Esther's Spiritual Poems A

Esther’s Favorite
Inspirational Songs, Poems,

Sayings & Stories
(Compiled 2011)
What we don’t learn from the experience of others,

We may have to experience ourselves. –Anon.
Page 1a of 211 All Rights Reserved. Favorite Poems Part 1

Dedication:
I gathered these poems together because I’ve always loved good poems.
This is a collection of poems I gathered since I was about 14 years old.
I hope my family, friends, and all who read them may pick out the
poems that mean the most to each one.
Love, T. Esther White Jones
Complied by CR Larson for her mother, Esther Jones, March 2011.

Family photos are personal, and belong to family members.
All Rights to this work are reserved by their authors.
Many poems and photos in this document have been copywrited by their authors.
This document was assembled for personal use, not for commercial purposes.
(Note: This book reflects a Mormon viewpoint. If some find some things offensive, I apologize. -CR Larson)

Table of Contents
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Part 1
Spiritual Poems & Thoughts
Angels............................................................................................................................. 5
Christ ............................................................................................................................. 7
God ............................................................................................................................... 49
Family & Parenting......................................................................................................... 66
Hymns, and Children’s Songs, and Sayings ................................................................ 114
Prophets & Servants of God......................................................................................... 126
Prayer Poems & Sayings .............................................................................................. 142
Scriptural Quotes, Parables, Poems & Stories ............................................................ 185
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Part 2 (pg 211 of part 1)
Non Religious Poetry & Sayings
Aging, Death & Dying................................................................................................ 1
Friendship and Relationships...................................................................................... 42
History and Teaching.................................................................................................. 52
Holiday Poems............................................................................................................ 65
Home ........................................................................................................................... 75
Individuals ................................................................................................................... 84
Love & Marriage ....................................................................................................... 152
Sayings about Character ........................................................................................... 174
Nature’s Beauty......................................................................................................... 183
Silly Sayings, Nursery Rhymes, and Birthday ........................................................... 223
*************
All My Favorite Recipes
Dinner or Main Dish Recipes ...................................................................................... 2
Snack, Lunch, and Party Foods .................................................................................... 9
Bread Recipes and Mixes ............................................................................................. 13
Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................... 15
*************
Gardening Tips and Thoughts, Poetry, Sayings, Stories, and Beliefs
Gardening Tips & Hints................................................................................................ 2
Park Gardener’s Handbook – Copied.......................................................................... 10
Personal Stories and Sayings......................................................................................... 26
Personal Thoughts, Beliefs............................................................................................. 28
Thought about Health & Wellbeing............................................................................. 31
Religious Beliefs............................................................................................................. 32
Aunt Carol Hancock Neil’s Favorites............................................................................ 41
*************

Part 1
Spiritual Poems
& Thoughts
*************
Omnipotent
- Nick Kenny
Somebody listens to every prayer
When you are ill and burdened with care,
When your soul is been with its weight of woe,
Tell it to Someone who loves you so.
Someone will tell you that He understands,
He'll hold your heart in His gentle hands,
Just like a child when the father's near,
With God at your side, there's nothing to fear.
When days are long and nights have no end,
When things go wrong, there's always one Friend.
Just lift your eyes and you'll see Him there,
With His gentle smile as He hears your prayer.
*************
My Father’s House
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare
a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
************
Be one with us, for we are One
“For I and My Father are one.” ( John 10:30)
***********
Christ was First to Arise
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that
slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
(1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
**************
Spotless
Those who are faithful in their testimony of Christ will be found spotless before
the judgment seat of Christ, and will dwell with him eternally in the heavens.
(Intro. To the Book of Mormon, Testimony of 3 Witnesses)
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Poems about
Angels

**********
Soft As the Voice of an Angel
(Whispering Hope)
Words & Music by Septimus Winner, 1868
(Hymnals often list the name as Alice Hawthorne, one of his pseudonyms)
Soft as the voice of an angel

Breathing a lesson unheard
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word
Wait till the darkness is over
Wait till the tempest is done
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow
After the shower is gone
Whispering hope,
oh how welcome thy voice
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice
If, in the dusk of the twilight
Dim be the region afar will not
the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over
Watch for the breaking of day
Hope, as an anchor so steadfast

Rends the dark veil for the soul
Whither the Master has entered
Robbing the grave of its goal
Come then, O come, glad fruition
Come to my sad weary heart
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory
Never, O never depart
Septimus Winner was a well-known poet, composer and violinist, self-taught musician who ran a music store, gave
music lessons, sold instruments, and played in the Philadelphia Brass Band. He was born May 11, 1827, in
Philadelphia, PA, and died Nov 22, 1902, Philadelphia, PA. He wrote or edited over 200 volumes of music, for more
than 20 instruments, and produced 2,000 arrangements for violin and piano. Alice Hawthorne (an arrangement of his
mother’s maiden name); Percy Guyer, Mark Mason, and Paul Stenton were pseudo names he used. He wrote ‘Listen
to the Mockingbird’, which sold over 20,000 copies. He wrote several other popular songs: Where, O where Has my
Little Dog Gone?, Ten Little Injuns, Side by Side, How Sweet are the Roses, Dreaming of the Loved Ones, Days Gone
By, and more.
*************
Happiness Is
“Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but
which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” - Nathaniel Hawthorn
************
Speak with Love, as Angels Do
“Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels, and have not love, I have
become sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.” (1 Cor. 13:1)
*************

***********
He Called Me By Name
- Grace E. Easley
He called me by name, from the time of my birth.
Before I had met Him, and valued His worth.
And because He was God He was able to see that I had to
have someone to watch over me.
So He picked out an angel, my own special one.
To guide and protect me. Til living was done.
Who had but one job, and that was to be a loving
and loyal companion to me.
He called me by name and the love in His eyes, promised
me all that this cold world denies.
A home with Him always, in heaven above,
safe in the kingdom of God's endless love.
************
Fools and Angels
“Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.” –Alexander Pope
************
Heaven is Full of God’s Angels
And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a
vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and ... saw God sitting
upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels
in the attitude of singing and praising their God. (1 Nephi 1:18)
**********
Angels Travel To and From the Earth
“And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth,
and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God
ascending and descending upon it.” (Gen. 28:12)
************
Angels of God Do His Work
“So he drove out the man; and he place at the east of the garden of Eden,
Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of
the tree of life.” (Gen. 3:24) “But the [angels] smote the men that were ate the
door of the house with blindness, both great and small... and the men said
unto Lot... we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is ... great before
the face of the Lord, and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.... and when the
morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife.... lest
thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city... and the men laid hold upon his
hand... and they brought him forth, and set him without the city....” (Genesis
19) “Choose thee: either three year’s famine, or three months to be destroyed
before thy foes... and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts
of Israel... David... was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.” –
(1 Chron. 21:12) “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in
all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands.” (Psalms 91:11)
Angels are Given Much Power of God

“And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the
Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.”(Exo. 33:2) “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame
of fire out of the midst of a bush... and the bush burned with fire, and ... was not consumed.” (Exo. 3:2) “The
angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the
angel... it is enough: stay now thine hand.” (2 Sam. 24:16) “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about
them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalms 34:7) God “maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming
fire.” (Psa. 104:4)
************

Poems about Christ
The Master
- Edgar A. Guest
He never thought it stepping down,
To walk with men who earned their bread;
Their joys and woes to share he chose,
He understood the tears they shed.
************
The Birthday of Our Lord
-Author Unknown
The baby Jesus Christ, when he was born
Was cradled in a manger,
Still he was King of the world
Was ever a story stranger?
The Shepherds came from far and wide
And wondering, bent above Him:
His will it was that hearts of men
Should know him and should love him.
The Cattle breathed their breath on Him;

The little Lambs pressed hear him
His will it was that man nor beast
Should stand apart, nor fear him.
Then let your hearts be filled with joy
When April 6 is here,
And keep the birthday of the Lord
With merriment and cheer.
***************
I Delight To Do Thy Will
“I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy Law is within my heart.” (Psalms 40:80)
*************
No Greater Love
“Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.” (John
15:13) The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He chooses, because of
their faith, which makes them powerful enough to be delivered from Lucifer. (1 Nep. 1:20)
*************

************
A Brief Description of a Brief Life
- James Allan Francis
There was a man who was born in an obscure village, child of a
peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village. He
worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty, and then for
three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book.
He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never
had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot
inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the
place where he was born. He never did one of the things that
usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
He had nothing to go with this world except the naked power of
his divine manhood.
While he was still a young man, the tide of popular

opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of
them denied him. Another betrayed him. One of them
turned him over to his enemies. He went through the
mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon the cross between
two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece
of property he had on earth while he was dying and that
was his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and
laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today he is the center of
the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the
mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that
were ever built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever
reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as
powerfully as this one solitary life.
*************
Honor the Father in Me
Jesus said if you honor me, you honor my Father who sent me; and if you
don’t, my Father is not your Father. Your father is the Father of all lies
and deceit and a shedder of innocent blood. “For those who honor me, I
will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
(1 Sam 2:30)
************
The Savior Gives Life
The Savior said: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and
destroy; I am come that they might have life; and that they might have it
more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
**************
Jesus Manifested Himself to All Nations
The Book of Mormon was given to show to the remnant of the House of
Israel the great things that the Lord has done for them, to learn of his
covenants, and also to convince them that Jesus is the Eternal God who
manifested himself to all nations. (Intro to the Book of Mormon)
**************

**************
Jesus Loves Me
Words by Anna B. Warner and David Rutherford McGuire)
Music by: William B. Bradbury
(1) Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he strong.
(Chorus: Yes, Jesus loves me!, Yes, Jesus love me; Yes, Jesus
Loves Me; the Bible tells me so.)
(2) Jesus loves me! This I know, as he loved so long ago,

taking children on his knee, saying, ‘Let them come to me’.
(Chorus)
(3) Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.
(Chorus)
************
Dream Dreams
- Sister Mary Gemma Brunke
Dream, dreams of real compassion,
and the joys your dreams could bring.
Dream, dream of their fulfillment and the sad you helped to sing
Then think of ways of making these good dreams to come true.
The good Lord needs more dreamers - Yes, the Lord has need of you.
He needs your hands to minister, To the sick and insecure,
Your life to be a sermon, How to love and endure,
He needs your voice to tell men, The humble Gospel story
And to spread abroad the knowledge, Of His great love and glory.
************
In the Garden
Text by C. Austin Miles, 1913
Music: C. Austin Miles, 1913, adapted by Charles H.
Webb, 1987
(1) I came to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses,
and the voice I hear falling on my ear,
the Son of God discloses.
(Chorus: And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own;
and the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.)
(2) He speaks,
and the sound of his voice
is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
and the melody that he gave to me
within my heart is ringing.
(Chorus)
(3) I'd stay in the garden with him
though the night around me be falling,
but he bids me go; thru the voice of woe
his voice to me is calling.
(Chorus)
***************

If Jesus Came to Your House
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -

If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.
But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?
Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?

And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief

when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know
the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came
to spend some time with you.
- Lois Blanchard Eades

*******************
The Father and Christ are One
“Jesus saith unto him: Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then,
show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in
me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself, but the Father that
dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” (John 14:9-10)
**************
My Work and My Glory
God, whose throne is high in the heavens, and whose power, good, and mercy are
over all the inhabitants of the earth, does great and marvelous works. (1 Nep. 1:14)
"... as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another
come, and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. For behold, this is
my work and my glory; to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
(Moses 1:38-39)
************
True Happiness
- Sister Mary Gemma Brunke
I sought for joy in creatures;
I tried human love to win;
But these things did not satisfy;
The world with all its din.
Till freed from worldly tumult;
In a quiet room apart.
I gave my love to Jesus;
And found heaven in my heart.
*************
Mystery of Christ
“The mystery of Christ is not to be solved by lore of science, logic of reason or occult magic of the natural mind,
It is to be lived through the mind of spirit by faith and grace, in peace and joy with good will and works for love of
God and man.” - Edward A. Glueggler
*************
Jesus is the Son of God
“Jesus said unto him, dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might
believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee! And he
said, Lord I believe, and he worshipped him.” (John 9:35-38) “And Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with
power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4) “But these things are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; that in believing ye might have life through
his name.” (John 20:21)
***********
Hidden Treasures
“I will give you treasures out of the darkness and hidden riches, that you
may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.” -
(Isaiah 45:3) “ The Book of Mormon contains the Fullness of the Everlasting
Gospel.” (Intro. To the BOM: Testimony of Joseph Smith, Jr.)
************
The Lord Is My Light
“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: Whom shall I fear? The Lord is
my strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1)
*************
Come Unto Me – Jesus Said
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) “In the last day,
the Great Day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and
drink.” (John 7:37)
*************

************
The Beatitudes
(Matthew 5:1-12)
1
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto
him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake.
12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.
************
The Godhead Dwells in Christ
“For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality ad power.” (Col. 2:9)
*************
Love
“Love is an image of God; and not a lifeless image, nor one painted on
paper; but the living essence of the Divine nature which beams full of all
goodness.” –Martin Luther
************
Praised be the God
“Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavens.” (Ephesians 1:3)
**************
Christ Was Given Unto Adam’s Race
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called wonderful,
counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)
**********
Christ Is Heavenly Father’s Beloved Son
“And there was a cloud that overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
This is my beloved Son: hear him.” –(Mark 9:7)
*********
Hear My Beloved Son
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto
him, and saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo, a voice from heaven,
saying, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
***********
Apostles of the Lamb will be the Judges of Israel
“Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they ... shall judge the twelve tribes of
Israel... the twelve ministers of thy seed [the Native Americans] shall be judged of them; for ye are of the
house of Israel... and, behold they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their
garments are made white in his blood.” (1 Nephi 1:9-10)
***********

************
Broken Things
- Kathryn Thorne Bowsher
He sees each fledgling sparrow fall
He knows small broken wings
He hears each anguished plaintive call
Of tiny broken things.
He sees red velvet petals crushed
‘Neath hasty, careless feet which often,
In their harried rush, tramp over roses sweet.
He knows each lovely crippled child
Who bravely laughs and sings
Who longs to run and romp in fields,
And know glad joy it brings.
He knows each heartache,
Ev’ry trial of all of Adam’s race.
He bore cruel cross and does not fail
To save us by His grace.
On Calvary’s tree – fierce nails applied.
Pierced through by angry sword
Heartbroken, scourged and crucified
Was Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Of Him God’s whale creation sings
He understandeth broken things.
************
The Storm Calms
‘Tis darkness all! no star appears
Upon the dusky brow of night;
No moon the anxious watcher cheers,
Nor charms him with her gentle light
While one small ship, its sails are riven,
Abides the furious blasts of heaven.
And soon that ship must be a wreck:
But who is this that lies asleep,
While all besides in anguish weep?
Loud and more loud the billows roar,
And dash the white foam o’er the deck;
The storm is fiercer than before;
The stranger wakes from his repose
And eyes the storm with looks serene,
He speaks; the list’ning water flows
The winds his high commands obey,
And in soft whispers die away.
Calm as in Eden’s peaceful scene!
(No author is given) (Published in The Times & Seasons, pg 421)
*******************
Jesus is Rock of Our Salvation
Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” (Psa. 18:2)
**************
All men are invited to read the Book of Mormon, ponder it’s message, then ask God if it is true. Those who do,
will gain a testimony of it’s truth, through the power of the spirit of Christ, and will also be given a witness by the
Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith, Jr. was his revelator, and that the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord’s Kingdom once again established upon the earth, preparatory to his
Second Coming. (Intro to the BOM, cover page.)
****************
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
"The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular Christian song written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George
Bennard (1873-1958). George Bennard, was a native of Youngstown, Ohio but was reared in Iowa.
***************
The Old Rugged Cross
By Dwayne Bailey
When you think of the wonderful day, that Jesus Christ set you free;
Then you think upon the day, that he died on Calvary;
That’s when you know deep in your heart, that his love is true;
And that’s exactly the reason, Christ died on the cross for you!
To give you the opportunity, to live happy and free;
Instead of being trapped, in sin and misery.
For the master we serve in Jesus Christ, is a true and loving God;
And he will guide us safely through, the valleys in life we must trod.
For life is a daily struggle, this Jesus Christ knows,
For he too walked upon this earth, was crucified and arose; And this
promise of eternal life is what we all may share; If the old rugged cross in
life we decide to bare!
****************
Remember Jesus When Partaking of the Sacrament
“And when Jesus had given thanks, He took the bread and broke it and said, take
and eat – this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me.”
(1 Cor. 11:24)
**********
Christ - The Messiah
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ:
when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto
thee am he.” (John 4:25-26) “Andrew... findeth his own brother... and saith unto
him, we have found the Messiah, which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he
brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:40-42) “Gathering together all the chief priests... he
inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.” (Matt. 2:4)
************

***************
The Touch of the Master's Hand
- Myra Brooks Welch
It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it hardly worth his while to waste
his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who’ll it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No, from the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow, then wiping the dust from
The old violin; and tightening up the sings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet; As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer with a voice

That was quiet and low, Said "What now am I bid for this
Old violin?" As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who’ll make it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered, but some of them cried,
"We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply. "The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune all battered with bourbon and gin
is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, much like that old violin;
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on.
He is going once, He is going twice, he is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by the
Touch of the Masters' Hand.
**************
The Lord Is My Strength
“The Lord is my strength and my song.” (Exodus 15:2)
************
We Rejoiced in Song
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open
the seals thereof for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Rev. 5:9)
**************
Serpents and Doves
Jesus said ‘Be wise as Serpents and be as harmless as Doves.” (Matt. 10:16)
************
Draw near to me with thy heart
‘They draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.” (Isa. 29:13)
******************
He who Denies God will be Denied
He who denies God, God will deny him. “Wo unto him that shall say at that day...
that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall
become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according to
the word of Christ!” (3 Nephi 29:7)
********
************
Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
“And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the
two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave
them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were
satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left
over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and
children.” (Matthew 14:19-21)
************
Healing of Blind Men
“And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed
by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the
multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the
more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still,
and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him,
Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched
their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”
(Matthew 20:30-34)
************
All Things Were Created By Him
“Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created
his children that they should possess it.” (1 Nephi 17:36) “For by him were all things
created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for
him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17) “And to
make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians. 3:9)
God Has Spoken Unto Us By His Son

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
*************
Christ is the Lord God
“Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both LORD and Christ.” (Acts 2:36) “Hath thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the
LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his
understanding.” (Isa. 40:28)
************
Christ is Lord of the Dead and Living
“For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived, that He might be
LORD both of the dead and living.” (Roman 14:9)
************
Drink of this Water
“Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the
water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)
***********
Keep the Commandments to Prosper
Those who keep the commandments of God will prosper in the land. “And
inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a
land of promise.” (1 Nep. 2:20) Those who rebel won’t. (1 Nep. 2:21-23)
***********

*************
Power in the Priesthood
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them
with their unbelief .... And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall
lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:14-18)
***************
Chosen
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I chosen thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
**********
Go Thy Way and Sin No More
“And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:
Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
**************
Beware of False Prophets
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7:15)
***********
My Task
Words by Maude L. Ray & F.H. Pickup 1913.
Music: Emma L. Ashford, 1903.
To love someone more dearly every day
To help a wandering child to find his way,
To ponder o’er a noble thought, and pray,
And smile when evening falls : this is my task.
To follow truth as blind men long for light,
To do my best from dawn of day till night,
To keep my heart fit for His holy sight,
And answer when He calls: This is my task.
And then my Savior by and by to meet,
When faith hath made her task on earth complete,
And lay my homage at the Master’s feet,
Within the jasper walls: This crowns my task.
* * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Kingdom of God or Nothing
“The Kingdom of God or Nothing at all.” –John Taylor
**********
Acceptable words and thoughts
“May my word and my thoughts be acceptable to you, oh Lord my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psa. 19:14)
*************
Wicked Destroyed
God will destroy the wicked off the earth. I will come upon them in a time when they least expect it, he
said. They will burned with fire. “The wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” (2 Thess. 1:9)
**********
Murmur Not
Those who do not murmur when going through trials will be favored of God. “Therefore... my son... thou shalt be
favored of the Lord because thou hast not murmured.” (1 Nep. 3:6)
*********

*************
May the Grace of Christ Our Savior
- John Newton
May the grace of Christ our Savior, and the Father’s boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit’s favor, rest upon us from above.
Thus may we abide in union with each other and the Lord,
And possess in sweet communion, joys which earth cannot afford.
**********
Christ Loves Us To The End
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was
come that to depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own,
which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (John 13:1)
***********
Faithful Witnesses
“Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of
the earth, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” (Rev. 1:5) “And with
great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them
all.”(Acts 4:33)
*************
Peace
- Vera Beall Parker
The sun went down – a blaze of light
As twilight ushered in the night,
The moon arose – a silvery glow
I’m glad the Saviour made it so.
The stars came out across the sky
To speak of other worlds on high;
And in my heart I found sweet peace
From toil the night would bring release.
**************
Mystery of Godliness
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen
of angels, preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
**********
Christ Is the Father’s and Mary’s Son
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
(Luke 1:35)
**********
Gnats and Camels
Jesus declared that some Jewish leaders were blind guides: “Woe unto you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites... ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and
swallow a camel.” (Matt. 23:24) He taught them that they were concerned with
following the letter of their laws (straining at gnats), but were not concerned with
the more important matter of righteous living, correct judgment, mercy, and faith
(swallowing up the poor, needy, sick, hungry, fatherless, widows - camels).
***********
The Way Is Prepared
God prepares a way for mankind to keep his commandments. For “the Lord
giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may
accomplish the thing which he hath commanded them.” (1 Nep. 3:7)
***********

************
Unawares
- unknown
They say the Master is coming to honor the town today,
And none can tell at whose house or home the Master will choose
to stay. And I thought while my heart beat wildly, "What if He
should come to mine? How would I strive to entertain and honor
this guest divine?" And straight I turned to toiling, to make my
house more neat, I swept and polished and garnished and decked it
with blossoms sweet. I was troubled for fear the Master might come
‘ere my task was done, And hastened and worked the faster and
watched the hurrying sun. But straight in the midst of my duties, a
woman came to my door, She had come to tell me her sorrows and
my comfort and aid implore. And I said, “I cannot listen, nor
help you any today,
I have greater things to attend to,” and the pleader turned away.
But soon there came another----a cripple, thin, pale, and gray,
And said, “Oh, let me stop and rest a while in your home, I pray.
I have traveled far since morning, I am hungry and faint and weak,
My heart is filled with misery, and comfort and aid I seek.”
And I said, “I am grieved and sorry, but I cannot help you today.
I look for the Great and Noble Guest,” and the cripple went away.
The day wore onward swiftly, and my task was nearly done,
And a prayer was ever in my heart that the Master to me might come.
And I thought I would spring to meet Him and serve Him with utmost care,
When a little child stood by me, with a face so sweet and fair----
Sweet, but with marks of teardrops, and his clothes were tattered and old.
A finger was bruised and bleeding, and his bare little feet were
cold. And I said, “I am sorry for you; you are sorely in need
of care, But I can not stop to give it; you must hasten on
elsewhere.” And at the words, a shadow crept ‘ore my blue-
veined brow, “Someone will feed and clothe you, Dear, but I
am too busy now.” At last the day was ended and my toil was
over and done. My house was swept and garnished, and I
watched in the dark alone. Watched, but no footsteps
sounded, no one ‘er paused at my gate. No one entered my
cottage door; I could only pause and wait. I waited ‘til night
had deepened, and the Master had not come.“ He has entered
some other door,” I cried,“ and entered some other home.
My labor has been for nothing!” and I bowed my head and

wept. My heart was sore with longing; yet in spite of all I slept.
Then the Master stood before me; His face was grave and fair,
“Three times today I came to your door and craved your pity and
care. Three times you turned me onward, unhelped and
uncomforted, And the blessings you might have had are lost, and
your chance to serve has fled.” “Oh, Lord, dear Lord, forgive me!
How could I know it was thee?” My very soul was shamed and
bowed in the depths of humility. And He said, “The sin is
pardoned, but the blessing is lost to thee. For comforting not the
least of mine, you have failed to comfort me.”
************
************
Christ is From Heaven
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye
are of this world; I am not of this world... Verily, verily I say unto you,
before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:23, 58)
************
Bread of Life
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of live; he that cometh
unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall
never thirst.” (John 6:35)
**********
Christ is the Way
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the
way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” (John 14:5-6)
**********
Do Not Judge Each Other
“But why doest thou judge thy brother? Or why doest thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)
************
There's Always Something Left
- Mary Lavinia Silvia
When the world has crashed about your feet,
And the skies are sombre grey,
When you feel that life is over
And there's nothing left to say,
Turn your eyes toward the Master
He will always see you through,
He will open up new vistas,
That He's keeping just for you.
When your soul is most despondent
And of all you are bereft
That's the time to trust the Master,
For there's always something left.
**************
His Eye is on the Sparrow
- Civilla D. Martin, hymn
(1) Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
(2) His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain
************

************
My Prayer
- Polly Bice Hepting
Oh, Lord Thou great and mighty King
I give you thanks and praise,
Each perfect gift must come from You
To You, my hands, I raise.
And pray that You endow these hands
With strength and helpful skills.
And, to my mind bring vision clear
That I may do Your will.
Bring kindness, love and empathy
To my heart, and then,
Take all the pride away from me,
That I may e'er depend
With childlike faith on You alone
My Father, Lord, and Friend!
***********
Today
- Michael Dubina
Today - I must delay my labors
And the chores I do each day
To commune with God and Jesus
For Their gifts of yesterday.
I must take the time to worship
And to thank Them for Their Grace
That has kept me safe from evil
And endeared me, in embrace.
Just a little time together -
In the bonds of whispered prayer -
That will tell Them how I love Them
For Their guidance and Their care;
I must also ask Their blessings
On the paths I walk today -
Like the ones They graced upon me
And my paths of yesterday."
************
The Lord Is My Shepherd
- Grace E. Easley
The Lord is my shepherd, and I am His lamb,
Who loves me in spite of the way that I am.
Who sees something in me, that other folks miss,
And I sometimes think maybe, because of this...
I've never felt bitter, unloved or alone,
Though sometimes I grieve for My loved ones now gone.
For I've always believed in the words He has said,
That the spirit lives on, though the body be dead.
And I feel closer to Him, because of His care,
And I know when I call Him, that He will be there.
So I fear not the shadows, so dark and so dim,
For my shepherd will carry me safely through them.
************

************
God, The Artist
- Angela Morgan
God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?
How did you dream of a damson West
Crossed by an inky bar?
How did you think of a clear brown pool
Where flocks of shadows are?
God, when you thought of a cobweb,
How did you think of dew?
How did you know a spider's house
Had shingles, bright and new?
How did you know we human folk
Would love them as we do?
God, when you patterned a bird song,
Flung on a silver string,
How did you know the ecstasy
That crystal call would bring?
How did you think of a bubbling throat
And a darling speckled wing?
God, when you chiseled a raindrop,
How did you think of a stem
Bearing a lovely satin leaf
To hold the tiny gem?
How did you know a million drops
Would deck the morning's hem?
Why did you mate the moonlit night
With the honeysuckle vines?
How did you know Madeira bloom
Distilled ecstatic wines?
How did you weave the velvet dusk
Where tangled perfumes are?
God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?
************
To Be A Nurse
- A. H. Lawrence
To be a nurse is to walk with God,
Along the path that the Master trod;
To soothe the achings of human pain,
To faithfully serve to little gain,
To lovingly do the kindly deed, a cup of water,
To one in need, a tender hand on a fevered brow,
A word of cheer to the living now;
To teach the soul through it’s body’s woe,
The Lord would go. O white
Capped girls in dresses of blue,
The great Physician is working through you!.
************

**********
One Small Child
- Esther S. Buckwalter
One little Child . . no more, no less –
And could His mother Mary guess
Salvation for the human race
Depended on that night, that place?
And did she know this Child would cause
All heaven to rock with glad applause?
Would cause the angels to rehearse
Their midnight song of sacred verse?
Would cause a star of strange design
To leave its orbit, and to shine
A brilliant path, from east to west?
Would cause wise men to choose the best
Of hoarded treasure, and to search
The nations from a camel perch?
Would make a king (in craven fear)

Destroy small man-children near?
To this small Child the nation thrilled,
For He was prophecy fulfilled.
But could His mother even guess
While rocking Him with tenderness,
The whole import of His advent . . .
This one small Child, from heaven sent.
***************
The Garden of Gethsemane
-Robert L. Makl
My heart’s in the Garden of Gethsemane
Where Jesus once had trod,
Where His sacred feet once faltered,
I make my peace with God.
My mind’s in the Garden of Gethsemane
I see the hallowed sod, I feel his pain,
His anguish, I make my peace with God.
My heart’s in the Heart of Jesus
My tears fall where He once trod,
I’ve crossed the raging sea,
And made my peace with God.
************
Healing Belongs to Me
“Healing belongs to me, just as much as salvation does.
Jesus is as much my healer as He is my Savior;
I walk in the full benefits of my redemption.”
-365 Days of Healing, Mark Brazee
**********
Lord and Master
“Ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well, for so I am.” ( John 13:13)
************
Taught Gods Laws from the Beginning
The Plates of Brass (not translated) obtained by Lehi contained information from the beginning of time,
which information was had among the Native American people after 600 B.C. They ‘contained all the words
spoken by all the holy prophets since the world began, down to the present time.” (1 Nep. 3:20)
************
***************
I Am the Resurrection
- unknown
The day for which all Israel had waited, and prayed for
through out the long dark years was now at hand, and
every prophecy would be fulfilled, as told by ancient
seers these prophecies concerned a new born babe,
wrapped in swaddling clothes within a stall, and destined
to become the world’s Redeemer a savior to mankind
since Adams fall. That holy night in Bethlehem, Judea, it
was accomplished,
Mary bore her son, and Magi came from lands afar to worship,
Bearing gifts for him, the Favored One.
Lowly shepherds in the fields asked not for signs; their faith was whole,
and yet the angel cried along with heavenly choirs,
“peace” and ‘glory’, and sent a star to guide them to his side.
He made the lame to walk, the deaf to hear.
The blind to see, and suffered grief and strife;
He gave us, if we would but accept it the greatest gift of all,
Eternal Life.
*************
Christ Died For All, including Sinners
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)
************
Redemption Through Christ’s Blood
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:11) “Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.” (Romans 3:24)
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained
before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last
times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from
the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in
God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)
************
The Dead Shall Arise at Christ’s Voice

“Verily, verily I say unto you the hour is coming, and now is when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live; marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and
shall come forth; that they have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:25,28-19) “And if
Christ be in you... the Spirit is life because of righteousness, but if the spirit of him
that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.”
(Romans 8:10-11)
*************
Fulfilled Prophecy
“Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying:
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel
which being interpreted means God is with us.” (Math. 1:22-23)
************
************
Jesus Has Power to Heal Us and Raise Us From the Dead
“And a certain centurion’s servant... was sick and ready to die... then Jesus went with them, and when he was
not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying... Lord trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy
that thou shouldest enter under my roof... but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed... When Jesus
heard these things, he marveled... and said unto the people that followed him, i say unto you, I have not found
so great faith, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house found the servant whole that had
been sick.” (Luke 7:2-10) “When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the
sick of the palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mark 2:5) “And it
came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain... and
there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she
was a widow... and when the Lord saw here, he had compassion on
her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier
(casket) and they that bare him stood still, and He said, young man, I
say unto thee – Arise! And he that was dead sat up, and began to
speak.” (Luke 7:14-15) “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is
dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent
ye may believe.” (Luke 7:14-15) “Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection and the life and he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”(Luke 7:25-26)
“Martha... saith unto him, Lord... he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that if
thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone... and Jesus lifted up
his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me... And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a
loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and
his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44, Luke
7:39-44)
************
Christ’s Name
“For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that
I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (2 Nephi 27:23) “I am the firs and the last,
I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.” (D&C
110:4) “Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is non
other name given whereby men can be saved.” (D&C 18:23) “Thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his
name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
************
Jesus Prepared for His Mission
“Jesus gave thirty years preparation for less than three years work. Do you
wonder that his work lasts? Moses was eighty years in the tanner’s pit of
preparation. It is strange that his life wears to this day? The Apostle Paul
devoted three years to solitary meditation in the Arabian Desert before he began
his Christian work. Doesn’t that account for the enduring influence of his
epistles? The gospel of John was fashioned after more then half a century of
Christian experience and service, and even the critics cannot break it or wear it
out.” -George Henry Hubbard “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil, then saith Jesus unto him. Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered
unto him.” ( Matt. 4:1-11)
**************
The Condescension Of God
“Look and behold the condescension of God! And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world ... went
forth and was baptized... and the Holy Ghost came... and abide upon him... he went forth ministering unto the
people in power and great glory... they cast him out from among them... twelve others followed him... I beheld
the heavens open again, and .... angels descending upon the children of men: and they did minister unto them...
and I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes
of people who were... healed by the power of the Lamb of God... and he was taken by the people... judged of
the world... was lifted upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.” (1 Nephi 11:16)
**************

*************
Jesus Laid Down His Life That All May Live
“ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it
again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18) “I am the resurrection and
the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and
whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25, 26) “I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and I have the
keys of hell and death.”(Rev. 1:18) “If I ascend up into heaven thou art there; if I
make my bed in hell, behold thou art there... yea, the darkness hideth not from
thee, but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to
thee.” (Psalms 139:8,12)
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Christ Prepared the Way for Us
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his
hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the
garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Then
cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and
comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered
him.” (Matt. 3:11-15) “That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by
his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate.” (Heb. 13:12) “And
being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey Him.” (Heb. 7:25) “And if I go to prepare a place for you;
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3) “For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Pet. 3:18) “He that
has the Son hath life.” (John 5:12) “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John
3:14-15) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and He that believeth no the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” (John 3:36) “And this is life eternal that they might know the only
true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:13)
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Christ Arose From the Dead And Walked Among the Living
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews,
and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the
third day, and showed him openly, not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before, of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after He rose
from the dead.” (Acts 10:39-41) “And after eight days again his disciples were
within and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the door being shut and stood in
the midst, and said Peace be unto You, then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither
thy finger, and behold my hands: and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my
side: and be not faithless; but believing, and Thomas answered and said unto
him, my Lord and my God.” (John 20:26-28)
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Seek to Attain Worthy Goals
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14) “But seek ye first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (3 Nephi 13:33) “But before
ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” (Jacob 2:18)
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Grafted In Means Return To Christ
After the House of Israel is scattered around the world (so that the Gentiles will
receive the gospel), then “the natural branches of the olive trees, of the remnant of
the House of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the Messiah, their Lord and
their Redeemer.” -1 Nephi 10:14
**********
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And The Life
- unknown
He promised to return a second time,
to live among his people here on earth,
But He will come in power and great glory,
not as a child subject to a birth.
He will descend from heaven
with a host of resurrected beings,
to begin a reign of righteousness.
One thousand years of peace on earth,
free from any sin.
No man knoweth, neither do the angels,
When this shall come to pass,
but it is said that in this dispensation
Men of god will be raised up,
by whom the signs are read;
And if we will but heed advice and counsel,
Strive to use it well, this day of grace,
then surely we shall be among the numbers.
Who welcome him and meet him face to face.
For the kingdom of this world will yet become
The kingdom of our lord and his son,
And he shall reign forever in his glory,
The King of Kings, the Lord’s Anointed One.
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No Promise?
- unknown
We say he died, but is it true He is no more?
How cruel to assume there is no promise there –
No hope of resurrection.
Where do spirits go when life is done?
Are there no goals yet to be won?
Oh, surely there is life beyond
this earthly span, else why the bond
Between the Lord and mortals here?
Why this great need to feel Him near?
The answer lies within our kin; we seek but to return again
To Him who gave us chance to grow and prove
ourselves once more to know His love.
We bear this day of strife that we may gain Eternal Life.
************
Mary’s Agreement
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his
name JESUS... The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.... for with God
nothing shall be impossible... And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it
unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:30-38) “And Mary saith, My soul doth
magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God My Savior, For He hath
regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all
generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things,
and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:46-49)
***********
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Go, Pretty Child
- Robert Herrick
Go, pretty child, and bear this
Flower unto thy little Savior;
And tell Him, by that bud now blown,
He is the Rose of Sharon known,
When thou hast said so, stick it there
upon his bib or stomacher,
And tell Him for good handsel too,
That thou hast brought a whistle new,
Made of a clean straight oaten road,
To charm His cries at time of need,
Tell Him for coral, thou hast none,
But if thou hast, He should have one,
And poor thou art, and known to be
Even as moneyless as he.
*** **********
Knight of Bethlehem Song
- Henery Neville Maugham
There was a Knight of Bethlehem,
Whose wealth was tears and sorrows,
His men-at-arms were little lambs,
His trumpeters were sparrows;
His castle was a wooden cross,
Whereon He hung so high;
His helmet was a crown of thorns,
Whose crest did touch the sky.
***********
Faith for Tomorrow
- Thomas Curtis Clark
“Tomorrow, friend, will be another day”,
A seer, wise of old, was wont to say
To him who came at eventide, in grief
Because the day had borne no fruitful sheaf.
O Lord of Life, that each of us might learn
From vain todays and yesterdays, to turn,
To face the future with a hope newborn –
That what we hope for cometh with the morn!
***************
The Sign of the Second Coming of Christ
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in the heavens; and
then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of
Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matt.
24:30) Joseph Smith taught that the ‘glory of the Lord’s majesty’ is the
appearance of a comet or new star/planet; and a bright 48 hour period (a
day and night and day with no night), as it was on the night that he was
born. He stated “Then will appear the grand sign of the Son of Man in
heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a
comet, etc.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 287) Did you
know? A new comet/star named Elenin is coming right at the earth, and
will pass between the sun and the earth, causing the sky to appear as having two suns, and it’s slow passing Sept
21-23, will make Sept. 22, 2011 as the Day, night, and day with no night. It will be just as the night that the sign
appeared on the night the Lord was born!
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The Lord’s Day Comes As A Thief in the Night
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(Peter 3:10-12) “For the day of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations,
yea, upon everyone... who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.” (2 Nephi
12:12) “And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on
them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thess. 1:79) “Behold, I say unto you,
is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming.” (Alma 39:17) “Behold, the
great day of the Lord is at hand... Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the
Lord and offering in righteousness.” (D&C 128:24)
**************
Before the Lord Came to U.S. in 33A.D., there was great Earth Disruption
“And... I saw a midst of darkness of the face of the land of promise: and
I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings: and earthquakes, and all manner of
tumultuous noises: and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent: and
I saw mountains tumbling into places... the plains of the earth... were broken up;
and ... many cities... were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire;
and .... many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof. And
...after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness... passed from off the face
of the earth; and behold... multitudes who had not fallen because of the great
and terrible judgments of the Lord. And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb
of God descending out of the heaven; and he came down and showed himself
unto them.” (1 Nep. 12:4-6) These things are about to happen again, just before the Lord’s return.
****************
Sheep or Goats?
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered,
and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and
took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison,
and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say
unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me
not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or
sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
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Pride and Vanity Separate Us From God
“And the large and spacious building ... is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great
and terrible gulf divideth them [from the righteous]: yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the
Messiah who is the Lam of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until
this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.” (1 Nep 12:18)
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Christ is the Good Shepherd
Jesus taught: If ye love me, feed my sheep, for my sheep know my voice, and they
will follow me. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” ( John 10:27)
“Behold, I even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” (Ezekiel 34:11)
“Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the
sheep.” (John 10:7) “He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, Son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee, He
saith unto him, feed my sheep.” (John 21:16) “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not
want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; he guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you
are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before
me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup
overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the day of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever.” (Psalms 23:1)
*************
There Is A Highway To Heaven
“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold,
your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he
will come and save you.” “And an highway shall be there, and a way,
and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass
over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall
not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go
up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk
there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to
Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain
joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
(Isaiah 35:4, 8-10) “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I
am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a
family, and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jer. 3:14)
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Be Ready, I Come Quickly
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to
be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the
day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye
look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless". (2 Peter 3:13-14) “Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of Man cometh at
an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:40) “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of
his Father with his angels: and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
(Matt. 16:27) “Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take
thy crown” (Revelations 3:11)
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Most Abominable Church
“And... I beheld many nations and kingdoms... of the Gentiles. And... I saw among the nations of the Gentiles
the formation of a great church... which is the most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints
of God... and tortureth them and bindeth them down... with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into
captivity... and I beheld this great and abominable church... the devil ... was the founder of it.” And [the desires of
the leaders of it were to obtain] gold, silver, silks, scarlet, fine-twined linen and all manner of precious clothing:
and many harlots were in it. And for the praise of the world, this church destroys the Saints of God, and brings
them down into captivity... And because of her the wrath of God is upon the Gentiles.” (1Nephi 13:2-11) “The
great and abominable church... [has] taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and
most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away... [and] because of these things which
are taken away... an exceeding great many do stumble... Satan hath great power over them. (1 Nep. 13:24-29)
***********
***********
Jesus Will Save Us
“Be it known unto you all... that by the name of Jesus Christ.... is the stone which .... is become the head of the
corner. Neither is there Salvation in any other ; for there is none other name under heaven given among men
where by we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) “That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”(Romans 10:9-
10) “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) “I am
the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and
find pasture.” (John 10:9) “For the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which
was lost.” (Luke 19:10) “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and
saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18) “It was meet that we should be
glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found.”
(Luke 15:32) “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9) “For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans
5:10) “For the fullness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the
God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” (1 Nephi 6:4) “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by Him.” (Heb 7:25) “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (John 4:15)
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The Righteous are forgiven through Christ’s Sacrifice
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good
thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11) “But he giveth more
grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
(James 4:6) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
(John 1:17) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.” (Romans 3:24) “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But
where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20) “Behold, he who
has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no
more.” (D&C 58:42) “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) “In whom we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his
grace.” (Eph. 1:7) “Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father, and from the
Lord, Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:3) “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28) “May grace and peace be multiplied to in knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
(2 Peter 1:2) “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; thought they be red like crimson, they shall be white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
************
Faith Without Works is Dead
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou
hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew
thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he
had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which
saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and
not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-20)
*************

