Biography
Moody was born in Payson, Utah, and grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah. As a young man he served as a Mormon missionary in the French East Mission. Moody's wife, Maria Ann Toronto, is the great-granddaughter of Joseph Toronto.
Moody received a doctorate in church music from the University of Southern California.
Moody was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the General Church Music Committee under coordinator Robert M. Cundick. This was a subdivision of the Church Music Department under O. Leslie Stone. Moody became the chair of the General Church Music Committee in 1977. He served as Chair of the Hymnbook Executive Committee for the Church’s hymnal, Hymns, 1985. At the time of his retirement, the church had hymnbooks of varying sizes published in 98 languages.
Moody has written the music to a number of songs. A number of his compositions came through a tradition of sending out Christmas songs in lieu of Christmas cards because he was "a frugal zealot". He frequently relied on Mabel Jones Gabbott and Penny Moody Allen for lyrics. He has songs included in the 1985 LDS Church hymnal and Children's Songbook. His songs have also been published in various outlets and recorded by many artists, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Read more about this topic: Michael F. Moody
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