A. Laurence Lyon's Chart

American composer of music, usually sacred music with a Latter-day Saint theme. Over 200 arrangements and compositions by Lyon were published. He served for 30 years as a professor at Western Oregon University. Lyon was born in the Netherlands where his father, T. Edgar Lyon was serving as president of the Netherlands Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Lyon created his first composition at 12. He served as a LDS Church missionary in the Netherlands Mission, and organized and directed the choir from that mission that sang at the dedication of the Swiss Temple. In 1958 he married Donna Reeder in the Salt Lake Temple. After his mission, Lyon received a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music. From 1967 until 1997, Lyon was a professor of music at Western Oregon University. He was also president of Modern Music Methods, a publisher of string music for children. Lyon was involved with the music for many LDS Church temple dedications. He served on multiple occasions in LDS bishoprics and on stake high councils. From 1999 until 2000, he and his wife served as missionaries in the Chile Osorno Mission. Two of Lyon's works are included in the 1985 edition of the LDS Church hymnbook. They are "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good" and "Saints, Behold How Great Jehovah." He also wrote seven works in the Primary Children's Songbook. A. Laurence Lyon died on 8 November 2006 at age 72 in Salt Lake City, Utah.