated R, kids. And no, I will not tell you which version I saw. But it was in eighth grade social studies. Public schools are failing us.
At the end of the movie, the soldiers march into battle. They start off slowly marching, then gradually pick up the pace until they’re finally sprinting.
That’s the scene I think of when I think of the army of Helaman. And it just so happened to serve as my inspiration for this arrangement. So thanks, Denzel and Matthew.
I wanted to convey marching. I wanted to capture moving forward with a faster pace. And I wanted it to be motivating.
Now I’m not a guitar pedal guy. I’ve collected some throughout my life, but I’ve never really explored what I could do with them. I bought the loop pedal last week. Never used one before. Holy Hannah, it’s harder than it looks. I’m not trying to brag. Just the opposite. I’m trying to show you how much of an idiot I am. I thought I’d be able to arrange the whole thing in my head just thinking about where I would bring in the different loops along with how to trigger quotes from Monson with a foot switch. No sweat. Finally doing it would be easy peasy.
(Cue Olaf) “Nope!”
And like always, I learned more than just how to play the song while arranging it.
I spent a lot more time than I’d like to admit trying to figure out how to make the sound I had in my head come out of the guitar. I mean, how hard could it be to make your guitar sound like an organ? (BTW, that EHX Polyphonic Octave Generator is by far the coolest pedal I’ve ever owned. Dad won Christmas with that gift a few years back.)
I also recorded this with every guitar I own, trying to find what sounded right. I went around in circles. Over and over again.
Finally, I found it. And of course, it was the first guitar I had tried.
You see, I thought about it too much. I got into my own head. I was looking for a perfect sound and ended up not getting anything done because of it. I mean, this video is two days late, for crying out loud.
So how often does that apply to missionary work for me? Oh yeah, always.
I get into my head. I think about how people will react before I’ve even talked to them. I’ve played out the entire scenario in my head. And they’ve either slammed it back in my face or have become one of the next general authorities.
In my head, I’m a great missionary. In the real world, not so much.
In my head, this arrangement was done weeks ago. Back on Earth, I didn’t even own or know how to use a loop pedal.
So that’s my take away from this one. I’m going to get out my head. I’m going to stop thinking about it and instead just do it.
Time to hasten the work.
After all, I now have the theme music for a killer montage.
If only Ralph Macchio was my neighbor.
Brittany K Stapf
Posted at 01:34h, 03 AprilYou did it. Absolutely worth the wait. As President Monson’s announcement came on, my heart began to pound and all I could think of was the photo taken yesterday of your Jackson and my Ian. Suddenly, 10 years doesn’t feel so very far away… I have a feeling this will become the Hastening the Work theme song for LDS Youth (and parents!) everywhere. I know I feel ready to tackle today! Great job, Ben.
Dan Rasband
Posted at 01:52h, 03 AprilWhoa! You crushed that one! That was awesome! Sorry, that’s a lot of exclamation points. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed that was both live and from a guitar. Nice job!
melissa
Posted at 03:00h, 03 AprilThat was amazing. It made me cry. I’m glad you had the foot pedals on the screen, too, because I was reading as I was listening and thought several times, “How is he doing that?” Nice.
Carl Simpson
Posted at 03:10h, 03 AprilWow, Ben! I’m totally blown away with this one!
I’m very new to playing guitar and I must say that I’m very impressed that anyone can make an acoustic guitar sound like a church organ! I would love to have a break down of what pedals you are using and an explanation of which pedals are making what kind of noise. I hope you consider sharing this info with those of us that are just learning and would like to know much more about pedals.
You have raised the bar with this one and inspired me to hasten my guitar work.
Thank you brother Howington, for sharing your God given talents with the world. May you and your family be truly blessed
Ben Howington
Posted at 03:47h, 03 AprilThanks Carl! Yes, I’m going to add a full rundown of all the equipment and setup in the lesson video. I’ll show you exactly how I did each step and sound. So come back in a few days and it should be posted.
Brian Hanson
Posted at 04:03h, 03 AprilYou are going to have to remove the average Mormon bit from your profile piece. You are in no way average, you are extraordinary! What I also know is that you are humble and will always remain so. I am glad to have served with you and to be able to call you my friend. Keep em coming!!
Britany Hurst
Posted at 06:01h, 03 AprilFirst of all, this is . . . I don’t even have words. Obviously you married into the family, because we don’t grow this kind of talent ourselves. Or at least we don’t commit ourselves to develop this kind of talent ourselves. I’m not sure which. You killed it on this song. I could go on and on, except that I’m speechless. Secondly, I had a realization that left me a little sheepish. As soon as I heard this song, I shared it on Facebook and emailed the link to several people I know who aren’t going to find it on Facebook. I was so inspired by it and excited about it. And then I thought, this song is about missionary work. I love the Gospel, I have a testimony of it, and yet I tend to keep it hidden away in my back pocket. If only I was so willing and ready to share THAT with everyone I know, as I quickly and as boldly as I shared this masterpiece . . .I guess I have some things to work on in hastening the work!