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Study the Scriptures
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable... for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction.” (D&C 33:16) “Receive, I
pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.” (Job 22:22) “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructions in righteousness.”
(2 Timothy 3:16) “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
(Psalm 119:105) “Heaven and earth shall not pass away but my words shall not
pass away.” (Luke 21:33) “Verily, verily, I say unto you he that heareth my
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24) “We
believe the bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we
also believe the Book of Mormon to be the world of God.” (Art. Of Faith 1:8)
“And again, the elders, priest and teachers of this church shall teach the
principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in
the which is the fullness of the gospel.” (D&C 42:12) “There-fore, when ye
shall receive this record, ye may know that the work of the Father has
commenced upon all the face of the land.” (Ether 4:7) “The law also makes you free.” (D&C 98:8) “I did liken all
scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” (1 Nephi 19:23) “I beheld that the rod of iron... was
the word of God which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of live; which waters are a representation
of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.” (1 Nep. 11:25)
*************
Seek Knowledge From the Best Sources
“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh
knowledge.” (Prov. 18:15) “To be learned is good if they hearken unto the
counsels of God.” (2 Nephi 9:29) “All wisdom, and all the arts and sciences in
the world are from God, and are designed for the good of his people.”
(Brigham Young, JOD, 13:147) “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability
of thy times, and the strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.”
(Isaiah 33:6) “And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life
through his diligence and obedience then another, he will have so much the
advantage in the world to come.” (D&C 130:19) “And when we obtain any
blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
(D&C 130:21) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness:
and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) “If ye keep my
commandments ye shall abide in my love.” (John 15:10) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
(Hosea 4:6)
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Reprove with Sharpness when the Spirit Directs
“Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy
Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards and increase of love toward him
whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy.” (D&C
121:43)
**********
Obey The Laws Of The Land
“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates,
and in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” (Art.. Of Faith 1:12)
“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of
men; and that he holds men accountable for their acts... both in making
laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.” (D&C
134:1) “Let them learn first to shew piety at home... for that is good
and acceptable before God.” (1 Timothy 5:4)
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*************
Who Shall Ascend Into the Hill of the Lord?
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands,
and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the
blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalms 24:3-5) “Purify your
hearts, and cleanse you hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean.” (D&C 88:74) And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philip 2:11)
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me (Christ) before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is
in heaven, but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in
heaven.” (Matt. 10:32-33) “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son
of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15) “For
whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the
son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the
father’s and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:25) “Be not then therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.” (2 Tim. 1:8) “My soul hath kept
thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.” (Psa. 119:167)
“Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the Father, but he that
acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also.” (1 John 2:23) “Whosoever
therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father
with the Holy angels.” (Mark 8:38) “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life.’ (Matt. 25:46) “Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation, that the
work may not come forth in this generation.” (D&C 10:33)
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Christ Will Cleanse Us If We Have Faith In Him
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God – purge your conscience from dead works to serve the
Living God?” (Hebrew 9:14) “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanseth
us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; Him hath God
exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sin.” (Acts 13:38; 5:31) “And whosoever is born of God
overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world – even our
faith.” (1 John 5:4) “I will heal their back sliding, I will love them freely.” (Hosea
14:4)
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Repent
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “Your
iniquities have separated between you and your God.” (Isa. 59:2) “He that
covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh, they
shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13) “Repent, ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out.” (Act 3:19) “All we, like sheep, have gone astray:
we have turned every one to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) “For the gate by which ye should enter is
repentance and baptism by water.” (2 Nephi 31:17) “The way is prepared for all
men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto
him.” (1 Nep. 10:18)
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Be Baptized
“And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is
not baptized, shall be damned.” (D&C 112:29) “For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27) “For behold, this is my church, whosoever is
baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in
my name; and him will I freely forgive.” (Mosiah 26:22) “Let us draw near to God with a
sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a
guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:22) “Wash
you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doing from before mine eyes; cease to do
evil.” (Isaiah 1:16) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee except
a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) “Having therefore
these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1) “See that ye are not baptized
unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness... and if ye do this and endure to
the end, ye will in nowise be cast out.” (Mormon 9:29) “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Peter 1:23) “The power of the Holy Ghost... is the gift of
God unto all those who diligently seek him... in times of old as in the time he should manifest himself unto the
children of men.” (1 Nephi 10:17) “Baptism was a law of the gospel, practiced by the Jews... Jesus demanded John to
‘suffer it to be so’ because it was necessary that He ‘fulfill’ the requirements of the laws of righteousness, baptism
[being] one of the eternal laws and commandments to which even the Savior of the world had to comply... it is not
compatible with the laws of heaven that one be exalted without obedience to these eternal laws. Although Jesus was
the Lawgiver, it does not permit Him the distinction of also being a lawbreaker. Obedience was a particular
requirement upon the Savior.” (Jesus Was Married, O.Kraut, pg. 16) “And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy,
should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being
unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5)
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Cleansed, Justified, Sanctified
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the
body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For
he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:3-7) “But ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the
Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11) “How shall we that are dead to sin live any
longer therein? Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:2,11)
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Mankind was Preordained to be Holy
“He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself...
[and thereby] of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted.... that in the
dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all
things in Christ... in whom also we have obtained an inheritance... in whom
ye also trusted... in whom ... ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit
of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption.”
(Ephesians 1:4-14) “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have
boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is so are we in this
world.” (1 John 4:17) “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? For thou
hast made him a little lower then the angels.” (Psalm 8:4-5)
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Receive the Holy Ghost
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem... and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.” (Acts 1:8) “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a
heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26) “For when they had prayed, the place was shaken
where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost
and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31) “But ye are not in the
flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. “But be filled
with the Holy Spirit or Ghost.” (Eph. 5:18 ) “And the disciples were filled with joy
and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52) “ And I will put my spirit within you and
cause you to walk in my statues, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
(Ezekiel 36:27) “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 13:52) “Now, if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him.” (Romans 8:9) “For prophecy came not in olden time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Peter 1:21) “But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) “Therefore, if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.”
(2 Corinth. 5:17) “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) “For behold, the Comforter knoweth all
things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son.” (D&C 47:17) “Ask the Father in
my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which
manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.” (D&C 181:18) “But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
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Take Righteousness Upon Self
“That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of
our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74-75) “Then shall the righteous
shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43) “For
he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a
celestial glory.” (D&C 88:22) “He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Rev. 21:7) “But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with
wings as eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31) “And inasmuch as ye impart of your
substance unto the poor, ye will do it unto me.” (D&C 42:31)
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Be A Good Example
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)
“Show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in
my hands unto the salvation of many souls.” (Alma 17:11) “Let your light so shine before
this people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven.” (3 Nephi 12:16) “Let them learn first to shew piety at home ... for that is good
and acceptable before God.” (1 Timothy 5:4)
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Do Not Fear
“Whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.” (D&C 10:55)
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) “In
God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” (Psa. 56:4) “There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear.” (1 John 4:18) “And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be
confounded.” (1 Nephi 22:22) “He will preserve the righteous by his power... even unto the destruction of their
enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear... they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.” (1 Nephi
22:17) “And he also testified ... that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear... but
that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord created all men, and had also redeemed all men.” (Alma
1:4) ************
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Let Joy Increase
“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:3) “Thou will show me the path of life; in thy presence is
fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasure forevermore.” –
(Psalm 16:11) “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice and
your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22) “These things have
I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your
joy might be full.” (John 15:11) “Let us cheerfully do all things that
lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost
assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be
revealed.” (D&C 123:17) “And I would exhort you, my beloved
brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.”
(Moroni 10:18) “Neglect not the gift that is in thee.” (1 Timothy 4:14)
“For of him whom much is given, much is required.” (D&C 82:3)
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Be Thankful Always
“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and
the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea,
more.” (D&C 78:19) “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thess. 5:18) “Live in Thanksgiving daily, for
the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.” (Alma 34:38)
“When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God: and
if ye do these things ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37)
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Elect are Sanctified by Obedience
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:2) “As obedient children, do not conform to the
evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” (1 Peter 1:14) “But be
ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
(James 1:22) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:10) “If a man
say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar for he that loveth not
his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen.” (1 John 4:20)
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Seek To Be Perfect
“Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in
heaven is perfect.” (3 Nephi 12:48) “Ye are not able to abide the presence of God
now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are
perfected.” (D&C 7:13) “It will take us ages to accomplish this end (perfection) for
there will be greater progress beyond the grave.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, D&C 2:18)
“And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle,
which is the bond of perfectness and peace.” (D&C 88:125) “If ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more than others?.... be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)
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Work Out Salvation With Fear & Trembling Before The Lord
“O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the
name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in
times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling before him.” (Mormon 9:27)
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Patiently Endure Trials
“And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph
over all thy foes.” (D&C 121:8) “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But
rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall
be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13) “If ye then be
risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth,
for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:1-3) “And you hath
he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins and hath raised us up together
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:1,6) “Who His
own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“For all those things hast mine hand made .... saith the Lord; but to this man will I
look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2) “My people must
be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them.” (D&C 136:31) “Thou
shalt forget thy misery, and remember it is as waters that pass away.” (Job 11:16) “My son peace be unto thy
soul; thine adversity and thine affliction shall be but a small moment.” (D&C 121:7) “And they did submit
cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” (Mos. 24:15) “A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) “Do all things without murmuring and disputing.”
(Philippians 2:14) “Thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.” (1 Nephi 3:6)
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Bear Much Good Fruit
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples.” (John 15:7-8) “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” (Gal. 5:22-23) “Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my
name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16) “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16)
*************
Do Much Good
“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every
place you can, at all times you, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.” – J.
Wesley “If thou wilt do good, yea and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved
in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 6:13)
“Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you: succor
the weak, lift up the hands which hand down and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C
81:5) “And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility,
answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the
word of God with all diligence.” (Jacob 1:19) “And behold, I tell you these things that
ye may learn wisdom: that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow
beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:1,7) “For not the hearers of the law are just before God,
but the doers of the Law shall be justified.” (Romans 2:13) “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30)
“He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life
or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto
you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.” (Helaman 14:13) “And whatsoever shall seem
good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.”
(Ezra 7:18) “And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the
glory of him who is your Lord.” (D&C 81:4) “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:29) “And shall
come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the
resurrection of the unjust.” (D&C 76:17) “Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also
reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.” (D&C 6:22) “But behold, that which is of
God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good,
and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.” (Moroni 7:13)
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Keep The Commandments
“For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3) “Break off thy sins by
righteousness, and then iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor.” (Daniel 4:27)
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.” (Prov. 14:29) “Ponder the
path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established for good.” (Prov. 4:26)
“And ye must practice virtue and holiness before continually.” (D&C 46:33)
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ... He shall receive the blessings of
the Lord.” (Psalms 24:4-5) “Therefore the life became a probationary state; a
time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state.” (Alma
12:24) (of a virtuous woman): “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her
paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17) “For all who will have a blessing at my hands
shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing.” (D&C 132:5) “I
would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy stat of those that keep the commandments of
God... and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God
in a state of never-ending happiness.” (Mosiah 2:24 ) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us.” (Hebrews 12:1) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy
4:7) “Keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.”(D&C 6:6) “Honor thy
Father and Mother; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
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Love One Another
Jesus said: Love one another as I have loved you. “See that ye love one another with a pure heart
fervently.” (Peter 1:22) “Love your neighbor as yourself, and do good unto
those that spitefully use you. “By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples – if ye love one to another.” (John 13:35) “We know that we have
passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, he that loveth not
his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:14) “Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Ephesians 5:25) “But
charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found
possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (Moroni 7:47) [God]
“maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of
children.” (Psalms 113:9) “And now, if God, who has created you, on whom
you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant
unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, I’m faith, how ye ought to impart of
the substance, that we have one to another.” (Mosiah 4:21)
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Pay An Honest Tithing
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse; that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the
windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:20) “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed
me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” (3 Nephi
24:28) “Those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest
annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever.” (D&C 119:4) “And
of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Genesis 28:22)
“A man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and
of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is
most holy unto the Lord.” (Lev. 27:28)
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Native Americans Scattered
“And ... I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise, and I
beheld the wrath of God... was upon... my brethren: and they were scattered
before the Gentiles and were smitten.” (1 Nephi 3:14)
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Teach the Children
“Ye will teach (your children) to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another,
and to serve one another.” (Mosiah 4:15) “Yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and
humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little
children.” (Mor. 8:10) “Wherefore, teach it unto your children, that all men
everywhere, must repent, or they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God: For no
unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence: For in the language of Adam,
Man of Holiness is his name; and the name of his only begotten, is the Son of Man,
even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge which shall come.” (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:57)
“They did not fear death;... they had been taught by their mothers that if they did not
doubt God would deliver them.” (Alma 56:47) “Children, obey your parents in the
Lord; for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1) “But I have commanded you to bring up your
children in light and truth.” (D&C 93:40) “And ye shall teach your children, speaking of
then when thou settest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou
liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 11:19)
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The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth
The weak things of the earth shall break down the strong. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt.
5:3-12; 11:29, Num. 12:3; Zeph. 2:3; Psalms 37:11) “Men drinketh damnation to their own souls, except they humble
themselves, and become as little children, and believeth that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the
atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent: for the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been, from the fall of
Adam, and will be, forever and ever; but if he yieldeth to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural
man, and becometh a saint, through the atonement of Christ, the Lord, And becometh as a child, submissive, meek,
humble, patient, full of love willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child
doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:18-19) The meek are those who plant seeds and take care of them.”
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Hope
“How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?” (Moroni 7:40) “And if
ye have no hope, ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.”
(Moroni 10:22) “Wherefore men must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the
place which thou hast prepared.” (Ether 12:32)
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Be Contented
11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I
am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know
how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things
through Christ which strengthened me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
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Believe in Christ and Receive Everlasting Life
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” (John 3:16) “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God,
believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions... I go to
prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3) “I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not
that I am he – ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
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The Articles of Faith
(1) “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
(2) “We believe that all men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”
(3) “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the Gospel.” (PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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Great And Marvelous Works
“Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable
are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find
out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him;
wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.” (Jacob 4:8) “For in that
day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a
marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not
believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.”(3 Nephi 21:9) “A great and
marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men.” (D&C 6:1,
11:1, 12:1, 14:1) “And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and
marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw
them not.” (Ether 12:5) “And it came to pass that when my father had read and
seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the
Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy
throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over
all the inhabitants of the earth, and because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that
they shall perish!” (1 Nephi 1:14) “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning
that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come
forth among you.” (Mormon 8:34) “Therefore, great and marvelous
works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming day
when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.
Yea, even among the Gentiles shall there be a great and marvelous
work wrought by them, before that judgment day.” (3 Nephi 28:31-32)
“And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children
of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their
tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous
things, even great than he had revealed unto the people, and he loosed
their tongues that they could utter.” (3 Nephi 26:14)
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Little Children are Innocent
“But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of
Jesus Christ.” (D&C 74:7) Children, obey your parents in all things; for
this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20) “Little children do
have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and
the learned.” (Alma 32:23) “Suffer the little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14)
“And when he had said these words he wept... and he took their little
children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for
them.” (3 Nephi 17:21)
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Mysteries Of God
Those who desire to know of the mysteries of God can learn of them. “I... having great desires to know of the
mysteries of God did cry unto the Lord; and behold, he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all
the words ... spoken by my Father. And ... the Lord spoke unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of
thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and
the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in
times of old and... as in times to dome: wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round.” (1 Nep. 10:19-20)
“But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his Kingdom which he showed unto us,
which surpasses all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion.” (D&C 76:114)
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(4) “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the
gift of the Holy Ghost.” (PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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Share the Gospel
“We preach, warning every man in all wisdom: that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Col.
1:28) “A true witness delivereth souls, but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.” (Prov. 14:25) “Lift up your voices
unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and ye shall not be confounded.” (D&C
100:5) “For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matt. 10:20) “And the
Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the spirit ye shall not teach.” (D&C
42:14) “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom: yea seek ye out of
the best books words of wisdom: seek learning, even by study and
also by faith.” (D&C 88:118) “For though I preach the gospel, I
have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me: yea, woe is
unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:16) “Let (a
man) stand up full of the Holy Ghost, full of the power of God,
and though he may use words and sentences in an awkward style,
he will convince and convert more... then can the most polished
orator destitute of the Holy Ghost.” (Brigham Young, JOD 4:21)
“We are told to go trusting in the name of the Lord, and He
would take care of them and go before them, and that his spirit
should go with them, and his angels accompany them.” (John
Taylor, JOD 14:189 ) ‘And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)
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Make Covenants of Sacrifice
“Gather my saints together unto me: those that have made a covenant with me by
sacrifice.” (Psalm 50:5) “Offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) “Verily I say unto you, among all them who know their hearts
are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their
covenants by sacrifice – yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command – they
are accepted of me.” (D&C 97:8) “Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give
unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith... that she stay herself and partake not of that
which I commanded you to offer unto her, for I did it... to prove you all... that I
might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.” (D&C 132:51)
“For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant and if ye abide not
that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be
permitted to enter into my glory.” (D&C 132:4) “And [they]... made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the
Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their souls,
to perform the words of this covenant what were written in all this book. And all
the people stood to the covenant.” (2 Kings 23:3) “Search diligently, pray always,
and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk
uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with
another.” (D&C 90:24) “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee
and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a
God unto thee, and thy seed after thee.” (Genesis 17:7) “Behold, I say unto you
that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a
new and an everlasting covenant, even that which is from the beginning.” (D&C
22:1) “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting
covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my
sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore.” (Ezekiel 37:26) “I have read these
things [to you] that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he
has covenanted with all the house of Israel.” (2 Nephi 9:1)
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(5) “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophesy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are
in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”
(6) “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.” (PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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Fast and Pray Often
“To Fast: to voluntarily refrain from eating or drinking for the
purpose of drawing closer to the Lord and requesting his
blessings. When individuals... they should also pray to
understand God’s will and to develop greater spiritual strength.” –
(The Guide to the Scriptures, lds.org, 2011) “And now, my beloved
brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the
Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of
his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls
as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and
endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.” (Omni
1:26) “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands
on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:3) “And the church did
meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.” –
(Moroni 6:5) “I humbled my soul with fasting.” (Psalm 35:13) “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose
the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every
yolk?” (Isaiah 58:6) “Appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: shall reward thee
openly.” (Matthew 6:18) “And this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with
singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or in other words, that thy joy may be full.” –D&C 59:13
“And let the lower part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering, and for your
preaching, and your fasting, and your prayer, and the offering up of your most holy
desires unto me, saith your Lord.” (D&C 95:16) “Behold, I have fasted and prayed
many days that I might know these things for myself. And now I do know of myself
that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy
Spirit. (Alma 5:46) “And they did ... continue in fasting and prayer, and in meeting
together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.” (4 Nephi 1:12)
“Nevertheless, they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their
humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling of their souls with
joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts,
which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”(Helaman
3:35) “But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must
not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the
Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that
thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” (2 Nephi 32:9)
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Give Your Problems To the Lord
“When you place your yoke – the past, the thing that harnesses you to the pain and suffering you’ve
endured – at the feet of Christ and take up his yoke – forgiveness – you will find rest. You can find
healing in the power of forgiveness. This is the only thing that can bring lasting healing to your life,
and when you have experienced the forgiveness of a loving God, you will understand the power of
forgiveness.” (Brian Mackert -Illegitimate, How God Rescued a Son of Polygamy, pg 280)
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Do Not Gossip
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (Proverbs
18:8) “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof.” (Matthew 12:36) “Strengthen your
brethren in all your conversations.” (D&C 108:7) “they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house...
tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” (1 Tim. 5:11-13)
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(7) “We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so
forth.”
(8) We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of
Mormon to be the word of God.”
(9) We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal
many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”
(PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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* * * * * * * * ** * *
Do Not Procrastinate to Prepare
“Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called
today.” (D&C 64:25) “Behold, I say, is there one among you who is
not stripped of envy? I say unto that such an one is not prepared;
and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close
at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such
an one is not found guiltless. And again I say unto you, is there
one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that
heapeth upon him persecutions? Woe unto such an one, for he
is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent, or he
cannot be saved!” (Alma 5:29) “And now, my brethren, I wish from
the innermost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my
words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” (Alma 13:27) “And now, as
I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not
procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare
for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness
wherein there can be no labor performed.” (Alma 34:33) “For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of
your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth
seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you,
and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you, and this
is the final state of the wicked.” (Alma 34:35) “But behold, your days of
probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until
it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; year, for ye
have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain;
and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary
to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” (Helaman 13:38) “And ye may
know that the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled; and
ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the children of Israel. And ye need not imagine in
your hearts that the words which have been spoken are vain, for behold, the Lord will remember his
covenant which he hath made unto his people of the house of Israel. And when ye shall see these sayings
coming forth among you, then ye need not any longer spurn at the doings of the Lord, for the sword of his
justice is in his right hand; and behold, at that day, if ye shall spurn at his doings he will cause that it shall
soon overtake you.” (3 Nephi 29:2-4) “Therefore be ye also ready: for in
such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 24:44) “And
while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready
went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came
also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord open to us. But he answered
and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye
know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” –
Matt. 25:10 “Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps
trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the
coming of the Bridegroom – for behold... I come quickly.” (D&C 33:17-18)
“And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself,
neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke
12:47) “And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had
repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they
would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.” (3 Nephi 8:24) “I made haste, and delayed not to
keep thy commandments.” (Psalm 119:60) “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he
hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.” (Eccl. 5:4) “When thou shalt vow a vow unto
the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and
it would be sin in thee.” (Deut. 23:21) “Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits... the firstborn
of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.” (Exodus 22:29)
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Trials Make Us Stronger
“You that have not passed through the trials and persecutions and drivings,
with this people, from the beginning, but have only read of them, or heard
some of them related, may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder
that the Saints survived them at all. The thought of it makes your heart sink
within you, your brains reel, and your bodies tremble, and you are ready to
exclaim, 'I could not have endured it.' I have been in the heat of it, and I never
felt better in my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more
copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They
appeared nothing to me" (Brigham Young, JOD, Vol. 1, pg. 313)
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Sons of God
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalms 82:6) “But as many as
received Him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name.” (John 1:12) “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be;
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see him as he is, and every man that has this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.” (John 3:2) “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to
the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but
if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that
we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:11-17)
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the son of God, without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” (Phil. 2:15)
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Heralded Event – The Lord’s Coming
“When Moses led Israel out of bondage, giving them God’s revelations and laws, he pointed ahead to the
time when a great “Prophet” would come among them, who would be ‘like unto me’. (Deut.18) This grand
even was to be heralded by heaven itself – the guiding star, the night as day, and messages delivered by
angels; thus confirming and fulfilling these ancient prophesies upon the child Jesus.” (Rabbi Jesus, O. Kraut,
1969, pg 11) “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like
unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deut. 18:15) Jesus taught “Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: A
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me.” (3 Nephi 20:23)
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The Day of Judgment
“Because He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
(Acts 17:31) “But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same
word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Peter 3:7) “It is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this is the judgment.” (Heb. 9:27) “For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things
done in his body ... whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinth. 5:10) “So then
everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) “God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
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Christ Is Our Judge
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the LORD Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
and his Kingdom.” (Timothy 4:1) “In the Day when God shall
judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my
gospel.” (Romans 2:16) “And he commanded us to preach unto
the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God
to be the Judge of the quick and the dead.” (Acts 10:42) “For the
Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto
the son.” ( John 5:22)
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Sinners Will Not Be Allowed In Heaven
“Now is the judge of this world: now shall the Prince of this World be cast out.”
( John 12:31) ‘He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the
beginning, for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) “Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness
or peril, or sword? Nay, In all these things we are more then conquerors
through them that loved us.” (Romans 8:35) “And then shall the wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his coming; even him whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” (2 Thess. 2:8-9)
“And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my
word.” (3 Nephi 15:18) “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1
Sam. 15:22) “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself and he shall be beholden with the cords of his
sins.” (Prov. 5:22) “And now, I say unto you ... that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if
ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken that ye do withdraw yourselves from the
Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s path.” (Mosiah 2:36) “Now, the
spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving
of them which believe and know the truth.” (1Timothy 4:1-3)
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Shun Things of the Devil
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) “Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is,
the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14) “To open their eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18) “He [the devil] was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him... he is
a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) “Submit yourselves therefore to God;
resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God and he will draw
night unto you.” (James 4:7-8) “Sanctify them through thy truth.” (John 17:17)
“He that doeth truth cometh to the light.” (John 3:21) “Truth shall spring out
of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” (Psalms 85:11) “He that speaketh truth
shewth forth righteousness: but a false witness, deceit.” (Proverbs 12:17) “Woe unto the liar, for he
shall be thrust down to hell.” (2 Nephi 9:34)
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(10) “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New
Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that
the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” (PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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Plan of Salvation
“Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was
laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no
resurrection of the dead.” (Alma 12:25) “But God did call on men...
(this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: if ye will
repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you,
through mine Only Begotten Son.” (Alma 12:33) “For behold, this is
my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal
life of man.” (Moses 1:39) “And now, behold, I say unto you: this is
the plan of Salvation unto men, through the blood of mine only
Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.” (Moses 6:62)
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Pride Causes One To Be Destroyed
“Otherwise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who
preach false doctrines ... for they shall be thrust down to hell.” (2 Nephi 28:15) “Oh that ye would listen unto the
word of his commands, and let not his pride of your hearts destroy your souls.” (Jacob 2:16) “Behold, are ye
stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not, ye are not prepared to meet
God.” (Alma 5:28) “That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but
when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain
ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls
of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the
heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it
is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” (D&C
121:37) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world.” (1 John 2:15-16) “Only by pride cometh contention.” (Prov. 13:10)
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Just Think
- Roy Lessin
You’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else - you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that his grace can’t give you.
He has allowed you to be here at this time in history
To fulfill His special purpose for this generation.
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The Bible - Covenants of God
“The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord,
which he made unto the house of Israel; and it also contains many of the prophecies of the holy
prophets; and it is a record like unto ... [those] which are upon the plates of brass, save there are
not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord... wherefore, they are of great
worth unto the Gentiles... and when it proceeded forth ... it contained the fullness of the gospel of
the Lord... and the great and abominable church [took] away ... many parts which were plain and
most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away... and it goeth forth
unto all the nations of the Gentiles... even across the many waters.... [and] an exceedingly great
many do stumble... Satan hath great power over them.” (1 Nephi 13:23-29)
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(11) “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and
allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”
(12) “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, and in obeying, honoring, and
sustaining the law.” (13) “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to
all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul – We believe all things, we hope all things,
we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or
of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” (PoGP, The Articles of Faith, LDS Church)
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Instructions to the Elect
- 2 Timothy 2:1-26 (Paraphrased)
(1) Be strong in the Lord’s grace, and trust him in all things.
(2) Teach the gospel of Christ, and find others to help you.
(3) Endure difficulties with patience.
(4) Pay no attention to worldly affairs, the world is not your paymaster.
(5) Strive to master your own sins with faith and diligence.
(6) Partake of the Spiritual blessings often.
(7) The Lord will give thee understanding of all things.
(8) Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to pay for all our sins.
(9) The word of God is not bound, remember this even when suffering trouble,
even when in prison.
(10) Endure all things for the Elect’s sake, that they may also obtain salvation in Christ, that they may also
obtain eternal glory.
(11) Those who die in the Lord’s service, will also rise and live with Him.
(12) If we suffer before we die, we will also reign in the heavens with him. If we deny
him before we die, he will deny us after we arise.
(13) If we do not believe in Him, he will abide faithful to us, therefore we will be judged
for our lack of faith, and punished for it.
(14) Of these things remind all the Elect, charging them that they content not about the
word or law of God, for this will not profit them, but it may subvert the hearts of those
listening, and cause them to have to be chastened for their lack of conversion due to
their actions.
(15) Study the words of God that you may be a worthy worker, able to rightly give the
word to others.
(16) Do not use profane and vain expressions (babble) for they increase
ungodliness.
(17) The words of the ungodly eat away the righteous as a canker.
(18) The ungodly use partly truthful and partly incorrect teachings in their
doctrine, causing many faithful to fall away from the church.
(19) Nevertheless, the Kingdom of God stands sure, having the Lord’s seal
and approval. The Lord know those who are His. Therefore, let all those
who bear the name of Christ depart from sin and iniquity.
(20) Upon the earth (one of God’s great houses) the people (vessels of God’s
spirit and love) are mixed. Some people are as gold, or silver, and others as wood or soil. Some people are
honorable, some dishonorable.
(21) If a man purge himself of iniquity and sin, he will be a vessel that is honorable, approved by God,
sanctified (cleansed by him), and then will be acceptable for the Master’s use,
prepared in every good work.
(22) Leave behind youthful lusts, and seek righteousness, faith, charity, peace, and
associate yourself with all they who call upon the Lord with a pure heart.
(23) Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they cause strife and hurt
feelings.
(24) A servant of God does not contend with others, but be kind to all people,
teach them, and be patient with them.
(25) In meekness instruct those who oppose themselves (are contradictory);
perchance God will bring them to see things differently, and they will repent,
acknowledging the truth of the matter.
(26) Help others to remove themselves from the snare of the Devil, who were taken
captive and are held by him at his will.
*************

Poems about God
*************
I See
I see my Heavenly Father
when I look at Jesus,
Just as Jesus is the same yesterday,
today and forever;
So also my Father never changes.
His will was healing then,
and his will is healing forever;
So I say, ‘Let your will be done,
dear Lord!”
**************
Thank You, God
- Edgar A. Guest
Thank you, God, for miracles in gloomy things,
storms and snow,
Thank you for the poems in forests and fine rain
that in its silver sings.
Thank you, God, for grass with voice of green
and minty spring,
Thank you for the stones that live in silence
and wait for a butterfly's white wings.
This old world of problems does not seem so bad
when I have You to walk beside me and see
Your beautiful earth things.
******************
Creation
- Author Unknown
God never made a fish with fins until
He made an ocean to swim in.
God never made a bird until He made
An atmosphere for it to fly in;
And God never put the longings for immortality into a soul
Until he made a Heaven to satisfy those longings.
***************
God’s Plans
- Elizabeth S. Williams
God’s plans are like the ocean –
Varied as the winds that fall
All are products of his wisdom,
All are subject to His call,
Not a breeze that stirs the tempest
Or a sparrow down doth fall
But our Heavenly Father knoweth
For he watches over all.
***********

**********
The Ten Commandments
(Exodus 20:2-17)
(1) I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of slavery; Thou shalt not have any other
gods before me.
(2) Thou shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down to
them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the
fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast
love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep
my commandments.
(3) Thou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not forgive
they who misuse his name.
(4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your
work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you,
your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in
your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
(5) Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be
long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
(6) Thou shalt not commit murder.
(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(8) Thou shall not steal.
(9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor.
(10) Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not
covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or
donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
****************
See also Deuteronomy 5:6-21
***************
Dewdrops
- Dorothy Purdy
Dew Drops sparkling on my thorn tree, whispered
“His grace is sufficient for thee.”
Love made them into a necklace of prayer.
Thank you, Lord.
***********
The Gate of Heaven Is Open To Believers
“Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus
Christ.” (Helaman 3:28) “Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name.” (Mosiah 26:18) “I say unto
you, that there shall be no other name given, nor no other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the
children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For behold, he judgeth, and his
judgment is just.” (Mosiah 1:16)
**************

* * * * * * * * * * *
It Is No Secret What God Can Do
- Stuart Hamblen (1952)
The chimes of time ring out the news - Another day is through
Someone slipped and fell - Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength - Your courage to renew
Do not be disheartened -For I have news for you
It is no secret what God can do -What He's done for others,
He'll do for you, with arms wide open, he'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do, there is no night for in His light
You never walk alone - always feel at home
Wherever you may go
There is no power can conquer you
While God is on your side
Take Him at His promise
Don't run away and hide
It is no secret what God can do
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do.
TRIVIA: The title for this song is thought to have been taken from a chance
remark that actor John Wayne once made to Staurt Hamblen. The writer
then proceeded to complete the song in under ten minutes.
**************
I Believe
I believe that my God is; He is alive.
He is powerful, and He is a rewarder;
If I live in line with His word, I will receive
All the benefits He has provided for me.
365 Days of Healing – Mark Brazee
**********
Choose to be Well
My father has given me authority to choose
what to allow or forbid in my life.
So I choose to allow only God’s thoughts
in my mind and His divine health in my body.
365 Days of Healing – Mark Brazee
*************
Repent to obtain Grace & Mercy
“Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardenth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through
mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins, and these shall enter into my rest.” (Alma 12:34)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:19) “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21) “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty, might be rich.” (2 Corint. 8:9) “So then
it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16)
*********
Have Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:11) “Yea,
and how is it that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so
be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.” (Nephi 7:12) “According to
your faith, be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:29) “If you will have faith in me, ye shall have power to do
whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” (Moroni 7:23)
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

**************
Love of God
By. W. L.
I love thee, and thy holy name
To me is dearer far, than even life;
Thou great Jehovah, even still the same;
In thy calm bosom there's no burning strife:
But in this heart is held a conflict dire,
Between my love for thee, and passions' power;
Passions which burst like Etna's towering fire,
And threaten my destruction in an hour,
And then shoulds't thy lov'd spirit cease to strive—
Where were my hope? no anchor to the soul,
No helm to guide; tempest wild would drive
My tottering bark, beyond weak man's control.
But thou art ever gracious, ever kind:

Thy gentle hand to man is stretch'd out still,
Thy spirit calms the anguish of his mind,
And guides him by thy wise and sovereign will;
Compels him not, by arbitrary pewer,
But gently leads him on in wisdom's ways;
Showes him the errors of his former course,
Illuminates his path by heavenly rays.
Who but must love the Parent faithful friend
And tho' e'en life is dear, yet love the more;
Love, praise, and serve thee, always to the end,
And trust in thee, till sorrows are no more.
Published in Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 270
**************
What the Lord Hates
(Proverbs 6:16-19)
These six things doth the LORD hate:
yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
1. A proud look, 2. A lying tongue,
3. And hands that shed innocent blood,
4. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
6. A false witness that speaketh lies, and
7. He that soweth discord among brethren.
*****************
I Delight to Do Thy Will
“I delight to do thy will, Oh my God, Thy Law is within my heart.” (Palms 40:8)
***** ******
God Wants Us To Believe In Christ
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered
and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29)
“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)
***********

************
Joy Cometh In the Morning
- Mary E. Harrington
Nights can be long and lonely
Filled with such anguish and pain
But joy cometh in the morning
Like sunshine after the rain.
Sometimes your heart can be aching
Filled with such grief and sorrow,
Bringing hope for the morrow.
For God hath not always promised
Sunshine and blue skies above,
Bringing God’s peace and His love.
They say it always seems darkest
In the hours before the dawn,
Giving us faith to go on.
Thus we should trust Jesus always
Give Him each sorrow and pain.
For joy cometh in the morning
Like sunshine after the rain.
***************
Only Trust Him
- Author unknown
GOD knows your secret longings,
He knows your silent tears,
and even within the shadows
His hand is on your fears.
When your head is on the pillow
in the wee hours past midnight,
just trust that GOD is with you
somewhere within your room this night:
Watching, never sleeping,
He tends your fragile care,
and in the quiet hours a vigil keeping
He breathes for you a prayer.
*******************
The Power of God
-Harold F. Mahn
He gives me faith within myself,
When it seems all in vain,
He gives me hope to battle on
And help my goals attain,
He gives me faith and inner strength,
When I fell great despair
And since I place my trust in Him.
My life’s no longer bare.
**************
He’s With Us
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end
of the world.” (Matt. 28:20)
*************

************
My God is the Creator
My God is the Creator of the Universe;
And He upholds all things by the word of his power.
He is the God who heals his people;
And He is the God who is able and willing to heal me!
*************
I Believe
I believe that what God says will come to pass;
I don’t just hope to receive what I pray for;
I know that when I pray according to God’s will;
I receive whatever I have asked for.
*************
We Were Given Life
My Heavenly Father doesn’t put sickness on me;
He only gives me life; and He wants me to be well;
I walk in the health and abundant life my Heavenly Father has given
to me. -365 Days of Healing, Mark Brazee
**********
Faith pleases God
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
***************
I Choose to Hear
I choose to hear God’s words and accept His will – which is my
healing. I will not allow doubt and unbelief to keep me from
receiving blessing from God. -365 Days of Healing, Mark Brazee
***************
The Natural Man
“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of
Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of
the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint
through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child,
submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all
things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth
submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19) “Agree with thine enemy while thou
art in the way with him.” (Matt. 5:25,26)”
*************
Blessed Be The Name
"Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have
joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God." (Moses 5:1)
***************
Good Night
Good night! Good night!
Far flies the light;
but still God’s love shall shine above,
making all bright.
Good Night! Good night!
- Victor Hugo
*********

*************
Bless This House
- Words and Music by Helen Taylor,
and May H. Morgan (aka Brahe) , 1927
Sung by Perry Como
Bless this house, Oh Lord we pray
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimneys tall
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless this door that it may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright
Letting in God’s heavenly light.
Bless the hearth, a-blazing there
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all that we may be
Fit Oh Lord to dwell with thee.
Bless us all that we, one day, may dwell
Oh Lord, with thee.
************
The Morning Offering
- Monastery of the Precious Blood, Manchester, New Hampshire
O Jesus, in union with your most precious blood poured out on the cross
and offered in every Mass, I offer you today my prayers, works, joys, sorrows
and sufferings for the praise of your Holy Name and all the desires of your
Sacred Heart; in reparation for sin, for the conversion of sinners, the union
of all Christians and our final union with you in heaven.
************
Peace and Rest
“Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” – Heb. 12:14
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me... and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” -Matt. 11:29
*************
LORD God Omnipotent Reigns
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and... as many waters, and as ... mighty thunderings, saying,
Halleluiah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.” (Rev. 19:6) “I say unto you, that there shall no other name
[be] given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and
through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17) “And behold, when that time cometh, none
shall be found blameless before God, except... little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of
the Lord God Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:21) “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe... we know
of their ... truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought
a mighty change in us... that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do
good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2) “For behold, the time cometh... that with power,
the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all
eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell
in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles...
and curing all manner of diseases.” (Mosiah 3:5) “And God spake unto Moses,
saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am
without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?” (Moses 1:3)
************

**************
Recessional
- Rudyard Kipling
God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
*************
Priesthood Power
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: And whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; And whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:29 (JST) “Then Peter said; ‘silver and gold
have I none, but such as I have give I thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
rise up and walk’.” (Acts 3:6) “This Priesthood is not for the honor of men... but it is
imparted to man in order that he may be made the medium of salvation to others.” –
(John Taylor, JOD 24:35) “The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency
and his power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to
administer in spiritual things.” (D&C 107:8) “The rights of the priesthood are ...
connected with the powers of heaven, and... the powers of heaven cannot be controlled
nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.” (D&C 121:36) “[The] Priesthood continueth in the
church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.” (D&C 84:17)
***********
Receiving Answers To Prayer
Nephi indicated these are the steps to proper communication with the Lord: (1) Desire to know the
things of righteousness; (2) Believe in your heart that the Lord is able and willing to make them known
unto you; (3) Ponder the questions in your heart, then pray for answers; (4) Allow yourself to be carried
away by the spirit (relax); (5) Listen to the answer given; (6) Believe in the words of God, and be obedient
to them; and (7) Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that he is able to do all things. (1 Nephi 11:1-)
***********

**********
Pray Always To Avoid Temptation
We should pray always – so that we don’t fall into temptation and be lost. The
devil has no power over us, only as we permit him. (Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith, pg. 181) “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and
pray always lest ye enter into the temptation, for Satan desireth to have you, that
he may sift you as wheat.” (3 Nephi 18:18) “Watch ye and pray, least ye enter into
temptations. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38) “But ...
humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and
pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear and
thus be led by the Holy Spirit.” (Alma 13:28) “Blessed is the man that resisteth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord
hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12) “The Lord knoweth how to
deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of
judgment to be punished.” (2 Peter 2:9) “Let no man say when he is tempted ‘I
am tempted of God’: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he
any man.” (James 1:13) “Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves
– to choose the way of ever-lasting death of the way of eternal life.” (2
Nephi 10:23) “You will find that those who wait till the Spirit bids them
pray will never pray much upon the earth.” (Brigham Young, Discourses of
BY, pg 44) “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me
diligently and ye shall find me. Ask and ye shall receive: knock and it
shall be opened unto you.” (D&C 88:63) “Call unto me, and I will
answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest
not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may
be accounted worthy to escape all these things shall come to pass.” (Luke
21:36)
************
If Thou Art Prepared
“For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world. You must
prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and
required of you.” (D&C 78:7) “If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out
thine hands toward him; if iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not
wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without
spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget
thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be
clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee,
and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” ( Job 11:13-18)
**********
Talk It Over With God
- Helen Steiner Ricer
You’re worried and troubled about everything,
Wondering and fearing what tomorrow will bring ~
You long to tell someone for you feel so alone,
But your friends are all burdened with cares of their own.
There is only one place and only one friend
Who is never too busy and you can always depend
That He will be waiting with arms open wide
To hear all your troubles that you came to confide ~
For the heavenly Father will always be there
When you see Him and find Him as the Altar of Prayer.
*************
Praised Be the God
“Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavens.” (Ephesians. 1:3)
************
***********
Mercy, Pity, Peace & Love
For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love, is God, our Father dear; and Mercy, Pity, Peace,
and Love is man, His child and care. “For Thy mercy is great above the heavens;
and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.” (Psa. 108:4)
************
Generational Blessings
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear
Him. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear
Him, and his righteousness unto their children’s, children.” (Psa. 103:11, 17)
************
Prayer
- unknown
Many of us loose confidence in prayer
because we do not realize the answer,
We ask for strength, and God sends us
difficulties which makes us strong.
We pray for wisdom, and God sends us problems
the solution of which develops wisdom,
We plead for prosperity, and God gives us
brain and brawn to work.
We plead for courage, and God gives us
dangers to overcome.
We ask for favors and God gives us opportunities.
(1 John 3:21,22)
************
Prayer
- unknown
Pray often and pray sincerely, have you ever knelt down to pray,
and after addressing deity, wondered if you had turned off the
light, wound up the clock, made a certain phone call? Well,
stop right there because your mind is too cluttered with earthly
things to converse with God.
Get up check your light, make your phone call, wind the clock,
and then kneel again in humidity, when ready, and have a heart
to heart talk with your Father in Heaven.
**********
Exercise Your Agency Correctly, or Be in Bondage
“That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity,
according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man
may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.” (D&C 101:78)
“Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for
yourselves – to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal
life.” (2 Nephi 10:23) “Wherefore men... are free to choose liberty and
eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity
and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.” (2 Nephi 2:27)
“And I gave unto them their knowledge in the day that I created them; and
in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency.” (Moses 7:32) “Behold,
the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine
honor... and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me
because of their agency.” (D&C 29:36) “Satan... sought to destroy the agency of
man, which I, the Lord God, had given him... I caused that he should be cast
down.” (Moses 4:3)
**********

