Close As A Quiet Prayer
#1030 Hymns—For Home and ChurchLyrics
The Story Behind “Close As A Quiet Prayer”
Sally DeFord — the composer who gave her music away free for thirty years — wrote this one for her grandson, so he'd know God is never far away.
The Composer Who Gives It Away
Sally DeFord may be the most generous composer in Latter-day Saint music. For roughly three decades she has given away her entire catalog — hundreds of songs and arrangements — as free sheet music and recordings on her website, freely copyable for anyone. Asked why, her answer is disarming: 'I guess it's just because I can... He has given me a gift that I did nothing to earn.'
Along the way she has won the Church's music competitions repeatedly, and her songs have become staples of ward choirs and Primary programs across the Church.
For Killian
In 2017, DeFord wrote this song for her grandson Killian. The spark was a Primary poster teaching that children can pray 'anytime, anywhere' — a phrase that went straight into the lyric. She wanted him, and every child, to know that Heavenly Father is never out of reach: 'What a privilege and blessing to know that our Heavenly Father is never far away from us, and that He will hear us pray anytime, anywhere, whether we are kneeling or standing or running or playing.'
The song's central image gives the doctrine a size a child can hold: God is not distant. He is as close as a quiet prayer.
To the Hymnbook — and Conference
On February 13, 2025, the song was released as hymn #1030 in Hymns—For Home and Church. Two months later the Tabernacle Choir sang it in the April 2025 general conference, in an arrangement by Ryan Murphy — a grandmother's gift for one boy, now sung to millions.
The Church pairs it with the prayer of Zenos in the Book of Mormon, who was heard in the wilderness, in his field, in his house, and in his closet — the Old World's own proof of 'anytime, anywhere.'
Did You Know?
- Sally DeFord has given her music away free for about thirty years — hundreds of songs, downloadable by anyone.
- She wrote this song for her grandson, Killian, inspired by a Primary poster that said children can pray 'anytime, anywhere.'
- The Tabernacle Choir sang it in general conference just two months after it entered the hymnbook.
- DeFord has won the Church's music competitions repeatedly — including the grand prize in 2011.
- Her explanation for the free music: 'He has given me a gift that I did nothing to earn.'
Scripture Connections
- Alma 33:3–11 — Zenos, heard in the wilderness, the field, the house, and the closet — prayer that works anywhere.
- Acts 17:27–28 — 'He be not far from every one of us' — Paul's version of the song's title.
- Doctrine and Covenants 67:1–2 — 'Mine eyes are upon you... your hearts are before me' — how close He actually is.
Talk About It
Questions to spark a conversation with your family or Primary class:
- Where is the most unusual place you've ever said a prayer? Did Heavenly Father hear it?
- Sally DeFord gives all her music away for free. What gift do you have that you could share without being paid?
- The song says God is 'close as a quiet prayer.' What makes a prayer feel close instead of far away?
- She wrote this song for one grandchild. Who could you make something for this week?
Teaching Resources
Attribution
Music by: Sally DeFord, 2017; alt.
Text by: Sally DeFord, 2017; alt.
Audio files from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints