‘Tis love that makes us happy,

‘Tis love that smooths the way;

It helps us mind, it makes us kind

To others everyday

Refrain

God is love; we’re His little children.

God is love; we would be like Him.

‘Tis love that makes us happy,

‘Tis love that smooths the way;

It helps us “mind,” it makes us kind

To others every day.

This world is full of sorrow,

Of sickness, death, and sin;

With loving heart we’ll do our part,

And try some soul to win.

Refrain

God is love; we’re His little children.

God is love; we would be like Him.

‘Tis love that makes us happy,

‘Tis love that smooths the way;

It helps us “mind,” it makes us kind

To others every day.

And when this life is over,

And we are called above

Our song shall be, eternally,

Of Jesus and His love.

Refrain

God is love; we’re His little children.

God is love; we would be like Him.

‘Tis love that makes us happy,

‘Tis love that smooths the way;

It helps us “mind,” it makes us kind

To others every day.

     F. E. Belden was the eldest of five children born to Stephen and Sarah (Harmon) Belden, older sister of Ellen Harmon White. About 1876 he moved to California where he began to compose music. Because of health reasons he moved to Colorado where he met and married Harriet MacDearmon who was also talented in music. They returned to Battle Creek in the 1880’s where he connected with the Adventist publishing work. He and Edwin Barnes served as music editors of the Hymns and Tunes which was released in 1886. Belden also collaborated with his cousin, J. Edson White, on several song books. A disagreement arose between Belden and the Review and Herald over the royalties from Hymns and Tunes. It was reported that Belden was greedy and wanted the money. In reality the agreement with the General Conference in 1886 was for his share of the royalties to go to mission work. When the Review and Herald took over the copyright to the hymnal, Belden did not want his share to go to the publishing house. Disillusioned, he separated himself from church work, but it did not "forsake his allegiance to the church or to the Lord." Belden's ability in penning both music and poetry was often demonstrated by his writing a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He would take the preacher’s text and by the end of the service have a song ready for performance. Christ in Song is Belden’s most recognizable contribution to Seventh-day Adventist hymnody, though he wrote hundreds of other songs throughout his career. The 1985 Seventh-day Adventist hymnal includes twelve hymns and four tunes, more than any other Adventist contributor.