****************
To The Twelve Apostles
“O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important Key -
that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds,
imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven;
that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the
brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether
in Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any
other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in
this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and
floundering, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent
blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All
other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy
Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren.”
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 156)
**************
Be Hot or Cold
Jesus said I would that ye be hot or cold because
when you are in between, I will spew you out of my mouth. “ The wicked
shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forgot God.” (Psalm 9:17)
**************
I Knew It, I Believe It
I know it, I believe it, and it is so –
Jesus was resurrected – He is King of Kings.
**************
Autograph
- Marion Shoeberlein
God wrote His autograph upon the sky last night,
In the stars I never saw a signature so bright!
With the dawn again for Watchers to behold -
He wrote His name in sunlight – An autograph of gold!
*****************
Darkness or Light is our Choice
“They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the
noonday as in the night.” ( Job 5:14)
*************
Only A Moment
-Caroline S. Kalowice
It only takes a moment
To utter a silent prayer,
To kneel with understanding
To proclaim the soul is aware;
Only a little moment.
But, oh, how rich it be
When thoughts go reaching
Towards God’s Love
And His gift comes back to me.
(Published in Parish bulletin,
Poet’s Corner, Garnder, Mass. 2007)
*********

***********
DIRECTIONS HOME
“As for my and my house we will serve the Lord.”
DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER’S HOUSE

1. Make a right turn onto Believeth Blvd.
2. Keep straight and go through the green light, which is Jesus Christ.
3. There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith,
which takes you over troubled waters.
4. When you get off the Bridge, make a Right turn and keep going Straight.
(You are now on the King’s Highway – and Heaven – bound).)
5. Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son,
and One for the Holy Ghost.
6. Then exit off onto Grace Blvd.
7. From there, make a Right turn onto Gospel Lane.
8. Keep going straight and then make another Right Turn onto Prayer Road.
9. As you go on your way, make sure that you DO NOT YIELD
to any of the traffic on Temptation Avenue.
10. Also, make sure that you avoid Sin Street, because it is a DEAD END!
11. Also make sure to not deviate to the bad side of town where these streets are: Envy Drive,
Hate Avenue, Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Land, and Backbiting Blvd.
(Note: If you find yourself on any of these: make a U-turn in the middle of road,
and back track, through Repent Street.)
12. Along the way you will need to travel on Long-Suffering Lane, Persecution Blvd, and
Trials and Tribulations Avenue.
13. But that’s all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead!
May You Be Victorious in your Endeavors!!!!
(Send all these directions to your friends and family so they

will not get lost along the way.) (author unknown)
**************
Give Your Life To God.
Life is God’s gift to you. The way you live it.... is your
gift to God.
**********
All Comforts and Mercy Come from God
“Blessed be God... the Father of mercies, and the God of
all comforts.” (2 Cor. 1:3) “Who is a God like unto thee,
that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of
the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever,
because he delighteth in mercy.” (Micah 7:18)
**********

***********
Thou Art Near
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
O Love Divine, that stoop'd to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitt'rest tear,
O Love Divine, we smile at pain
while Thou art near.
Though long the weary way we tread,
And sorrow crown each ling'ring year,
No path we shun no darkness dread,
Our hearts still whisp'ring, Thou art near!
Love Divine, that stoop'd to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitt'rest tear,
O Love Divine, on thee we cast
each earthborn care.
When drooping pleasure turns to grief,
And trembling faith is turn'd to fear,
The murm'ring wind, the quiv'ring leaf
Shall tell us softly, Thou art near!
O Thee we fling our burd'ning woe,
O Love Divine, forever dear,
Content to suffer, while we know,
Living and dying, Thou art near!
***********
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we
stand, as in what direction we are moving. (Oliver W. Holmes)
************
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894) was an American physician, writer, poet, and
the father of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. He is regarded by
his peers as one of the best writers of the 19th century, his most famous prose works are
the ‘Breakfast-table’ series (1858). He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, educated
at Phillips Academy and Harvard College. After graduating from Harvard in 1829, he
briefly studies law then turned to the medical profession. He was the first son of Abiel
Holmes, minister of the First Congregational Church, and named for his maternal
grandfather, a judge. He began writing poetry at an early age. His famous poem ‘Old
Ironsides’ was published in 1830. Following training at the prestigious medical schools
of Paris, he was granted his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1836. He
taught at Dartmouth Medical School before returning to teach at Harvard, and for a time
served as Dean there. He retired from Harvard in 1882, and continued writing poetry,
novels, and essays until his death in 1894. When he was young, he was small and
suffered from asthma, but was known for his precociousness. He enjoyed exploring his
father’s library, where he learned to love poetry, and began composing his own verse as a
child, his first recorded poem was written down when he was 13. He was enrolled in a private academy called ‘the Port
School,’ a select private academy in the Cambridge Port settlement. At age 15 he was sent to Phillips Academy in
Andover, Mass. at the age of 15 because his father hoped his oldest son would follow him into the ministry, however
Holmes had no interest in becoming a theologian. A short man, being five feet three inches tall when standing in a pair of
substantial boots, he wasn’t interested in sports or the military, instead he aligned himself with the Aristocrats or
Puffamaniacs (a group of students who gathered together to smoke and talk). Soon, one of his teachers noted his talent
for poetry, and after turning 16, he was accepted by Harvard College. His academic studies were divided among law,
medicine, and writing. At 1830 he began writing poetry on his own, and soon produced several volumes of poetry. He
wrote medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs, and table-talk books.
************
As a Man Thinketh
As a man thinketh, so is he. “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he.” (Prov. 23:7)
“Look unto me in every thought.” (D&C 6:36)
*************

****************
All For God
- Author unknown
Give all to God!
Remember yet that God gave all to you.
Whate’er you are or have
the debt to Him is justly due;
The home that nursed the love that warmed
Blue Sky and fragrant sod.
Whate’er has blessed or thrilled or charmed
All are but gifts of God.
Give all to God - He is the spring of
all you most admire.
The source of every glorious thing
That human hearts desire.
The hope for which you’ve learned to live,
The friends for whom you pray;
God should ask, Oh, gladly give!
And trust Him to repay.
**************
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
- William Cowper (1774) Christian Song, - John 3:17
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
************
The Crown of the House
The crown of the house is Godliness –
The beauty of the house is Order –
The Glory of the House is hospitality –
The blessing of the house is contentment.
- Old Inscription
*************

***************
Blind
- John Kendrick Bangs
Show me your God the doubter cries.
I point him out the smiling skies;
I show him all the woodland greens;
I show him peaceful sylvan scenes;
I show him winter snows and frost;
I show him waters tempest-tossed;
I show him hills rock-ribbed and strong;
I bid him hear the thrush's song;
I show him flowers in the close
The lily, violet and rose;
I show him rivers, babbling streams;

I show him youthful hopes and dreams;
I show him stars, the moon, the sun;
I show him deeds of kindness done;
I show him joy, I show him care,
And still he holds his doubting air,
And faithless goes his way, for he
Is blind of soul, and cannot see!
***************
The Loveliest Sight
- Grace V. Watkins
More beautiful than April hills where cello winds are blowing,
Then wide-horizoned prairie fields,
where emerald wheat is growing,
Are families where the peace of God, his glory and His praise,
Are luminous in every hour, along the path of days!
***************
Only Trust Him

- Myrtle Rose Law
Yonder tree stands so tall, I fear it will break
When the wind comes blowing from over the lake.
The waves pound so high I fear they’ll delay
The ship I see coming way out in the bay.
My Child loves adventure;
I fear he will fall prey to evils that
overtake youths in their earliest day.
So I fret. The tree still stands tall,
the ship rides safely in the harbor,
and my child grows strong and does not fall.
Be still, fear not, trust God.
*************
Trust God
“But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy
works.” (Psa. 73:28) “In God I have put my trust, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” (Psa. 56:4)
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my
song.” (Isaiah 12:2) “Preserve me, O God, for in thee I do put my trust.” (Psa. 16:1) “But... it mattereth not
– we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the
hands of our enemies.” (Alma 58:37) “They shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say...
Ye are our gods.” (Isa. 42:17)
**********
**************
God’s Word Lives in Me
God’s word lives in me, so I’m always ready to give
God’s word to someone with a need.
I speak the Word, knowing that that power in the word
produces faith in me and everyone who hears it.
**********
The Anvil- God’s Word
- Nicholaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1703-1791)
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,
And heart the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed--the hammers gone.
**************
Crime and Punishment
- Kahlil Gibran
“...often times have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though
he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your
world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the
highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot fall
lower than the lowest which is in you also....” “...And if any of you would
punish in the name of righteousness and lay the ax unto the evil tree, let him
see to its roots; And verily he will find the roots of the good and the bad, the
fruitful and the fruitless, all entwined together in the silent heart of the earth.”
*************
I Think that God Is Proud
- Grace Noll Crowell
I think that God is proud of those who bear a sorrow bravely –
Proud indeed of them who walk straight through the dark
to find Him there, and kneel in faith to tough His garment’s hem.
Oh, proud of them who lift their heads to shake away the tears
from eyes that have grown dim; who tighten quivering lips and turn to take the
only road they know that leads them to Him.
How proud He must be of them – He who knows all sorrow,
and how hard grief is to bear! I think He sees them coming, and He goes with
outstretched arms, and hands to meet them there, and with a look, a touch of
hand on head, each finds his hurt heart strangely comforted.
***********
Jesus Was Married
“Jesus was often called ‘Rabbi’, which being interpreted, means ‘Master’, which He did not deny. (See John 1:38,
Mark 9:5, 11:21, John 1:49, John 1:38, 4:31, 9:2, 11:8). This was an office, title or position of ‘teacher’, which was highly
honored by the Jews... a title of prestige and social respect.... He acknowledged the title without dispute... it was
against the traditional and scriptural law for a Rabbi to remain single. Jesus could only have avoided this pitfall by
obeying the Rabbinical law of marriage.” (Jesus Was Married, O.Kraut, pg 14-15)
***********
*************
A Parallel
- Louise Pinkerton Fritz
The boundless fields arrayed in greenish green,
The valleys through which flow turbulent streams
The mountain high majestic, yet serene,
These are indicative of life.
We see good days with spacious skies of blue,
Tread valleys where sometimes seem
A naught can soothe to find with in
The mountain peak of truth -
God, sustainer of all life.
************
Sometimes We’re Not Aware
- Marion Shoeberlein
Sometimes we're not aware of things,
The wind chimes in a tree that sings,
The first snowfall that casts a spell,
We plod along our tired way,
Not seeing beauty in each day,
Not recognizing God at all,
In everything, both great and small.
Then suddenly He wakes us from
A long sleep of ignoring Him,
He nudges us with trials of pain,
So that we see His love again.
Renewed once more we are aware
Of his great power everywhere –
Then all the world is new and bright –
We see God in a different light!
*************
The Bible Is Missing Some Parts
“Thou seest that after the book (Bible) hath gone forth through the hands of the
great and abominable church that there are many plain and precious things
taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God. And after
these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the
nations of the Gentiles... even across the many waters ... [with] the Gentiles
which have gone forth out of captivity ... [and] an exceedingly great many do
stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.” (1 Nephi 13:28-
29; see also 1 Nephi 13:34)
************
The Fullness of the Gospel was Brought to the Gentiles
“Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that
awful state of blindness... because of the [missing] plain and most precious parts of
the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church...
[for] I will be merciful unto the Gentiles... in that day... I will bring forth unto
them... much of my gospel... For... I will manifest myself unto thy seed [native
Americans], that they shall write many things... which shall be plain and precious...
and behold these things shall... come forth unto the Gentiles.” (1 Nephi 13:32-35)
****************

Poems about
Family &
Parenting ***************
Your Name
- Edgar A. Guest
It came from your father,
It was all he had to give;
So it's yours to use and cherish,
As long as you may live.
If you lose the watch he gave you,
It can always be replaced;
But a black mark on your name,
Can never be erased.
It was clean the day you took it,
And a worthy name to bear;
When I got it from my father,
There was no dishonor there.
So make sure you guard it wisely,
After all is said and done,
You'll be glad the name is spotless,
When you give it to your son.
*****************
A Child’s Prayer
- unknown
Father, we thank thee for the night
And for the pleasant morning light.
For rest and food and loving care
And all that makes the world so fair.
Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good,
In all we do, in all we say,
To grow more loving every day.
**************

***************
That Wonderful Mother Of Mine (1918)
- written by Walter Goodwin, Clyde Hager;
performed by Eddy Arnold (1850-1920)
The moon never beams

Without bringing me dreams
Of that wonderful mother of mine.
The birds never sing
but a message they bring
Of that wonderful mother of mine.
Just to bring back the time,
that was so sweet to me;
Just to bring back the days,
when I sat on her knee. Caroline Matilda
Larson
Mother’s Mother
Chorus: You are a wonderful mother,
dear old mother of mine
Edith Kaziah Hancock
You’ll hold a spot down deep in my heart
My mother
‘Till the stars no longer shine.
You soul shall live on forever
On through the fields of time
For there’ll never be another to me
Like that wonderful mother of mine.
I pray ev'ry night to our Father above,

For that wonderful mother of mine.
I ask Him to keep her as long as He can
That wonderful mother of mine.
There are treasures on earth,
that make life seem worthwhile,
But there's none can compare
to my mother's smile.
(Song sang at my mother’s mother’s funeral)
*************
Carol Neil, Edith Hancock, Sarah Sibson, Esther Jones

*************
A Father’s Day Poem
-unknown
A Dad is a person who is loving and kind,
And often he knows what you have on your mind.
He’s someone who listens, suggests, and defends,
A dad can be one of your very best friends!
He’s proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient, and helpful and strong.
In all that you do, a dad’s love plays a part.
There’s always a place for him deep in your heart.
And each year that passes you’re even more glad,
More grateful and proud just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad – for listening, and caring,
For giving and sharing, but, especially, for just being you!.
*************
A Father Like You
-unknown
I just want you to know you mean the world to me
Only a heart as dear as yours would give so unselfishly.
The many things you’ve done, all the times that you were there,
Helps me know deep down inside how much you really care.
Even though I may not say it, I appreciate all you do
So richly blessed is how I feel for having a father just like you.
**********
Awesome Dad
-Jill Lemming
When I think about my father, and the years we’ve had to share
I’m thankful just to know that his love is always there.
Through the crazy days of youth and now that I’m mature
The special bond between us is still strong and will endure.
And though he’s growing older, he grows sweeter with each year
My ‘knight in shining armor’, I’m so glad to have you here!
***********
Listen to your Father
“Hear, ye children, the instructions of a father, and attend to know
understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1) “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth
with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not?” (Heb.12:7) “He that hath knowledge spareth his words, and a
man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” (Prov. 17:27)
************
Advice to Fathers
“And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) “And ye
shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father, yea, your joy shall be full,
even as the Father hath given me fullness of joy, and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father, and the
Father and I are one.” (3 Nephi 28:10) “A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.” (Deut.
22:30 ) “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the
fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deut. 24:16) “The work of a man shall he render unto
him.” (Job 34:11)
*************

Dearest Names
LDS Children’s Songbook, pg 208, words and music by
Frances K. Taylor
I know a name, a glorious name,
dearer than any other!
Listen, I'll whisper the name to you,
It is the name of Mother!
Mother, so tender and kind and true,
I love you! I love you!
Mother, so tender and kind and true, I love
you!
I know a name, a glorious name,
Edith K. Hancock
dearer than any other!
Listen, I'll whisper the name to you...
It is the name of Father!
Father, so noble and brave and true,
I love you! I love you!
Father, so tender and kind and true, Joseph H. Hancock
I love you!
*************
Frances Kingsbury Thomassen Taylor (1870-1952) studied piano and organ at the University of Utah and Columbia.
She was a prominent as an early childhood educator and songwriter in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. She served as
Secretary of the Primary General Board in the LDS Church 1910-1918, and was a long-time organist for her LDS
ward. She authored an entire volume of ‘Kindergarten and Primary Songs’, which was published by Deseret Sunday
School Union, and is best remembered for the Primary song above and ‘I’m so glad when daddy comes home’.
**********
I Love You Mother
I love you mother, said little Nell
I love you more than tongues can tell.
Then teased and pouted for half the day
Till her mother rejoiced when she went out to play.
I love you mother, said little John
Forgetting his work, his cap went on.
Then he was off to the garden swing
Leaving his mother the wood to bring
I love you mother, said little Ann
Today I'll help you all I can
Then stepping softly she took the broom
Swept the floor and tidied the room.
I love you mother, again they said
Three little children all going to bed. Esther and her 4 children
Now which one do you suppose really
Loved Mother the most?
**********
Affectionate
“A woman’s whole life is a history of the affections.” –Washington Irving
************

************
Mother
- Velma West Sykes
At the door of the angel of life there sounded a knocking,
first, very faint, then growing louder and
more insistent. Opening the door, the angel saw on
the threshold a woman, pale with pain, but with a
look of expectant joy in her eyes.
‘I am here’, she said triumphantly. ‘I have come for

my child, give it to me quickly, for it is a long
journey, and a hard one, and my strength may be
exhausted before I return’. ‘Wait’, said the angel
slowly. ‘Your child is here – a beautiful girl.
But first, you must pay for her.’

‘Pay you?’ the woman faltered, ‘but I have little
money and we shall need it for her.’ ‘I have no use for
money’, answered the angel, ‘but I must have a little of
your health, and a great deal of your time, some of your
peace of mind, and at least half of your heart.’
Without hesitating, the woman handed him the things

for which he asked, and the angel turned away
and returned with the child. The woman clasped
her eagerly in her weak arms, then bravely set out
for the land from which she came.
As she moved to go, the angel placed on her

head a crown. She turned in surprise, ‘this
is my gift to you’, said the Angel of Life. ‘It is
the Crown of Motherhood, which will recompense
you for the things that you have given up.’
***************
Days When I Am Sewing
- Elaine V. Emans
A thousand things remind us of our mothers –
But days when I am sewing you return
Most easily: in the mystery of laying
A tissue pattern out to best advantage,
In the scissors clean bite of the crispy goods,
The basting (thank you for insisting on it),
The stitching, and the ultimate delight
Of seeing garments grow to perfect fit.
Some mothers come back best in poetry
Or music, or good laughter, or in gardens-
But, days when I am sewing, I admit
I never can be certain whether my
Hands happily repeat the tricks you taught,
Or these are your hands, come alive in me.
***********

************
Poem In A Pocket
- Gladys McKee
Blue suits and red suits, all size two;
White suits and striped suits, anyone would do
Till day before yesterday, quick as a rocket,
He discovered that some suits have a pocket.
The world that had owned him, now he could own;
Gaily he plucked at it, leaf, blade and stone;
Boldly he swaggered, head held high;
He had a secret, had gold set by.
He is farther from one, I find today;
The time till he’s two seems a shorter way
As he looks at his suit with an anxious glance,
And his smile breaks through and his blue eyes dance,
Seeing a pocket, waiting, wide, dreaming a whole
New world to hide.
My heart is a needle, my thread is his dream,
Lord, help me sew a sturdy seam.
************
Is there A Perfect Mother?
-Dr. Joyce Brothers
I suppose every woman holding her newborn baby
makes a silent vow. “This will be a perfect child. And
I’m going to be a perfect mother.” Sooner or later,
though, she’s faced with the fact that she hasn’t quite
earned the four gold stars... the moment of truth may
come the first time her....[child] howls, “You’re a mean
mommy. I hate you!”... despite all her good intentions,
she’s been irritable and impatient once again. Are
there, then, no perfect mothers? Probably not. For the
very good reason that there are no perfect people....
take a long-range view... Don’t imagine that your job is
to keep a child from ever feeling anxious, guilty,
rejected ... don’t agonize over your failures...Have
respect for your job... motherhood is sometimes made
to seem less important ... than running a corporation
or practicing law. But no job is more demanding,
more creative, more ultimately worthwhile than
producing a healthy, happy child.... A good mother is
good on her own terms, not anybody else’s. If you
love baking bread and hooking rugs, it needn’t matter
to you that ...[a neighbor or friend] has a part-time job.
.. [and] you shouldn’t feel guilty about serving store-
bought cookies. Because the more you do what makes
you happy and fulfilled, the better the chances are that
you’ll be an almost perfect mother.
***********
Sustainer
“The woman who creates and sustains a home, and
under whose hands children grow up to be strong and
pure men and women is a creator second only to
God.” –Helen Hunt Jackson
**********
************
The Gifts
- Elaine V. Emans
So graciously you took the gifts I brought
To you in childhood, praising them until
I felt all generous inside, I thought
That nothing else I might have made would fill
Your wishes for a present. Now I know,
Finding the things I cut and sewed and pasted
Saving in a box, how poor they were, but oh,
Your queenly taking of them was not wasted
Upon the little girl who would have given
The crescent moon you loved, gift-wrapped and tied,
And any star you wanted out of heaven,
Had she a ladder tall enough. Denied
Glamour, her offering was never dull
To her when you declared, “It’s beautiful!”
**************
Time-ly Terms
(and what they mean at our house)
-Wilma Garvin
Sec: As used by our teenage daughter doing her hair: “I’ll be
finished in a sec, Mother.” Translation: 20 to 40 minutes.
Before a date, 60 to 90 minutes.
Jiffy: As used by appliance repairmen: “Don’t worry about it,
lady. I can have this dishwasher fixed in a jiffy.” Translation:
Six hours minimum at $7.50 an hour.
Tomorrow: As used by husband: “Al right, all right, Wilma!
I’ll carry the porch furniture up to the attic tomorrow.”
Translation: Four to six months later, if at all.
Right Away: As used by 16-year-old son when called for
dinner: “Okay, Mom, I’ll be there right away.” Translation:
Right away.
*************
Mother’s Nap
- Barbara A. Jones
Do mothers take refreshing naps of afternoons? I’d say perhaps
They do until a noise below resembling a rodeo breaks out; until
they hear the crash of potted plant or window-sash;
They do until they hear the roar of sudden internecine war.
Do mothers get to shut an eye on afternoons? Oh, well, they try.
************
Tropical Disturbance
-Barbara A. Jones
Today the teen she sent to school was placid as a summer pool;
But now, at quarter after four, a tempest’s coming in the door.
What alien wind has whipped this squall with fury grown-ups can’t recall?
And what solution? Tact, of course and seeking gently for its source,
And sympathy. A ready ear, or should one really interfere?
But such a very violent blast! Well, now...
What’s this? She sings? Its’ passed.
*************

************
Dreamer
- Barbara A. Jones
I know what perfect days are like:
They’re days when Bud brings in his bike,
Goes to the dentist willingly,
Has neither bleeding thumb nor knee;
When Susie, clean of pinafore,
Brings home a good report at four,
When pie-crust, budget, hair-do, mood
Know flawlessness. When quietude
Is on all things. Oh, yes, I know
What perfect days are like; and so
I go on hoping, like a dunce,
That one might happen to me, once.
***********
Itinerary
- Jean Carpenter Mergard
There are those who yearn to wing through space
Or over distant highroads trace
New routes; but neither would I pick
To compare with a train wheels’ giggling click,
Or whistle’s toot, as the sign is given
For ‘all aboard’ from a child of seven.
There are those whose homes stay spic and span;
And a table turned or an ottoman
On its side would rouse their sharp despair,
With gasps of horror fore every chair
Lines crookedly down the living room.
But they, alas, couldn’t know the zoom
Of our engine’s speed, or the trick of punching
Our crayoned tickets, or the laugh of laughing
With the engineer at a town called Fun.
For we can clean when our trip is done;
And love in a home on a chair-train ride
Will travel beyond what the years divide.
***********
Defeat
- Barbara A. Jones
I know the puppy’s very new,
And I know that he’s lonely too –
But puppy’s place is in the shed,
And not with you, deep down in bed.
Tears will not move me – not at all,
Not even though he’s soft and small,
And knows you when you come from play;
The shed’s his place, and there he’ll stay, because...
Yes, he has lovely soft big paws,
And yes, I love his ears that flop...
Now, mind: not underneath! On top.
(With you he can sleep.)
*************

*************
Ten Questions Parents Should Answer Correctly If
They want their children to have confidence in them.
- Von Haller Gilmer
1. Are you babying the child, rather then encouraging him to do things
for Himself?
2. Are you making his life tensed rather than relaxed?
3. Are you giving out more disapproval then praise?
4. Are you pushing the child beyond his abilities rather then realizing his
limitations?
5. Are you aloof rather then friendly with the child.
6. Are you riding the child on his weaknesses rather than trying to
improve them?
7. Are you holding up a superior child as an example rather then
comparing the child to someone nearer his own abilities?
8. Are you settling an “I can’t” example rather than exhibiting self-
sufficiency yourself?
9. Are you overly protecting the child rather then teaching him
responsibilities?
10. Are you letting the child withdraw from situations he or she should
be made to face?
************
A Little Neglect May Breed Great Mischief
- Benjamin Franklin
“For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was
lost. For want of a horse, the rider was lost. For want of a rider, the
battle was lost. For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost, and all for
the want of a horseshoe nail.”
*************
Outwitted
- Edwin Markham
“He drew a circle that shut me out –
Hectic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him in!”
*************
Train Up A Child
“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when
he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)
**************
Cradle Song
- Lord Alfred Tennyson
What does little birdie say In her nest at peep of day?
Let me fly, says little birdie, Mother, let me fly away.
Birdie, rest a little longer, Till thy little wings are stronger.
So she rests a little longer, Then she flies away.
What does little baby say, In her bed at peep of day?
Baby says, like little birdie, Let me rise and fly away.
Baby, sleep a little longer, Till thy little limbs are stronger.
If she sleeps a little longer, Baby too shall fly away.
************

***********
No Charge
- Shirley Ceasar
My sister's little boy came in the kitchen one
evening while she was fixing supper and he handed
her a piece paper he had been writing on and after
wiping her hands on an apron, she took it in her
hands and read it and this is what it said:
For mowing the yard $5
And for making up my own bed this week $1
For going to the store $.50
And playing with little brother while you went
shopping $.25
Taking out the trash $1
And for getting a good report card $5
And for raking the yard $2
Total owed $14.75
Well she looked at him standing there and expecting and a thousand memories flashed through
her mind, so she picked up pen and turned the paper over and this is what she wrote:
For the 9 months I carried you holding you inside me
$ NO CHARGE
For the nights I sat up with doctored you
and prayed for you
$ NO CHARGE
For the time and tears and the costs through the years
There is NO CHARGE
When you add it all up the full cost of my love is
$ NO CHARGE
For the nights filled with grey and the worries ahead
For the advice and the knowledge and the cost of your college
$ NO CHARGE
For the toys, school, and clothes, and for wiping your nose
There's NO CHARGE son
When you add it all the full cost of my love is NO CHARGE
* * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * *
Daily Inventory
- taken from House to House, Heart to Heart
When evening comes, go off into a quiet place and review your day,
Have you been kind and thoughtful or mean and thoughtless?
¨ Have I kept an even temper, or have I lost my temper when things
went wrong? ¨ Have I been pleasant or grouchy?
¨ Have I inspired those whom I have met, or have I depressed and
discouraged them? ¨ Have I done something creative and worthwhile,
or have I wasted the day with petty things? ¨ Have I been fair and square
in all I have done? ¨ Have I increased the happiness in the lives of
others, or have I thought only of myself?
What we do day by day determines what we become.
Hour by hour we build our lives for better or worse.
A daily inventory will help keep us on the right tract,
headed toward our highest ideals and goals.
***********

****************
Oh I Had Such A Pretty Dream Mama
- J.S. Lewis
Oh, I had such a pretty dream, mama,
Such pleasant and beautiful things;
Of a dear little nest, in the meadows of rest,
Where the birds her lullaby sings.
Of a dear little nest, in the meadows of rest
Where the birdie her lullaby sings.
A dear little stream full of lilies
Crept over the green mossy stones;
And just where I lay,
its thin sparkling spray
Sang sweetly in the delicate tones.
And just where I lay,
its thin sparkling spray
Sang sweetly in delicate tones.
And as it flowed on toward the ocean,

Thro’ shadows and pretty sunbeams,
Each note grew more deep, and I soon fell asleep,
And was off to the Island of Dreams.
Each note grew more deep,
And I soon fell asleep, and was off to the Island of Dreams.
I saw there a beautiful angel,
With crown all bespangled with dew:
She touched me and spoke, and I quickly awoke,
And found there dear mama ‘twas you.
She touched me and spoke, and I quickly awoke:
And found there dear mama, ‘twas you.
*************
There is no Higher Authority
- Joseph F. Smith
“There is no higher authority in matters relating to the family
organization, and especially when that organization is presided over
by one holding the higher Priesthood, than that of the father. The
authority is time honored, and among the people of God in all
dispensations it has been highly respected and often emphasized by
the teachings of the prophets who were inspired of God.”
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church, pg. 381)
**************
The Rocking Chair
- Unknown
I couldn’t count the sleepless night
I spent in the rocking chair,
But I’d never trade those precious times
I had with my baby there.
***********
Cherished Times
- Unknown
As much as I long for quiet times when the children are fast asleep,
The memory of them when they’re awake are the ones
I will cherish and keep.
**********

***********
Messenger of Peace and Love
- Unknown
A babe in a house is a well-spring of pleasure,
A messenger of peace and love:
A resting place for innocence on earth;
A link between angels and men:
Yet is it a talent of trust,
A loan to be rendered back with interest;
A delight, but redolent of care;
Honey-sweet, but lacking not the bitter.
For character groweth day by day,

Esther and Caroline White
And all things aid it his unfolding,
And the bent unto good or evil may
Be given in the hours of infancy;
Scratch the young rind of a sapling,
Or wantonly twist it in the soil,
And a scarred and crooked oak will
Tell of thee for centuries to come;
So it is with the teachings of youth, Daniel White

Which make impressions on the mind
And heart that are to last forever.
Johnathan White The highest function of the teacher
Consists not so much in imparting
Knowledge as in stimulating the pupil
In its love and pursuit.”
- Henri Frederick Amiel,
Swiss Philosopher
Samuel White
James White
Elizabeth White Denise Medeau Jones

***********
MOTHER
(The original lyrics were written in 1915
- Howard Johnson)
M Is for the many things she gave me,

O means only that she's growing old.
T Is for the tears she shed to save me,
H Is for her heart of purest gold.
E Is for her Eyes with love light shining,
R Means right and right she'll always
be.
Put them all together, Edith Hancock
T. Esther Jones They spell MOTHER.
A word that means the world to me.
(This Song was sung at my Mother’s Funeral)
************
Grandmother Caroline
Matilda Larson
************
A Sussex Legend
- Charles Dalmon
Above the place where children play
A window opens, far away,
For God to hear the happy noise
Made by his little girls and boys.
************
Children Learn What They Live
Children learn by what they live.
**********

**************
Are You There?
- Strickland Gillilan
I like to play close by my father's den,
Where he's at work, and every now and then
Ask: "Father, are you there?" He answers back:
"Yes, son." That time I broke my railroad track
All into bits, he stopped his work and came
And wiped my tears, and said, "Boy, boy! Be game!"
And then he showed me how to fix it right,
And I took both my arms and hugged him tight.
Once, when I'd asked him if he still was there,

He called me in and rumpled up my hair,
And said: "How much alike are you and I!
When I feel just as boys feel when they cry,
I call to Our Big Father, to make sure
That He is there, my childish dread to cure.
And always, just as I to you, ‘Yes, son';
Our Father calls, and all my fret is done!
*************
The Little Chap Who Follows Me
- Unknown
A careful man I ought to be;
A little fellow follows me;
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he'll go the self-same way.
I must not madly step aside,
Where pleasure's paths are smooth and wide,
And join in wine's red revelry--
A little fellow follows me.
1 cannot once escape his eyes:
Whatever he sees me do he tries--
Like me, he says, he's going to be;
The little chap who follows me.
He thinks that I am good and fine,
Believes in every word of mine;
The base in me he must not see,
The little chap who follows me.
[ must remember as I go,
Through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I'm building for the years to be,
A little fellow follow me.
***********
Christ Had Children
“And if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine
elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you
stay with us? And if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison... and thine
enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb... know thou, my son that all these things shall
give thee experience... the Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” (D&C:122:6-8)
***********

*************
A Day
- William L. Stidger
What does it take to make a day? A lot of love along the way.
It takes a morning and a noon, a father's voice, a mother's croon;
It takes some task to challenge all the powers that a man may call
His own: the powers of mind and limb; a whispered word of love;
a hymn of hope--a comrade's cheer - a baby's laughter and a tear;
It takes a dream, a hope, a cry of need of brotherhood and love;
A purpose sent from God above;
it takes a sunset in the sky,
The stars of night, the winds that sigh;
it takes a breath of scented air,
A mother's kiss, a baby's prayer;
that is what it takes to make a day;
A lot of love along the way.
***********
Song To A Skillet
-Gladys McKee
Since you and I, at twilight, are usually together,
And having faced the stormy and the sunny weather
Of seven in the morning and seven in the night,
I polish words to praise you as one recaptures light
For memory. I set them down that I may not forsake
Laughter in the doorway, and “Smells like steak!”
And as fair as moonlight I treasure more than money,
Kisses for gold pancakes, and
“Please pass the honey.”
Although you are inanimate and
cannot speak a word,
These and oh, so many more,
we have shared and heard,
That hanging you upon a hook in just a half a minute,
All this happiness come back, and there within it,
My sigh of satisfaction, and all my heart wishes,
As love asks at my shoulder; “Done with the dishes?”
************
A Woman’s Way
- Jane Merchant
When her teen-age daughter has a broken heart,
A woman sets to baking a luscious cherry tart.
When her son’s team loses, a woman bakes
A chocolate cake, or spicy gingerbread.
When the crops are scanty, when the bills are high,
A woman smiles her brightest and bakes and apple pie.
Sympathy for sorrow, solace for mistakes,
Go into the mixing when a woman bakes.
*********

************
Mother’s Hands
- Pearl S. Buck
I remember she used often to look somewhat ruefully at her hands,
those beautiful, useful, roughened hands of hers, so strong in the
palm, so unexpectedly delicate and pointed in the fingers; not small
hands, but having spare and well-shaped lines. It was always her plan
that one day when would stop plunging her hands into this and that;
when was going to wear gloves when she gardened and use cold cream
and have really ‘nice’ hands. She loved the white hands of ladies, the
skin soft and smooth and the nails pink and tapering. But if she ever
remembered to put on gloves, as sometimes once in a long time she
did, sooner or later they would off and she would be grubbing about
in the earth, looking up to say apologetically, ‘I seem to have to feel the roots are right. They won’t grow
otherwise. And I do like the feel of the earth!”...
How can I give a true picture of her life, bound as it was by the necessity for the most
rigid economy so that every newspaper even was saved for what its use might be in the
house, economy that might have crushed a spirit less stout! My memory of her is of
someone always marvelously fresh and pretty, although when I examine it I see that
she wore the same dresses year after year. But she could twist a ribbon in such a way
or so pin a flower at her throat that she looked as though she wore a new gown.
There was that air about her. I remember that she had a large old tin box in the attic
where she put every hat, I believe, she ever owned, when it grew past use, and every
flower of silk or bit of ribbon. Twice a year she cried gaily. “We must go to Paris to
buy our hats for the season!”
And with great ceremony we went to the attic and opened the tin box and out of it
by means of her skillful fingers hats were made for herself and the two girls. Nor do
I remember any sense of discontent with what she fashioned. If anything her hats
were prettier than any I saw elsewhere, and had style. She might have been, if she
had not been what she was, a first-rate milliner, or a singer or an artist or any one of
the other things she could have been. At any rate, her imagination and gay
nonsense and swift fingers created for us all the illusion and excitement of shopping
for a new hat. Years later when I really did go to Paris to buy a new hat there was
not half the edge of excitement in it that there had been in the old expeditions up
the attic stairs to Paris in a tin box.
***********
My Child
- Unknown
For you, my child, everything is new and exciting
and I love being here, to share it with you.
*********
Roots and Wings
- Hodding Carter
A wise woman once said to me; there are only two lasting bequests we can
hope to give our children, one of these is roots; the other, wings.”
**********
Teach Your Children The Gospel
“And ye shall teach them [to] your children, speaking of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.” (Deut. 11:19) “Therefore, I give unto you a
commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children.” (Moses 6:58)
“You have not taught your children light and truth... and that wicked one hath
power... over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.” (D&C 93:42)
“Hearken ye elders of my church... teach the children of men the things which
I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit.” (D&C 43:15).
************

*************
Sitting Alone in An Old Rocking Chair
Lyrics and Music by Bob Miller
Sitting alone in an old rocking chair
I saw an old mother with silvery hair
She seemed so neglected by those who should care
Rocking alone in an old rocking chair
Her hands were all callused and wrinkled and old
A life of hard work was the story they told
And I thought of angels as I saw her there
Bless her old heart, do you think she'd complain

Though life has been bitter she'd live it again
And carry that cross that is more than her share
It wouldn't take much just to gladden her heart
Just some small remembrance on somebody's part
A letter would brighten her empty life there
I know some youngsters in an orphans' home

Who'd think they owned heaven if she was their own
They'd never be willing to let her sit there
I look at her and I think "What a shame"
The ones who forgot her she loves just the same
And I think of angels as I see her there
Recorded by Hank Snow
****************
The Best of All
- Margaret G. Rhodes
I sometimes think I’d like to be a little Eskimo,
And drive a team of dogs before my sleigh upon the snow.
Or walk the streets of China, where gay lanterns glow at night,
And have a pair of chopsticks and a pigtail and a kite.
Or if I lived in India, a potter I would be,
And make a row of pots with clay for everyone to see.
And if I went to Africa, wild animals I’d track
Or ride the desert mile on mile upon the camel’s back.
And Susan says, in blossom-time, she’d go to far Japan,
And wear a gay-hued kimono and always use a fan.
But all the same we’re very sure although our island’s small,
To be a Filipino boy or girl is much the best of all.
Published in Side by side, Antonio, et al.
*************
My Hand in Yours
Whenever something frightens me, and makes me feel so small, I
simply put my hand in yours and all at once I’m tall. -unknown
**********

***********
All the Thanks I Need
- Unknown
You wake up too early each morning,
You soil your brand new shirt.
You won’t eat a decent breakfast,
Then you swallow a handful of dirt.
But just when I’m reaching my limit
A hoarse little voice says to me,
“Mommy, I love you the mostest.”
And that’s all the thanks that I need.
************
Little Things
- Unknown
Cracker crumbs on the kitchen floor,
Crayon pictures on the ice box door,
Popsicle sticks and baseball card balls and
tricycles in the yard.
These things that could drive some people
mad, are welcome sights
That make me glad.
***************
Her Vision
- Unknown
Watching and waiting, anticipating the
adults they’ll someday be,
While others stand by only hearing them
cry, lacking the vision to see,
But undaunted and proud of her small,
precious crowd,
Mother takes care of their need.
Seeing God’s wisdom,
and knowing His kingdom,
begins with such babes as these.
**********
My Miracle
- Unknown
I thank God most everyday for what you are, my dear,
I must believe in miracles, when I see you standing here.
And more important, dearest child, I know that God is real,
For only He could be the source, of all the love I feel.
************
Be Kind to Living Things
Little children, never give pain to things that feel and live.
************
Renewal
- George Barnard Shaw
“Life is a flame that is always burning itself out,
but it catches fire again every time a child is born.”
***********

**************
Holding My Baby
- unknown
Holding my baby, watching her walk,
growing so quickly, learning to talk;
First day at school, a gown for the prom, college, a
husband and then she’s a mom.
Holding my granddaughter, watching her walk,
growing so quickly, learning to talk,
Where did the years go?
I must make the time for holding this baby,
Grand daughter of mine.
***********
Legacy of Love
You taught my mother to be a mom,
And now she’s teaching me,
Someday I’ll have a daughter,
And she’ll be your legacy.
**********
Mother’s Name
“Mother is the Name for God,
in the lips and hearts of little children.”
- William Makepeace Thackeray
************
Eight Year-Old Essay
- unknown
Eight year-old’s essay on ‘what a mom means to a kid’:
“A mother is a person who takes care
of her kids, and gets their meals,
and if she’s not there when you get home from school,
you wouldn’t know how to get your dinner,
and you wouldn’t feel like eating it anyhow.”
**************
Child of Three
- unknown
The toys she used will clutter the house no more in the days to come,
The little hands that smudged the walls now play in a heavenly home.
All her possessions, the clothes she wore, are carefully put away,
Save a certain few to remind us that an angel passed this way.
The dear little friends she played with will miss her shy, sweet smile
And wonder, as we, why she left us, yet trusting in God the while.
Trusting that he has received her with loving arms to his fold,
And that she is receiving blessings much more then a heart can hold.
************
From Mother On Her Birthday
- Maureen Cannon
Better than packages wrapped up in tissue, And better than pretty perfumes.
Better than flowers, I say as I kiss you, and pick up my mops and my brooms,
better than giving me pearls,
How I wish you would simply go straighten your rooms!
**************

