I would be, dear Savior, wholly Thine;

Teach me how, teach me how;

I would do Thy will, O Lord, not mine;

Help me, help me now.

Refrain

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, this is my vow;

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, O Lord, just now.

What is worldly pleasure, wealth or fame,

Without Thee, without Thee?

I will leave them all for Thy dear Name,

This my wealth shall be.

Refrain

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, this is my vow;

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, O Lord, just now.

As I cast earth’s transient joys behind,

Come Thou near, come Thou near;

In Thy presence all in all I find,

’Tis my comfort here.

Refrain

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, this is my vow;

Wholly Thine, wholly Thine,

Wholly Thine, O Lord, just now.

     Both words and music were composed in 1886 by Franklin Edson Belden, the eldest of five children born to Stephen Belden and Sarah Harmon, the elder sister of Ellen Harmon White. When he was eight years old, Belden’s family moved to California, where he first composed music. Due to breathing problems, Belden later moved to Colorado. He eventually returned to Battle Creek, Michigan, around age 30. He joined the Review and Herald Publishing Company, and stayed in Battle Creek until about 1910, when he began writing songs for evangelist Billy Sunday.