The Backstory Behind "I Will Be What I Believe"
Some of the most meaningful songs are born not in professional studios or from commercial ambitions, but from a quiet challenge issued by someone who knows you better than you know yourself. That's exactly how Blake Gillette came to write one of the most beloved LDS Primary songs in recent memory — "I Will Be What I Believe."
A Challenge From a Wife Who Believed in Him
When Blake Gillette served as the Primary pianist in his ward, his wife Kaicie served as the Primary chorister. They served together for several years and started wishing for new music to teach the Primary children. ldsliving
It was Kaicie who issued the challenge. She knew her husband had a musical gift — he had written a couple of EFY-style songs in high school and on his mission, and a couple of wedding songs for her — but he had never attempted anything quite like a Primary song. The genre required something different: simplicity, doctrinal clarity, and the ability to reach the heart of a child. Deseret News
He accepted the challenge. And what came from that moment of creative courage became something far greater than either of them anticipated.
Writing a Song for Children — and for All of Us
His attempt resulted in "I Will Be What I Believe," the lovely title song for his songbook and CD. deseret.com
In reflecting on the experience of writing Primary songs, Blake shared something that gets to the heart of why this song resonates so deeply with so many people:
"Throughout this whole process, I have come to love writing Primary songs. They teach important gospel principles in simple terms and are the backbone to many testimonies. I often think about how I was touched by both the music and the words of many Primary songs growing up. In times of difficulty and trial, the words of Primary songs still come to my mind and answer my heart's deepest questions. Their messages provide solace to the soul. Moreover, I also love watching a child's face as they learn a new song, internalize the words, and then sing this new piece of their testimony with commitment and strength."
Those words capture exactly why Primary music occupies such a special place in the heart. These aren't just children's songs — they are the seeds of testimony, planted early and returned to again and again throughout a lifetime.
From One Song to a Full Collection
What began as a single song written at his wife's suggestion grew into something much larger. "I Will Be What I Believe" became a collection of songs — new and old — written and arranged especially for Primary-aged children. Published by Cedar Fort, the songbook and CD brought Blake's musical gifts to Primary children and families across the Church.
The Music Video That Moved Thousands
The song found an even wider audience when Blake released a music video featuring children from the One Voice Children's Choir and the Mapleton Stake Primaries. The performance — children's voices united in a declaration of faith and commitment — struck a chord with Latter-day Saint families everywhere and introduced the song to thousands who had never heard it before.
Watching children sing the words "I will be what I believe" with conviction is a reminder of something profound: faith without action is dead. It is what we become — the choices we make, the habits we form, the character we build — that is the true expression of our faith.
Why This Song Still Matters
In a world that constantly pulls children in competing directions, "I Will Be What I Believe" is a declaration of identity and purpose. It asks children — and the adults who sing alongside them — to consider not just what they say they believe, but who they are becoming because of it.
That's a message that doesn't age. It belongs in Primary classrooms, in family home evenings, and in the quiet moments when any of us needs a reminder of who we are and what we stand for.
About the Song -
I Will Be What I Believe by Blake Gillette is available at Cedar Fort Publishing. Get the sheet music, the full album, or the CD. The full album includes original Primary songs and makes a meaningful gift for Primary teachers, families, and anyone who loves uplifting music.
👉 Shop I Will Be What I Believe at Cedar Fort
Lyrics for I Will Be What I Believe
"Living in this world with change all around But with the prophets' words, I'll stand on solid ground Even though it's still hard, with questions that arise Everyday, I will say
I'll have faith like brother Joseph and the strength of the pioneers I'll be brave as a strippling warrior and like Nephi persevere I will spread God's love to all I know and serve I will plead with my Father on my knees, I will be what I believe
We'll spread the gospel wide throughout all the Earth With Jesus as our guide, we'll weild the sword of truth Even though it's still hard, with questions that arise Everyday, I will say
I'll have faith like brother Joseph and the strength of the pioneers I'll be brave as a strippling warrior and like Nephi persevere I will spread God's love to all I know and serve I will plead with my Father on my knees, I will be what I believe
We are as the army of Heleman We have been taught in our youth And we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world his truth
I'll have faith like brother Joseph and the strength of the pioneers I'll be brave as a strippling warrior and like Nephi persevere I will spread God's love to all I know and serve I will plead with my Father on my knees, I will be what I believe
I will be what I believe"
