After one of his institute students, Jeremy Downs, died by suicide early this year, Robert Elliot and his wife, Kathryn Elliott, were prompted to do something a little different—write the song "He Can Carry Me."
The idea for the song came from Jeremy's mother, Allison Downs, and his brother, who is currently serving a mission in Brazil. Jeremy's brother wanted a song he could sing for his brother when he returned from the mission field, so Allison approached Robert Elliot, asking if he would help write the song.
"I was looking for a way to share my son's memory and that this message would help someone. My son loved music and this was a perfect answer for me, sharing hope through music," Allison says.
Enlisting the help of their son, GENTRI singer Casey Elliot, and other musicians, Robert and Kathryn Elliot created a powerful song about the Savior to help raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention.
"We may not fully understand why certain things happen the way they do, but I do know that God knows and we will understand some day," Casey Elliot wrote on Facebook. "However, that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt (a lot) when we lose someone. But as Paul said, The sting of 'death is swallowed up in the victory [of Christ].' 'Oh death, where is thy sting?' He, and His Son, understand us perfectly and love us perfectly. Don't walk your trials alone. Let those who love you, including our Savior, carry you when you don't have enough."
Lead image from Robert Allen Elliot Facebook