***********
Love: A Meditation
- Elizabeth Searle Lamb
“Love, says Webster, “Is a feeling of strong personal attachment.” And so
it is, but that hardly says the half of it, for there are so many kinds of love.
There is the strong, natural, outpouring love of a child for his mother and
father, and their warm, protecting love for him. This love may be almost
taken for granted, but it is there – a tough rope as enduring as life itself.
There is the love of a young man for a maid and her love for him – sunny
golden threads that finally weave themselves into church bells, a bridal
veil, and the establishment of a new home. There is the love of either
man or woman for the chosen life career. It may be homemaking, or
business, or art. Whatever it is, it too calls for the response which is
known as “love” – this time a leather thong of attachment. Yes, love is all of these and more. It is
standing alone at night under a star-studded sky and feeling a sudden awareness of kinship with the whole
wide world. It is looking deep into the heart of a perfect rose and seeing in
that beauty the perfection of God’s planned universe. And love is a golden
chain, linking each soul to God. This love is a gift from God, poured out
freely. As we become aware of it, we grow as does the seed when warm
sun urges it to fulfillment. As we pour out that love into the world, more
and more of it flows through us. This love can heal a sick body, bring
abundance, harmonize. This love is made up of all lesser loves, fused into
our love for God and His love for us – this love is the essence of life, this
love is the reason for life.”
*************
Early Supper
- Barbara Howes (1914-1996)
Laughter of the children brings
The kitchen down with laughter.
While the old kettle sings
Laughter of children brings
To a boil all savory things.
Higher than beam or rafter,
Laughter of the children brings
The kitchen down with laughter.
So ends an autumn day,
Light ripples on the ceiling,
Dishes are stacked away;
The children jog and sway
In comic dances wheeling.
Light ripples on the ceiling.
They trail upstairs to bed,
And night is a dark tower.
The kettle calls; instead
Leaving warmth, the coppery-red
Mood of their carnival hour.
And night is a dark tower.
(From Poetry for Pleasure: The Hallmark Book of Poetry (1960)
* * * * * * * * * * * *

************
Patches
- unknown
I know it’s been a while since I wrote you last,
I’ve been to busy to notice how quickly the weeks have passed.
But last week and while the kids were skiing with some friends
we began to clean the attic... getting rid of some odds and ends.
We came across a tattered box at the bottom of the pile
of dusty things we hadn’t seen or used for quite a while.
What was in that ragged box? My old blanket, frayed and torn,
and a pair of small, patched jeans, that I had often worn.
I must have been just five or six when I wore those faded jeans...
But no one knew except for me how much those pants could mean.
Why did I save those ragged jeans for years up in the box?
I didn’t save my shirts or coats my shoes or hats or socks.
What made them special, though, you see, was not the rips or tears,
But the loving way you faithfully made the many repairs.
For when I came home bruised and cut,

with rips in both the knees,
You washed those pants and patched them up,
and did the same with me.
Now I’m grown and married, with a family of my own,
And I brought with me the memory
of a safe and happy home,
Thank you for the loving way you daily cared for me,
And sent me out once more restored
with patches on my knees.
**************
My Daughter
- Lily Niemtschk
My daughter wanted to go to her friends house. While the friend
waited on the phone, she loudly protested my decision. Why, she
wanted to know, couldn’t she go? I stated four reasons; It wasn’t
her turn to go – She was at Susan’s last. She hadn’t done her
homework. We were expecting guests and I wanted her present.
She and Susan were together too much anyway. She went back to
the phone and I heard her say, “No, I can’t come, why? I haven’t
the slightest idea. You know my mother – she doesn’t have to
have a reason to say “No.”
***************
The Family Is Forever
- unknown
The family is forever, not for a few short years,
The basis of eternity was founded on its tiers.
One generation aids the next, and they in turn prepare
The background of a chain of love unbroken over there.
The family is eternal, but were it not, I deem the world would be
a waste indeed and heaven but a dream.
**********

*************
My Fan
- Unknown
I know you never cared for sports
or watched them on T.V., but you
came to all my baseball games
which meant a lot to me.
Each Saturday, come rain or shine
you were in the bleachers there,
Though your nose got sunburned every time,
and the wind messed up your hair.
The dad’s of all the other kids, were in the bleachers too...
Mine wasn’t there, but I was proud
to have a mom like you!
***********
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise
he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security
he learns to live with faith.
If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance
and friendship
he learns to find love in the world.
**************
Life’s Mystery
One of the great mysteries of life is how the boy who wasn’t good enough to
marry out daughter can be the father of one of the smartest grandchildren in the
world.
*************
The Mother’s Hymn
“Lord, who ordainest for mankind benignant toils and tender cares!
We thank Thee for the ties that bind the mother to the child she bears.
All gracious God, grant to those who bear a mother’s charge,
The strength and light to guide the feet that own their care,
In ways of love and truth and right.”
~ William Cullen Bryant, from Thirty Poems (1864). The Mother's Hymn. Stanza 1
************

**************
Mother Take Me Up
- A song that was sung by
my mother to her children
Mother take me up and kiss me,
tell me I’m your darling son;
And I’ll tell you in mother
Darling what I thought, and what I’ve done
When I saw the sun was setting
I stole softly up the stairs;
And beside the empty cradle
I knelt and said my evening prayer
It was not the prayer you taught me
In sweet May, a month ago
I asked God to send a baby, just as sweet as little
Please don’t cry dear precious Mother,
Tears are falling, though you smile?
(My mother taught us this poem when
we were small children.)
******************
Mother’s Hands
- W. Dayton Wedgefarth
Dear gentle hands have stroked my hair
And cooled my brow, soft hands that pressed me close
And seemed to know somehow
Those fleeting moods and erring thoughts
That cloud me day,
Which quickly melt beneath their suffrage
And pass away.
No other balm for earthly pain is half so sure,
No sweet caress as filled with love nor half so pure.
No other soul so close akin that understands,
No touch that brings such perfect peace
as Mother's hands.
************
Mother
- W. Dayton Wedgefarth
Mother is gladness, Mother in sorrow,
Mother today, and Mother tomorrow,
With arms ever open to fold and caress you,
O Mother of Mine, May God keep and bless you.
************
Paradise Found
Paradise lies beneath the feet of a mother.
*************
Safer
“Every little child in all the world has been a little safer since the coming
of the Child of Bethlehem.” - Roy L. Smith
***********
Jogging
“A mother of six reading about an exercise craze: “I’ve been jogging for
years, and never knew it.” –Weight Watcher’s Magazine
***********

*************
My Playmate
- unknown
The other moms, I see at the park,
Are busy with gossip and books,
occasionally giving reprimands,
Glances or sidelong looks,
but my mom always swings with me,
And waits at the end of the slide,
On the merry-go-round, or the jungle gym,
She’s right there by my side.
***********
You Aren’t a Child Anymore
- unknown
You aren’t a child anymore,
Your teenage years are here.
We still have so much to learn...
***********
Adolescence to Friend
- unknown
Your adolescence has come to an end,
no longer my baby, now you’re my friend.
************
Enjoying Children
- unknown
Now that I’m a grandmother,
I’m taking all the time I want,
To enjoy the children in my life.
*************
Through Your Eyes
- unknown
I see within your eyes, forgotten seasons of my life,
When the sky was bluer, the grass was greener,
And I was more alive.
Back then my dreams were more than dreams,
They were much larger, so it seemed.
Now through your young and wondering eyes,
I can see anew, the world seems bigger,
The sun shines brighter,
For I feel young, through you.
*************
The Vision Clear
- J. M. Westrup
Child’s eyes to see, child’s ears to hear –
God grant to me that vision clear.
Grant me the sight of heaven and earth –
Quiet rest at night, day’s glorious mirth.
Help me to hear those little things,
Faint, far and clear, rememberings.
So I may learn fully to praise
Thee for my life of happy days.
************
***************
One More
- unknown
Grandma, I love you,
you always have the time for one more game,
One more book, one more hug, one more song;
One more program, one more anything,
You make me feel important.
**************
Spreading My Wings
- unknown
“You don’t understand what I’m talking about,
That’s it, I quit, and I’m moving out!”
“Do what you think you have to do,
but your father and I will still love you.”
“I can’t be the person you want me to be.

I have the escape, I need to be free!”
“We support you no matter what you do
And I understand what you’re going through.”
“I’m sorry for all the things that I said

Being eighteen, sort of went to my head,
Sometimes I forget that you’re still my mom,
By the way, can I use the car for Prom?”
*************
The Swing-Set
- unknown
A rusty swing-set stands solemnly
in the back yard,
A monument to days long gone,
When children laughed and played,
Of summer days spent on the lawn,
And many memories made.
**********
Values
- unknown
I never like or understood,
so many things you did,
You made my life so difficult,
and you treated me like a kid.
It seemed throughout my teenage years,
we disagreed a lot. In fact,
I guess that you could say, we often truly fought
But now I see that I was wrong,
and all you ever did,
Was try to teach your values
to a strong-willed stubborn kid.
**************************
Six serving friends
I have six friends that serve me well, they are what, why, when,
how, who, and where.
********

****************
Best of Friends
- unknown
The best of friends, don’t meet by chance,
or the result of circumstance,
The best of friends, you will ever see,
Are Mothers and Daughters like you and me.
**************
Blessed are the Hands
- Douglas Jerrold
Blessed be the hand that prepares a pleasure for a child,
for there is no saying when and where it may bloom forth.
**************
Tough Love
- unknown
‘Yes, you have to clean your room, no; you may not stay out late;
And you can’t wear faded jeans when going on a date.
You’re far to young to drive the car, now don’t you talk that way.
As long as you live in this house, I’ll have the final say.
You may not understand, it takes a love that’s tough
To bring out the inner beauty of a diamond in the rough.
***********
Thank You Mom
- Unknown
You were the first to hold me,
You comforted me through many nights,
You fed me, you dressed me,
You taught me to walk, sometimes you scolded me.
But you never stopped loving me.
Now I am older, I have a daughter of my own,
And I finally understand what you did for me.
Not it’s time to say “Thank you, Mom!”
************
Boy to Mother
- Unknown
You never thank me for the dirt I tracked out,
Or all the things I didn’t do while I was out about.
How come you don’t see all the good things I do?
I don’t like it when you’re mad at me, mom,
‘Cuz I just really want to show my love for you!
***********
Un-warped Child
- Rufus M. Jones
The unwarped child, with his spontaneous faith, and
confidence in goodness, is the best illustration of the
spirit, which fits the Kingdom of God.
***********
Friends Now
I enjoyed all those years of raising you, but now that you’re
an adult, It’s nice to have you as my friend.
************

**********
The Spoiled Boy
- Edgar A. Guest
He wheedled his mother and wheedled his dad

Who threatened but never did punish the lad.
They carried the burdens his shoulders should bear.
They solved all his problems and softened his care.
To keep the boy happy they faithfully tried.
But the more he was pampered the louder he cried.
When he fought with his playmates they ran to his aid.

They excused every failure in school that he made.
They blamed the poor teacher; they moved him about
From schoolroom to schoolroom, and never found out
That the reason he couldn't subtract or divide
Was always they ran to his help when he
cried.
Now he blunders alone since they've both passed away,

For no one pays heed to his whining today.
He's a spiritless creature love labored to spoil,
Too timid to battle, too careless to toil.
For his parents forgot as they ran to his cry,
Just how helpless he'd be should they happen to die.
************
Evening News Flash
-Brooke Byrne
Snap shut the dial. Evening floods the room.
Suddenly with the small, familiar noise
of clattering pots, a slammed screen door, the zoom
of roller skates, bearing the neighbors’ boys
in wild, swift cavalcade, intent to meet
homecoming steps along the quiet street.
Listen: the outraged air forgets the news.
A lawn mower’s drone, a mother’s supper call,
The simple sound effects all suburbs use
Drift on the evening breeze, and that is all –
That strange, sweet sound of living, free of fear,
Making a music God leans down to hear.
**********
A Mother’s Perennial Plans
-Annette Victorian
Each dawn I make a fervent vow to write a book or wield some paints,
But somehow, days merge into weeks and plans change into more complaints,
For time has wings that slyly sweep away those plans before they grow;
Yet someday, I will write that book and paint that evening after-glow.
It’s nice to dream of plans like these while mending little worn-out knees!
************
Commotion Sickness
“Mothers of preschool-aged children often complain of commotion sickness.” –
Gertrude Olinghouse
************

**************
The Parting Gift
- unknown
I’m not moved out, but I’m almost packed,
so I’m practicing writing home,
Even though I haven’t left, I’m starting to feel alone.
I’ve grown so used to having you around to help me out...
Whenever a problem came my way,
You helped me through my doubt.
And now, as I stand here at the brink
Of starting a brand-new life,
I’ll always cherish your example, as a mother and a wife.
Thank you, Mom, for all you’ve done,
Now, I clearly see, the memories that we have shared,
Are your parting gift to me.
***********
A New Father
- Ed Reed
Husband is thinking while studying the hospital bill:
‘Three hundred dollars is a lot for this baby,
but think how long they last....”
**************
Daughter Of Mine
- unknown
I’ve done that best that I know how...
It’s up to you, and the time is now.
I’ve given you all a mother could give,
But you have your own special life to live.
You are almost a woman, oh daughter of mine.
And I want you to know, that you’re doing just fine.
***************
A Mother’s Victory
- unknown
Blessed are the children of a woman who loves them,
Proud is the mother who raises them well...
And when they’re grown, their success is her victory
For she taught them how to believe in themselves.
***********
A Mother’s Heart
“A child is tied to our heart-strings as the spheres
are linked to their Creator; we cannot think of God
except as a mother’s heart written large.”
– Howard de Balzac
***********
Where Love Abides
“But every house where Love abides and
Friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home
sweet home, for there the heart can rest.”
-Henry Van Dyke
***********

*********
Story Time
- unknown
Almost anyone can read, but when you read to me,
You bring alive a magic world that I can clearly see.
As I sit upon your lap and watch the pages turn,
I’m lost on voyages far away - I listen and I learn.
You never ever skip a page, like others often do
You know that my excitement comes from deep inside of you.
You always change your voice a bit, when villains are about,
And when you feel the time is right, you’re not afraid to shout!
But the thing that means the most to me after a book is done
Is when I hear you say, “Let’s read another one!”
***********
The Things You Do
- unknown
I like to go on walks with you, ‘cause you walk slow like me.
Most adults take such big steps, they’re always in a hurry.
I like it when you sing to me and when I sing to you,
I teach you songs I learn at school,
and you teach me songs too.
I like it when you tell me jokes, or tickle me awhile,
Because that makes me laugh out loud,
and also makes you smile.
But Grandma, what I like the most about the things you do
Is how they show your love for me, and that makes me love you.
*********
Unceasing
- Jane Merchani
A mother is a person who will
drop her broom to tie a shoe;
Turn off her iron to hunt the wires that young
inventiveness requires;
Forget the dress she meant to make
to bake a picnic-going cake;
Delay a party’s preparation
to hold a serious conversation;
On hamster’s habits, hero’s deeds,
or just how a satellite succeeds;
Or how to tell when fudge is done.
A mother patiently is one
Whom interruptions push and shove
yet never interrupt her love.
************
The Book Our Mothers Read
- John Greenleaf Whittier
“We search the world for truth; We cull the good, the
pure, the beautiful, From all old flower fields of the soul;
And weary seekers of the best, We come back laden from
our quest, To find that all the sages said, Is in the Book
our mothers read.”
**************

************
Reminder on Mother’s Day
- Gladys Mckee
Something of you I own and wear;
Curve of mouth, color of hair;
And other things that time proves true,
Are part of me and were part of you,
Clean lines of wash by Monday noon,
A whistle for worry, a quarter moon;
Spoiling children and such small things
As teapots, bracelets, and silver rings.
Old books and lilacs, faint, cool rose water –
In these you live on as long as a daughter
Has tongue to tell and heart to hold,
This curious coin of mother gold,
Something you of you I wear and own
Frail as a dream – certain as a stone.
*************
Mother Remembered
- Elaine V. Emans
Our mother had a way of changing the color of a day from
gray to a hue we preferred.
Sometimes without a sign or a word she stirred.
Lips blue-and-gold weather,
Of all the rainbow tints together – but whether the times
were dark or fair, the beauty of it
Was that she was there to share.
*************
To My Mother
-Gladys McKee
“When I grow up” I had always said,
squaring my shoulders and shaking my head,
“I’ll do whatever I want to do...”,
but I always came back for a kiss from you.
When I grew up I was somewhat stern,
and wondered if you would ever learn,
that I was an adult, and therefore wise,
But I leaned on the love in your steady eyes,
With what true threads of wisdom and dream,
you mended that sails and stitched the seam,
Of my wayward crafts.
I cannot know; I can only write as the swift years go
with the tides of time we have shared together,
A lovely mother-and-daughter weather,
And kept in balance a sweet and fine ebb and flow
of your heart and mine.
**********
Where is your treasure?
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34
************

*************
Mother
- unknown
Softly I repeat it, for no other
Heard from me your sacred name of Mother.
I have no conscious memory of you
You died when my mortality was new.
I must have cried and thought my loss so deep
The wound would never heal;
But time and sleep assuaged my ache,
And then, as children do -
Forgot all else in learning as I grew.
Throughout my childhood your sweet face

Would come to fill my dreams, and I would trace
Each precious feature, wishing you were here
To fold me in your love again, and hear
My childish troubles and kiss my fears away;
And yet I seemed to thrive and move along
Toward my womanhood with eager song.
Time took wing, so many years have flown;
I’ve lived and loved, had children of my own;
I tried in my small way to teach them truth,
Watched with pride their accomplishments of youth;
I have enjoyed the heights of happiness;

Been cast into the depths of hopelessness,
More fully understanding a Mother’s heart;
I know the hurt when child and mother part.
Though I’m mature, and wise to some degree,
I am your child and need you desperately,
I grope in darkness, long to feel you near,
But veils part not for selfish ends, I fear;
Do my mistakes bring sadness to your soul?
Will you accept me when my earthly role
Of life is done? It is my constant prayer,
I may again your presence feel ‘over there’.
*************
My Mother
- Grace V. Watkins
My mother’s love is larkspur, blue and sweet
The gentle wind along a quiet street.
My mother’s love is little silver singing
Of twilight bells, the soft and soundless winging.
Of birds in flight across an evening sky;
The first star, gold and high, and on all pathways,
Whether joy or grief, the clear, unwavering candle of belief.
**********

************
To Mother – With Love
- unknown
To Mother – With Love, the inscription read.
And it brought a lift to her weary head;
Through tear-dimmed eyes,
we could see a smile,
Just one little card had made life worthwhile,
To Mother – she held it with tender care
for no other greeting was quite as fair
Because it was sent from a special one,
To Mother – with love, from her army son.
**********
Memory of Stars
- Jane Merchant
‘Look at the stars’, my mother used to say,
Holding me on her shoulder,
while she drew the curtain back;
And she and I would gaze in silence
at bright wonder shining through the dark
Then she would lay me in my bed
and kiss my cheek;
And all the hurt and scars of
Every day were healed,
And I would sleep, safe with the
good-night memory of stars.
**************
Discovery
- Elaine V. Emans
Lead a child to beauty, but let him make
His own discovery of a star, in each snowflake.
Lead a child to courage, yet let him seek
His own good time to demonstrate, he is not weak.
Lead a child to good, then on some glad day
He must find it is another name for God!
************
Bubble
- Jean Carpenter Mergard
Now- caught in this crystal moment,
Bubble – clear and as fragile, shines
A family’s laughter, warmth of words,
Love flowing beneath the agile
Banter of youthful voices,
Bouncing around the table.
Though I join in the repartee,
A part of me is able, to etch this moment on
My heart, to hoard against the day,
When these dear ones,
As bubbles do, must surely sail away.
*************
Shaped and Fashioned
“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”
- Gothe
*************
*************
Confession
-Jean Carpenter Mergard
I sense a new contentment that comes flowing
So often when the children, home from school
Or in from play, skim through the rooms, full knowing
I’m somewhere in the house; busy with spool
And needle; or flecked with flour, cookie-baking;
Or, rarely, even reading with warm wear.
For walk-scraped knees,
For small hearts bruised or breaking
From giant woes, they know that I’ll be there.
Unquestioning, they take me so for granted;
Not the least aware that until recently
A dreamer’s fancies flamed but were supplanted
By a modest mother-role. And this should be,
So that I with joy can smile and reassure
Uncertain hearts, who’ve made mine new – secure.
***********
Mother
- Ethel Barnett de Vito
Her mind is a library, where Dickens, Scott,
And the Harvard Classics lie dusty, forgot;
But where certain small books may always be had,
Strange-titled volumes that make her heart glad:
Must Fix Jim’s Shirt; Buy Helen’s Skirt, Shoes for Dad...
Her heart is a music room, where Schubert’s, Lack’s
And Beethoven’s works lie in cobwebby stacks;
But where songs well-dusted are always near,
Funny little songs, whose names are so queer;
Little Helen’s “whys”, Jim’s Twinkly Eyes, Dad, My Dear . . .
Her fingers are a game room, where now, unused,
Lie tennis balls, oil paints, the old organ, bruised;
But where never a thought is given to those,
Because she’s a wonder at new games she knows:
Favorite deserts, Ironing shirts, Mending clothes...
Her eyes are an observatory, where Mercury,
Mars, Venus, Neptune are too distant to see;
But where certain bright stars make all others dim,
Her oddly named planets that make her eyes brim: -
Dad. Helen, Jim . . .
************
The Demonstrators
- Barry C. Anderson
When I stepped off a plane at the Seattle airport recently, I
noticed several demonstrators, carrying placards, standing at one
side of the exit ramp. On closer inspection, the ‘demonstrators’
turned out to be a father and three little girls. Each child was
carrying a placard, obviously intended for the young woman
behind me on the ramp. The signs read:
WELCOME HOME, MOM
WE MISSED YOU
THE HOUSE IS CLEAN – HONEST
***********

*************
Muddy Sneakers
- unknown
A pair of muddy sneakers left lying by the door
Tells the tale of a daring journey,
or an ancient Medieval war.
Perhaps a brave explorer,
crossed the river to Timbuktu,
or was forced to hide in a swamp,
while a band of Apaches rode through;
Perhaps the top law men in Texas had to
stand ankle-deep in wet sand
While he watered his gleaming stallion,
on the bank of the Rio Grande...
More likely my brave little hero played
in sprinklers along the way,
But he’d never admit that to Mother,
and I’d have it no other way!
***********
A Mother’s Unselfish Love
-Frances L. Cooke
Unlike the old lady who lived in a shoe
I have many children,
But I know what to do! I worry the least
about dirt and mistakes,
Take plenty of time for confessions and cakes.
I kiss when they’re good and spank when they’re bad,
Give plenty of loving when anyone’s sad,
Find fault when I have to, more often give praise,

And put them to work on their mischievous days’
Join them in rough house and frolic galore
(We tumble and somersault down on the floor)
At bedtime we listen for bird songs or rain;
And there in the calm and the quiet of night,
We tell God our secrets and all is all right.
*************
Help!
-Richard Amour
Our child, when small, would beg and beg,
To dust or set the table, or bake a pie.
Unhappily, she wasn’t able.
At last our child is big enough
To be a table setter, or do a dozen
Helpful things, but try and get her!
***************

***************
Mother
- Annette Victorin
She stands against life’s storms with fortitude,
Her ready smile a blanket for all woe;
The turmoil that churns deep within her heart,
Is something that her children seldom know.
Her child may be a president or clerk,
Bedecked in laurels or by trouble scarred;
The blackest sheep find solace in her fold,
For she is close to sacredness and stars.
She is content with simple little things;
A potted plant, a card, a hurried call
She nods and smiles when children rush away,
As though there were no loneliness at all.
O let us search deep in our hearts today,
And tell her things we feel, but seldom say.
*************
Journey
- Barbara A. Jones
She raised four sons through chicken pox, through scarlet-fever falls
from docks, through scissors, matches, un-ripe fruit. Through pets that
died, through minor loot, through puppy-love, and foot-ball scars,
Through acne and through racing cars, Through perils where the young
foot slips. Through all of this to scholarships, forgive her if her smile is
broad, and if she feels a trifle awed.
***********
Prophecy
- Jane Merchant
You’ll sit up with him when he’s sick
Or swallows a Popsicle stick.
You’ll do without a dozen hats,
so he’ll have scooters, balls and bats.
You’ll find a place for kittens, puppies,
turtles, parakeets, and guppies;
You’ll think you’re making out all right,
and having fun; but overnight
He’ll be a seething adolescent,
who will deliver incandescent,
Reports on wrongs his parents do him,
to anyone who’ll listen to him.
************
Happy Memories
- Kate Douglas Wiggin
“If you make children happy now, you will make them happy twenty years
hence by the memory of it.”
************
A Mother’s Prayer
- Margaret Singster
A mother’s day is very long,
there are so many things to do!
But never let me lose my song,
before the hardest day is through.
**********

**************
Mother, Motorized
- Jane Merchant
She drives her children all to school,
To skating rink and swimming pool,
To parties, check-up. Ballet lessons,
And choir, band, and clubhouse sessions.
Her job was once, so folk aver,
To keep her children home with her,
But in our automotive day,
Consists of driving them all away.
************
Favorite Child
- Louise Owen
Since up to now, my greatest claim to fame is children –
Though I’ve only half a dozen – I’m sometimes asked one question,
and the same by well intentioned friend or aunt or cousin: “Surely
among so many there is one, you love a little better then the others?
A sweeter daughter or a sturdier son? Hasn’t it always been that way
with mothers?”
Well, if you ask me, then I’m forced to say:
I have a special feeling for the first; because he’s first:
because he has a way of reading and becoming so immersed;
he might as well be somewhere else as here.
Then there’s the second, and I must admit this

daughter is particularly dear –
for laughing eyes, for quick and sparkling wit;
Then there’s the third, who has a special place within my
heart: I love her eager mind, and her clever hands;
And then I must confess a special fondness for the fourth. I
find his strength, his willingness,
And his jovial laughter so fun!
As for my fifth, ah, she’s my favorite too –
for changing mood and soaring fancy.
After the fifth, there’s still another daughter who is favorite,
being last, and being small, and being she.
Yes, it is plain to see which of my children I love the best of
all, It’s something no one needs to ask of me.
**************
Danish Cradle Song
Lullaby, sweet baby mine! Mother spins the thread so fine;
Father o’er the long bridge is gone, Shoes he’ll buy for little
John. Pretty shoes with buckles bright, Sleep, baby mine, now
sleep all night!
***********
Resurrected Beings Do Not Marry
Marriage and sealing is an earthly ordinance, and must be done upon the earth. “Jesus answering said unto them,
“the children of this world marry, and are given in marriage, but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain
that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:...for they are equal unto
the angels; and are the children of God.” (Luke 20:34-36) “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be
given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” (Mark 12:25)
****** ****

*************
Grandmothers Get All the Breaks
- Rollie Hochstein
My mother is looking awfully chipper lately,
Her eyes are bright; her complexion is rosy; her smile is dazzling
and there’s a spring in her step. I, on the other hand, am looking
wintry, after a day of refereeing the older children (in between my
own bouts with a baby who won’t stand still), I feel and look like last
week’s half-melted snowman, “Are you Grandma’s Mommy?” my
five-year-old asked me not so long ago. “No,” I told her, “I just feel
that way”. The exchange set me thinking. Of all the double-
barreled words in the English language, none is more to the point
then that one.
A Grandmother is a mother who is having a grand time because her

children are grown up. My eldest child being seven, I have an excellent
chance of getting there in fifteen years, I can hardly wait. By that time, my
handbag will no longer be stuffed with PTA notices broken shoe laces,
spare mittens, popped buttons, pediatrician’s prescriptions, teething
biscuits and coupons to be mailed with fifty cents for a free cardboard
racing car, unassembled, I will carry only snapshots of my grandchildren,
I’ll take the praise; their parents can tote the paraphernalia. My car will
be free of car seats, care beds, diaper-changing kits, ballet costumes, ice
skates, rock collections and children to be picked up and delivered on a
day-long schedule. I will have plenty of room and plenty of time to take
my grandchildren driving – when I’m in the mood.
My house will be empty – spacious without its current clutter

of cereal boxes to be cut into far yard animals, sneakers to be
grown into and out of, socks to be darned, school dresses to
be taken up or let down, toys to be repaired, little friends to be
sent home after lunch and other little friends to be kept ‘till
after dinner. I’ll be delighted to have my grandchildren visit –
a few at a time – and even more delighted, probably, when
their parents come to take them home.
When my mother became a grandmother, she was a middle-aged lady.

I remember the day she came breathlessly into my hospital room, tears
of joy in her eyes, “My baby!” she cried, only it wasn’t me she was
looking at. She took up residence outside the nursery window and has
been, ever since, my children’s best friend and most outspoken
admirer, by the time my third baby arrived, my mother was no longer
middle-aged; she had grown young – so young in fact that people kept
thinking she was the baby’s mother. “Your baby’s hair is the same color
as yours’ another visitor remarked one day as mother stood beaming
into the hospital nursery. “Thank you, but it’s my daughter’s baby,
mother replied, ‘and my hair color comes out of a bottle.”
Continued on next page...

Grandmothers Get All the Breaks continued....
Ah yes, while mothers get gray, grandmothers get gay. It is

this gaiety – plus lavishings of love and lollipops that make
grandmas so popular with grandchildren. My mother arrives
for an afternoon visit, crisp and bright, before the children
can take the starch out of her, she is crisply and brightly on
her way home. She brings bubble gum, cupcakes, and
breakable toys. She is gone before the time for turpentine,
vacuum cleaners and glue.
When mother comes with my father for Sunday dinner, they both applaud like a
palace audience as the children demonstrate the week’s accomplishment in vocals
and acrobatics. But before the feats of talent deteriorate into fits of temper, my
parents have smilingly slipped away. When I was a child, candy and chewing gum
were forbidden; fruit and bedtime was never postponed. Now the disciplinarian of
my youth pleads with me: “Let them stay up just fifteen minutes longer.” She never
arrives without an armful of gifts and goodies, never leaves without a headful of ideas
for future gifts. She is never too busy to read a story or too tired to play first base.
And she never says “No”.
Does Grandma spoil my children? You bet! That’s a Grandmother’s pleasure

and privilege. And even though I may sound as if I don’t believe it, it’s great for
the youngsters, too. I remember with warmth and joy the grandparents who
spoiled me - and I’m glad my children can bask in the sunny side of an easy-
going, easy-giving, carefree grandmother, and they reciprocate. Grandma days are
special. Nobody strays far from home when my parents are expected. When my
parent’s car pulls up, you can hear the shouting for blocks, even the baby crows
fit to burst her romper buttons. Naturally, I can’t expect my children to be so
enthusiastic about me. I’m here all the time and I’ve got work to do. But as I
said before, in fifteen years or so, I hope to be a grandmother myself. “You’re
having a pretty good time,” I remarked to my mother the other day. “Yes, I am,”
she agreed. “This is my harvest.” (I know just what she meant.)
*************
These Precious Years
- Unknown
Lord, let me not be so burdened with caring for my
children that I forget about enjoying my children,
While cleaning up the mess they made, help me to
remember how much fun they had making it.
Help me to make the most of these precious years when
my children are mine to train and to love.
*************
Nap Time
- Unknown
I came home early from the office today
and the sight that greeted me,
Was my wife with our baby asleep in her arms,
In sweet serenity.
I wanted to wake them and whisper hello,
but I knew it was for the best,
to give them this moment together,
and quietly let them rest.
***********
**********
A Child At Every Window
- Leonard Lyons
The Harpo Marxes have four adopted children. The first baby so
brightened their lives that when Harpo was later asked how many
Harpo was later asked how many more children he planned to adopt,
he said, “As many as the be number of windows in the front of my
house. When I leave each day, I want a child at every window waving
good-bye to me.”
**************
Duty
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The sweetest lives are those to duty wed, whose deeds, both great and small,
Are close-knit strands of an unbroken thread, where love ennobles all.
The world may sound no trumpet, ring no bells; the book of life the shining
record tells.”
**********
Since Grandma Took Up Golf
- Anne Campbell
Since Grandma took up golf, she gets out early in the day
And with her oldest grandchild, Ruth, she sallies forth to play.
There’s lots of talk of bunkers now, and much on teeing off;
And all the kids are interested since Grandma took up golf.
Since Grandma took up golf, she wears a sweater bright but neat;
And when she talks of greens, you bet, it’s not the kind you eat!
We thought perhaps the neighborhood behind its blinds might cough;
but they all think it’s just the thing that Grandma took up golf.
Since Grandma took up golf, somehow we young folks have more pep.
That is quite a jolly world we’re just now getting hep.
We can not count our age by years; the spirit – don’t you scoff!
Old age has lost its fears for me since Grandma took up golf!
************
Little Children Are Not Capable of Committing Sin
“... little children are whole for they are not capable of committing sin;
wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no
power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me...
behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach – repentance and
baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin;
yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble
themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their
little children. And their little children need no repentance, neither
baptism. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation
of the world. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the
commandments unto the remission of sins.”
( Moroni 8:8-12 - Mormon wrote to his son Moroni, prior to 384 A.D.)
**************
Creeping Inflation
Her love for her children is sure to expand, when children, as parents, make Mother a Grand. –
Helen Faulkner
***********
Well Behaved
“Is it not strange that he who has no children brings them up so well?” – Confucius
***********

************
What is a Grandmother?
- Joan Scobey and Peter McGrath, 1975
What is a grandmother?
When I send her a letter she doesn't just send back another letter.
She puts something like a dollar bill or a handkerchief in it.
A grandmother is a lady with past experience.
Grandmothers play with you whether they are busy or not.
That's why a grandmother is really my kind of person.
A grandmother is always nice.
You bring them a bouquet of flowers and they cry.
My grandmother is a groovy person. She rides a Honda.
She is married to my grandfather.
I think a grandmother is someone who has to be loved
every minute of the time you go there.
A grandmother is the one who stuffs food down
your throat when you are not hungry.
A grandmother will rush you to the hospital
if you scratch your finger because she thinks you will die.
They also are seriously disturbed about germs.
A grandmother is that one who gives you a present
your mother didn't want you to have.
Whenever I go to see my grandmother and tell her
not to fuss over lunch, she goes ahead and does it.
Well that's my grandmother for you.
A grandmother comes to football games and cheers when
she doesn't know what's happening.
A grandmother is someone who tells
mother and father they're raising me wrong.
My grandmother is a very old lady.
Long, long ago she was something like me.
My grandmother gives me candy or money.
My other grandmother is just the same only she gives me
meatballs or ice cream.
A grandma is made to spoil you and save you
from your parents.
A grandmother is someone who tells you the bad things
your mother did when she was a little girl.
A grandma says she has a very good memory but can’t
remember her age.
*************
The Grandchild Crown
“Children's children are the crown of old men.” (Proverbs 17:6)
***********
Inexhaustible Treasure
- Margaret Lee Runbeck
“Once you’ve loved a child, you love all children. You give away your love to one,
and you find that by the giving you have made yourself an inexhaustible treasury”.
*************
Heartstrings
“A child is tied to our heartstrings as the spheres are linked to their Creator.
We cannot think of God except as a mother’s heart writ large.” –Honore De Balzac
************

*************
The Love of A Mother (True Story)
- Jan de Hartog
During the worst of the famine in Holland, in the last winter of the
second World War, the supreme command of the German army of
occupation allowed two barge loads of babies less than a year old to
leave the city of Amsterdam for hospitals in Friesland across the
Zuider Zee, where food was more plentiful and where they would be
looked after by a professional staff. The barges sailed in bad weather;
one of them was blown off-course, and ran aground on the beach near
a fishing village, north of the city. The babies were in a pitiable state
of hunger, seasickness, and sheer terror.
The fishermen of the village waded out to the ship, and formed a human
chain to pass them to the shore, where they were then taken over by the
women. That night, every woman in the village, young, old, single, married,
or widowed, had a baby to look after.
A few days later, the barge was refloated and entered the harbor to take on
its load of babies once more, but the women refused to give them up;
despite the dire threats from nervous officials, not one child was delivered
on the quayside. The barge returned empty to Amsterdam.
In each barge there had been two hundred children; of
the ones who ended up in the hospitals across the water, where
they were well nourished and looked after by shifts of professional
nurses, one quarter of them died. Yet all the babies taken in by
the women of the fishing village survived, despite the fact that their
rations were far inferior and that there was no professional help
available. There is no substitute for life-giving comfort and
warmth of being hugged, nuzzled, and loved, by one motherly
woman.
*************
This is Our Mother
- The Pueblo Chieftain
A Mother is a unique mixture of patience,
discipline, and dedicated love.
She is a General Practitioner to a sick child;
a ‘Dear Abby’ to her daughter in love, and a
Head Football Coach to her well-padded little son.
She can whisper a delicate lullaby to a boy in her arms,
Or dwarf the sound of an amplifier when calling him
Home to dinner five years later.
A Mother can cry when she is happy, laugh when she
is heartbroken, and work when she is ill.
She can be almost everywhere at once, squeezing an
enormous amount of living into a 16-hour day.
She is Mama to her two-year-old,
Mom to her third-grader,
Old-fashioned to her high-school daughter.
She is the one person we can always
See vividly with our mind’s eye whether
We are 10 years or 10,000 miles away.
And we can always say, with deep pride
and affection, this is my Mom, Mama, or Mother.
*************
************
Heavenly Economy
- Margueritte Harmon-Brown
It is one thing to feel chained to the dishpan,
And another to feel that we have an important part
in making a house a home.
We can’t hoax ourselves into feeling jolly about dishwater,
but when a morning comes that we feel ourselves singing over the sink, and
stacking the dishes with genuine indifference;
Or even with a kind of tenderness; then we know that we have stumbled
upon the meaning of small tasks in the heavenly economy.
************
Don Juan in Detergent
- Ruth Chadwick
My darling, may I fondly quote
some tender little words you wrote,
In days before we two were wed:
“I’d move the earth for you,” you said,
“I’d catch the stars to bring to you!”
Remember, dear? You really do?
Then since you’re that heroic type, well,
Here’s a dishtowel – care to wipe?
***********
A Housewife
A housewife is someone who spends seven days a week scrubbing the floor, shopping
for food, cooking the meals, washing the dishes, watering the lawn, weeding the garden,
walking the dog, and being a valet, maid and chauffeur for the kids. But that isn’t what
hurts. It’s when someone asks her husband, “does your wife work?” And he says,
“No.” –Robert Orben
************
Bubbly Mother
-Pearl S. Buck
Never was a woman more richly mother than this woman, bubbling over
with a hundred little songs and scarps of gay nonsense to beguile a child
from tears, and filled with wayward moods as she was, yet her hands were
swift to tenderness and care and quiet brooding tending when need arose.
Never was she more perfect mother than during the summers on the
mountain top when she could give herself freely to her children. She led
tehm here and there in search of beauty, and she taught them to love cliffs
and rugged rocks outlined against the sky, and to love also little dells where
ferns and moss grow about a pool. Beauty she brought into her house too,
and filled the rooms with ferns and flowers.
***********

**************
Life’s Common Things
- Alice A. Allen
The common things of life are all so dear –
The waking in the warm half gloom,
To find again the old familiar room,
The scents and sights and sounds that never tire;
The homely work, the plans, the lilt of baby’s laugh
The crackle of the open fire;
The waiting, then the footsteps coming near.
The opening door, your hand-clasp, and your kiss –
Is Heaven not after the Now and Here?
The common things of life are all so dear.
*************
Bed-Time
- Thomas Hood
The Evening is coming the sun sinks to rest
The crows are all flying straight home to their nest
Caw says the crow as he flies overhead
Its time little people were going to bed
The flowers are closing the daisy asleep
The primrose is buried in slumber so deep
Closed for the night are the roses so red
Its time little people were going to bed
The butterfly drowsy has folded its wings
The bee are returning no more the birds sing
The labor is over the nestlings are fed
Its time little people were going to bed.
**************
Evening
- unknown
Hush, hush, little baby, the sun’s in the west;
The lambs in the meadow has laid down to rest.
The bough rocks the birds now, the flowers rock the bees
The waves rock the lilies, the wind rocks the trees;
And I rock the baby so softly to sleep –
It must not awaken till daisy-buds peep.
*********
A Cradle Song
- unknown
Sleep baby, sleep! Thy father watches his sheep,
Thy mother is shaking the dreamland tree,
And softly a little dream falls on thee! Sleep, baby, sleep!
Sleep, baby, sleep! The large stars are the sheep,
The little stars are the lambs, I guess
The fair moon is the shepherdess; Sleep, baby, sleep!
Sleep, baby, sleep! I’ll buy for thee a sheep,
With golden bell so fine to see, and it shall
Frisk and play with thee; Sleep, baby, sleep!
Sleep, baby, sleep! Thy father watches the sheep,
The wind is blowing fierce, and wild, It must not wake
My little child; Sleep, baby, sleep!
************

************
New Mother’s Song
- Jane Merchant
My darling, don’t cry because you’ve been born.
You’ll see hummingbirds fly in this world
That you scorn So vociferously now.
You’ll touch tiny oak leaves as soft on the bough
As your palm that receives these kisses of mine.
You’ll see mountains and rain and smell cedar and pine –
Oh, my small, don’t complain, for I tell you most true
And my honor I’m giving any world that holds you
Is a good world for living.
***********
First Day of School

- Maureen Cannon
Small voyager, was it a day ago
(Or in a timeless land) that, locked within
Your private world you, tearless, said good-bye
And trudged ahead alone? Where have you been
That suddenly I know you not at all,
Sweet stranger, grown so very soon so tall?
*************
Mother’s Query
- Annette Victorin
How could I hold the smile you shared with me,
Dipped in the silver of your little spoon?
How store in velvet all the jewelry
Your infant lips were sculpturing to croon?
How hold the freshness of your puerile self,
Your need of me reflected in your eyes?
The chuckles that would break the sudden tears,
How curb the time propelled to make you wise?
How tell you of the struggles that I knew,
That you must come to know thru rooted pain?
How could I keep your skies a faultless blue,
How save you from the thunder and the rain?
Reality nucleared my sheltered dream
Whoever held a ripple in a stream?
**********
Messy Room
- Burton Hillis
I told my son that if he became president,
and our house became a national shrine, he
might be embarrassed if tourists could see his
messy room.
He agreed, but said he’d delay any action
until the results of his first primary were in.
*************

*************
Good Night
- Ruth Ainsworth
No more work and no more play,
every toy is put away,
Ended is the lovely day,
Then - good night!
Drink the milk all white and creamy,
Have your bath all warm and steamy,
Close your eyes all tired and dreamy,
Then - good night!
Through the window stars are peeping,
From their holes the mice are creeping,
Your white bed is soft for sleeping,
Then - good night!
************
Sweet and Low
- Lord Tennyson
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea,
Low, low, breathe and blow,
Wind of the western sea!
Over the rolling waters go,
Come from the dying moon,
And blow, blow him again to me,
While my little one,
While my pretty one, sleeps.
Sleep and rest, sleep and rest,
Father will come to thee soon;
Rest, rest, on mother's breast,
Father will come to thee soon;
Father will come to his babe in the nest,
Silver sails all out of the west,
Under the silver moon;
Sleep my little one,
Sleep my pretty one, sleep.
*************
Lullaby
- Phyllis Garlick
Lullaby, Lullaby,
Shadows creep across the sky,
See, the sun has gone to rest,
Lullaby.
Lullaby, Lullaby
Little one to Dreamland fly,
Till the morning sun awakes,
Lullaby.
***********
To Have Faith
To have faith – in the best and highest that we know – is to be borne along, through
the difficulties of life – as on wings of air!
************

************
Keep This For Me
- unknown
What child has not said this,
and placed a treasure in his Mother's hand
with strict injunction she should keep it safe...
Till he return? He knows with her it will be safe;
No troubled thought or anxious fear besets his mind,
and off he runs light-hearted to his play.
If children can so trust, why cannot we,
and place our treasures, too, in God's safe hand?
Our hopes, ambitious, needs, and those we love
(Just place them, in His all embracing care)
and say with joyous heart, "They are with Thee."
**********
This Rite
-Barbara A. Jones
This is the way she mixes cake:
Beside her, a young body braced
Against the table’s end to see,
A smallish finger dipped (to taste)
Low words of eagerness exchanged –
Not mighty words nor great; but then
She pauses at the oven door
To whisper, “Thank you God, again.”
***********
Shampoo and Set at 10:00am
-Eleanor Graham Vance
Where does the housewife escape her cares? –
The shouts of the young, the skates on the stairs,
The little dust fuzzies under the bed,
The clothes to be ironed, the folks to be fed,
The effort of diet to make herself thinner,
The thought of the company coming for dinner –
All of them vanish; none can come nigh her
When she is enthroned under the dryer.
A haven of warmth, an island of peace
Where time is suspended, a heavenly lease
On Lethe, the dryer becomes her delight.
To blot out the housekeeping world and its blight.
For here she can clumber or read or just dream
And drift for a while on a halcyon stream.
Her chores are forgotten; there’s nothing to fear –
If anyone screams, she can’t even hear.
************
Room Service
“A mother, weary of the constant disorder she found in her boys’ room, laid
down the law. For every item she had to pick up in their room, they would
have to pay her one cent. At the end of the week the boys owed her 27 cents.
She received the 27 cents – plus a ten-cent tip and a not saying: “Thanks, Mom.
Keep up the good work!”
***********

************
Reunion
- Barbara A. Jones
It was fun, the camping life,
Songs around a dreamy fire;
But I’m home again at last ....
(Darling washer, dearest dryer!)
There were birds that sang at dawn,
Hikes through an enchanted bower;
Now I’m back where I belong...
(Sweetest bathroom, dear-loved shower!)
Quiet lake and cooling breeze,
Dome of stars for making wishes...
Now I’m home (and caress
That machine that does the dishes!)
***********
On Packing A Sea Bag
- Gladys McKee
Now it is time for him to go (Twenty summers, fair and slim),
And all around the room are things that he must pack and take with him.
Sailors roll their suits up tight, a calculated Navy way
That makes the creases come out right – or so they say.
Familiar T-shirts, shorts and socks-I watched them grow from year to year,
And never thought my hands at last would wash
and fold and place them here;
But strange, the heavy, high laced shoes – his step is always laughter-light
As wind within young apple trees, or bird in flight.
Dungarees and blue work shirts, the folded silk that makes a tie,
And no place, as I hand him these, to turn and cry.
Wind-breaker, pea-coat, all packed in,
His gear against the sea and Time;
As whitecaps on a breaking wave
My mind is spun within this rhyme
to hold the twenty years it took
To bear, to love and raise a son, and watch him grow
From babe to youth – now it is done.
Done in a sea bag, packed to go with
Twenty years of heart’s best gold-
Come, heart, and tie the last hard knot, it will hold!
************
Because I Care
- Judith Crist
Amid all the easily loved darlings of Charlie Brown’s circle,
obstreperous Lucy holds a special place in my heart. She fusses and
fumes, and she carps and complains. That’s because Lucy cares.
And it’s the caring that counts. When we, as youngsters, would
accuse our mother of picking on us, her wise reply was: “All you’ll
get from strangers is surface pleasantry or indifference. Only
someone who loves you will criticize you.”
***********

***********
Lay That Cookbook Down, Man
- Eleanor S. J. Rydberg
When you, loving spouse, say that I need a rest
And you’ll get our meal while I make like a guest,
Pardon me, please, if I seem to recoil,
But when you go domestic, gadzooks, how I toil!
“Hand me,” you order, “that spoon with the holes.
Give me a pan and a couple of bowls.
Squeeze me a lemon, and get me a clove.
Mop us the egg yolk I splashed on the stove.
Light up the oven and sharpen some knives.
Grate me some cheese, dear, and chop up some chives.”
When my running and fetching at last have diminished
And the fabulous dish you have cooked us is finished,
“It’s great!” you exult. “It’s better than ham,
Or goulash, or lobster, or waffles and jam.”
No cook in the county, you tell me, could beat it ...
But how should I know? I’m too worn out to eat it.
***********
What the Cradle Fairy Sang
-Elizabeth Henly
Three things your child is going to get –
Know of it now, thought they won’t come yet:
Measles, a tooth you will mistake
For midnight terror and all heartbreak,
And some kind of a silver spoon.
These things your child will cry to get:
Rocking when stars are about to set,
A worn wool cover, usually wet,
A mother (or Teddy bear) to pet.
Also the moon.
Three things your child is going to find,
No matter how far out of sight and mind:
The mantelpiece vase, the ‘company’ cake,
Your heirloom mirror – or heart – to break.
And his own marching tune.
***********
The Latch String
If the safety pin had been invented this year,
instead of long ago, it would have probably had
six moving parts and two transistors, and
require a serviceman twice a year.
********
Kids?
“The things that get Mom up in the morning
are usually the same ones that get her down the
rest of the day.” –S.S. Biddle
***********

************
God Wants us to Marry and Have Families
“And the were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises
which the Lord had made unto them.” (4 Nephi 1:11)
“Looking at the Bible, we would find that God wants us to marry someone who is
a Christian, who is not already married, who is of the opposite sex, and to stay
married to them until death. Within those parameters, we may choose to marry
anyone we please.” (Guidance and the Voice of God, Jensen, Phillip, and Payne, 1997).
“So God created man in his own image... male and female created he them. And
God blessed them, and... said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish
the earth.” (Gen 1:27-28) “And Jesus answered and said unto them... from the
beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a
man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be
one flesh... what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
(Mark 10:5-9) “Now in the latter times some shall depart from the faith...
forbidding to marry.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3) “The wife is bound by the law as long as
her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is a liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.”
(1 Cor. 7:39) “To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife
hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body,
but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other... that Satan tempt you not for you incontinency.” “But if you do
marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.” (1 Cor. 7:28) “There is difference also
between a wife and virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in
body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” (1
Cor. 7:34) “But he who is married, careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” (1 Cor.
7:33)
*************
Apostles and Bishops Should Be Married
Clement of Alexandria, born about 150 A.D., philosopher, historian, and
Christian writer, whose works are most valuable in formulating much of the
early Christian Church listed the Apostles who were known to have been
married. (The Stromata, Clement of Alexandria, Book 7, Vol. 2, pg 541.). The
list included Peter, Philip, Paul, Simon. (See Matt. 8:14, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38)
Clement also suggested that the women who accompanied the apostles were
a vital part of their mission. It was also taught that a Bishop was to first be a
husband. (1 Tim. 3:1-4, Titus 1:5,6)
************
10 Reasons To Stay Married (If Possible)
-Dr. Randy Carlson
1. Because God wants us to stay married for life.
2. Because marriage is a picture of the love God has for
the church and each divorce damages that picture.
3. Because divorce hurts everyone: children, in-laws,
friends and you!
4. Because second and third marriages tend to be even less
successful than first marriages.
5. Because divorce often creates serious financial
problems for one or both parties.
6. Because you lose friends and family.
7. Because you lose out on what could have been.
8. Because you both once loved each other and could
recapture that love if you both choose to do so.
9. Because it is generally good for your health.
10. Because it builds personal character.
************

Hymns, Children’s
Songs
And Sayings
*************
Let The Little Children Come
Let the little children come unto me, the blessed Savior said;
Fear not, dear children, for as thee is my father’s kingdom.
(LDS Children’s Hymn) (Matt. 19:14)
**************
Become as Little Children
Jesus said: “Unless you become converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)
**************
Children not condemned
I am a child of God. My Father never condemns me;
So I do not allow condemnation in my life.
I hold first to the truth that my Father loves me!
*************
Dearest Children
Dearest Children, God is near you, watching over you day by
day, and he delights to love and bless you if you strive to do
what’s right – He will bless you, He will bless you, if you put
your trust in him. (LDS Children’s Songbook)
********
Little Children Cannot Sin

“But behold, I say unto you that little children... cannot sin, for power is
not given unto Satan to tempt them, until they begin to become
accountable before me.” (D&C 29:46-48)
************
Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam
Words by Nellie Talbot, Music by Edwin O. Excell (1851-1921)
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for him each day.
In ev’ry way try to please him, At home at school at play.
A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam –
To shine for Him each day.
(LDS Children’s Songbook, pg. 60)
**************

************
Jesus Once Was A Little Child
Words: James R. Murray; Music: Joseph Ballantyne
Jesus once was a little child, a little child like me,
And he was pure and meek and mild, as a little child should
be, So little children, let’s you and I try to be like him,
Try, Try, Try.
He played as little children play the pleasant games of youth;
But he never got vexed if the game went wrong,
And he always spoke the truth, So little children, let’s you and
I try to be like him. Try, Try, Try.
(LDS Children’s Songbook pg. 55)
*************
Away In a Manger
Words: Anon, Music: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed;
The little lord Jesus lay down his wee head,
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle ‘till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
(LDS Children’s Songbook, pg 42)
**********
Shine On
Words & Music: Josphe Ballantyne (1868-1944)
(1) My light is but a little one,
My light of faith and prayer;
But lo! It glows like God’s great sun,
For it was lighted there.
Chorus: Shine on, shine on,
shine on bright and clear;
Shine on; shine on now the day is here.
(2) I may not hide my little light;
The Lord has told me so.
‘Tis given me to keep in sight,
That all may see it glow.
(Chorus)
(LDS Children’s Songbook, pg 144)
***********
Hope In Darkness
My light of hope in darkness, cool water when I thirst, my bread
of life when hungry; thy teaching of our God.
**************
Family that Prays Together
“The family that prays together, stays together.”
- Al Scalpon
*************

*************
Now Let Us Rejoice
LDS Hymn by William W. Phelps (1792-1872)
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation,
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation,
And shortly the hour of redemption will come:
When all that was promised the saints will be given,
And none will molest them from morn until even,
And earth will appear as the garden of Eden,
And Jesus will say to all Israel: Come home!
We'll love one another and never dissemble,
But cease to do evil and ever be one;
And while the ungodly are fearing and tremble,
We'll watch for the day when the Savior shall come:
When all that was promised the saints will be given,
And none will molest them from morn until even,
And Jesus will say to all Israel: Come home!
In faith we'll rely on the arm of Jehovah,
To guide through these last days of trouble and gloom;
And after the scourges and harvest are over,
We'll rise with the just, when the Savior doth come:
Then all that was promised the saints will be given,
And they will be crowned as the angel of heaven:
And Christ and his people will ever be one.
Quoted here from the 1841 Nauvoo hymnal.
**************
William Wines Phelps (1792-1872) was an early leader in the LDS church, and
assistant president of the church in Missouri, scribe to Joseph Smith Jr., a church
printer, editor, and song-writer. Born in Hanover, New Jersey, his father moved to
Homer, N.Y. in 1800. He attended public schools as a young man. In 1815 he
married Stella Waterman, and they moved to Trumansburgh, Tompkins Co., New
Waterman, where in 1823 he founded the Lake Light. In 1827 he relocated to
Canandigua, New York, where he began publishing and editing the anti-Masonic
newspaper Ontario Phoenix through 1828. He has been referred to as one of the
founders of the anti-Masonic movement in New York. Well educated as a young
man, Phelps was an aspirant for the office of lieutenant governor of New York, at
the time he purchased a copy of the Book of Mormon from Parley P. Pratt on April 9, 1830 just three days after
the LDS Church was organized. On December 24, 1830 he met Joseph Smith and was convinced he was a
prophet. He was imprisoned at Lyons, NY to stop him from joining the Mormons. He visited Kirtland in 1831,
was baptized on June 10, 1831, and established a print house in Independence, MO. He helped print the first
LDS Hymnal in 1835, wrote ‘The Spirit of God’ which was sung at the Kirtland Temple. He took part in the
Mormon Exodus and settled in Salt Lake City in 1849. He served a mission to southern Utah 1849-1850. He
died March 7, 1872 in SLC, Utah.
**************

************
Come O Thou King of Kings
- Parley P. Pratt
Come, O! thou King of Kings!
We've waited long for thee,
With healing in thy wings,
To set thy people free;
Come, thou desire of nations, come –
Let Israel now be gathered home.
Come, make an end of sin,
And cleanse the earth by fire,
And righteousness bring in,
That saints may tune the lyre,
With songs of joy in happier strains,
To welcome in thy peaceful reign.
Hosannahs now shall sound
From all the ransomed throng,

And glory echo round,
A new triumphal song;
The wide expanse of heaven fill,
With anthems sweet from Zion's hill.
Hail! Prince of Life and Peace,
Thrice welcome to thy throne,
While all the chosen race,
Their Lord and Saviour own; -
The heathen nations bow the knee,
And every tongue confess to thee.
From the 1840 Manchester hymnal.
**************
Parley Parker Pratt (1807-1857) was a leader in the LDS movement and an original member
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the
Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt. He was a missionary, poet, religious writer,
and longtime editor of the The Latter-Day Saints’ Millennial Star. He practiced plural
marriage and had twelve wives. He maintained the first road for public transportation there.
He was born in Burlington, NY, the son of Jared Pratt (1769-1839) and wife (1776), a
descendant of Anne Hutchinson. He married Thankful Halsey in Canaan, NY on Sept 9,
1827. The young couple settled near Cleveland, OH on a plot of ‘wilderness’ where Parley
had constructed a crude home. In Ohio Pratt became a member of the Reformed Baptist
Society, also called the Campbellites, and soon decided to take up the ministry as a
profession, sold his property. While visiting family in N.Y. he read a copy of the Book of
Mormon owned by a Baptist deacon. Convinced of its authenticity, he traveled to Palmyra,
New York, and spoke to Hyrum Smith at the Smith home. He joined the LDS Church,
baptized in Seneca Lake by Oliver Cowdery on or about Sept 1830. Pratt then returned to Fayette, NY where he met Joseph
Smith and was asked to join a missionary group assigned to preach to the Native American tribes on the Missouri frontier.
During the trip he and his companions stopped to visit Sidney Rigdon, and was instrumental in converting Rigdon and about
130 members of the congregation within two weeks. Pratt was later assigned additional missions to Canada, the Eastern
U.S., Southern U.S., England, the Pacific Islands, and to So. America. He moved to Valpariaso, Chile where he began doing
missionary work. They left after not much success and the death of his child Omner in 1852. In addition to his brother,
Orson Pratt and Sidney Rigdon, he was instrumental in introducing the Gospel to Frederick G. Williams, John Taylor, and his
wife Leonora, Isaac Morley, and Joseph Fielding and his sister, Mary and Mercy Fielding. He acted as an original member
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He edited The Latter Day Saints Millennial Star while serving as an active
missionary in the British Isles 1839. In Nauvoo, Illinois in 1844 he married the fourth and fifth of his twelve wives, Scottish
Mary Wood, daughter of Samuel Wood; and wife Margaret Orr by whom he had Helaman Pratt. At the death of Joseph
Smith Pratt and his family were among the LDS members who immigrated to Utah and continued on under Brigham Young.
He died of gunshot and stabbing wounds and was buried near Alma, Arkansas.
**************

**************
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
- James Montgomery, 1826
Text: James Montgomery (1771-1854)
and Music: George Coles (1792-1858)
(1)A poor wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not power to ask his name,
whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye that
won my love; I knew not why.
(2) Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.
(4) I spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff’rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o’er;
I drank and never thirsted more.
‘Twas night; the floods were out;
It blew a winter hurricane aloof;
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seemed
In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.
(5) Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.
(6) In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
to meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
and honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
he asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”.
(7) Then in a moment to my view
the stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in His hands I knew;
the Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name He named,
“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.”
*************

****************
Thou Outward Trials Throng Your Way
(Though Deepening Trials – LDS Hymn)
- Eliza R. Snow
Though outward trials throng your way,
Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!
Ere long, the resurrection day
Will spread its light and truth abroad.
Though outward ills await us here,
The time at longest, is not long;
Ere prince Messiah will appear
Surrounded by a glorious throng.
Lift up your hearts in praise to God –
Let your rejoicings never cease:
Though tribulation rage abroad,
Christ says, "in me ye shall have peace."
What tho'our rights have been assail'd?
What tho' by foes we've been despoiled?
Jehovah's promise has not failed –
Jehovah's purpose is not foil'd:
His work is moving on apace,
And great events are rolling forth -
The kingdom of the latter days –
The "little stone," must fill the earth.
Though Satan rage, 'tis all in vain, -
The words the ancient prophets spoke
Sure, as the throne of God, remain,
Nor men nor devils can revoke.
All glory to His sacred name,
Who calls his servants-sends them forth.
To prove the nations—to proclaim
Salvation's trumpet, thro' the earth.
************
Published in the Times and Seasons, pg 286. Eliza Roxy Snow Young (1804-1887) was one of the most celebrated LDS
women. A renowned poet, she chronicled history, celebrated history, nature and relationships, expounded doctrine and
scriptures. She was a plural wife of Joseph Smith Jr. and after his death married to Brigham Young. She was the second
general President of the Relief Society under the presidency of Emma Smith, from 1866. Born in Becket, Massachusetts, on
Jan 21, 1804, moved to Mantua, Ohio age two. She had many educational opportunities as a young woman, working as a
secretary for her office as Justice of the Peace. She gained renown for her poetry in her early twenties. Her Baptist parents
joined the Campbellites, when they joined she did too. Her mother and sister joined early in the movement, and she joined in
1835, moving to Kirtland, Ohio, Church headquarters at the time. Her younger brother Lorenzo joined the church and later
became the fifth Church President. She moved west with the Saints in 1847, and married Brigham Young. Childless she taught
school, and moved into the Lion House. She served as President of the Relief Society until her death in 1887. Emma Smith
not only compiled the original Kirtland Hymnal, but the 1841 Nauvoo Hymnal was also her compilation. She was called
‘Zion’s Prophetess’.

*************
Oh My Father
- One of Eliza R. Snow’s best known songs
O my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence
And again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation,
Did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood
Was I nurtured near thy side?
For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet oft times a secret something
Whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.
I had learned to call thee Father,
Thru thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge
Was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single?
No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal
Tells me I’ve a mother there.
When I leave this frail existence,
When I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you
In your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed
All you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation
Let me come and dwell with you.
************
In Illinois We’ve Found a Safe Retreat
- Eliza Snow
In Illinois we've found a safe retreat,
A home, a shelter from oppressions dire;
Where we can worship God as we think right,
And mobbers come not to disturb our peace;
Where we can live and hope for better days,
Enjoy again our liberty, our rights:
That social intercourse which freedom grants,
And charity requires of man to man.
And long may charity pervade each breast,
And long may Illinois remain the scene
Of rich prosperity by peace secured!
***********

***********
A Hymn
By Edward Partridge
We read of the sufferings of saints long ago,
How tyrants destroy’d them without a just cause.
So modern saints too, have their sufferings and woes;
In this land of freedom, religion and laws.
They have been tarr’d, feather’d, and often times whip’d,
Been murder’d, and plunder’d, and robbed, and driv’n;
Their houses destroy’d, till they have been strip’d
Of all earthly wealth, but they’ve treasures in heav’n.
Tho’ we are oppresse’d, we will sing and praise God,

For he counts us worthy to bare it for Christs’ sake;
All sons must be chast’ned, and prov’d with the rod,
Then let us no murmur, nor his cause forsake.
How long, O my God, shall the enemy reign,
And rob, drive and murder, the saints without cause?
When shall they have power their rights to maintain,
Shall mobs always triumph in spite of the laws?
Oh no!, for the prophets have foretold a time,

(But not till the Ancient of days shall have sit.)
That saints shall have power, wisdom divine,
The Kingdom to take, and then to possess it.
h! Hasten dear Lord, hasten on that blest day,
My soul will rejoice; should I live will it come;
Prepare Lord thy saints, for the happy ear,
That we may be ready, and bid it welcome.
(Published in the Times & Seasons, pgs 95-96)
*************
Kings and Priests to Be
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory
and dominion forever and ever, Amen.” ( Joseph Smith, Jr.)
************
Spiritual Gifts Endowed
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you
ignorant…Wherefore I give you to understand… there are diversities
of gift…; differences of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all.. manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit withal. For unto to one is given by the Spirit, the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge…; to another faith… ; to
another the gifts of healing…; to another the working of miracles; to
another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all
these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as he will.” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
************

*************
Farewell Song
By Parley P. Pratt
When shall we all meet again? When shall we our rest obtain?
When our pilgrimage be o’er— parting sighs be known no more;
When Mount Zion we regain, there may we all meet again,
We to foreign climes repair; truth, the message which we bear;
Truth, which angels oft have borne; truth to comfort those who
morn. Truth eternal will remain, on its rock we’ll meet again.
Now the bright and morning star spreads its glorious light afar,
Kindles up the rising dawn of that bright Millennial morn;
When the Saints shall rise and reign,
In the clouds we’ll meet again.
When the sons of Israel come,

when they build Jerusalem;
When the house of God is reared,
and Messiah’s way prepared;
When from Heaven he comes to reign,
Then we all may meet again.
When the earth is cleansed by fire;
when the wicked’s hopes expire;
When in cold oblivion’s shade,
proud oppressors all are laid;
Long will Zion’s Mount remain,
there we all may meet again.
(Published in Times & Seasons pg. 11) The Latter-Day Saints’
millennial star, Volume 19
Note: In the early months of 1840, a number of Elders met in New York where they were preparing to journey to
England. Elders Turley, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Clark and two [unnamed] Elders had already left. The
remaining Elders, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and R.
Hedlock held a Conference, in the “Columbian Hall,” prior to leaving in which they sung the following song,
composed by Parley P. Pratt just for the occasion. At the time it was titled “Farewell Song”. It didn't take long for
the Hymn to find its way into print. By May 1840 the song was in Times and Seasons without any musical notation
save the word "Hymenial" at the end.
***********
Adam – ondi – Ahman
(W.W. Phelps)
This earth was once a garden place.
With all her glories common;
And men did live a holy race,
And worship Jesus face to face,
In Adam-ondi-Ahman.
**************
Depart from Evil
“Depart from evil and do Good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
(Psalms 34:14) “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:22)
“Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; for
the Lord seeth not as a man seeth; for men looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
(1 Sam. 16:7)
************

***********
The Word of Wisdom
Hymn 284, Miss Eliza R. Snow
The Lord imparted from above
The "Word of Wisdom" for our blessing,
But shall it unto many prove
A gift that is not worth possessing?
Chorus
O, that the Saints would all regard
Each gracious word that God has given.
And prize the favor of the Lord
Above all things beneath the heaven!
Have we not been divinely taught

To heed its voice, and highly prize it?
Then who shall once indulge the thought,
It can be better to despise it?
Has self denial grown a task?
Or has that word been vainly spoken?
Or why, I fain would humbly ask,
Why is that word so often broken?
It is a straight and narrow way

That leads to the celestial city;
That high-taught Saints should go as
Through Gentile customs, is a pity.
O, that the Saints would all regard
Each gracious word that God has given,
And prize the favor of the Lord
Above all things beneath the heaven.
(Published in the Hymn Book of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1905;
and in the Times & Seasons, Vol. 2, pg 160)
***************
On the Plurality of Gods
( Joseph Smith Jr.)
“I will preach on the plurality of gods, and I have selected this text for
that express purpose. I wish to declare I have always, and in all
congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity. It has
been the plurality of gods. It has been preached by the Elders fifteen
years. I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus
Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the
Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit; and these three
constitute three distinct personage and three Gods. If this is in
accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold, we have three gods
anyhow, and they are plural, and who can contradict it.
**************

************
Count Your Blessings
- Religious Hymn Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1897;
Music by Edwin O. Excell
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
“Blessings crown the head of the righteous. (Proverbs 10:16)
*************
Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856-1922) was an American hymn writer born near Medford, New Jersey
who became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church when age 19; although he never
became a pastor, he was licensed to preach and ordained as a teacher by his domination. In his
younger years he was involved in the family’s mercantile business, but when his father died he
entered the insurance business. At age 36 he began writing gospel songs, and from then until he
died in 1922, he wrote about 3,000 gospel hymn texts each week, although he never received
more than a dollar for each of his songs. His texts were always in great demand by leading
gospel musicians of his time, including Charles Gabriel, William James Kirkpatrick and Edwin
Excell. Edwin Othello Excell (1851-1921), who composed the music for this song, was a
prominent American publisher, composer, song leader and singer of music for church, Sunday
School, and evangelistic meetings during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His 1909 stanza
selection and arrangement of Amazing Grace became the most widely used and familiar setting Johnson Oatman Jr.
of that hymn. The influence of his sacred music on American culture was substantial enough by
the 1920’s to be mentioned in literary works. Excell compiled or contributed to about 90 secular and sacred song books,
and is estimated to have composed, written or arranged more than 2000 of the songs he published. Born the son of a
German Reformed minister and self-publishing author, J.J. Excell in Uniontown, Ohio, he attended public schools in Ohio
and Pennsylvania. Marrying in 1871 in Pennsylvania he relocated to that state and supported his family for several years
as a plasterer, bricklayer, and singing instructor.
His focus was turned to sacred music during revivals and worship services he attended there.
Between 1877 and 1883 he studied music formally at the Normal Musical Institutes where he
received vocal training; after which he moved to Chicago to pursue music publishing in earnest.
He was described as being a robust six-foot tall man with a six-in caliber voice, and he had an
extraordinary vocal range that enabled him to sing solo as a baritone or a tenor. He performed
as a vocalist at many programs. He developed approximately 50 song books. By 1914, his
company had produced close to 10 million books and was selling them at the rate of nearly a
half million per year. It was said that he was large of body and happy in disposition, never
known to loose his temper or his smile and more capable of directing great audiences in singing
than most men ever will be. At least five books listing him as a contributor have been published
posthumously.
Edwin O. Excell
***********

***************
Give Me A Home in the Heart Of the Mountains
- Theodore E. Curtis
(Lost Hymns Project/LDS Hymns – 276)
Give me a home in the heart of the mountains,
Out in the vales of the sun-painted west;
Nursed in the arms of their crystalline fountains
Playfully hurrying down to their rest.
Give me the purity blown in their breezes,
Give me the freedom that rolls in their rills,
Give me the blush and the bloom of their roses,
Give me the strength of the heaven-kissed hill.
Given me their people that malice has driven,
Making a picture no mortal can paint;
Though I be hated and plundered and riven,
Give me the hand the heart of a saint.
************
When Winds Are Raging
- Harriet Beecher Stow (1855) Christian Hymn Book, Music by Charles Beecher
When winds are raging o’er the upper ocean,
And billows wild contend with angry roar,
’Tis said, far down, below the wild commotion,
That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.
Far, far beneath, the noise of tempests dieth,
And silver waves chime ever peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce so e’er it flieth,
Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.
So to the heart that knows Thy love, O Purest!
There is a temple, sacred evermore,
And all the babble of life’s angry voices
Dies in hushed stillness at its peaceful door.
Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,
And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce so e’er it flieth,
Disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.
O Rest of rests! O Peace, serene, eternal!
Thou ever livest, and Thou changest never.
And in the secret of Thy presence dwelleth
Fullness of joy, forever and forever.
from The Plymouth Collection
**************
Contend Not
“Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another.” (D&C 136:23)
*************

Prophets &
Servants of God
***********
Now Let Thy Servants O Our God
(Poem taken from Journal of Joel H. Johnson)
Now let thy servants O our God,
Be clothed with power divine
That they may spread thy truth abroad
And cause thy light to shine
Among nations who in darkness are
For darkness fills the earth
That they may shun the devils snare
By having a new birth.
And gathering home to Zion's land
Which to Joseph given
That they in safety there may stand,
When Christ descends from heaven,
To burn the wicked in his wrath
And to receive his bride
With righteousness to fill the earth
Which then if purified.
From your fellow laborer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Joel H. Johnson
Preface to the entry states: About this time, I commenced writing religious songs and hymns, upon various
subjects. Some of which may be found in Zion’s Songster, of the Songs of Joel, a work of my own, but many are
lost… I continued preaching in Springfield and its vicinity until Jan 8, 1839… I first came to Carthage, Ill. in
January 1839… I rented an old vacant store house with several rooms, in which I moved my family. I had not
been here long before Sidney Rigdon and others who had fled… called on me… to seek a location for the Saints
who were then being driven from the state of Missouri. As soon as the authorities of the church had concluded
to make … Nauvoo a location for the saints, they … bent their course hither and made my home a stopping
place… I had by this time…. Gained many warm friends to the saints in and about the vicinity of Carthage, which
was a great benefit to the saints in exile who were seeking in Hancock County an asylum from mob violence… for
I had baptized several and also organized a branch of the church at Crooked Creek, eight miles distant in what
was called the Perkins settlement.
**************
The Righteous Person
The righteous person may rise many times, but the wicked may never
even rise once. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the
effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” – Isa. 32:17
**************

*************
Eulogy for Joseph Smith Sr. (Sept 14, 1840)
By Eliza R. Snow
Zion’s noblest sons are weeping, See her daughters bathed in tears,
Where the Patriarch is sleeping nature’s sleep - The sleep of years.
Hushed is every note of gladness – Every minstrel bows full low –
Every heart is tuned to sadness - Every bosom feels the blow.
Zion’s children loved him dearly; Zion was his daily care:
That his loss is felt sincerely, Thousand weeping Saints declare;
Thousands, who have shared his blessing, thousands who his service blessed,
By his faith and prayers suppressing evils which their lives oppressed. Faith
and works, most sweetly blessed, Faith's sweet voice of consolation,
Prov'd his steadfast heart sincere;
Soothes our grief: His spirit's flown And the power of God, attended
Upward, to a holier station, His official labors, here,
Nearer the celestial throne;
Long, he stem'd the powers of darkness,

There to plead the cause of Zion, Like an anchor in the flood: In the
council of the just - Like an oak amid the tempest, In the court, the saints
rely on, Bold, and fearlessly he stood. Pending causes to adjust. Years
have witnessed his devotions, Though his earthly part is sleeping by the
love of God inspired: Lowly, 'neath the prairie sod; When his spirit's
pure emotions, Soon the grave will yield its keeping - Ware [where] with
holy ardor fir'd. Yield to life, the man of God. Oft, he wept for suff'ring
Zion- When the heav'ns and earth are shaken- All her sorrows were his
own: When all things shall be restored- When she pass'd thro' grievous
trials, When the trump of God shall waken Her oppressions weigh'd
down. Those that sleep in Christ the Lord.
Now he's gone; We'd not recall him from a paradise of bliss,
Where no evil can befall him; to a changing world like this.
His lov'd name, will never perish, nor his mem'ry crown the dust;
For the saints of God will cherish the remembrance of the JUST.
Published in Times & Seasons, as ‘Elegy’, a Hymenial, Vol. 2, pg 189-190; and in Lucy Mack Smith
Autobiography, by Lisa J. Peck (2004) pg 86; Originally titled: Elegy on the death of the dearly beloved, and greatly
lamented father in Israel, Joseph Smith, Senior, A Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who
died in Nauvoo, Sept 14, 1846.
***********
Pray For The Saints Of God
“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of
your faith in Christ Jesus... For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven... For this cause we ... do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,
unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:3-14) “Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversations, in all your
prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.” (D&C 108:7)
************

************
Song of the Exiled Saints
(Sung to the tune of Sweet Home, Published in Times and Seasons, Vo. 2, Nov 1, 1840.)
We are far, far away from the land of our home.

And, like strangers, in exile we're destined to roam ;
While our foes are exulting to drive us abroad.
Our faith is unshaken — our trust is in God,
Though far from home for we journeyed away from our
country and home.
We were houseless and homeless in tempest and storm,
But God is our Father — we leaned on His arm ;
And beneath His protection our lives were secure,
And we smiled at the hardships we had to endure,
While journeying on to a country of strangers -
A land not our home.
Then, then we remembered the House of the Lord,

Where the Saints met so often to feast on the Word
Poured forth in the Spirit, sent down from on high,
And our thoughts sometimes lingered on seasons gone by.
When at our home we enjoyed with the Saints the rich blessings of home.
But all those who a kingdom celestial would gain,
Need not parley with danger, with trouble or pain ;
For if Christ was made perfect through suffering, shall we
Ever expect in his presence to reign gloriously,
Unless we come up through great tribulation to Zion, our home.
Thus the Former-day Saints, who were driven away,

And like deer in the forest were destined to stray :
Clad in sheepskins and goatskins,' they wandered around.
Or in caves and in dens a lone residence found, and should they roam
And the Latter-day Saints rest in quiet at home.
Now the Saints who are faithful, and trust in the Lord,
Wherever they are scattered, go ‘preaching the word’,
And the honest in heart, the glad tidings believe,
And with joy and rejoicing the gospel receive.
And seek a home, with the just of all ages,
When Jesus shall come.
And we long for the promised redemption to come,
When the faithful in Jesus, will al gather home,
From the north, from the south, east and west,
To partake with the ancients, the great promised rest;
And Shiloh come, and crown with his presence,
Mount Zion our home.
*************
God Will Wipe Away ALL Tears
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)
***********
Trust In the Lord
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (Psa. 37:3)
***********
************
Awake Ye Saints of God Awake
- Eliza R. Snow - Published in the Times & Seasons,
Vol. 2, pg 309
Awake, ye Saints of God, awake!

Call on the Lord in mighty prayer
That he will Zion’s bondage break
And bring to naught the fowler’s snare.
He will regard his people’s cry –
The widow’s tear- the orphans moan!
The blood of those that slaughter’d lie
Plead’s not in vain before his throne!
Tho’ Zion’s foes have counsel’d deep,
Altho’ they bind with fetters strong –
The God of Jacob does not sleep,
His vengeance will not slumber long.
Then let your souls be stay’d on God

A glorious scene is drawing nigh!
Tho’ tempests gather like a flood,
The storm, tho’ fierce, will soon pass.
With constant faith and fervent prayer
With deep humility of soul –
With steadfast mind and heart prepare,
To see th’ eternal purpose roll.
For God in judgment will come near;

His mighty arm he will make bare:
For Zion’s sake he will appear –
Then O ye Saints! Awake! Prepare!
Awake to union and be one,
Or saith the Lord you are not mine.
Yea, like the Father and the Son,
Let all the Saints, in union join.
************
Goodness
- Personal Growth Leaflet
What makes a saint? Why were the saints, saints?
Because they were cheerful when it was difficult to be cheerful; patient
when it was difficult to be patient: and because they pushed on when
they wanted to stand still: and kept silent when they wanted to talk; and
they were agreeable when they wanted to be disagreeable – That was all!
It was quite simple and always will be.
*********
Today’s Thoughts
The ones who seek their happiness by buying cars and clothes and rings,
Don’t seem to know that empty lives, are just as empty filled with things.
– unknown
***********
A Good Deed
A good deed is never last. He who sows courtesy, reaps friendship: He who plants kindness gathers
love; pleasure bestowed upon a grateful mind was never sterile, but generally gratitude begets reward.
-Basil
************
***************
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
Words: Sir John Bowring, Hymns: As a Sequel to Matins, 1831
Watchman, tell us of the night,

What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, over yon mountain's height,
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes - it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.
Watchman, tell us of the night;

Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
See, it bursts over all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night,

For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God is come!
Published in the Times & Seasons, pg 462, Vol.
**********
th
Sir John Bowring (1791-1872) was an English political economist, traveler, writer, polyglot, and the 4
Governor of Hong Kong. He was born in Exeter, England of an old Puritan family, educated in a
Unitarian school, and at one time wished to become a minister. He was a diligent student of literature
and foreign languages, especially those of Eastern Europe. He learned and promoted several languages
(hyper polyglot) his talent enabled him to say that he knew 200 languages, and could speak 100 of them
well. He married Mary Lewin in 1816, and was an active member of the Unitarian Church. The first
fruits of his study of foreign literature appeared in Specimens of the Russian Poets (1821-1823), which
were soon followed by Batavian Anthology (1824), Ancient Poetry and Romances of Spain (1824),
Specimens of Polish Poets and Serbian Popular Poetry (1827), and Poetry of the Magyars (1830). He
founded the Westminster Review, as its editor in 1825, and by contributions to it he gained a strong
reputation as a political economist and parliamentary reformer. He advocated Free Trade,
Parliamentary Reform, Catholic Emancipation, and Popular Education. In 1828 he visited the
Netherlands, and in Feb 1829 received an honorary degree of doctor of laws. The following year he
was in Denmark, preparing for the publication of a collection Scandinavian poetry. In 1835 he entered
parliament as member for Kilmarnock Burghs, and was subsequently appointed head of a government commission to be sent to
France to inquire about commerce. He was engaged in similar investigations in Switzerland, Italy, Syria, and some states of Imperial
Germany. After these missions, he prepared a series of reports that were laid before the House of Commons. He then retired and
after four years he sat in parliament from 1841-1849. During his time in parliament he published several works of literature;
Manuscript of the Queens’ Court (1843), a collection of Czech medieval poetry among them. He established an iron industry in
Wales in the 1840’s, and a larger ironworks in Maesteg during 1845-6. He gained a reputation as an enlightened employer in the
Maesteg district. The failure of his venture in south Wales led to his acceptance of the consulship at Canton. He was appointed
British Consul in 1849 at Canton (Guangzhou) and superintendent of trade in China, a post he held for four years, in 1854 he was
sent to Hong Kong as governor where his policies led to the Second Opium War (1856-1860). He retired in March 1859. He was
then employed as commissioner to Italy (1861) from which he negotiated treaties with Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and
Switzerland. The movie The King and I was based upon his visits to Canton. He died in 1872 at his home in Claremont, Exeter.
**************

***************
Pratt’s Defense
(Before the authorities of Missouri)
As down in a lone dungeon with darkness o’er-spread,

In silence and sorrow I made my lone bed,
While far from my prison my friends had retired,
And Joy from this bosom had almost expired.
From all that was lovely constrained for to part,
From wife and from children so dear to my heart;
While foes were exulting, and friends far away,
In half broken slumbers all pensive I lay.
I thought upon Zion – her sorrowful doom: -
I thought on her anguish – her trouble and gloom.
How for years she had wandered, a captive forlorn,
Cast out and afflicted, and treated with scorn.
I thought on the time when some five

Years ago, twelve hundred from Jackson
Were driven by foes, while two hundred
Houses to ashes were burned:
Our flourishing fields to a desert were turned.
I remember these crimes still unpunished remained,
and the like oft repeated – again, and again,
from counties adjoining, compelled to remove,
we purchased in Caldwell, Prairie and Grove.
And there ‘mid the wild flowers that bloomed
o’er the plain, our rights and our freedom we
thought to maintain nor dreamed that oppression
would drive us from thence, the laws of our country
we claimed for defense.
But soon as kind autumn rewarded our toil,

And plenty around us began for to smile,
Our foes were assembled – being tempted with gain;
To ravage and plunder, and drive us again.
When many were driven, and plundered, and robb’d.
And some had been murdered by this dreadful mob,
When cries for redress and protection were vain,
We arose in our strength our own rights to maintain.
The Mob soon dispersed, to the Rulers appealed,

Saying, lend us your aid, and the Mormons will yield,
For surely they never were known to resist
A mob when commissioned by Rulers and Priests.
This soon was considered by far the best plan:
And orders were issued for ten thousand men,
Including the Wilsons, and Gillums, of course,
And all the mob forces, for better, for worse.
Continued on Part 2

Pratt’s Defense – Part 2
These soon were forthcoming, in dreadful array!
Some painted like Indians, all armed for the fray!
The Mormons soon yielded without the first fire,
and the mobbers accomplished their utmost desire.
Some females were ravished – and cattle and grain becomes
a free booty – and one prisoner slain. Some twenty or thirty
were murdered outright, And ten thousand others –
Banished from the State!
By what law of the Statute to me is unknown;
But is must be by law all these great things were done;
For the next Legislature the expense to defray,
Voted two hundred thousand the soldiers to pay.
To resist this oppression – these excellent laws,

Was ‘murder and treason!’ (in technical clause)
So while women and children were driven away
Their husbands and fathers in prison must stay.
So now to the jury and judge I submit:
I’m not learned in such laws – they may hang or acquit –
But though they should hang me, or keep me in jail,
The spirit of Freedom and Truth will prevail.
- Taken from The Millennium, and Other Poems,
by Parley P. Pratt
***************
You Are Not Alone – Get Advice
-B.Y. Williams
"Take what God gives, O heart of mine,
And build your house of happiness.
Perchance some have been given more;
But many have been given less.
The treasure lying at your feet.
Whose value you but faintly guess,
Another builder, looking on,
Would barter heaven to posses.
Have you found work that you can do?
Is there a heart that loves you best?
Is there a spot somewhere called home
Where, spent and worn, your soul may rest?
A friendly tree? A book? A song?
A dog that loves your hand's cares?
A store of health to meet life's needs?
Oh, build your house of happiness!
Trust not tomorrow's dawn to bring
The dreamed-of joy for which you wait;
You have enough of pleasure things
To house your soul in goodly state;
Tomorrow Time's relentless stream
May bear what now you have away;
Take what God gives, O heart, and build
Your house of happiness today!
***********
**************
A Parable
- Margaret L. White, Journals of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 1984-1997, pg 16
I took a little child’s hand in mine. We were to walk together for awhile. I
was to lead him to the Father. It was a task that overcame me, so awful was
the responsibility. And so I talked to the child only of the Father. I pointed
to the sternness of His face were the child to displease Him. I spoke of the
child’s goodness as something that would appease the Father’s wrath. We
walked under the tall trees. I said the Father had the power to bring them
crashing down with His thunderbolts. We walked in the sunshine. I told
him of the greatness of the Father who made the burning, blazing sun. And
one twilight we met the Father. The child hid behind me. He was afraid.
He would not take the Father’s hand. I was between the child and the
Father. I wondered. I had been so conscientious, so serious.
I took a little child’s hand in mine. I was to lead him to the

