Singer and songwriter Jordan Smith, best known for winning season nine of The Voice, had a special surprise for young single adults of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attending an area conference in Utah.
During a concert that also featured OneRepublic and Jordin Sparks, Smith told the crowd he had learned the popular Primary song, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.”
“I have to tell you, I’ve learned a new song for you tonight,” Smith told the crowd. I’ve never sung this before. All I know is, I’m trying to be like Jesus.”
Primary General President Susan H. Porter, who was in attendance, wrote on social media, “Last Saturday evening I was in the Delta Center with two grandchildren, enjoying the enthusiasm of the sold-out crowd for the first event of the ‘Together in Christ’ YSA conference, when one of the artists, not of our faith, announced that he had learned a new song for this event.
As soon as he sang the first few words, ‘I’m trying to be like Jesus,’ the young single adults cheered! I could hardly keep tears from flowing as I realized thousands in attendance were immediately of one heart as they stood and sang, ‘Love one another as Jesus loves you.’ With the words of a simple Primary song many of us had learned as children, we were united in our desire to spread the love of the Savior through our actions—gentle and loving in deed and in thought!
What a beautiful recipe for peace on earth, good will toward men. This was gathering! We were truly ‘together in Christ.'”
Daniel responded, “I remember standing there with my friends, singing along. We put our arms around each other, and in that moment, I felt the Spirit testify that we’re all trying to be like Jesus. There’s no need to judge. We’re all trying to be the best we can in our own way. And that was powerful.”
Watch two different views of the performance below.
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The song “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus was written by Janice Kapp Perry. In an interview for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, Perry shared how she originally wrote the song for a regional conference about kindness. Eventually, she submitted the song to the Church, which accepted it into the Children’s Songbook.
Smith first got his start singing in his local church choir and continues to make faith-based music. You can listen to more of his music on his official YouTube page.
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Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