(I didn’t know you could do impersonations as well, but your Thomas S. Monson is spot on! I almost thought it was the real deal . . .)
BDM
Posted at 06:20h, 03 AprilHuge shout out to ya, Ben! Couldn’t be more timely–both in terms of being relevant to the YM and YW leaving to go out into the world with a singular message but also on a personal level. I totally needed that shot in the arm!
Never stop–never stop! Keep the creativity flowing. Always appreciated. -b
Justin Whiting
Posted at 06:35h, 03 AprilStunning. I shouldn’t have watched this at work. (It isn’t good to cry at work.)
Sarah Kumar
Posted at 15:44h, 03 AprilAmazeBalls!!!! Truly could not be prouder!!!
Janice Hurst
Posted at 17:14h, 03 AprilYou outdid yourself on this one, son. I was mesmerized from beginning to end. This is my favorite primary song. It came out the year I was primary president and the highlight of our children’s program. I cannot hear this without seeing those 140 kids singing and all of us in tears. Most of those kids went on to serve missions and are now married with children of their own. And the song is being taught to a new generation. Thank you!
Bryan
Posted at 06:01h, 04 AprilThank you, Ben, for sharing your talent and testimony! Thank you, Howington Family, for sharing your husband/father with the rest of us!!
Mark Kruckenberg
Posted at 22:08h, 05 AprilIncredible! I knew you were good from the first time I heard you back at BYUI, but what you have done here and with mormonguitar.com is amazing!
Thank you for sharing your talent with the world. I can only imagine the time it takes to do this month to month, while learning loop programming to boot!
You are an inspiration in both the music you allow me to experience and your persistence in creativity!
Jerdon Topham
Posted at 12:28h, 20 JulyYou are simply amazing! Is there going to be a motab that you will release soon for this song? I would LOVE that! Keep doing what you are doing!
Wady
Posted at 16:39h, 20 JulyJust amazing!
Thank you for sharing
Colin Campbell
Posted at 10:41h, 28 AugustThat… was… EPIC!
I’m totally inspired to pick up the guitar again and try out your MoTabs. Thanks man!
Taylor Swalberg
Posted at 21:29h, 04 OctoberYou sir, are amazing. This arrangement blew my mind. Absolutely incredible. Also, I wanted to let you know I’m learning some of these arrangements for a semester long project at BYU so thank you for tabbing so many amazing arrangements!
Carl
Posted at 21:19h, 05 OctoberI love how you play the guitar! how i wish i can play like you do! :)
The songs that you played helped me to think more what to do everyday to preach the gospel. :)
I want to say thank you for doing this, keep it up! :)
Amy harrison
Posted at 03:50h, 22 DecemberI have never been reduced to a sobbing mess from a song before…until the first time I heard this beautiful arrangement. We just dropped my son off at the MTC a week and a half ago and I miss him so much! I miss the sound of his guitar in our house and I was looking for some tabs to send him just in case he’s able to find a guitar to play in Brazil, when I found your site. Hearing this brought an image of his feet, marching in shoes that were not the greatest looking, but will hopefully last a while on cobblestone streets, marching faster and faster. Then I could see the marching feet of his friends and family members marching in other parts of the world, but still together.
Doing what they were prepared to do.
This has always been my favorite primary song and I was just completely blown away by the way you played it!
I just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your beautiful and inspiring music!
Ben Howington
Posted at 22:10h, 22 DecemberThank you so much, Amy! Your words ring so true for me as well as I too served in Brazil. I hope your son is able to play often down there. It was always a great say to break the ice with people. Thank you again for your comment. I truly appreciate it.
Natali H.
Posted at 16:19h, 09 AugustThat was really, really cool! You should do something like that for As Sisters in Zion.
Joel Christopher Shokes
Posted at 14:50h, 18 JulyI am an aspiring artist looking to get some recording equipment and would like to know the name of the device that records your sound and then plays it back?
Ben Howington
Posted at 12:49h, 21 JulyIt’s a Boss RC-30 loop station. It’s great for live performance but you don’t need it if you are recording in a studio setting. Here’s a link to the pedal on Boss’s website for more info. http://www.bossus.com/products/rc-30/
Dodie Moseley
Posted at 22:21h, 18 AugustI am so moved how this music inspires me to want to follow the Lord’s command to hasten the work. I would like to use this recording as my adult Sunday School class is entering the classroom this upcoming Sunday. The lesson is on the example of these valiant warriors and their exact obedience. Thank you for creating the sense of urgency in your music and the need for us all to follow His command.
Ben Howington
Posted at 22:28h, 18 AugustThank you for the kind words. I hope all goes well this Sunday.
Jon LeRoy
Posted at 16:01h, 31 DecemberThis is amazing.! I love your work. Would you mind sharing the settings you used on your octave peddle?