Father. I felt burdened with a multiplicity of things I had to
teach him. We did not ramble. We hastened from spot to
spot. At one moment we compared the leaves of different
trees. The next moment we were examining a bird’s nest.
While the child questioned me about it, I hurried him away
to chase a butterfly. Did he chance to fall asleep, I wakened
him, lest he miss something I wished him to see. We spoke
of the Father. Oh, yes, often and rapidly, I poured into his
little ear all the stories I thought he ought to know. But we
were often interrupted by the wind blowing, of which we
must trace its source. And then in the twilight we met the Father. The child merely glanced at Him
and then his gaze wandered in a dozen directions. The Father stretched out His hand. The child was
not interested enough to take it. Feverish spots burned in his cheeks. He dropped exhausted to the
ground and fell asleep. Again I was between the child and the Father. I wondered. I had taught him
so many things.
I took a little child’s hand to lead him to the Father. My heart

full of gratitude for the privilege. We walked slowly. I suited
my steps to the short ones of the child. We spoke of many
things the child noticed. Sometimes we picked the Father’s
flowers and stroked their soft petals and loved their bright
colors. Sometimes we watched one of the Father’s birds. We
watched it build its nest and lay its eggs. We wondered, elated
a the care it gave its young. Often we told stories of the
Father. I told them to the child and the child told them again
to me. We told them, the child and I over and over again.
Sometimes we stopped to rest, leaning against one of the Father’s trees and letting His cool breeze
cool our brows, never speaking. And then in the twilight we met the Father. The child’s eyes shone.
He looked lovingly, trustingly into the Father’s face. He put his hand into the Father’s hand. I was for
the moment forgotten. I was content.
**************
If Thou Faint
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. - Anon.
************
Ounce of Help Instead of Preaching
When a person is down in the world, an ounce of help, is better then a pound of preaching.
***********
**************
Zion in Captivity – A Lamentation
By Parley P. Pratt – Written while chained in prison
Torn from our friends and captive led,
‘Mid armed legions bound in chains,
That peace for which our fathers bled
Is gone, and dire confusion reigns.
Zion, our peaceful happy home,
Where oft we joined in praise and prayed
A desolation has become,
And grief and sorrow linger there.
Her virgins sigh, her widows mourn,

Her children for their parents weep;
In chains her priests and prophets groan,
While some in deaths cold arms do sleep.
Exultingly her savage foes
Now ravage, steal and plunder, where
A virgin’s tears, a widow’s woes,
Became their song of triumph there.
How long, O Lord, wilt thou forsake
The saints who tremble at thy word?
Awake, O arm of God, awake –
And teach the nations thou art God.
Descend with all thy holy throng,

The year of thy redeem’d bring near:
Haste- haste the day of vengeance on –
Bid Zion’s children dry their tears.
Deliver, Lord, thy captive saints,
And comfort those who long have mourn’d;
Bid Zion cease her dire complaints,
And all creation cease to groan.
“Zion in Captivity: A Lamentation,”

Times and Seasons, February 1840, 64. Parley P.
Pratt
**************
To Whom Do We Go
“To whom do we go in times of trouble for advice and consolation?... Amid calamity’s storm and stress, we apply
to men and woman, ‘who have come up through great tribulations’, who are able out of the wealth of their
experience, to minister for our uplift and welfare; to them we go for council, for comfort, for the help which they,
under God, are along qualified to give, they are his instruments for that purpose.” (Orson F. Whitney)
************
Don’t Judge by Appearances
“You can’t judge a horse by its harness.” (John 7:24)
***********

*************
The Origin and Destiny of Women
(A Letter from John Taylor to Margaret Young (7th Wife) Aug. 29, 1957)
Lady, whence comest thou? Thine origin? What art thou doing here? Whither art thou going, and
what is thy destiny? Declare unto me if thou hast understanding. Knowest thou not that thou art a
spark of Deity, struck from the fire of His eternal blaze, and brought forth in the midst of eternal
burning? Knowest thou not that eternities ago thy spirit, pure and holy, dwelt in thy Heavenly
Father’s bosom, and in His presence, and with thy mother, one of the queens of heaven,
surrounded by thy brother and sister spirits in the spirit world, among the Gods? That as thy spirit
beheld the scenes transpiring there, and thou grewest in intelligence, thou sawest worlds upon
worlds organized and peopled with thy kindred spirits who took upon them tabernacles, died, were
resurrected, and received their exaltation on the redeemed worlds they once
dwelt upon. Thou being willing and anxious to imitate them, waiting and
desirous to obtain a body, a resurrection and exaltation also, and having
obtained permission, madest a covenant with one of thy kindred spirits to be thy guardian angel while
in mortality, also with two others, male and female spirits, that thou wouldst come and take a
tabernacle through their lineage, and become one of their offspring.
You also chose a kindred spirit whom you loved in the spirit world (and who had permission to come
to this planet and take a tabernacle), to be your head, stay, husband and protector on the earth and to
exalt you in eternal worlds. All these were arranged, likewise the spirits that should tabernacle through
your lineage. Thou longed, thou sighed and thou prayed to thy Father in heaven for the time to arrive when thou couldst
come to this earth, which had fled and fallen from where it was first organized, near the planet
Kolob. Leaving thy father and mother’s bosom and all thy kindred spirits thou camest to earth,
took a tabernacle, and imitated the deeds of those who had been exalted before you.
At length the time arrived, and thou heard the voice of thy Father saying, go daughter to yonder
lower world, and take upon thee a tabernacle, and work out thy probation with fear and trembling
and rise to exaltation. But daughter, remember you go on this condition, that is, you are to forget
all things you ever saw, or knew to be transacted in the spirit world; you are not to know or
remember anything concerning the same that you have beheld transpire
here; but you must go and become one of the most helpless of all
beings that I have created, while in your infancy, subject to sickness,
pain, tears, mourning, sorrow and death. But when truth shall touch the
chords of your heart they will vibrate; then intelligence shall illuminate your mind, and shed its
lustre in your soul, and you shall begin to understand the things you once knew, but which had
gone from you; you shall then begin to understand and know the object of your creation.
Daughter, go, and be faithful as thou hast been in thy first estate.
Thy spirit, filled with joy and thanksgiving, rejoiced in thy Father, and rendered praise to His
holy name, the spirit world resounded in anthems of praise to the Father of spirits. Thou bade
father, mother and all farewell, and along with thy guardian angel, thou came on this
terraqueous globe. The spirits thou hadst chosen to come and tabernacle through their lineage,
and your head having left the spirit world some years previous, thou came a spirit pure and holy. Thou hast obeyed the
truth, and thy guardian angel ministers unto thee and watches over thee. Thou hast chosen him you loved in the spirit world
to be thy companion.
Now crowns, thrones, exaltations and dominions are in reserve for thee in the eternal worlds,
and the way is opened for thee to return back into the presence of thy Heavenly Father, if thou
wilt only abide by and walk in a celestial law, fulfill the designs of thy Creator and hold out to
the end that when mortality is laid in the tomb, you may go down to your grave in peace, arise
in glory, and receive your everlasting reward in the resurrection of the just, along with thy head
and husband. Thou wilt be permitted to pass by the Gods and angels who guard the gates, on
onward, upward to thy exaltation in a celestial world among the Gods. To be a priestess queen
upon thy Heavenly Father’s throne, and a glory to thy husband and offspring, to bear the souls
of men, to people other worlds (as thou didst bear their tabernacles in mortality) while eternity
goes and eternity comes; and if you will receive it, lady, this is eternal life. And herein is the
saying of the Apostle Paul fulfilled, “That the man is not without the woman, neither is the
woman without the man in the Lord.” “That the man is the head of the woman, and the glory of
the man is the woman.” Hence, thine origin, the object of thy ultimate destiny. If faithful, lady,
the cup is within thy reach; drink then the heavenly draught and live.
(John Taylor, The Mormon, August 29, 1857, New York City) (Photos are all of T. Esther White)
*************

***************
My Fiftieth Year
Parley P. Pratt, April 11, 1857
[From Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857)]
I am fifty years old! I have lived to see seven times seven and a Jubilee. That
period famed in the days of yore As a grand release for the humble poor; When
the pledg'd estate was again restor'd, And the bondman free'd from his tyrant
lord. When man his fellow was bound to forgive, And begin anew to think and
to live. The nations have hail'd the year of my birth As a Jubilee to the groaning
earth. The triumphs of steam over land and sea Have stamp'd the age of my
Jubilee. I have mark'd its progress at ev'ry stride, From the day it was launch'd
on the Hudson's tide Till it conquer'd the ocean--grasp'd the land, And join'd
the world in a common band.
I have liv'd to behold the lightnings yield To the mandate of man, and take the field, As a servant-runner
to bear the news In an instant, where its lord might choose. And, scarce less strange, I have liv'd to
behold A Mortaon Sage, with his wand of gold, Overturn the world, and toss it up As a teller of Fortunes
would his cup. All these are facts; but of little worth, Compared with a Prophet restored to earth. I have
seen his day and have heard his voice Which enraged a world, while the meek rejoice. I have read the
fate of all earthly things: The end of thrones, and the end of kings.
I have learned that truth alone shall stand, And the Kingdom of God fill every
land. I have seen that Kingdom rolling along, And taking its seat 'mid the
mountains strong; While the nations wondered, but could not tell To what these
wondrous things would swell. I have wandered far, over land and sea, To proclaim
to the world its destiny-- To cry to the nations, repent and live, And be ready the
bridegroom to receive. I have wandered far--I have wandered wide, From Maine
to the wild Missouri's tide; And over the Atlantic's sea-girt isles Full many a weary
thousand miles. I have trampled the desert's burning sands
And the snow-clad mountains of unknown lands. `Mid the crystal waters of Deseret I have pulled the oar
and cast the net. I have climbed the steeps 'mid the golden ore, And roamed o'er the lone Pacific shore. I
have ploughed its bosom many a day To visit the nations far away. I have stood on Chili's distant shore,
Where the Polar Star is seen no more. I have gazed on the Andes' heights of snow, And roamed 'mid the
flowery plains below. I have toiled with the great in freedom's cause, And assisted to give to a State its
laws. I have lain in a dungeon, bound in chains, And been honored in Courts where Justice reigns. In a
thousand joys, and a thousand fears I have struggled on through my fifty years. And now, by the law of
God, I am free; I will seek to enjoy my Jubilee. I will hie me home, to my mountain dell,
And will say to the "Christian" world--farewell! I have served ye long--; `twas a
thankless task; To retire in peace is all I ask. Another fifty years will fully
prove Our message trite, and all our motives love. Then shall an humble
world in reverence bow, And hail the Prophets so rejected now. Kings shall
revere, and nations incense bring To Zion's temple and to Zion's King. I shall
be there and celebrate the day 'Till twice ten fifties shall have passed away.
(See next page for John Taylor’s response to this.)
*************
Fishers of Men
“Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so,
I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets
began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and
filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said,
“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ...Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on
you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5-8)
*************

A Response to Parley Pratt’s “Fiftieth Year”
By John Taylor April 11, 1957
Thou art "fifty years old"--I am glad to see That thou now canst hope for a Jubilee. Go
rest thee, my friend, for weary and long Thou hast faithfully striven with a wayward
throng; With a world environed with error's chain Thou hast wrestled and struggled,
but not in vain. On thy native shore and on foreign land Thou hast battled for truth
with a master hand, And their cities, and towns, and hamlets have rung With the
sound of truth, with the voice of song, And thousands in Zion do now rejoice,
Who've read thy works or heard thy voice, And millions have seen thy bosom swell
With celestial truths thou lovest so well.
Let driveling sycophants bow the knee To that chameleon shrine, popularity, And
with honeyed lips, bound with mammon's spell And with wheedling, whining, canting
tongue, Daub o'er the deeds of a hellish throng. 'Twas thine the mask from their loathsome face To rend, and
exhibit their foul disgrace. Thou hast grappled with sages in error rife, Thou hast taught to the erring the way of
life; With flaming words and a burning pen Thou hast bearded gaunt priest craft in his den, And said Baal's
grizzly priests, avaunt! I dare you in your dark, ghastly haunt. And the canting, craving minions fled At the
truths thou penned and the words thou said. With Elijah's faith and Elijah's rod, Thou despised their power
and defied their god, And made the canting hirelings cower Beneath the truth's keen withering power. Thou
show'd them their systems were doom'd to fall That "Upharsin" was written on Babel's wall. Thou hast spent
'midst their hordes a busy life; Thou art leaving the den of their Babel strife. Let others know now 'mid the
nations roam, And hie thee away to thy mountain home.
If, sleeping at night, the weary may Forget the cares and toils of day; And if by God to man is given A day of
rest in every seven; If the pledged possession could be restored, On the grand release by Jehovah's word; If the
debtor's bonds could then be broke, And the slave be freed from a master's yoke, And the very land a partaker
be Of the general jubilant Jubilee; If all bonds were broken on that day, And chains and manacles thrown
away; If throughout the land, by every tongue, All joined in the joyous Jubilee song; If debtors and slaves and
earth were free, Thou oughtest to have a Jubilee.
If a wish from a sincere friendly heart Can to thee any comfort or joy
impart; If a fervent prayer to the God of grace Could smooth thy path
in thy onward race, That prayer would be, may grace be given To
went thy onward course to Heaven. May'st thou abound in corn and
wine, And the blessings of plenty now be thine; May thy family all be
free from care, And a husband's and father's plenty share; May thy
sun go down with glory rife, And dying may'st thou burst into life;
And, when sleeping among the silent dead, Have the blessings of
millions on thy head; And living with God, may'st thou be free, And
partake of an endless Jubilee.
************
John Taylor was the 3rd President of the LDS Church. Born Nov. 1, 1808 in Milnthorpe, Westminister, England, in 1832
immigrated to Toronto, Canada, he followed the trade of cooper and part-time Methodist minister. He and his wife Leonora
joined the Church in 1836, two years later he became an Apostle, and enjoyed close association with Joseph Smith and
Brigham Young. He was present when the Prophet was killed at Carthage, Illinois in Jun 1844. He became President of the
Church in 1880, and continued seven years. During his leadership the Church members were strongly persecuted, and Pres.
Taylor had to administer the affairs of the Church from hiding places. He died Jul 25, 1887 in Kaysville, Utah.
*************

Response to Shawnee Bard
by Eliza R. Snow, City of Nauvoo, Aug. 27, 1841
Ministrel, forgive if once again, my re awaken’d lyre,

Responsive, echoes back the strain thy friendship’s tones inspire.
For since again we’ve chanced to meet ben ath the muses Bower,
I’d fain reciprocate thy treat, and cherish every flower.
Thou highly favor’d of the muse, thou genius of song;

The virtuous tints thy flowers diffuse, will radiate lustre, ong.
I know thee not: but ye I know, such strains, as grace thy lyre –
Such high-toned music, could not flow where thoughts ignoble, fire.
But tell me Bard, say should my sons be fetter’d with restraint?

The mention of my people’s wrongs be called by thee, ‘complaint’?
I sing of what oppression’s done – I’ve felt its griping chain;
But like Altnomock’s dying son, I’m scorning to complain.
Foul persecution’s crimson’d tread, may vent its scathing ire,

For when it breaks life’s brittle thread, it wafts the spirit higher
But should the saints who’ve suffered long for truth and righteousness;
Sit tamely down beneath their wrongs, nor see-nor claim redress?
What tho’ an exile? I rejoice – no longer doom’d to roam,

Since I have found in Illinois, a lonely peaceful home.
Here freedom waves her lofty spire – here is no ‘iron arm’
To crush religion’s holy fire, ‘or do the guiltless harm.’
But in Missouri, Freedom’s cause is ting’d with purple woe!

And there our country’s sacred laws have been prostrated low.
And there the widow’s flowing tear – the parent a sympathy,
And orphan’s moan have strew’d the bier of shrouded Liberty!
I’d fain believe, unrighteous acts and crimes, recede a race;

But vain the effort! Counter facts will stare me in the face!
Shall stern realities give way to fancy a pleasing wave?
Should patriotic phantoms play o’er truth an unsorrow’d grave?
True, Nature rings – her chime delights – her smiles are big and free;
But civil and religious rights she does not guarantee;
Yet there are laws by heaven ordain’d – laws, to each freeman, dear;
And while those laws can be sustain’d, my people do not fear.
Should vice again becloud our skies with persecution a storm;

Should not Columbia’s sons arise and screen the dust from harm?
And noble Minstrel wilt thou, then, defend thy country’s laws?
For truth and justice wield thy pen in Freedom’s righteous cause?
Ah no! that prompter, I recall lest thy warm heart should find,
When showers of hatred on thee fail, that man has not ‘grown kind’.
But has not truth, a raven fair? The storm though it utride.
If midst the wrath of man should dare to stem corruption’s tide.
(Taken from Times & Seasons, Vol. 2, No. 24, Oct. 1841, Pg 581)

Sarah Emma Woodruff
1838-1840
By Wilford Woodruff
(Sister Woodruff bore her firstborn, Sarah Emma Woodruff on Jul 14, 1838
after deep affliction. Sarah lived only 2years and 3 days and then passed away.)
Thus the iron hand of death, laid heavy on;

And stopped the breath, of one
Who lived but to beguile.
Our lonely moments, with a smile.
Beloved she lived, beloved, she died.

Her father’s joy and mother’s pride,
Beloved by all who did her see.
Yea, and more beloved by me.

There was no bell for to toll,
But many a burning tear did fall,
With anxious looks our hearts did tell.
Little Sarah, lovely one, sleep on,

Sleep on, till Christ shall come –
Then thou wilt rise, shake off thy dust,
And be numbered with the just.
(Published in Vol. 2 of the Times and Seasons, pg 176)

Dark Night
Poem by Jedediah M. Grant,
Recorded in his journal Nov. 1838
In Caldwell forests the night-wind was high,

Fast drifted the snow through the bleak winter sky.
And trees, cliffs, and mountains were hoary and cold,
The clear waves of her streams congealed as they rolled.
I heard the mother weep, I saw the children cry,

I saw the blooming youth, the tears gushed from his eye.
I saw the priests of Zion, their feet made fast in chains,
I heard her prophets grown, her virgins sighed in vain.
(Published in Mormon Thunder, documentary history of J.M. Grant by

Gene A. Sessions (1982); and in the Times and Seasons, Dec 15, 1849, Vol. 2, pg 348)
Note: another poem called ‘The Fight in the Michigan Forest”, by an anonymous author,
begins: “In Michigan forests the night-winds were high, fast drifted the snow through the bleak
winter sky. And trees, cliffs, and mountains were hoary and cold, While the dark waves of Raisin
congealed as they rolled…” published by N.E. Wallington)

************
Be Ye Followers of Christ
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in
love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweets smelling savor. But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once
named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather
giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man
deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye
therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but
now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of
them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest
is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine,
wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:1-21)
************
Become One as A Couple
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is
subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every
thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, that he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish. So
ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his
bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto
his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so
love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
(Ephesians 22-33)
**************

Prayer Poems **************
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
************
The Perfect Prayer
- James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)
Dear Lord! kind Lord! Gracious Lord! I pray
Thou wilt look on all I love, Tenderly to-day!
Weed their hearts of weariness; Scatter every care
Down a wake of angel-wings Winnowing the air.
Bring unto the sorrowing all release from pain;
Let the lips of laughter overflow again;
And with all the needy O divide, I pray,
This vast treasure of content That is mine to-day!
*************
Child’s Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord Jesus my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord Jesus my soul to take.
**********
The Ladder to God
A Prayer is a ladder on which our thoughts mount up to God.
- Abraham J. Heslke
**********
The Path I Walk with God
“The path I walk with others is the path God walks with me.”
**************
To Live God’s Will
- Marilyn McNeil de Latour
Let me search until I find Him, never let me tire,
Guide me on the Road, I take to peach my hearts desire.
Never let me fail to follow God’s prevailing road,
Always give me strength to bear, my own peculiar load.
Keep me on the straight and narrow even when I’m standing still
For that’s the purpose of it all to do and live God’s will.
*************

*************
Things to Be Thankful For
- Helen Steiner Rice
“The good green earth beneath our feet, the air we breathe, the food
we eat, some work to do; a goal to win; a hidden longing - deep within
that spurs us on to bigger things, and helps us meet what each day
brings, all these things and many more, are things we should be
thankful for; prayers should rise to God because He cares!
************
Daily Prayers are Heavens Stairs

The “Stairway” rises “Heaven high”-
the “steps” are dark and steep,
In weariness we climb them as we stumble, fall and weep…
And many times we falter along the “path of prayer”
Wondering if You hear us and if You really care…
Oh, give us some assurance, restore our faith anew,
So we can keep on climbing the “Stairs of Prayer” to you -
For we are weak and wavering, uncertain and unsure,
And only meeting You in prayer can help us to endure
All life’s trials and troubles, its sickness, pain and sorrow,
And give us strength and courage to face and meet tomorrow!
*************
The Morning Sun
- Paul Tempson
The morning sun brings tender joy –
with happiness awakes the earth;
The dew kissed flowers its light employs
the petals open in new birth.
The birds awake and all man kind,
rejoices with songs they sing,
God’s creatures open heart and mind –
to him their praises bring.
Should not we too give thanks anew,
Greet joyfully each new born sun;
Wash old sins clean with morning dew;
Give praise to Him, the Holy one.
************
Patience
“And again, if he (your enemy) shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be
doubled unto you four-fold.” (D&C 98:26) “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews
12:1) “Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore,
continue in patience until ye are perfected.” (D&C 67:13)
***********

***********
Rich Men Won’t Go to God’s Kingdom
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this,
they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but
with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:23-26)
************
Gain the Whole World – Lose Your Soul
If you gain the whole world, and loose your soul, what have you gained?
What can you give God to get back your soul?
************
Peace is Power
Toil worn and weak, God’s strength I seek now peace each hour gives me
power. -Loreta Inman
************
The Difference
by Grace L. Naessens
I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish,
I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me
and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn't God help me, I wondered;
He answered, "You didn't ask."
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me –
He said, "But you didn't seek."
I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."
I woke up early this morning
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.
************

************
We Thank Thee Lord
- Anthony J. Pettito
For each hour of each day,
For each minute spend at play
For the seeds you helped us sow,
For the blessed things that grow –
We thank thee, Lord.
For the roses wild that run;
For the tress that shade the sun,
For the rainbows brilliant blend;
For the showers that you send –
For the men who raise the wheat,

For the bread we get to eat;
For the cattle that we need,
For the pastures where they feed –
For our humble, small abode,
For the blessings you bestowed;
For the root that shields the storm;
For the walls that keep us warm;
*************
A Prayer for Patience
God, teach me to be patient, teach me to go slow,
Teach me how to wait on You when my way I do not know.
Teach me sweet forbearance when things do not go right
So I remain unruffled when others grow uptight.
Teach me how to quiet my racing, rising heart
So I might hear the answer You are trying to impart.
Teach me to let go, dear God, and pray undisturbed until
My heart is filled with inner peace and I learn to know your will.
*********
Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981) was an American writer of religious and inspirational poetry.
Born in Lorain, Ohio in 1900, she began working for a public utility company and progressed
to the position of advertising manager, and later to the Ohio Chairman of Women’s Public
Information Committee, during which she campaigned for women’s rights and improved
working conditions. In 1929 she married Franklin Rice, a bank vice-president in Dayton,
Ohio. After the stock market crash in Oct 1929 he lost his job, fell into depression and never
recovered, committed suicide in 1932. She became a successful businesswoman and lecturer,
but found her most satisfying outlet in writing verse for American Greeting Card Company,
which caused her poetry to received wide exposure in the 1960’s. The demand became so
great that her books are still selling steadily after many printings (more than 70 million to
date), and she has been acclaimed as ‘America’s beloved inspirational poet laureate’. From
any, her poetry is a living testimony of the reality of God’s action in human lives. She died
in 1981, and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio. Helen Steiner Rice:
Ambassador of Sunshine, 1995, Hodder & Stoughton.
****************

*************
Prayer
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I do not undertake to say
That literal answers come from Heaven,
But I know this--that when I pray
A comfort, a support is given
That helps me rise o'er earthly things
As larks soar up on airy wings.
In vain the wise philosopher
Points out to me my fabric's flaws,
In vain the scientists aver
That "all things are controlled by laws." My
life has taught me day by day
That it availeth much to pray.
I do not stop to reason out
The why and how. I do not care,
Since I know this, that when I doubt,
Life seems a blackness of despair,
The world a tomb; and when I trust,
Sweet blossoms spring up in the dust.
Since I know in the darkest hour,
If I lift up my soul in prayer,
Some sympathetic, loving Power
Sends hope and comfort to me there.
Since balm is sent to ease my pain,
What need to argue or explain?
Prayer has a sweet, refining grace,

It educates the soul and heart.
It lends a lustre to the face,
And by its elevating art
It gives the mind an inner sight
That brings it near the Infinite.
From our gross selves it helps us rise
To something which we yet may be.
And so I ask not to be wise,
If thus my faith is lost to me.
Faith, that with angel's voice and touch
Says, "Pray, for prayer availeth much."
***************
Prayer Brings Dreams
“Prayers can’t be answered unless they are prayed.” “More things are
wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” - Alfred Tennyson
***********

****************
God Is Always There
- Mary Eleanor Pitney (1891-1995)
In our present world of sorrow,
Of heartache and despair
Never feel alone, forsaken
For God is always there.
When life’s path is rough and rocky
Seems more than we can bear;
There’s a blessed friend to guide you,
For God is always there.
We can overcome life’s trials and
Our many troubles bear,
For we have a faithful helper
Our God is always there.
***************
Consolation
- Author unknown
There is never a day so dreary,
but God can make it bright,
and unto the soul that trusts Him,
He giveth songs in the night.
There is never a path so hidden,
but God can lead the way,
if we seek the Spirit's guidance
and patiently wait and pray.
There is never a cross so heavy,
but the nail-scarred hands are there
outstretched in tender compassion,
the burdens to help us bear.
There is never a heart so broken,
but the loving Lord can heal.
The heart that was pierced on Calvary,
doth still for His loved ones feel.
There is never a life so darkened,
so hopeless and unblessed,
But may be filled with the light
of God and enter His promised rest.
There is never a sin or sorrow,
there is never a care or loss,
But that we may bring to Jesus
and leave at the foot of the cross.
**************
A Prayer
- Joanne Carlson Brown
Lord, keep me sweet, Keep me loving, Not just to you –
But to other folks, that I will meet as I walk along life’s busy
street. Lord keep me kind help me share, this peace I with
those out there who might never know nor try to find, your love
that gives this peace of mind.
*************

*************
The Eternal Goodness
- John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
O friends! with whom my feet have trod the quiet aisles of prayer,
Glad witness to your zeal for God and love of man I bear.
I trace your lines of argument; your logic linked and strong I weigh
as one who dreads dissent, and fears a doubt as wrong.
But still my human hands are weak to hold your iron creeds:
Against the words ye bid me speak my heart within me pleads.
Who fathoms the Eternal Thought? Who talks of scheme and plan?
The Lord is God! He needeth not the poor device of man.
I walk with bare, hushed feet the ground ye tread with boldness shod;
I dare not fix with mete and bound the love and power of God.
Ye praise His justice; even such His pitying love I deem:
Ye seek a king; fain would touch the robe that hath no seam.
Ye see the curse which over broods a world of pain and loss;
I hear our Lord’s beatitudes and prayer upon the cross.
More than your schoolmen teach, within myself, alas!

I know: Too dark ye cannot paint the sin, too small the merit show.
I bow my forehead to the dust, I veil mine eyes for shame,
And urge, in trembling self-distrust, a prayer without a claim.
I see the wrong that round me lies; I feel the guilt within;
I hear, with groan and travail-cries, the world confess its sin.
Yet, in the maddening maze of things, and tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good!
Not mine to look where cherubim and seraphs may not see,
But nothing can be good in Him which evil is in me.
The wrong that pains my soul below I dare not throne above,
I know not of His hate,—I know His goodness and His love.
I dimly guess from blessings known of greater out of sight,
And, with the chastened Psalmist, own His judgments too are right.
I long for household voices gone, for vanished smiles I long,
But God hath led my dear ones on, and He can do no wrong.
I know not what the future hath of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death His mercy underlies.
And if my heart and flesh are weak to bear an untried pain,
The bruised reed He will not break, but strengthen and sustain.
No offering of my own I have, nor works my faith to prove;

I can but give the gifts He gave, and plead His love for love.
And so beside the Silent Sea I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me on ocean or on shore.
I know not where His islands lift their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift beyond His love and care.
O brothers! if my faith is vain, if hopes like these betray,
Pray for me that my feet may gain the sure and safer way.
And Thou, O Lord! by whom are seen thy creatures as they be,
Forgive me if too close I lean my human heart on Thee!
*************

***************
Make The Moments Count
- Kathryn Thorne Bowsher
Make the moments count,
You’ve only one life to live.
Today's the day to give!
Why waste precious time
on empty foolish things?
For there are heights sublime to climb-
Attainment sweet vict'ry brings
Give your days to God!
He’ll omniscient counsel give,
And guide you by His Holy Word –
today’s the day to give!
Give you all today,
Let Christ be Lord of all things!
With rich reward our God will pay
Great Joy and peace He will bring.
**************
Thy Will be Done
- Grace E. Easley
It’s very difficult at times, to face grief with a smile.
It’s hard to make ourselves believe all passes in a while.
And when the pain is sharpest, words seem to no avail.
When tears fall hot and heavy, the best intentions fail.
And yet however heavy, the burdens that we bear,
When no one else will listen, the Lord can always hear.
When no one else will bother the Lord will lend a hand,
However others scorn us the Lord will understand.
“Life is what you make it” is sometime far from true,

But the strength to keep on going, has got to come from you.
God promised to be with us, and to forsake us not,
He only asks we trust in Him whatever be our lot.
He only asks that we believe He always does what’s best.
To do all that we can and then to leave to Him the rest.
Each heartache we can rise above becomes a battle won,
When we can give ourselves to Him, and say
Thy will be done”.
**************
God Be with You
- unknown
May His Counsels sweet uphold you,
And His loving arms enfold you,
As you journey on your way.
May his sheltering wings protect you,
And his light divine direct you
Turning darkness into day.
May his potent peace surround you,
And His presence linger with you.
As your inner, golden ray.
************

*************
Before the Threshold of My Day
- Alice Hansche Mortenson
I've much to do today, dear Lord,
But let me kneel a bit
Before the threshold of my day
That I may enter it
With mind serene and
heart made fresh
with fragrant heavenly dew.
That every moment of the day
I'll be reflecting you.
**********
I Needed The Quiet
I needed the quiet so He drew me aside,
Into the shadows where we could confide.
Away from the bustle where all the day long
I hurried and worried when active and strong.
I needed the quiet though at first I rebelled,
But gently, so gently, my cross He upheld,
And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things.
Though weakened in body, my spirit took wings
To heights never dreamed of when active and gay.

He loved me so greatly He drew me away.
I needed the quiet. No prison my bed,
But a beautiful valley of blessings instead--
A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide.
I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.
*************
Doubt and Faith
– Alice Hansche Mortenson
“Doubt cries, "It is impossible! You can't, you can't go on!"
Faith softly whispers, "Yes, you can. Just trust in God.
Be Calm." Doubt cries, "Look down! Your path is steep
And rough with stones and briar!"
Faith gently says, "I'll take your hand. It's beautiful up higher."
Doubt has not one thing to give But "going back" alone;
Faith has God, eternal life, And heirship to a throne!
And so, on unseen eagle's wings, These feet of clay are borne.
While faith within me sings and sings,
We rise above the storm!”
**************
Alice Hansche Sorenson, ca 1920. She grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and married John Sorenson in college. He
preached while in college, but didn’t feel called and decided to pursue farming instead. So they settled in a small farm in
Racine, named it Sunset Knoll and she resigned herself to becoming a good farm wife. They were happy together
working on the farm, teaching Sunday School, and serving the Lord in their local church. She wrote her life’s story, and
published it called ‘He Holds My Hand’, by Alice Hansche Mortenson, including many poems along the way. She
included many photographs, from her child, her career as a nurse, and her first and second husbands, to her retirement.
*************

*************
In the Quiet of the Morning
In the quiet of the morning,
Oh, how sweet it is to come
Just to talk a bit with Jesus
Before the crowding duties come.
Just to kneel there for a moment
With your head upon His breast,
All your problems laid before Him,
Every human need confessed.
Oh, the loving strength that surges
From His heart to yours all day;
Like a bright and shining armour,
Just because you knelt to pray!
******************
There Is A Peace
There is a peace, though Kingdoms
fall and crumble,
A peace amid this hurricane of war,
A quiet peace, that passeth understanding,
While chaos rages at our very door.
There is a peace, not bought
by worldly honor;
Nor at the price of many millions stain,
But by the blood of one,
God’s Son, who suffered, and even now,
He did not die in vain.
There is a peace deep down

Within the Believers of Christ
A rock on which to loan in time of storm –
A lasting peace that will outlive the ages,
In spite of those who ridicule and scorn.
There is a peace! Let’s cling to it
And hold it in life or death,
In the days of peace or war,
That quiet peace which ‘passeth understanding’,
Though chaos rages at our very door.
***********
Faith overcomes the world
“For whatever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (John 5:4)
**********
One more Thing
- George Hurbert
"Thou that hast given so much to me
Give me one thing more - a grateful heart:
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be thy praise.
************

*****************
I’ve Missed Some Things
- Alice Hansche Mortensen
I’ve missed some things in life, but say,
So many lovely things have come my way,
So much of sunlight dancing through the rain
That it would be ungrateful to complain.
I’ve missed some things known dreams to die,
But there has always been a bit of sky – still big enough
And clear enough and blue;
To keep the love of God still shining through.
****************
It Matters Not
-Alice Hansche Mortenson
It matters not if I’ve been hurt,
It matters not at all
That sometimes from my weary eyes
The scalding teardrops fall,
What matters most is if I've erred
And not confessed the sin.
And through my lack some needy soul
Has failed to follow HIM.
It matters not if cherished friends
On whom I've leaned in vain
Have wounded me by word and deed
and left me with my pain.
What matters is -- Can I forgive?
(again and yet again?)
*Tis not, "Have they been true?" but
"Lord Have I been true to them?"
"It will matter not when evening comes
How rough the road I've trod.
with you Lord.
If only I have walked with HIM.
And led some soul to GOD!
*For when I wake to be like HIM
Who saved me by His grace,
Earths pain will vanish when I catch
One glimpse of His dear face.
**************
If Ye Love Me
“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say;
but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (D&C 82:10)
***********
Peace, Peace
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)
**********

*************
Lord Slow Me Down
Lord, slow me down and let me walk
With quiet pace today.
Not hurriedly, lest I misstep, and
Somehow loose the way
That you have marked.
And priceless moments waste
When I discover that I’m wrong
And must my steps retrace.
Lord, slow me down.
That I’ll not miss
The simple joys You give
Abundantly-on every hand.
Let me take the time to live!
****** **********
No Day is Lost
Sometimes you feel discouraged
when evening shadows come,
And you look back, regretting
the little that you’ve done.
Apparently, the losses far outweigh
the gains; and wearily you question
‘Have I lived this day in vain’?
Remember this: No day is lost
in which you’ve tried to share
the blessed news that Jesus saves.
And spent sometime for others
For your Father knows your heart –
He paid the cost.
Remember if you’ve done your best
for Him – No day is lost!
**************
The Living Light
- Virginia K. Oliver
Today I noticed a brilliant light. shining across my way,
And I saw it was a beautiful sun's bright golden ray...
It flickered there ever before me, as though trying to show
Just the right way leading to where..
I was wishing to go, and it made me think how we can be
Free from worry and strife if we follow the light of Jesus...
That falls 'cross the pathway of life....!!!!
*************

************
Prayers Can’t Be Answered
Unless They Are Prayed
Life without purpose is barren indeed
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed
There can't be attainment unless there's a goal
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul.
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,
And unless there's a contest, nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played,
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.
So whatever is wrong with your life today
You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health,
Not just for honors and prestige and wealth.
But pray for a purpose to make life worth living
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For great is your gladness and rich your reward,
When you make your life's purpose
the choice of the Lord.
**************
Finding That Brighter Day
- Dattice Duggan Reid
Thank you Lord for every blessing
–For none are ever small
Often those the world calls tiny
Are the largest of all.
Thank you, Lord for every trial
For ‘twas how I learned to grow
And in my darkest moments
Your love I really came to know.
Forgive me when I falter

And in self pity, I complain
Don’t let me o’re look the rainbows,
When my life has floods of rain.
Help me live victorious
And in your will to stay
For then, and only then
Will I find that brighter day.
****************
I Heard God’s Voice
- by Cecile Houghton Stury
I heard God’s voice in a field of wheat
Where heads in grateful homage bent
Before a whispering breeze that passed,
Confiding its deep content.
A field sparrow piped his solo there
In praise of his Maker wise and good;
God’s voice spoke out of that golden sea
I listened where I stood.
***************
*************
My Daily Prayer
God be my resting place and my protection
in hours of trouble, defeat, and dejection,
May I never give away to self-pity and sorrow,
May I always be sure of a better tomorrow,
May I stand undaunted come what may,
Secure in the knowledge I have only to pray
and ask my Creator and Father above
To keep me serene in His Grace and Love.
*************
There Is Sunshine In a Smile
- Helen Steiner Rice (1900 – 1981)
Life is a mixture of sunshine and rain,
Laughter and pleasure, teardrops and pain,
All days can’t be bright, but it’s certainly true,
There was never a cloud the sun didn’t shine through—
So just keep on smiling whatever betide you,
Secure in the knowledge God is always beside you,
And you’ll find when you smile your day will be brighter
And all of your burdens will seem so much lighter—
For each time you smile you will find it true.
Somebody, Somewhere will Smile Back At You,
And nothing on earth can make life more worthwhile
Than the sunshine and warmth of a Beautiful Smile.
**************
I Said a Prayer For You Today
- W.H. Davies
I said a prayer for you today and know God must
have heard I felt the answer in my heart,
although He spoke no word.
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame. I knew you wouldn’t mind,
I ask Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I ask that He’d be near you at the start of each new day,
to grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way.
I ask for happiness for you in all things great and small,
but it was for His loving care , I prayed for most of all.
No time to wait ‘till her mouth can
enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
*************
Each New Day
Nothing is more highly to be prized then the value of each new day.
*************
Nothing is Secret
“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest, neither anything hid, that shall
not be know to God.” (Luke 8:7) “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding
the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3) “Can any hid himself in secret places that I shall not see
him? saith the Lord.” (Jer. 23:24) “For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all
his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may
hide themselves.” ( Job 34:21-22)
************

**************
L’Envoi
by Rudyard Kipling
When Earth's last picture is painted
and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded,
and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it –
lie down for an Eon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen
shall put us to work anew!
And those that were good shall be happy:

they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas
with brushes of comets' hair;
They shall find real saints to draw from –
Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting
and never be tired at all!
And only the Master shall praise us,

and only the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money,
and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working,
and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It
for the God of Things as They Are!
**************
The Lord is Bound If You Do What He Says
God said: If you keep my commandments, I the Lord am bound
to bless you; but if you don’t then you have no promise. “But if
ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the
commandments of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be
against you, as it was against your fathers.” (1 Samuel 12:15) “He
that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father and
I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
************
Peace, My Peace I Leave You
Jesus Christ said: ‘Peace, my peace I leave you; my peace I give unto you. Not as
the world gives do I give to you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be
afraid.” “Those who call upon me in a time of peace, ‘I will be there for
them in a time of trouble.’”
************

************
Ask and Ye Shall Receive
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”(Matthew 7:7-8) “Again I say unto
you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
(Matthew 21:22) “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that
asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall
be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give
him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:9-
13) “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may
be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John
14:13) “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John
15:16) “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have
ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be
full.” (John 16:23-24) “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call upon Him
while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous his thoughts
and let him return unto the Lord. For He will abundantly pardon.” “Glory in his
holy name, rejoice O hearts that seek the Lord.” (1 Chr. 16:10)
************
Prayer for Peace
- Francis of Assisi
Lord make me an instrument of peace Lord, make me an instrument of
Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is
injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine
Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in
giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in
dying that we are born again to eternal life.
***************
Fall to Rise
We fall to rise – are baffled to fight better, the honorable end – this is
the one thing that cannot be taken from men.
*************
Be Strong
“Be strong and of good courage; Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 19
“Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.” -2 Chron.
19:11
*************

*************
Lord, Speak to Me
- Words by Frances R. Havergal, 1872
- Music by Robert A. Shumann, 1839
Lord, speak to me that I may speak

In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead

The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand

Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach

The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,

That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,

Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,

Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.
************
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was an English poet and hymn writer, who began writing verse
at age of seven. Her most widely known hymn is "Take My Life and Let It Be." Also wrote the
words for "Like A River Glorious," "I Gave My Life for Thee," and "Who Is on the Lord's Side?" She
published several volumes of poems and hymns as well as prose writings. Born into an Anglican
family, at Astley in Worcestershire, her father was a clergyman. She studied in Dusseldorf, then led
a quiet life, and not consistent good health, she traveled to various places, in particular to
Switzerland. She died of peritonitis in Caswell Bay in Wales. Her sisters saw that much of her work
was published posthumously. Havergal College, a private girls’ school in Toronto is named after
her, adopted as a tribute to the Havergal family.
***********

*************
Always With Me
- Grace E. Easley
God’s always with me, though I sometimes forget,
When the pressures of life get me down.
When everything’s darkest, that’s when you can bet,
The dear Lord is somewhere around.
God’s always with me, through the bad times and good,
Sharing each joy and each pain,
And I try to remember, as everyone should,
He will help me again and again.
God’s always with me, and I’m never alone,

