Stories and Songs by Afterglow

The story of the prodigal son in the New Testament teaches lessons in so many ways. The emotions and experiences of the father, the faithful older son, and the prodigal who ultimately realizes that he must humble himself and return are perfectly relevant to our lives today, and the blessings that come to us when we return to the fold of our Savior are beyond our imagining. 

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Aft...

The focus of our Heavenly Father’s plan is to invite us to become more like Him, to learn to guide our children towards good things, while at the same time respecting their agency in finding their own way. The eternal circle of family gives us something to hang on to, a legacy to lead us home, and we have been blessed with parents and family that established this example for us.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay o...

A classic poem tells the story of an old violin, being auctioned off as seemingly worthless, but at the last moment an unassuming man rises from the back of the room to reveal its hidden majesty. The story behind this song, based on the poem and recorded in London with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, makes for a stirring tale.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and per...

This simple song became part of Kevin and Cindy's ministry at Primary Children's Hospital, serving to lift the spirits and souls of many of the young patients receiving care, as a gentle reminder that Heavenly Father is aware of their every thought, feeling and trial. Kevin brought comfort and solace to many, playing the ukulele and singing this song, sometimes inserting their names as a personal touch.  

For almost 50 years, Joel ...

This song was written for a single-adult conference in Nauvoo where we had the privilege of interacting with faithful Saints from all over the country. The message of this tune is for us all, to access the heavenly powers that will ignite the light within each of us, and to reach our spiritual potential.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music ...

The yearnings we all feel for a heartfelt connection to the Spirit can be bittersweet. When we feel connected, they elevate us and allow us to draw closer to the powers of Heaven. When we feel separated from divine influence, our spirits long to be reunited with the source of pure joy and lasting comfort.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music...

This classic Christian hymn originates from a heart-breaking story of tragedy and overcoming trials. Horatio Spafford, a late nineteenth-century businessman whose children were lost on a trans-Atlantic voyage, penned the heartfelt lyrics to this song, an anthem to faith and resilience in the face of adversity. His words resonate today, and his family’s commitment to service and purpose are an ongoing legacy.

For almost 50 years, Jo...

There are some non-traditional, quirky (at least for Afterglow!) elements to this song, a light-hearted reminder to all of us to be open to the twists and turns that life sometimes delivers to us, and maybe more importantly, to trust that the Lord’s plan for us is always better, more inspired, and more elevating than what we might have had in mind. The goal is to see and welcome the changes that come our way as opportunities to gro...

This song, written by Joel many years ago, is a plaintive cry , a hope that all of us can better understand the great gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the transformative blessings it can bring to each of our lives. If only we fully understood His sacrifice for us, there would be nothing we wouldn’t be willing to do to bring Him more completely into our lives.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglo...

We have done only a few acapella recordings, but for this song, a musical prayer at the end of the day, it just seemed right. Simple and plain, this is both an expression of gratitude for our many blessings, and a plea to help us stay on the covenant path and serve and love those around us.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music for people of ...

In these days of trial and challenge, our prophet has emphasized the need for each of us to gain our own witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through sincere prayer and a consistent study of His words, the Holy Ghost will testify to our hearts the knowledge of the truth, which in turn brings joy and a desire to serve and share with others. 

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, record...

At times we may feel we’re falling short of our potential, and our weaknesses may weigh us down. Our Savior's redemptive and enabling Atonement allows us to bring a broken heart and contrite spirit to the altar of the Lord. He provides comfort, forgiveness and healing. HIs ability to lift us, helps to turn our weaknesses into strengths.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording an...

We were blessed to be able to record two albums of country music in Nashville, which represented a huge opportunity for us. We wrote a few original songs, and gathered some of the best music we could find from other writers, both at home in Utah and in the Nashville community, to create Close to Home and No Love Lost. The experience of working with such talented people and learning to work in another genre of music was an unforgett...

As experiments go, this one turned out to be a fun success! In the 1980s, we turned our attention to writing and recording two collections of original songs dealing with love and family. These two albums, It Takes Love and Love Notes, recorded in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, gave us the opportunity to work with talented musicians and arrangers, and open up our musical horizons in new and different ways.

For almost 50 years, Joel...

Sometimes the search for faith and meaning in life comes ‘one step at a time’, or even a step forward and a step back. It can sometimes feel as though we aren’t making the consistent progress toward heaven that we would hope, but the message of this song is that our Heavenly Father is at least as interested in our direction as He is in our current position.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been ...

A favorite phrase from the New Testament inspired this song, a reminder that not even a sparrow can fall from heaven without our Heavenly Father’s notice. He sees us in every moment and every trial, and loves us no matter our choices—His only goal is to bring us home.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music for people of faith around the globe....

This early original song explores the journey of the plan of happiness established by our Heavenly Father, filled with both joys and sorrows, and leading us through our life’s experiences back to Him.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music for people of faith around the globe. Behind their songs, however, are the stories that have enriched and...

Both of us were blessed with mothers who taught and led us by example throughout their lives. In their later years, they’ve also shown us how to endure with grace all the trials and challenges life can bring—the ‘first face we saw’ has been with us all along.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspirational music for people of faith around the globe. Behind t...

A search for an appropriate ‘title cut’ for one of our albums led to discovering this beautiful song and message, written by our friends Don Stirling and Brett Raymond. One of our greatest blessings and responsibilities in this life is to serve and lift others, especially when they’re passing through trials and sorrow.

For almost 50 years, Joel McCausland and Kevin Peay of Afterglow have been writing, recording and performing inspi...