Though sometimes it seems to be true,
So I stumble alone with my hand in His own,
For there’s nothing that God cannot do.
Someday He will answer the questions I’ve asked,
And I’ll know why some things had to be,
Right now it’s enough just to take Him on faith,
And to know God is always with me.
****************
My Woman, My Woman, My Wife
- Marty Robins wrote and sang this song, Dean Marin sang this Song
Hands that are strong but wrinkled
Doing work that never gets done
Hair that lost some of the beauty
By too many hours in the sun
Eyes that show some disappointment
And there’s been quite a lot in her life
She’s the foundation I lean on
My woman, my woman, my wife.
Every day has been uphill

We climb but we can’t reach the top
I’m weak and I’m easily discouraged
She just smiles when I want to stop
Lips that are weary but tender
With Love that strengthens my life
A saint in a dress made of gingham
Two little babies were born in the spring

But died when the winder was new
I lost control of my mind and my soul
By my woman’s faith carried us through.
When she reaches that river, Lord
You know what she’s worth
Giver her that mansion up yonder
‘Cause, God, I believe she deserves it
************

*************
A Fisherman’s Prayer
- Rex Fowler (1999)
God grant that on my next vacation I may have this wish
A fishing hole to soothe my soul and fill my supper dish
It seems when I take my vacation so do all the fish
Oh grant me this one vacation wish, merciful wish
A fishing hole with lots of hungry fish
God grant on my next fishing trip I bring enough bug spray
That always squirts and really works
to keep those bugs at bay
Of twenty bites, it's just not right nineteen were mosquitoes
Twenty bites and nineteen were mosquitoes, mosquitoes
One lousy fish and nineteen mosquitoes
God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day
And when my final cast is made and life has slipped away
I pray that your great landing net will catch me in its sweep
And in your mercy you will judge me big enough to keep
And in your mercy big enough to keep.
**************
I Call Upon His Name
- Edna Massimilla
When ever I am burdened, I call upon his name,
I tell it all to Jesus, Then the burden isn’t the same.
He died for me at Calvary, From Sin He set me free
Through Him there is salvation Oh How much He loveth me.
I can’t get along without Him, He’s spirit shall always remain,
So when ever I am burdened, I call upon his name.
**************
Jesus Taught Power to Heal the Sick
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord... establish your
hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against
another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the
door... Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the
patience of Job... the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. But above all
things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by
any other oath: but let your speech be yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall
into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let
him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to
another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed
earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:7-15)
*****************

****************
The Way to Heaven
(or Gradatim written in 1919)
- Josiah Gilbert Holland (1818- 18910
Heaven is not gained at a single bound,
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round.
I count this thing to be grandly true,
That a noble deed is a stop towards God –
Lifting the soul from the common sod
To purer air and a broader view.
We rise by things that are 'neath our feet;
By what we have mastered of good and sin;
By the pride deposed and the passion slain,
And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet.
We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust,
When the morning calls us to life and light,
But our hearts grow weary, and, ere the night
Our lives are trailing the sordid dust.
We hope, we resolve, we aspire, we pray,
And we think that we mount the air on wings
Beyond the recall of sensual things.
While our feet still cling to the heavy clay.
Wings for the angels, but feet for the men;
We may borrow the wing's to find the way
We may hope and resolve and aspire and pray,
But our feet must rise, or we fail again.
Only in dreams is a ladder thrown
From the weary earth to the sapphire walls;
But the dreams depart, and the vision falls,
And the sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone
Heaven is not reached at a single bound
But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies,
And we mount to its summit round by round.
**************
Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) was an American novelist and poet who also wrote under the
pseudonym Timothy Titcomb. He helped to found and edit Scribner’s Monthly Magazine.
Born in Belchertown, Massachusetts in 1819, Holland grew up in a poor family struggling to
make ends meet. At a young age he worked in a factory to help suppor the family. Receiving his
youthful education at home, he attended Norhampton High School only a short time before
falling ill. Later he studied medicine at Berkshire Medical College where he received his degree
in 1844. He established Medical practice in Springfield MA, but his attempt proved unsuccessful.
In 1845 he married Elizabeth Chapin, and then took a teaching position in Richmond, VA and
later in Vicksburg, MS. In 1850 he returned to Mass. and became editor of the Springfield
newspaper. Many essays he wrote were collected and published. He died in 1881 age 62 in New
York City. His literary products thou not well known today were very popular during the late 19th
century – more than ½ a million volumes of his writings were sold.
***********

************
Conviction
-Grace E. Easley
I’ve heard it said GOD shuts His eyes
To misery and human woe,
That He is deaf before the cries
Of all His children here below.
And though at times it does appear
That evil triumphs over good,
How little faith if I should fear
To trust Him when He said I could.
It may be true a kindly deed
Puts not penny in my purse,
And yet by every code and creed,
It never made me any worse.
And if some dreams do not come true,

And if some plans may turn out wrong,
Each new day holds a joy or two,
That I may purchase for a song.
I do not have to give account
For disappointments and for tears,
But I must pay in like amount,
For shallow mind and wasted years.
The doubter scoffs, the cynic smiles,
But what is that to me,
When my Companion through the miles,
Is such as one as HE.
How may times I’ve called His name,

And found Him by my side,
Forgiving all, absolving blame,
That others have denied.
So let them say GOD does not care,
I know it is not true,
For there is no one anywhere,
Who does what God can do!
*************
For Today
- Betty Y. Baker
I do not ask the Lord, "Why me?",
When troubles come my way I only ask
His presence here with me, for just today.
Tomorrow I shall pray again
That He will lead me through,
And every moment I shall know His love,
His strength anew.
The weak are ever stumbling,
Please give me courage anew,
But just today I'm thankful
That You will see me through
************

**************
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong,
I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord,
I may bring harmony; that where there is error,
I may bring truth; that where there is doubt,
I may bring faith; that where there is despair,
I may bring hope; that where here are shadows,
I may bring light; that where there is sadness I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather

to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
****************
The Prayer of Saint Francis is a Christian prayer attributed to the 13th century St.
Francis of Assist (Catholic Church). It was first printed in France in French in a
small magazine as an anonymous prayer in 1912. Senator Hawkes distributed
millions of copies of the prayer during and just after World War II. Mother Teresa of
Calcutta made it part of the morning prayers of the Roman Catholic religious order.
Margaret Thatcher recited it in 1979, having just kissed hands with Queen Elizabeth
II and becoming Prime Minister. In Oct. 1995, President Bill Clinton quoted it in his
welcoming speech to Pope John Paul II on his arrival in New York. It has been used
by other public speakers as well, and has been quoted in the movie Rambo.
*****************
Unity Is Strength
- by Thomas Foy
One little prayer ascending from a man bowed low in prayer
Can pierce the highest heavens and bring down blessings rare.
Where two or three are gathered (We have it on God's word)
There God is in the midst of them their prayer is surely heard.
Then let us pray together the greatest prayer, God's own
Father, who art in heaven, we cry in suppliant tone.
Forgive us all our trespasses, thy holy will be done,
Thy name we'll spread in every clime ‘till all the fold is one
Give us this day our daily bread, temptations keep at bay
And strength will come with unity, when all together pray.
**************
Greatest is Servant of All
“Jesus was asked ‘who is the greatest among us?’ and He replied ‘The greatest among you is the
servant of all!’.” (So he who is the servant to all people is the greatest among you.)
*************

****************
It Is No Secret What God Can Do
- Words & Music by Stuart Hamblin
sung by Elvis Presley
The chimes of time ring out the news,
Another day is through.
Someone slipped and fell.
Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength,
Your courage to renew.
Do not be disheartened,
For I have news for you.

What He's done for others,
He'll do for you.
With arms wide open,
He'll pardon you.
There is no night for in His light
You'll never walk alone.
Always feel at home,
Wherever you may go.
There is no power can conquer you

While God is on your side.
Take Him at His promise,
Don't run away and hide.
What He's done for others,
He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
*************
Stuart Hamblen (1908-1989), born Carl Stuart Hamblen was one of American radio’s first
singing cowboys in 1926, and later became a Christian songwriter, temperance supporter, and
recurring candidate for political office. Born to the family of a Methodist preacher in 1908 in
Kellyville, Texas, he married Suzy Daniels, and fathered two children with her. From 1931 to
1952 he had a series of highly popular radio programs on the West Coast of the U.S. He
composed music and acted in motion pictures with such other stars such as Gene Autry, Roy
Rogers, and John Wayne. He was the first artist signed by Decca Records in 1934, and soon
became the No. 1 radio personality in Los Angeles, which drew in crowds of fans. His
broadcast, where he shared his faith, and sang/spoke his signature hymn (above) was his first
coast-to-coast television broadcast. He wrote many popular songs including ‘This Ole House’,
‘Open up your Heart’, ‘It is No Secret’, ‘Hell Train’, ‘Blood on your Hands’. The song above
was written following his acceptance of Christ and a spiritual conversion, after which he
refused to do alcohol commercials, and was subsequently fired. His hit song was later sung by
many popular singers: Eddy Arnold, Pat Boone, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Hank Snow, and
Ernest Tubb. He supported the American temperance movement and ran as the Prohibition Party’s candidate for U.S. president
in the 1952 presidential election. He lost the election. He continued making songs and recording them until he died, and some
of them hit the top 10 charts. He died March 1898 in Santa Monica, California of brain cancer.
*************

*************
A Morning Offering
- Thomas Foy
My God I offer you today
My life and all it’s care
Keep me from sun ‘till evening
Help me my cross to bear.
My day is long, my work is hard
My life seems all awry.
I have no time to think or pray
And the years pass swiftly by.
O God, accept my work today
I do it all for You.
‘Tis badly done- complainingly-
But the best that I can do.
And you are kind and gentle, Lord,
And the faults You will not see.
Such as it is, my life anew,
I dedicate to Thee.
*************
Thomas Foy, Pastor, was born in 1830, emigrated from Ireland in 1850, married Mary Higgins in 1855 who
had also been born in Ireland and who had immigrated to Chicago in 1851. Thomas and Mary Foy had two
sons: John Foy born 1857, and Thomas Foy (1859-1876) before moving to Sycamore, Illinois. Thomas
could not read or write but Mary could. There they had two more children: James (1862-1943) and Patrick
Foy (1863-1931). In 1864 Thomas and Mary moved to O’Brien Street, on the West Side of Chicago. They
were in Holy Family Parish, (built 1857 to 1874). They had the last four of their eight children: Stephen F.
(1869-1942), Mary ‘Mayme’ (1873-1857), Catherine (1877-1951 and adopted Eddie Fitzgerald (who changed
his last name to be Foy). In 1878 they moved to a farm in Dawson, Iowa, near Des Moines; all except their
oldest children went them. In 1900, they returned to Chicago and lived in Bridgeport on Union Avenue.
Their son, John D. Foy stayed in Iowa. In 1902 they moved with Stephen, Mayme, and Kate moved to St.
Luke’s Parish in River Forest, where he worked as a Reverend until he passed away. Thomas died in 1903
and Mary in 1907, both are buried in the plot at Calvary Cemetery that Thomas had purchased in 1867 for the burial of his sister
Margaret’s husband.
*************
Be Near Me Lord
- Rev. Thomas Foy
Be near me, Lord, each night and day,
And lead me with your light.
O, keep me in your loving care,
And guide my life aright.
Forgive my every sin and fault
For all the years gone past.
The years ahead I give to you
However long they last.
I praise you for your goodness, Lord
My heart I give to Thee.
O help me, Lord, to live for You
Through all the years to be.
************
The Path I walk with others
“The path I walk with others is the path God walks
with me.”
**********

************
Lord, God of Power and Might
-Thomas Foy
Lord, God of power and might,
All the earth proclaims Your greatness,
Be Thou our inspiration,
Each livelong day and night.
You made us all to praise you
To offer You our love.
You see our thoughts and actions
From your bright throne above.
You made the seas and rivers

The deep blue of the sky,
The earth and all its treasures
The stars that shine on high.
All earth proclaims Your greatness
Lord, God of power and might
Be thou our inspiration,
Each livelong day and night.
****************
I Praise You
- Rev. Thomas Foy
I praise you for your goodness Lord.
My heart I give to thee.
O help me, Lord to live for you through
all the years to be.
*************
The Lord is able to Heal All
“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and forget not his benefits;
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases.”
- Psalms 103:2-3
****************
God is Listening
God’s ears are open to our prayers for healing.
We receive what we pray for in Jesus’ name.
And we can be filled with Joy; if we keep his commandments.
“ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
* * * * * * * * * * * ** *
Now Is the Time
- Marion Schoeberlein
I may not pass this way again, Lord, let me stop awhile
To help some stranger on the way, And make somebody smile!
I may not pass this way again, Lord, let me find the poor,
And give them food and show them love,
And lead them to Thy door!
I may not pass this way again, Lord, let me love and give
And do according to Thy will While on this earth I live!
***************

* * * * * * * * * * * * ** *
Human Frailty
- Helen Parker
How many times I give you my cares,
Surrender my life and my all.
How many times do I give you day
And in one weak moment I fall.
How many times do I kneel and confess,
Telling you how I repent,
And before the day has come to a close
I have the same fears and lament.
How many times have I opened my heart,
And invited My Lord to come in
Humbly kneeling at the foot of the cross,
And again be tempted to sin?
**************
My Peace I Give Unto You
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard
how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would
rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (John
14:27-28)
*************
I Will Not Quit
- Roxie Lusk Smith (1915-2011)
I will not quit until the battle’s won.
I will not quit until I hear
the words ‘well done’.
Though rough be the way,
and hard be the fight.
I will not quit the conflict and right
There’s much to be gained,
True choices to make ‘Lord show me the
Path – just the right one to take.”
**************
God’s Love
- OJ Robertson
“God’s love is like the rolling ocean so deep and very wide;
No force can ever hope to check or stop it surging tide.
Like craggy mountains towering upward,
Fast and strong and tall; there is no measure for his love
and yet I have it all.”
***************
Thank God
- Thomas Durley Landles
“Thank God for life, with all it’s
endless store of great experiences.”
****************
There is no Condemnation
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Jesus Christ, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.”
(Romans 8:1)
************

**************
An Inward Prayer
- Roxie Lusk Smith
I ask not, Lord, a famous name,
Of wealth that plays a roulette game -
I ask for strength of limb and hand,
And thoughts that turn to understand.
I ask a heart that shares its hope;
A patient will that dares to cope,
I ask for love that gleans the husk,
And faith that pierces every dusk.
I ask for sight to take the path

That lifts my soul in aftermath;
And grace to keep a pleasant smile
When life demands its second mile.
I ask You, Lord, to lend a song
When skies are dark, and hours, long.
I ask for bread upon my board,
With grateful praise for common horde.
I ask for peace at my day's end,
The love of Thee - and one true friend.
************
Peace of Mind
- Doris A. Orth
There passes not a single day
that I don't speak your name,
and though I feel unworthy,
Lord, I ask you just the same -
To give me strength to face whatever
problems lie ahead,
and should I start to worry –
give me "peace of mind" instead.
Then - let someone's path cross mine
who needs a helping hand,
and let me show that someone that
I care and understand.
When the day draws to a close –
let my thought be of You,
for You are such a vital part of
everything I do.
**************
May the presence and Power
- Roxie Lusk Smith
May the presence and power of God,
From above - the joy and the wonder,
Divine blessings and love...
May the hope of the season,
Its beauty and cheer –
May the promise of the Spirit be
yours through the year.
*************

*************
Safe in His Care
- Roxie Lusk Smith
Help me, Lord, to keep on trusting
Even when the day is bleak,
And my throat is sore from crying,
And my voice can hardly speak.
Take away my pain and sorrow,
Let me feel Thy presence near;
Help me walk in sweet progression,
Attended by Thy force.
No fear of what has come before me, Amen.
No looking back at things that were –
Grant me grace to live each moment
With the things that be assured.
If my human strength should falter
Under barbs and heavy load,
Come thou here and ease my burden,
Lest I totter down the road.
If my spirit wanes in trying,
And faint tremors take command,
Fire me, Lord, to keep on walking
Guided, strengthened by Thy hand.
***************
Consolation
- Roxie Lusk Smith
There is never a day so dark and dreary
But God can make it bright.
There is never a night so black and void
But God can send His light.
So take to Him those hopeless things
That are tearing at your life...
The heart that puts its trust in God
Finds help to meet the strife.
***********
Do Unto Others as you would Receive
Whatever we do to others we shall surely be rewarded (or cursed).
**************
To Walk with Humility
- Roxie Lusk Smith
Give me faith and child-like trust
To follow in the path I must;
For things unseen are in Thy hands.
Thy love and grace forever stands ‘twixt ill and me.
Whatever be the day’s raw mold,
I know for sure, the hours hold
In confidence, that good that comes
from knowing Thee.
The world is large, the heavens great:
With angels and with men, I trust and wait.
***************

************
To Speak of Life’s Beauty
- Roxie Lusk Smith
To speak of life’s beauty as
thoughts would dictate,
To work and help others
as love would relate;
To cherish our friendships -
Some tried and some true;
To manifest God in the things that we do;
To lend hearts in service,
Ah! That is the core of what God
has created each one of us for.
**************
Just Trust Him
- Roxie Lusk Smith
Just trust Him for the answers that a
questioning heart can’t give for God
holds your every tomorrow knowing
your ‘each everyday’ is his.
***************
He’ll See You Through
- Helen Parkey
No matter what your trials are,
or how big your mountain seems;
The Lord is there to see you through;
He’ll go to all extremes.
So if your cross seems hard to bear,
and you know not what to do;
The One who loves you most of all will
be there to see you through.
And when your life seems empty and skies
look gray, not blue,
You’ll feel the nearness of the one,
Whose there to see you through.
Oh friend I’ve known the heartache,
when my rainbow lost its hue!
But like all things, its passing
He was there to see me through.
************
Give me the Courage
- Joseph Morris
Give me the courage, Lord,
to sail my boat out from the shore,
I’d rather know the oceans gale
and hear the tempest’s roar –
Then anchor safely in some bay,
because fear conquered me –
Let craftless daring inland stay
Be mine the pathless sea.
*****************

**************
Strength
- Mildred E. Christie
In quietness shall be your strength
Rely upon His Word;
Though endless seems the battles length,
Be sure your prayers are heard.
The conflict rages all about,
But there is peace within
The heart that trusts in God shall rout
The enemy and win.
Be confident, the Lord is near,
The foe is great and fierce,
But God is mightier, no fear
Can His bright armor pierce.
********************
Love Beyond Compare
- Dolores Karides
I went into the church today
To Pray on bended knee
And when I spoke in prayer to God
I know He answered me.
He banished all my doubts and fears
And told me what to do
Though not a word He spoke aloud
His Thoughts were loud and true.
I felt His presence there with me
He dispelled every care
I felt His warmth envelope me
With love beyond compare.
***********
*************
Exaltation
- Helen Parkey
I climbed to the top of the mountain,
Looked down on the valley below,
I saw a winter wonderland,
Everything topped with snow,
Again, I climbed the mountain
But before me a different scene
The valley was covered with colors and tho’
One that stood out was green,
Oh God, it’s ever so awesome
More things to behold then time,
And I’ll kneel at the top of the mountain
To exalt the Creator divine.
************
The Sweetest Sounds
The sweetest sounds to mortals given, are
heard in Mother, Home and Heaven.
- William Goldsmith Brown
**********

**************
Precious Moments
- Doris A. Orth
The moments I spend with You, God,
are more precious than gold to me,
for it's You Who keeps my ship afloat
on life's ever turbulent sea.
When the waters are dark and foreboding,
and storm clouds loom ahead,
If I turn to You, the waters are blue,
with bright, sunny skies instead.
Without You, God, I am nothing, a ship without a sail,
a life without a purpose, my efforts, of no avail!
You are the Light that guides me,
across life's turbulent sea,
and each moment I spend with You,
is more precious than gold to me!
*********
His Presence
- Doris A. Orth
I may never live to see my life
Completely trouble free
Or walk a straight and narrow road
And carry “not a heavy” load.
I’ll never see around a bend,
Or riches at the rainbow’s end.
But I can walk with head held high
And notice soft clouds drifting by.
Feel the sunshine’s warm embrace,
The gentle breeze upon my face.
I can hear a bird’s sweet song
Beside each road I walk along.
These things I feel, and hear, and see –
More clearly when God walks with me,
For just “His Presence” seems to
Bring about the best in everything.
*************
Three Lovely things
- Grace V. Watkins
A little girl’s soft- whispered prayer is lovelier
than any fair Andante’s wind through country air.
A Small boy’s worship-shining face has more
of loveliness and grace –
Than any sea’s noon-bolden space.
Who helps a child to find the light of faith
Has done a deed more bright then all the stars
Within the night!
***********

***************
God Let Me Be A Giver
- Mary Carolyn Davies
God, let me be a giver, and not one
Who only takes and takes unceasingly.
God, let me give, so that not just my own,
But others' lives as well, may richer be.
Let me give out whatever I may hold
Of what material things life may be heaping
Let me give raiment, shelter, food, or gold
If these are, through Thy bounty, in my keeping.
But greater than such fleeting treasures, may
I give my faith and hope and cheerfulness,
Belief and dreams and joy and laughter gay
Unto a lonely soul who, through me, You shall bless.
*************
Just For Today
- Annie May Schrimsher
The strength, oh Lord, just for this day,
I pray you will impart.
For me again, renew my faith
as this new day, I start.
Reach out to me and keep Thy
hand on everything I do.
Direct my path to things undone,
and guide to paths anew.
Give me the patience that I need to
do for others now, the things that You
would have me do, and kindly show me how.
Through doubts and fears, and
heavy loads, I struggle on my way.
Yet, through the rugged path, I know,
that You are near today.
You steer my feet and lift my heart,
and make the light to shine.
Then all my troubles, aches and pains,
I gladly leave behind.
**************
A Prayer
He who guides the swallows flight,
keep me safe through day and night.
He who guides the sea and land –
take me safely by thy hand,
He who guides the soul it’s way,
Teach me faithfully to pray. - Elsie Offner
**************

************
The Choir Invisible
- George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)
Oh, may I join the choir invisible
Of those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence; live
In pulses stirred to generosity,
In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
For miserable aims that end with self,
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge men's search
To vaster issues. So to live is heaven:
To make undying music in the world,
Breathing a beauteous order that controls
With growing sway the growing life of man.
So we inherit that sweet purity
For which we struggled, failed, and agonized
With widening retrospect that bred despair.
Rebellious flesh that would not be subdued,
A vicious parent shaming still its child,
Poor anxious penitence, is quick dissolved;
Its discords, quenched by meeting harmonies,
Die in the large and charitable air,
And all our rarer, better, truer self
That sobbed religiously in yearning song,
That watched to ease the burden of the world,
Laboriously tracing what must be,
And what may yet be better, -- saw within
A worthier image for the sanctuary,
And shaped it forth before the multitude,
Divinely human, raising worship so
To higher reverence more mixed with love, --
That better self shall live till human Time
Shall fold its eyelids, and the human sky
Be gathered like a scroll within the tomb
Unread forever. This is life to come, --
Which martyred men have made more glorious
For us who strive to follow. May I reach
That purest heaven, -- be to other souls
The cup of strength in some great agony,
Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love,
Beget the smiles that have no cruelty,
Be the sweet presence of a good diffused,
And in diffusion ever more intense!
So shall I join the choir invisible
Whose music is the gladness of the world.
**************
Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880) was an English novelist and poet, more well- known by her name George Eliot, and also
for a time used Mary Anne and Marian as variant spellings of her name. She was born Nov. 22, 1819 in Chilvers
Coton, a famous novelist from England, the last child of an estate agent. During her childhood she went through a
phase of evangelical piety, but her free-thinking caused a break with orthodox religion. She studies at Mrs.
Wallington’s School, Nuneaton (boarding school, in 1828-32). She dated John Walter Cross (husband) and amongst
other amorous encounters was George Henry Lewes (boyfriend). She died on Dec 22, 1880 in London, cause of
death kidney failure. In London she met George Henry Lewes, a journalist and advanced thinker. He was separated
from his wife, and had two sons by another man, but had been unable to obtain a divorce. Mary Ann Evans began
living openly with Lewes in 1854, which they both considered as sacred as a legal marriage and one that lasted until his
death in 1878.

***************
Woes upon the Wicked
“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as it
were with a cart rope; that say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work,
that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh
and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good and good
evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink
wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink; that justify the wicked for a
bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass
sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their
blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of
hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” “Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against
his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the mountains
tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned
away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (Isaiah 18-25) “Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindred,
tongues and people, that fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (1 Nep. 11:36)
**************
A Prisoner At Prayer
1944-1945
A lone prisoner knelt down by his bedside
In a cell of a jail in the west;
There he poured out his heart to his Father
And asked him for dreams in his rest,
Dreams of home, far away, with his babies
And a wife who was honest and true,
There, a prisoner at prayer in the moonlight,
And he’s doing this, dear children, for you.
He’s been fighting for freedom and losing
In the struggle it seemed all in vain,
The whole world was closing in upon him
For they thought he had nothing to gain,
But he knew that his God was there with him
If he stood it all faithful and true,
There, a prisoner at prayer in the darkness
Little children, he is praying for you.
Then time came and the heavens were broken
And at last the sun shone in anew;
Then the great iron gates swung wide open
And he found that the sky’d turned blue.
There he rushed to the arms of his darlings
Who had been so faithful and true;
There, a prisoner at prayer by his bedside,
Thanking God, little children, for you.
(Charles F. Zitting, Utah State Prison – February 8, 1947)
****************
My Prayer
Dear Lord: Purge and purify me, that I may be worthy to stand in your presence, and use me.
My all, my life, in the building of thy work, and glory be in thy name. Forever, Amen.
- by J.W. Musser
************

**********
Prayer
- Louis Bromfield
Oh, Lord, I thank you for the privilege and gift
of living in a world filled with beauty
and excitement and variety.
I thank you for the gift of loving and being loved,
for the friendliness and understanding and beauty of the
animals on the farm
and in the forest and marshes, for the green of the trees,
the sound of the waterfall, the darting beauty
of the trout in the brook.
I thank you for the delights of music and children,
of other people's thoughts and conversation
and their books to read by the fireside
or in bed with the rain falling on the roof
or the snow blowing past outside the window.
***********
God bless You
- Author Unknown
I seek in prayerful words, dear friend,
My heart's true wish to send you,
That you may know that, far or near,
My loving thoughts attend you.
I cannot find a truer word,
Nor better to address you,
Nor song nor poem I have heard
Is sweeter than, "God bless you!"
God bless you! So I wish you all
Of brightness life possesses.
For can there any joy at all

Be yours unless God blesses?
God bless you! So I breathe a charm
Lest grief's dark night oppress you,
For how can sorrow bring you harm
If 'tis God's will to bless you?
And so, through all thy days
May shadows touch thee never --
But this alone -- God bless thee!
-- Then thou art safe forever.
***********
House of Prayer
- Morris Able Beer
He who builds a church within his heart, and takes it with him
everywhere, is holier far, then he whose church is but a one day
house of prayer.
********
Love Knows Hidden Paths. - Anon.
************

************
Morning Prayer
When little things would irk me, and I grow
Impatient with my dear one, make me know
How in a moment joy can take its flight
And happiness be quenched in endless night.
Keep this thought with me all the livelong day
That I may guard the harsh words I might say
When I would fret and grumble, fiery hot,
At trifles that tomorrow are forgot -
Let me remember, Lord, how it would be
If these, my loved ones, were not here with me.
************
A Morning Prayer
Let me today do something that will take
A little sadness from the world's vast store,
And may I be so favored as to make
Of joy's too scanty sum a little more.
Let me not hurt, by any selfish deed
Or thoughtless word, the heart of foe or friend.
Nor would I pass unseeing worthy need,
Or sin by silence when I should defend.
However meager be my worldly wealth,
Let me give something that shall aid my kind --
A word of courage, or a thought of health
Dropped as I pass for troubled hearts to find.
Let me tonight look back across the span
'Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say –
Because of some good act to beast or man –
“The world is better that I lived today.”
************
God’s Love In Me
- Bess Darnell McKain
I had reached a lovely hilltop;
All my thought were deep despair;
But my burdens were soon lifted
when I found God waiting there.
Evening mist was in the valley
as I slowly trudged along;
I found peace and sweet assurance
When I found God in a song.
When storm clouds seemed to gather
As I faced a newborn day,
I found joy beyond the shadows
God was there along the way.
All those years of searching, longing
Are faint memories – I am free:
I found joy that’s everlasting,
When I found God’s love in me.
*************

************
Prayer of an Unemployed Man
- W.C. Ackerly
Here in the quiet of my room,
I come to Thee for friendship; to feel
That Someone is with me, though unseen.
All day I have seen a multitude of people
But I am lonely and hungry for human cheer.
No life has touched mine in understanding;
No hand has clasped mine in friendship;
My heart is empty and my hands are idle.
Help me to feel Thy presence, so that the disappointment
of this day shall not overwhelm me.
Keep me from becoming cynical and bitter;
Keep me warm and human, and set a new faith
Before my eyes — a new hope to live by
And a new spirit with which to overcome discouragements.
Guide me to that very necessary thing of life — WORK!
Abide with me and be my friend.
**************
The Beggar
- Margaret Bruner
The day was one of weariness, with no bright interlude;
I was fatigues by homely tasks – bereft of fortitude.
Night shadows brought a deeper gloom; and when a sudden knock upon the
door came startling me, trembling I turned to look.
There stood a tired, dejected, man who humbly asked for bread.
And I saw his countenance there was nothing to fear or dread.
For meekness and humility were stamped upon his face.
As though some sorrow’s heavy weight had passed and left its trace.
Forgetting care, I turned to get
a plate of meat and bread.
By serving him, somehow
my heart was strangely comforted.
And even tales of vagrant folk
all vanished when he said:
“I thank you for this kindly act.”
Then bowed and trudged ahead...
Did he know that I too had begged,
but not for earthly bread –
That when I gave him food and drink,
my spirit had been fed?
From ‘Love’s Gift’ by Joyce Dorsey Ostlund, 2009
************
Humility
“Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.”
(D&C 112:10) “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased: and be that shall humble himself shall be
exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) “If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make
weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27) “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4) “Humble yourself in the sight of
the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)
************

***********
Be Strong in your Convictions
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou
art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel
thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness
do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
me.” (Rev. 3:15-20)
*************
Lovely Things
- H.M. Sarson
Bread is a lovely thing to eat -
God bless the barley and the wheat!
A lovely thing to breathe is air -
God bless the sunshine everywhere!
The earth’s a lovely place to know -
God bless the folks that come and go!
Alive’s a lovely thing to be -
Giver of life - we say - bless Thee!
*************
Mother’s Prayer
- Jo Carr and Imogene Sorley
Dear Lord, I’m tired this day. Bone weary.
Would you like to listen to my troubles?
Only you could understand a day like this one.
I have tied innumerable shoestrings, wiped noses,
arbitrated squabbles, bandaged knees, washed piles of dishes –
most of which are now dirty again – scorched one white shirt,
burned one pot of beans, and spilled grape Kool-aid
on the kitchen floor. I have kicked the dog, snarled at the kids,
and felt sorry indeed for poor little me.
Now, I’m bringing the whole mess to you, Lord.
Some days are just more than I can handle.
Wait a minute. There are two things wrong with what I just said.
I meant, some days I am more than I can handle.
And then, I almost forget that we are in this thing together –
thee and me. Be still, my soul. The Lord is on thy side.
What matter the frustrations, the dailiness, the dishes?
What matter, really? Be still, my soul. Unwind. Be still.
I was weary when I came here, Father. I rest in thee.
Amen.
************

***********
God’s Ways
- Unknown
I asked for grace to lift me high
Above the world's depressing cares;
God sent me sorrows - with a sigh
I said, "He has not heard my prayers."
I asked for light, that I might see
My path along life's thorny road;
But clouds and darkness shadowed me
When I expected light from God.
I asked for peace, that I might rest
To think my sacred duties o'er,
When, lo! such horrors filled my breast
As I had never felt before.
"And, oh," I cried, "can this be prayer
Whose plaints the steadfast mountains move?
Can this be Heaven's prevailing care?
And, O, my God, is this Thy love?"
But soon I found that sorrow worn
As Duty's garment, strength supplies,
And out of darkness meekly borne
Unto the righteous light doth rise.
And soon I found that fears which stirred
My startled soul God's will to do,
On me more lasting peace conferred
Than in life's calm I ever knew.
****************
Prayers
- Henry Charles Beeching
God who created me nimble and light of limb,
In three elements free, to run, to ride, to swim.
No when the sense is dim, but now from the heart of joy,
I would remember Him; take the thanks of a boy.
Jesus, the king and Lord, whose army goes to fight,
Gird me with thy sword, swift and sharp and bright,
Thee would I serve if I might and conquer if I can,
From day –dawn ‘till night, Take the strength of a man.
Spirit of love and truth, breathing in grosser clay,
The light and flame of youth, delight of men in the fray,
Wisdom in strength’s decay;
From pain, strife, wrong to be free,
This best gift I pray, take my spirit to Thee.
**********
From God
- unknown
Our life is a gift from God. What we do with that life is our
gift to God.
**************

**************
Today My Soul Is Reaching Out
Today my soul is reaching out
for something that's unknown,
I cannot grasp or fathom it-
for it's known to God alone-
I cannot hold or harness it
Or put it into form,
For it's as uncontrollable
As the wind before the storm-
I know not where it came from
Or whither it will go,
for it's as inexplicable
As the restless winds that blow-
And like the wind it too will pass
And leave nothing more behind
Than the "memory of a mystery"
That blew across my mind-
But like the wind it will return
To keep reminding me
That everything that has been
Is what again will be
For there is nothing that is new
Beneath God's timeless sun,
And present, past and future
Are all molded into one-
And east and west and north and south
The same wind keeps on blowing,
While rivers run on endlessly
Yet the sea's not overflowing-
And the restless unknown longing
Of my searching soul won't cease
Until God comes in glory
And my soul at last finds peace.
*************
The Knight’s Poem
- 16th Century
God be in my head
And in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes and in my looking;
God be in my mouth and in my speaking;
God be in my heart and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and in my departing.
**************

*************
Evening Song
- Edith King
Soft falls the night, the day grows dim,
To Thee I lift my evening hymn, O Lord of dark and light.
My hands I raise, a little spire,
And send my voice up high and higher
To Thee in happy praise.
For home and friend, for books and toys
For all the countless loves and joys
That Thou does daily send.
Close Thou mine eyes, that when the day
Returns once more from far away, I may rejoicing rise.
**********
A Child’s Prayer
-William Canton
Through the night Thy angels kept
Watch above me while I slept,
Now the night has passed away,
Thank Thee, Lord, for this new day.
Give me food that I may live;
Every sin I do, forgive;
Keep all evil things away,
From Thy little child this day.
***************
He Prayeth Well
Samuel T. Coleridge (1772-1834) from
“The Ancient Mariner
Farewell, farewell! but this I tell
To thee, thou Wedding-Guest!
He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things, both great and small:
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.
**************
A Child’s Morning Prayer
J. Kirby
Look down on me, a little one,
Whose life is only just begun:
Dear Savior, smile on me.
Watch over me from day to day,
When I sleep, and when I play,
Help me to do Thy holy will,
With thoughts of Thee my mind to fill:
***********

************
A Child’s Prayer
- Siegfried Sasson
For Morn, my dome of blue,
For Meadows, green and gay,
And Birds who love the twilight of the leaves,
Let Jesus keep me joyful when I pray.
For the big Bees that hum
And hide in bells of flowers;
For the winding roads that come
To Evening’s holy door,
May Jesus bring me grateful to his arms,
And guard my innocence for evermore.
************
The Shepherd Boy’s Song
- John Bunyan (1628-1688)
He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.
Fullness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.
(John Bunyan was a Christian writer and preacher, most famous for
The Pilgrim’s Progress.)
**************
A Prayer
- Edwin Markham
Teach me, Father, how to go softly as the grasses grow;
Hush my soul to meet the shock of the wild world as a rock;
But my spirit, propt with power, make as simple as a flower.
Let the dry heart fill its cup, like a poppy looking up;
Let life lightly wear her crown, like a poppy looking down, When
its heart is filled with dew, and its life begins anew.
Teach me, Father, how to be kind and patient as a tree.
Joyfully the crickets croon under the shady oak at noon;
Beetle, on his mission bent, tarries in that cooling tent.
Let me, also, cheer a spot, hidden field or garden grot –
Place where passing souls can rest on the way
and be their best.
************

***********
Prayer For Strength
- Margaret E. Bruner
Though I should be maligned by those
I trust, let not my spirit be
Broken and bowed, but may the throes
Of suffering set me free
From pettiness and that desire
Which goads one to retaliate;
With patience I would quench the fire
Of vengeance, ere it be too late.
And in defeat may I cast out
The moods of envy and despair,
And from my heart, Lord, I would rout
All bitterness. This is my prayer.
*************
Prayer For Shut-Ins
- Ruth Winant Wheeler
Because, dear Lord, their way is rough and steep,
And some are sore perplexed, and some do weep,
We come to ask that thou wilt show the way, and give thy
stay and staff to be their stay.
Especially, dear Lord, for these we ask,
Who have not strength to meet their task;
And for all weary on the road, please give fresh courage,
ease their load.
***********
A Prayer For Shut-Ins

- unknown
Dear Lord, because of my difficulty in getting around
I am no longer able to go wherever I please and am at the mercy
of others to be taken out of this house.
Let me not withdraw from the outside world,
but continue to be interested in it.
For you are there as well as here with me;
You are everywhere in this magnificent world you made. Enable
me to realize that all the different stages of life are a gift from
you; and each age has its own rewards as well as its problems.
Let me thank You for each new day's life and use that day to
grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you.
Help me when I am tired, and grant me the strength to go on.
And at the end of my journey through life,
let me see your glory in heaven.
**************

Scriptural
Quotes,
Parables, Poems
& Stories (Items which mention God, Christ, Angels, or the Spirit of God in them,
Or are quoted from scriptures)
***********
Sorrow and Laughter
“Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of
the countenance the heart is made better.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,
than for a man to hear the song of fools.”
(Ecclesiastes 7:3-5)
*************
A Good Name
“A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches and loving favor than silver and gold.”
(Proverbs 21:1)
*************
Let your Treasures Be
“Let not your treasures be of this earth where mold and rust can
corrupt them, but let them be of the things of God.” (Jesus)
*************
Straight is the Gate, and Narrow the Way
“Straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to Eternal Life.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son
of God.” (1 John 5:11-13)
**************

**********
Straight is the Way
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there
be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
*************
Today
- Author unknown
Today is a Special Day to use as I will,
what I will do with it?
How will I live my life to please God the most?
What is the most important thing I can do today?
Today is my life, I can do as I see fit.
I can make plans for the future,
I can dream big dreams,
I can put them into practice.
I can be a help to everyone around me.
I can help feed the needy, the poor and hungry.
I can pray for our loved ones that need help,
I can make a difference in people’s lives,
To help bring a little sunshine into lives.
************
Parable of the Condemned, Forgiven Woman
“Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning
he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him;
and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees
brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had
set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was
taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law
commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down, and with his
finger wrote on the ground, as though he
heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said
unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And
again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest,
even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,
Woman, where are those, thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She
said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and
sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of
life.” (John 8:1-12)
*************
I am the Light of the World
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)
**********

*************
Judgment of Solomon
One day Solomon had a chance to test his wisdom.
Two women came to him for help.
Both the women had babies.
One of the babies died. One mother had switched
babies with the other mother in the night.
The next morning the mother woke up
and found a dead baby beside her.
She looked at the baby and knew it wasn’t her baby!
She saw that the other woman had switched the babies!
They told Solomon the whole story.
Both the mothers argued that the baby was their baby.
Who was right? How would Solomon know
who was telling the truth?
Solomon had a test to see who was the real mother.
He ordered that the baby be cut in half
and each mother receive half the baby.
(He was not really going to cut the baby in half;
he wanted to see what the women did.)
One mother screamed No! No! Don’t hurt the baby.
Give the baby to the other woman.
The other mother said, Yes! Let’s split the baby in half.
Who do you think was the real mother?
It was the one who cared for her baby.
She did not want it to die.
Sure enough, Solomon knew that she was the mother,
so he gave her the baby.
Everyone in the kingdom heard about Solomon’s wisdom.
They all came to him to get advice and help.
Solomon could tell who was telling the truth.
He knew the right thing to do.
(1 Kings 3:1-28)
*****************
Seeking for Wisdom
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in
faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord.” (James 1:5)
*************
God Heals Multitudes

“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with
compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
(Matthew 14:14)
**********

***********
God Is Able to Provide
(Rev. Griffis' Father- Groceries on the porch Story)
Pastor Lenard Griffis, my late friend and pastor, shared another one
of his testimonies with me... "When I was growing up during the
Great Depression Days around the year 1929, economic times were
very hard. My dad and mother were believers and we lived in a
small town in Oklahoma. There was no work for my dad and one
day we ran out of food to eat. My dad and mother talked about it
and decided to trust in the Lord. My dad gathered his entire family
around the supper table, each family member sitting in his place with an empty plate in
front of him. There was no food on the table. My dad said the blessing thanking God in
faith for the food He was going to provide. No sooner had he finished praying when a
knock came at the door. When we opened the door there were several bags of groceries
on the porch, but there was no one in sight. We lived several miles out in the country and
it would have been easy to spot whoever left the groceries but we saw no one. We all knew
that God had provided that food for us!"
**************
Parable of the Tares
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who
sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted
and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came
to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did
the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked
him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because
while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let
both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First
collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat
and bring it into my barn.’ (Matt 13:24-30)
************
Parable of the Rich Man
“Someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me. Jesus replied, Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?
Then he said to them, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's
life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”. And he told them this
parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to
himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is
what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all
my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, You have plenty of good things laid up
for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, 'You
fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you
have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things
for himself but is not rich toward God." -Christ’s Teachings - Luke 12:13-21
*************

************
The Christian and the Atheist
There was a Christian lady who lived next door to an atheist. Everyday, when
the lady prayed, the atheist guy could hear her. He thought to him-self, "She
sure is crazy, praying all the time like that. Doesn't she know there isn't a
God?" Many times while she was praying, he would go to her house and
harass her, saying "Lady, why do you pray all the time? Don't you know there
is no God?" But she kept on praying. One day, she ran out of groceries. As
usual, she was praying to the Lord explaining her situation and thanking Him
for what He was gonna do. AS USUAL, the atheist heard her praying and
thought to himself. "Hmph. I'll fix her."
He went to the grocery store, bought a whole

bunch of groceries, took them to her house,
dropped them off on the front porch, rang the
door bell and then hid in the bushes to see what she would do. When she opened
the door and saw the groceries, she began to praise the Lord with all her heart,
jumping, singing and shoutin' everywhere!
The atheist then jumped out of the bushes and told her, "You ol' crazy lady, God
didn't buy you those groceries, I bought those groceries!" Well, she broke out and
started running down the street, shouting and praising the Lord. When he finally
caught her, he asked what her problem was. She said, "I knew the Lord would
provide me with some groceries, but I didn't know he was gonna make the devil
pay for them!" - Submitted by Patty, Ringos, NJ.
*****************
Parable of Two Houses
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be
compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the
floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not
fall, for it had been founded on the rock. "Everyone who hears these words of mine
and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that
house; and it fell — and great was its fall.” “When Jesus had finished these words,
the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having
authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:24-29) (See also a parallel passage in
Luke 6:47-49).
**************
Word of God brings Life and Health
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
(Proverbs 4:20-22)
**********

**************
Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28)
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.
For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and
entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his
journey. The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his
money to work and gained five more. In the same way, the one who had two
gained two more. But the one who had received one talent went out and dug
a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. After a long time, the
master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. The one who
had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you
entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master
answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge
of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you
entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ His master answered, ‘Well done, good and
faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the
joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were
a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I was afraid,
and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his
master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t
sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? Then you should have deposited my money
with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with
interest! Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For
the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the
one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that
worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth’”
*************
Helpful and Non-Helpful Son Parable
-(Matthew 21:28-32)
“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and
said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but
afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise.
And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did
the will of his father?” They say unto him, The first. “Jesus saith unto them, Verily
I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God
before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed
him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had
seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”
Several lessons are in this parable: (1) Actions speak louder than words, no matter what
we say, we are what we do; (2) The Lord will welcome everyone, even sinners, if they will
but return to him, we don’t need to think of ourselves as being somehow better than
others; (3) Neither did the will of the Father, one having made commitments and didn’t
keep them; the other refused to make the commitment to do the work. To be successful,
we must both commit and then do the work of the Father. (4) The father and his son constantly have positive
expectation that we will do their will; they have asked us to do the work; at what level of progression are we at in the
commitment and follow-through scale? *****************

*************
Parable of the Husbandman
“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a
vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a
tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when
the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that
they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and
beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other
servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.” “But last of all
he sent unto them his son, saying, they will reverence my son. But when the
husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir; come,
let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and
cast him out of the vineyard, and slew
him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard
cometh, what will he do unto those
husbandmen?” They say unto him, He will
miserably destroy those wicked men, and will
let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen,
which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, “Did
ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the
same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is
marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall
be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And
whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall
fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:33-46)
************
Several lessons are in this parable: (1) the Lord is the vineyard owner, who created his vineyard (the earth), and planted
the House of Israel on it. While he was away a wicked husbandman (Lucifer) invaded and killed and stoned the
prophets that were sent to help the plants. Now to have a good harvest the Lord will first have to destroy the
husbandman; and put in new ones, which will render him good fruits in their seasons. (2) The head stone that was
rejected is the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the gospel was removed from the Jews and given to the Gentiles. At the
end of the world all will be judged as to whether or not they returned to Him; if they didn’t they will be ground down
into small powder (dust), never to rise again. (3) Those who do the work will be rewarded, and they who don’t won’t.
So the two parables are closely tied together.
** **********
A Man and His Boots Parable
- Author unknown
1. A poor man was digging into the soil and he had taken off his boots
and set them by a tree and two mischievous boys said ‘let’s steal his boots
and put rocks in them, and see how the man acts. So they did, and the
poor man found the rocks and dumped them out on the ground and went
home to his family a sadder person.
2. Two good young man, also watched what the
bad boys had done to the man, so the next day
they got ten silver dollars and put them in the
man’s boots, and when the man found them he
was super happy and he went home to his family
very happy.
3. Which kind of boy are you?
*************
Abide in Me
“If ye abide in me, and in my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.” (John 15:7)
**********

*************
Prodigal Son Parable
“Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and
eats with them." Jesus continued: "There was a man who had
two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me
my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between
them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he
had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his
wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was
a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in
need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that
country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to
fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and
here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his
father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled
with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and
kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "But the father
said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring
on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's
have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.”
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came

near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called
one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your
brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the
fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The
older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his
father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his
father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and
never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a
young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when
this son of yours who has squandered your property with
prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' "
'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to
celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found.' " (Luke 15:1-2, 11-32)
Note: In this parable, both sons have much to learn; one needs to learn to be thankful for his heritage and family
members; the other needs to be thankful for the gifts he was given as a person and for his heritage as a person
also. Which are we most like; the one that stays at home begrudgingly, the father who loves all; or the one who
leaves in anger and frustration, hoping for something better?
******************

************
Rock Soup
- Depression time Fable (Author unknown)
The war had been long and hard, scarring the countryside, the villages, and the people -
-both soldiers and citizens. Finally, it was over..... though some claimed victory, no one
really won except the winter which now held them all prisoner. A lone soldier, trying to
return to his far-away home, had wandered through the cold and snow for days. He
was tired, but more than that, he was literally starving. At last he came upon a village.
He picked a house and knocked on the door. When someone came to answer, the
soldier explained his plight and asked for a little something to eat. The little man
behind the door shook his head saying that he had a family to feed and they were
hungry themselves and they could give him nothing. The soldier pleaded that he would
eat any scraps, but the villager again said he had nothing to spare --there were no
scraps. This scene was repeated house to house but always the answer was the same. It
had been a hard winter and the soldier found that the villagers were all hungry too.
The soldier had a thought, and then it somehow formed a plan. He looked about, and spotting something
nearby, his eyes brightened. He quickly went off to the nearby woods. Soon, he returned with all the sticks and
pieces of wood he could find and built a campfire in the village square. Then he went over to the large, black iron
pot resting against the wall of the empty blacksmith shop. Dragging the pot over the fire, he filled it with snow. At
this point he had drawn a large crowd of onlookers who stared at him with
curiosity. They talked among themselves and wondered what he was going to do
with the pot of now-boiling water. Then the soldier ferreted about the ground
below the eaves of the villagers' cottages until he had gathered a dozen or more
smooth, dark stones. He inspected each closely, smelled them individually,
sometimes comparing one stone's fragrance to that of another. When all was
done, he had kept only a few. He polished them with snow, wiped them clean,
and then placed them gingerly, one by one, into the pot. Now the onlookers were
really getting curious --more than that, they were sure the soldier was mad with
hunger. The soldier then took a big wooden spoon from his knapsack and began
stirring the water in the pot and occasionally taking a taste. ''Mmmmmm,'' he
finally said, ''this is the best Rock Soup I have tasted in a long time.'' The villagers couldn't believe their ears.
Rock Soup? Surely he was mad!
The soldier took one more taste and then said, ''This is good soup but it needs something, perhaps a carrot.....
Yes, that's it, a little bit of carrot would make it perfect!'' An elderly villager stepped forward, looked into the pot,
leaned over and inhaled deeply. When he stood up, he closed his eyes and remembered the aromas of soups
and stews long gone. The villager paused a moment, then said, ''I think I might have a couple of carrots in my
cellar, I will bring them.'' On his return the carrots were added to the Rock Soup. Again the soldier continued to
stir and taste and stir and taste. Finally the soldier said, ''This is pretty good Rock Soup, the carrots made it better,
but it is still missing something. Perhaps a few onions would make it even better.'' No sooner had he said it, than
a few villagers scurried off. Upon their return, the soldier was given more than a few onions --but it was a big pot,
so in they all went.
Again the soldier continued to stir and taste and stir and taste. The soldier said, ''This is very good Rock Soup,
the carrots and onions made it better, but it is still missing something. Perhaps a few potatoes would make it even
better.'' He let two or three of those that had drawn near sample the ever-steaming brew, which by now was
starting to smell delicious. A good number of villagers bustled off. Upon their return, the soldier was presented
with a potato here and a potato there until he had enough to fill the pot. As he let it simmer, others brought bits
of this and that to add to the flavor. Tasting it one more time, he exclaimed it was ''Perfect!'' Starting with the
children, everyone had a bowl of this wonderful soup. Everyone in the village exclaimed that it was the best Rock
Soup that they had ever eaten and they all ate their fill. ''What about neighboring villages?'' someone asked.
''They are hungry, too.'' Saving a rock for themselves, the others were cleaned, placed in baskets, and sent out by
messenger. The soldier's recipe was attached... “Gather a few local stones... Clean them well... Add this stone
to them... Next...”
(This is a story I heard when I was a little child. The soldier would also ask for other vegetables and meats.)
****************

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Taking on God’s Amour
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
***********
Putting On the Whole Armor of God
Lesson By Duane S. Crowther
Scripture Studies: D&C 3:8; D&C 27:15-18; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Nephi 15:23-24.
“Like Ahab and the medieval warrior in his nightmare, we are at war. D&C 76:29 tells us
that Satan “maketh war with the saints of God and encompasseth them round about.” In
Revelation 12 and 13, John had a vision of a woman, a child, and a great red dragon. We are
told in 12:7, JST, that the woman is the church. 12:17, JST tells us that “the dragon [Satan]
was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
“The point is that we too are at war, with a being of malignant power and bitter hatred who
wants to devour us, to destroy us, to make us miserable. What a tragedy it would be if we went into battle like
the Lamanites, who "were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins . . . " (Alma 43:20); see
also 43:19) “Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole
armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
“Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of
righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I
have sent mine angels to commit unto you; “Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; “And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto
you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I
come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen.” (D&C 27:15-18)
Both here in the D&C and in Ephesians 6:13-17 where this message is
repeated, the Lord specifies that we take up the “whole armor.” A section or two will not
suffice. Almost all the armor will not do. We must take the whole armor in order to
withstand the evil of our day. D&C Lesson 43 focuses on three areas in which gaps in the
sections in our armor may be particularly dangerous: chastity, honesty, and language.
Satan’s methodology:
A. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: Satan “seeks to find any chink in the armor of each person.
He knows our weaknesses and knows how to exploit them if we allow him to do so. We
can defend ourselves against his attacks and deceptions only by understanding the commandments and by
fortifying ourselves each day through praying, studying the scriptures, and following the counsel of the Lord’s
anointed.” [Ensign, November 1988, p. 35]
Continued on next page....

Putting on God’s Armor - Part 2
B. 3 Nephi 7:5: “Iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of
Satan.” C. 1 Nephi 22:26: “Because of the righteousness of his [the Lord’s] people, Satan has no power; . . . he
hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness.”
4. Live the law of chastity
A. D&C 42:24: “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave
unto her and none else. . . . Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
B. D&C 59:6: “Thou shalt not steal, neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do
anything like unto it.”
C. D&C 63:16: “He that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall
commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny
the faith and shall fear.”
D. The First Presidency: “The Lord’s law of moral conduct is abstinence
outside of lawful marriage and fidelity within marriage. Sexual relations are proper only between husband and
wife appropriately expressed within the bonds of marriage. Any other sexual contact, including fornication,
adultery, and homosexual and lesbian behavior, is sinful” [First Presidency letter, 14 Nov. 1991, as cited in
Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 1999, p. 250].
E. Elder Richard G. Scott: “Any sexual intimacy outside of the bonds of marriage—I mean
any intentional contact with the sacred, private parts of another’s body, with or without clothing
—is a sin and is forbidden by God.” [Ensign, November 1994, p. 38]
F. “The law of chastity includes purity of thought as well as action. . . . How can we dismiss
unclean thoughts from our minds? . . . Putting something edifying in their place, . . . praying for
strength, singing a favorite hymn or reciting a favorite scripture in our minds, or thinking about
our love for family members.” [Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 1999, pp. 251-252]
5. Be honest
A. D&C 42:19, 20: “Thou shalt not steal; . . . thou shalt not lie.”
B. D&C 51:9: “Let every man deal honestly.”
C. D&C 97:8: “All among them who know their hearts are honest . . . are
accepted of me.”
D. President James E. Faust: “Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling,
truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving. [Ensign, November 1996, p. 41]
E. “What does it mean to be honest with the Lord? . . . keeping covenants and
other promises we have made to the Lord, fulfilling Church assignments,
partaking of the sacrament worthily, and paying tithes and offerings. . . . What
does it mean to be honest with ourselves? . . . we do not rationalize or excuse
sin.” [Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 1999, p. 252]
6. Use language that reverences God and is edifying
A. D&C 63:61-62: “Let all men beware how they take my name in their lips—many there be
who are under this condemnation, who use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain . . . Remember
that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by
constraint of the Spirit.”
B. D&C 136:21: “Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the Lord in vain.”
C. President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Don’t swear. Don’t profane. Avoid so-called dirty
jokes. Stay away from conversation that is sprinkled with foul and filthy words. You will
be happier if you do so, and your example will give strength to others. [Ensign, October
1987, p. 48]
D. “What are some ways that people take the Lord’s name in vain? . . . using it
disrespectfully, using it in a way that is common or casual, and using it in
association with coarse thoughts or evil acts. . . . What other kinds of language
should we avoid? . . . Language that is vulgar, obscene, crude, or degrading.”
[Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 1999, p. 252] Copyright © December 2001 by Duane S.
Crowther; http://www.ldsliving.com/story/4185-dc-lesson-43-take-upon-you-my-whole-armor
***************

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Many are Called but few are Chosen
(Taken from several sources: D&C 121, Times & Seasons, Vol 2., pg 132; see Matthew 24:24) Christ taught: Behold, many
are called, but few are chosen. He gave Latter-day Saints this revelation: (D&C 121:34-46)
(121:34)”Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the
honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson - That the rights of the priesthood are
inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be
controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be
conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our
pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls
of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw
themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the
priesthood or the authority of that man. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to
kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. We have learned
by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get
a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are
called, but few are chosen.”
(121:41) “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the

priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness,
and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly
enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile -
Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and
then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast
reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy
faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Let thy bowels also be full of
charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy
thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of
God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be
thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be
an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”
(D&C 122: 1-9)
(1) “The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in
derision, and hell shall rage against thee; While the pure in heart, and the wise, and
the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings
constantly from under thy hand. And thy people shall never be turned against thee
by the testimony of traitors. And although their influence shall cast thee into
trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small
moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the
fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever
and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among
false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by
sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the
society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the
bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments,
and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the
men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and
thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the
blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of
murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if
the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the
heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above
all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son,
that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of
Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy
way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot
pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall
be with you forever and ever.”

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The Kingdom of God
By Parley P. Pratt
(Extracts from “A Voice of Warning and Instruction to all people, or An introduction to the faith and doctrine of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’. - Published by Deseret News, 1874)
CHAPTER III. - THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
" Seek first the Kingdom of God."
THIS was the command of the Savior, while on the earth, teaching the children of men.
Having taken a general view of the Prophecies, Past and Future, we shall now proceed to
fulfill this command, and search out the kingdom of God. But, before we advance, I
would again caution the reader not to accompany me in this research, unless he is
prepared to sacrifice everything, even to his good name, and life itself, if necessary, for
the truth; for if he should once get a view of the kingdom of God, he will be so delighted,
that he never will rest satisfied short of becoming a subject of the same.
And yet it will be so unlike every other system of religion now on earth, that he will be
astonished that any person, with the Bible in his hand, should ever have mistaken any of
the systems of men for the kingdom of God. There are certain powers, privileges, and
blessings, pertaining to the kingdom Of God, which are found in no other kingdom, nor
enjoyed by any other people. By these it was ever distinguished from all other kingdoms and systems, insomuch that the inquiring
mind, seeking the kingdom of God, and being once acquainted with these peculiarities concerning it, need never mistake it, or be at
a loss to know when he has found it. But before we proceed any further in our research, let us agree upon the meaning of the term.
The Kingdom of God, or the sense in which we will use it; for some apply this term to the kingdom of glory above, and some to the
individual enjoyments of their own souls, while others apply it to His organized government on the earth.
Now, when WE speak of the kingdom of God, we wish it to be understood that we mean His organized government on the earth.
Now, reader, we launch forth into the wide field before us in search of a kingdom. But stop, let us consider—What is a kingdom? I
reply, that four things are required in order to constitute any kingdom in heaven or on earth; namely, first, a king; secondly,
commissioned officers duly qualified to execute his ordinances and laws; thirdly, a code of laws by which the subjects are governed;
and fourthly, subjects who are governed. Where these exist in their proper order and regular authority, there is a kingdom, but
where either of these ceases to exist, there is a disorganization of the kingdom; consequently an end of it, until reorganized after the
game manner as before. In this respect the kingdom of God is like all other kingdoms; wherever we find officers duly commissioned
and qualified by the Lord Jesus, together with his ordinances and laws existing in purity, unmixed with any precepts or
commandments of men, there the kingdom of God exists, and there his power is manifest, and His blessings are enjoyed as in days
of old.
We shall now take a view of the setting up of the kingdom of God in the days of the Apostles. The first intimation of its near
approach was by an angel to Zachariah, promising him a son, who should go before the King to prepare his way. The next
manifestation was to Mary, and finally to Joseph, by a holy angel, promising the birth of the Messiah ; while at the same time, the
Holy Ghost manifested unto Simeon, in the temple, that he should not die until he had seen the Savior.
Thus, all these, together with the shepherds and the wise men from the east, began to rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of
glory, while the world around them knew not the occasion of their joy. After these things, all seemed to rest in silent expectation,
until John had grown to manhood, when he came bounding from the wilderness of Judea, with a proclamation strange and new,
crying: " Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," baptizing unto repentance, telling them plainly that their King was already
standing among them, on the point of setting up his kingdom.
And while he yet ministered, the Messiah came, and was baptized, and sealed with the Spirit of God,
which rested upon him in the form of a dove; and soon after began the same proclamation as John,
saying— "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Then, after choosing twelve disciples, he sent
them forth into all the cities of Judea, with the same proclamation— " The kingdom of heaven is at hand;
" and after them he sent seventy, and then another seventy, with the same news, so that all might be well
warned and prepared for a kingdom which was soon to be organized amongst them. But when these
things had produced the desired effect, in causing a general expectation, more especially in the hearts of
his disciples, who daily expected to triumph over their persecutors, by the coronation of this glorious
personage, while they themselves were hoping for a reward for all their toil and sacrifices for his sake, by
being exalted to dignity near his person, what must have been their disappointment, when they saw their
King taken and crucified, having been mocked, derided, ridiculed, and finally overcome, and triumphed
over, both by Jew and Gentile?
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The Kingdom of God, continued
They would gladly have died in battle to have placed him upon the throne; but tamely to submit without a struggle, to give up all
their expectations, and sink in despair from the highest pitch of enthusiasm to the lowest degradation, was more than they could well
endure. They shrank back in sorrow, and returned every man to his net, or to their several occupations, supposing all was over;
probably with reflections like these : " Is this the result of all our labors? was it for this we forsook all worldly objects, our friends, our
houses and lands, suffering persecution, hunger, fatigue, and disgrace? And we trusted it should have been He who would have
delivered Israel; but alas, they have killed Him, and all is over. For three years we have awakened a general expectation through all
Judea, by telling them that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, but now our King is dead, how shall we dare to look the people in
the face ? "
With these reflections, each pursuing his own course, all was again turned to silence, and the voice had ceased to be heard in Judea,
crying : " Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus slept in the arms of death; a great stone with the seal of state,
secured the tomb where he lay, while the Roman guard stood in watchful silence to see that all was kept secure; when suddenly,
from the regions of glory, a mighty angel descended, at whose presence the soldiers fell back as dead men, while he rolled the stone
from the door of the sepulchre, and the Son of God awoke from his slumbers, burst the bonds of death, and soon after appearing to
Mary, he sent her to the disciples with the joyful news of his resurrection, and appointed a place to meet them. When, after seeing
him, all their sorrow was turned into joy, and all their former hopes were suddenly revived, they had no longer to cry—" The
kingdom of heaven is at hand," but were to tarry at Jerusalem until the kingdom was established; and they prepared to unlock the
door of the kingdom, and to adopt strangers and foreigners into it as legal citizens, by administering certain laws and ordinances,
which were invariably the laws of adoption, and without which no man could ever become a citizen.
Having ascended up on high, and having been crowned with all power in heaven and on earth,
he again comes to his disciples, and gives them their authority,saying unto them: "Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe:
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover." Mark xvi. 15—18.
Now I wish the reader not to pass over this commission until he understands it, because when
once understood, he never need mistake the kingdom of God, but will at once discover those
peculiarities which were for ever to distinguish it from all other kingdoms or religious systems
on earth. Lest he should misunderstand, we will analyze it, and look at each part carefully in its
own proper light; first, they were to preach the Gospel, or in other words, the glad tidings of a
crucified and risen Redeemer, to all the world; secondly, he that believed, and was baptized,
should be saved ; thirdly, he that did not believe what they preached should be damned ; and
fourthly, these signs should follow them that believed, first, they were to cast out devils; second, to speak with new tongues; third, to
take up serpents; fourth, if they drank any deadly thing, it should not hurt them; fifth, they were to lay hands on the sick, and they
should recover.
Now, it is willful blindness, or ignorance of the English language, that has ever caused any misunderstanding here. For some tell us
that those signs were only to follow the Apostles; and others, that they were only to follow believers in that age. But Christ places the
preaching, believing, salvation, and the signs that were to follow, all on an equal footing; where one was limited, the other must be;
where one ceased, the other did. If the language limits these signs to the Apostles, 'it limits faith and salvation also to them. If no
others were to have these signs follow them, then no others were to believe, and no others were to be saved. Again, if the language
limits these signs to the J first age or ages of Christianity, then it limits salvation to the first ages of Christianity, for one is precisely as
much limited as the other; and where one is in force, the other is ; and where one ends, the other must stop. And as well might we
say, preaching of the Gospel is no longer needed ; neither faith nor salvation ; these were only given at first to establish the Gospel,
as to say, the signs are no longer necessary, they were only given at first to establish the Gospel. But, says the astonished reader:
"Have not these signs ceased from among men?" I reply, prove that they have ceased, and it will prove that the Gospel has ceased to
be preached, that men have ceased to believe and be saved, and that the world is without the kingdom of God ; or else it will prove
that Jesus Christ was an impostor, and his promises of no effect.
Now, having analyzed and understood this commission, let us still pursue the subject of the organization of the kingdom of God in
the days of the Apostles. The Saviour, having given them their authority, commands them to tarry, and not undertake their mission,
until they were endowed with power from on high.
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But why this delay? Because no man was ever qualified, or ever will be, to preach the Gospel, and teach all things whatsoever Jesus
commanded him, without the Holy Ghost; and a very different Holy Ghost, too, from the one enjoyed by men who are not
inspired, for the Holy Ghost of which Jesus spake would guide into all truth, bring all things to remembrance, whatsoever he had
said unto them, and show them things to come—not to mention that it would enable them to speak in all the languages of the earth.
Now a man who preaches needs that Holy Ghost very much; first, to guide into all truth, that he may know what to teach; second, to
strengthen his memory, lest he might neglect to teach some of the things which were commanded them; and, third, he needs to
know things to come, that he may forewarn his hearers of approaching danger, and that would constitute him a prophet.
From this, the reader may see how careful Jesus was that none should preach his Gospel without the Holy Ghost. He may also learn
how different the Spirit of Truth is from the spirits now abroad in the earth, deceiving the world, under the name of the Holy Ghost.
If the churches of the present day have the Holy Ghost, why are they so much at a loss to understand truth ? Why do they walk in
so many different ways and doctrines ? Why do they need whole libraries of sermons, tracts, divinities, debates, arguments, and
opinions, all written by the wisdom of men, without even professing to be inspired? Well doth the Lord complain, saying: " Their
fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men." But to return; the Apostles tarried at Jerusalem until endowed with power, and
then they commenced to proclaim the Gospel.
Here we have discovered several things towards a kingdom: first, we have found a
King, crowned at the right hand of God, to whom is committed all power in heaven
and on earth; second, commissioned officers, duly appointed to administer the
affairs of government; third, the laws by which they were to be governed were ALL
THINGS WHATSOEVER JESUS HAD COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO TEACH
THEM.
And now, if we can find how men became citizens of that kingdom, I mean as to the
rules of adoption, then we have found the kingdom of God in that age, and shall be
very much dissatisfied with every thing in our own age, professing to be the kingdom
of God, which is not according to the pattern.
It happened that there were no natural-born subjects of that kingdom, for both Jew
and Gentile were included in sin and unbelief; and none could be citizens without the law of adoption. All that believed on the name
of the King had power to be adopted, but there was but one invariable rule or plan by which they were adopted; and all that
undertook to claim citizenship, in any other way whatever, were counted thieves and robbers, and could never obtain the seal of
adoption. This rule was laid down in the Saviour's teaching to Nicodemus, namely: "Except a man be born of water (that is, baptized
in water) and of the Spirit, (that is, baptized with the Spirit) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Now, to Peter were given the keys of the kingdom ; therefore it was his duty to open the kingdom to Jew, and also to Gentile. We
will therefore carefully examine the manner in which he did adopt the Jews into the kingdom on the day of Pentecost. Now, when
the multitude came running together on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and
reasoned with them from the Scriptures, testifying of Jesus Christ, and his
resurrection and ascension on high—insomuch that many became convinced of
the truth, and Inquired what they should do. These were not Christians, but they
were people who were that moment convinced that Jesus was the Christ; and
because they were convinced of this fact, they inquired—" What shall we do? "
Then Peter said uuto them: " Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost: for the promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." My reader, do you
understand this proclamation ? If you do, you will see that this Gospel is not
generally preached in modern times. Let us therefore analyze and examine it,
sentence by sentence. You recollect they already believed, and the next thing was
for them to repent; first, faith; second, repentance; third, baptism; fourth,
remission of sins; and fifth, the Holy Ghost.
This was the order of the Gospel. Faith gave the power to become sons, or citizens; repentance, and baptism in his name, was the
obedience through which they were adopted; and the Holy Spirit of promise was the seal of their adoption, and this they were sure
to receive if they would obey. Now, reader, where do you hear such preaching in our. day ? Who teaches that those who believe and
repent, should be baptized, and none others ? Perhaps the reader may say the Baptists do; but do they call upon men to be baptized
as soon as they believe and repent ? And moreover, do they promise the remission of sins, with the gift of the Holy Ghost?
Recollect, now, what effect the Holy Ghost has upon people who receive it. It will guide them into all truth, strengthen the memory,
and show them things to come. And Joel has said, it would cause them to dream dreams, to see visions, and to prophesy.
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O! my reader, where do you find a Gospel like this preached among men ? Would men go mourning for weeks upon weeks,
without the forgiveness of sins, or the comfort of the Holy Spirit, if Peter stood among us to tell precisely how to get such blessings ?
Now, what would you think of a camp meeting, where three thousand men should come forward to be prayed for, and one of the
ministers should (Peter like) command them every one to repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins, promising that all who
obeyed should receive the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which should cause them to dream dreams and
prophecy; and then should arise with his brethren of the same calling, and the same hour commence baptizing, and continue until
they had baptized them all; and the Holy Ghost should fall upon them, and they begin to see visions, speak in other tongues, and
prophecy? Would not the news go abroad, far and wide, that a new doctrine had made its appearance, quite different from any thing
now practiced among men?
O yes, says the reader, this, to be sure, would be something new, and very strange to all of us. Well, strange as it may seem, it is the
Gospel, as preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost; and Paul declares that he preached the same Gospel that Peter did; and he
has also said: "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, let him be accursed." Now, the reader need no longer
be astonished to see that these signs do not follow them that believe some other Gospel, or doctrine, different from that preached by
the Apostles.
But now let us return to the kingdom of God organized in the days of the Apostles; you discover that three thousand persons were
adopted into the kingdom the first day the door was opened. These, together with the numerous additions which were afterwards
made, were the subjects of this kingdom; which, being fitly framed together, grew into a holy temple in the Lord. Thus, we have
cleared away the rubbish of sectarian tradition and superstition, which arose in heaps around us; and having searched carefully, we
have at length discovered the kingdom of God, as it existed at its first organization in the days of the Apostles; and we have seen that
it differs widely from all modern systems of religion, both in its offices, ordinances, powers, and privileges, insomuch that no man
need ever mistake the one for the other.
Page 4 of 4
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Six Days a Week
- unknown
Six days a week the devil works,
works twice as hard on Sunday,
Then he’s ready once again to
go to work on Monday.
And if all evil we would shun
and keep our conscience level,
We must get up at early dawn
and work –like the devil.
(used in William H Bennett’s, “Make the Best Better, BYU
Speeches of the Year, 14 Jul 1970, pg. 3).
***************
All Is Not Well In Zion
“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security,
that they will say, All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well;
and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away
carefully down to hell.” - 2 Nephi 28:21
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Sow a Thought
Sow a thought, you reap desire;
Sow a desire, you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, you reap a character;
Sow a character; you reap a destiny.
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Evil and Good
In the last days evil will be made to look good and good to look evil.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * *
Laws of the Harvest
from www.lfbchurch.org sermons.
The Law of Planting: We reap only what we have sown (Gal. 6:7,8).
The Law of Parity: We reap the same in kind as that which
we have sown (Gen. 1:12, 13; Job 4:8).
The Law of Postponement: We reap in a different season than when we
planted, but the harvest comes anyway (Gen. 8:22).
The Law of Productivity: We always reap more than we sow.
(Prov. 22:8; Hosea 8:7).
The Law of Proportion: We always reap in proportion to what we've sown. If
we sow sparingly, we reap sparingly and; if we sow abundantly, we reap
abundantly (II Cor. 8,9).
The Law of Persevering: We'll reap a full and fruitful harvest
of the good we've sown as we persevere,
but the evil part of the harvest comes on its own (Gal. 6:9).
The Law of the Past: We can't do anything about last year's harvest -it's in the
past. But we can do something about this year's harvest by sowing only that
which will reap spiritually profitable benefits - Heb. 6:7,8.
This sentiment is best illustrated in the following poem:
You Will Reap Just What You Sow

If you play around with fire, chances are your hands will burn;
It’s the same if your desire is for things of sin you yearn.
You may hide from your loved ones and the people that you know,
But there’s one thing that’s for certain:
you will reap just what you sow.
If you sow for worldly pleasure you will have a lot of fun,
But you’ll reap a field of sorrow when the harvest has begun.
You may think that you’re much smarter
than the other wrecks you know,
But you’ll never be a winner if

the seeds of sin you sow.
For a time it may seem rosy while
you’re livin’ like you please,
Then you’ll wonder just what happened.
When the devil works the squeeze.
Though you struggle in your sorrow
And you worry, fret and fume, Satan always pays
you double When he lowers down the boom.
Better start today your sowing
For a life with God above,
Trusting fully in the Savior and
Enjoying His great love.
Then when harvest time is ready
and the crops are gathered in,
You’ll be glad you did your sowing
In the Lord and not for sin.
***************
What does he sow?
If he soweth love, he shall reap love, and ‘if he soweth hate, he shall reap hate.
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Nature of Sin
“It is not true there are no enjoyments in the ways of sin: there are many
and various. But the great and radical defect of them all is that they are
transitory and unsubstantial, at war with reason and conscience, and
always leave a sting behind. We are hungry, and they offer us bread; but
it is poisoned bread. We are thirsty, and they offer us drink; but it is
from deadly fountains. They may and often do satisfy us for the
moment; but it is death in the end. It is only the bread of heaven and
the water of life that can so satisfy that we shall hunger no more and
thirst no more forever. Sin is first displeasing, then it grows easy, then
delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then confirmed, then the man is impenitent, then he is obstinate, then
he is resolved never to repent, and the he is ruined.” - Tryon Edwards
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Sin
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
Galatians 5:19-24) A double minded man is unstable in all his
ways.” (James 1:5-8) “In our lives, it is impossible for us to cheat a
little and still be honest.” “For where envyings and strife is, there
is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:16) “Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
“But when shall I be prepared to go there? [to heaven] Not while
I have in my heart the love of this world more then the love of
God.” (Joseph Smith, Jr. Millennial Star 56:385) “Now my son, I
would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes... for except ye
do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.” (Alma 39:9) “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh
on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) “Behold, I
say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10)
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Wages Of Sin is Death
Death is the wages of sin – so go your way and sin no more.
(John 8: 11) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
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God Trusts Those With Integrity
“They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they
were entrusted.” (Alma 53:20) “The integrity of the upright shall guide
them.” (Prov. 11:3) “The just man walketh in his integrity; his children
are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7) “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine
integrity.” (Job 31:6) “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.” (Proverbs 11:3) “Let the word of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms
19:14)
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*********
Love Darkness More Than Light?
The Bible speaks of people who love Satan more then God and it also
speaks of a people who mix the things of God with the things of Satan.
“And in this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil;
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God; neither is he that loveth
not his brother.” (John 3:10) “Woe unto them that rise up early in the
morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till
wine inflame them!” (Isaiah 5:11) “For to be carnally minded is death; but to
be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8) “The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (Cor. 15:26) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:11-12)
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Lucifer has blinded mankind
"The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:4) “For is a man thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. “ (Gal. 6:3)
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What The Lord Hates
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination
unto him: (1)A proud look, (2) A lying tongue, and (3) Hands that shed
innocent blood, (4) A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, (5) Feet
that be swift in running to mischief... (6) A false witness that speaketh
lies, and (7) He that soweth discord among brethren." (Proverbs 6:16-19)
******************
Seek Jesus and Truth, not Deceit and Lies

Jesus said ‘If you are not for me, then you are against me, and if you are against me,
then you are against my father who sent me, and if you are against my Father who sent
me. Then your Father is not my Father. You Father is Satan, the father of all lie and
deceit. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive
many.” (Matt. 24:5) “As righteousness tendeth to life, he that pursueth evil pursueth it
to his own death.” (Prov. 11:19) “Then said Jesus to those .... which believed on him, If
ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
*************
Of Great Worth
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30) “Remember the
worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” (D&C 18:10) “I will make a man more
precious then five gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” (Isaiah 13:12)
“And the great God has had mercy upon us and made these things known unto us
that we might not perish: yea, and he has made these things known unto us
beforehand because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children.” (Alma
24:14)
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***********
Renounce Hidden Dishonest Things
"But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
(2 Corinthians 4:2)
**************
Fornicators, Fraudulent Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God
"Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards,
nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor.6:8-
10) “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7) “Of all the sins that people commit,
ingratitude is one of the worst.” “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves servants to obey, His servants ye are to whom you choose to
obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
(Romans 6:16) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) “For whosoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James
2:10) “Its not what we put into our mouths, but what comes out of our
mouths that condemn us to Hell.”
************
Not By Jesus?
Jesus said, anything that is not by me or by my priesthood or by my power will be
destroyed in the last days when God sets up his Kingdom. (D&C 132) “There is a
way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov.
16:25) “Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness, even he is
righteous; he that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning.” (John 3:7-8)
***********
Death, O Where O Is Your Victory?
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death
is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ. (1 Cor. 15:55-57) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O
death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” (Hosea 13:14) “Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7) “The grave must deliver up its
captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of
the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.” (2 Nephi 9:12) “For if we have been planted together in the likeness
of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5)
************
The Gospel Brings His Rest
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his
rest, any of you should seem to come short of it, for unto us was the
gospel preached, as well as unto them: But the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
(Hebrews 4:1-2)
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************
The Grave Below
“The grave below is all astir to meet you [the wicked] at your
coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you--all those
who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their
thrones--all those who were kings over the nations. They will all
respond, they will say to you: You also have become weak, as we
are. You have become like us. All your pomp has been brought
down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps, maggots are
spread out beneath you and worms cover you.” (Isaiah 14:9-11)
************
All Must Repent
Pray always, and God will bless you abundantly, and also forgive you. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be
in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more then over ninety and nine just persons, which need no
repentance.” –Luke 15:7 “Cast away from you all of your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed.” (Ezekiel
18:31) “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47) “For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2
Corinth. 7:10) “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed,
and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live,
he shall not die.” (Ezekiel 18:21) “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah
55:7) “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive
you” (Matt. 6:14) “Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end:
for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity,... cometh the
night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.” (Alma 34:33)
************
Resurrected and Judged
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:
and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the
sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which
were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was
not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:12-13)
“Remember, O man, for all thy doings, thou shalt be brought to judgment. Where-
fore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found
unclean before the judgment seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God:
wherefore ye must be cast off forever.” (1Nep. 10:20-21)
**************
Me and My House will serve the Lord
As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord our God, and His Son, Jesus
Christ, and none other. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose ye
this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:15) “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing if
ye obey the commandments of the Lord God, which I command you this day; and a
curse if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God.” (Deut. 11:26-
28) “Say unto this people: choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made
you.” (Moses 6:33)
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*************
Walk In Righteous Paths
Always Be Christ-like. “[Christ] gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from
all iniquity; and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
(Titus 2:14) “And Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
Heart, and all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this if the first and great
commandment.” (Matt. 22:27, 38) “If you know that He is righteous, ye know that
everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him. We know that whosoever is born
of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth him, and that wicked
one touches him not. “ (1 John 2:29; 25:18) “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not
in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh,
to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:13-14) “Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10) “And when he was gone forth
there came one running.... and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And
Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the
commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not
bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he
answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou
shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great
possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, how
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the
disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith
unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into
the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:17-25)
**************
If You Neglect The Tree
“But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root: and when the
head of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it
out.” (Alma 32:38)
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Christ Sets Us Free
“If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1)
********** **
Let everything Praise the Lord
“Let everything that hath breathe praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:8)
*************
Abraham Received Promises
“Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins ...
both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as
the stars.” (D&C 132:30)
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Be A Good Friend
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs
17:17) “Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm
hearts and friendly hands.” (D&C 121:9) “Greater love hath no man then this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
*************
If You Forgive Men, Father Will Forgive You
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
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***********
Reprove with sharpness your children
“Reprove with sharpness your children, afterwards showing forth much
kindness and love, or they will esteem you as their enemy. “Reproving
betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then
showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast
reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy.” (D&C 121:43)
*************
We Cannot Be Separated From God’s Love
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38, 39) The Tree of
Life represents the Love of the Son of God. “It is the love of God, which
sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all
things.” (1 Nep. 11:22)
************
Not Just by Bread
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4)
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Definition of Good Character
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. Indeed, we may
say that we follow the admonition of Paul; in that we believe all things, we hope all things; we have endured
many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report, we
seek after these things.” (Article Of Faith 13) Good Character is someone who has faith,
virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility,
diligence. (D&C 4:6)
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Honesty
“Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:17) “Take upon you the name
of Christ and speak the truth in soberness.” (D&C 18:21) “He that works deceit shall not
dwell within my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” (Psalms 101:7)
*************
Self Mastery
“If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things
become strong unto them.”(Ether 12:27) “If you cannot keep your own counsel how can
you expect another person to keep it? (Prov. Or Seneca)
************
**************
True Order Of Prayer
A prayer circle is a mode of prayer practiced by Mormons who
have taken part in the Endowment ceremony. Established by
the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1842, it was called ‘the True
Order of Prayer’. The ceremony is usually done by joining
hands ceremonially while standing in a circle around an altar, a
prayer led by a Priesthood holder is repeated for the benefit of
all by those in the circle. Usually, this form of prayer is not
done except as part of a temple ceremony.
(Wikipedia, prayer circle, 2011)
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Marriage is Ordained of God
“Now in the latter times some shall depart from the faith... forbidding to marry.” (1 Tim. 4:1-3)
*************
Christians Should Marry Believers
“Be ye unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with
darkness?... and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the
temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Cor. 6:14-16) “And the
Lord said unto Moses, speak unto the priests... and say unto them, there shall none
be defiled... he shall not defile himself... shall not make baldness upon their head...
nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They shall be holy unto their God, and not
profane the name of their God... they shall not take a wife that is a whore, or
profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband... and the daughter of any priest, if she profane
herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire. And he that is the high priest among
his brethren... and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes... nor
defile himself for his [parents]... nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is
upon him... and he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall
he not take: but he shall take virgin of his own people to wife.” (Lev. 21:1-14) “Let us now make a covenant with our
God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and
by the others who respect the commands of our God.” (Ezra 10:3)
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Foul Language?
“Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless
talk [ever] come out of thy mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and
beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the
occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grave [God’s favor] unto those who
hear it.” (Eph. 4:29) “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet.
1:15) “Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
person ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11) “Let
your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may known how ye
ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6) “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb;
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24) “A soft answer turneth away
wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.” (Prov. 15:1) “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by
heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall
into condemnation.” (James 5:12)
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Come Out of Her
“Come out of her, O ye my people that ye be not partakers of her
sins; that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4) “Wherefore
come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:17-18)
**********
The Wicked One Taketh Away Light

“And that wicked one (Satan) cometh and taketh away light and truth
through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the
tradition of their father.” (D&C 93:39) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
The Son of Man shall not bear the iniquity of the Father, neither shall the
father bear the iniquity of the son and the righteousness of the righteous
shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
(Ezekiel 18:20)
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Turn to the Lord if Depressed
“Now when our hearts were depressed ... the Lord comforted us.” (Alma 26:27)
“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul .... I am weary of my
crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Psalm 69:1,3)
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for
thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff – they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) “We are
troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but no forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:89)
************
Adam Ondi Ahman
Adam Ondi Ahman means: “Ahman is
one of the names by which God was known to Adam. Adam refers
directly to Adam himself; and ondi means nearby or connected with.
Therefore a literal translation of the words ‘Adam-ondi-Ahman’ means
‘The Lord Jesus Christ through Adam unto mankind’. Therefore,
when we say ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen’, we are saying This
message is sent ‘in the name of Jesus Christ, through Adam to our
Heavenly Father’, which is appropriate.” (Robert J. Matthews, BYU
Studies,Vol. 13, No. 1, pg. 30.)
*************
Divorce, Adultery, Rape, and Fornication are Sins Before the Lord
Jesus replied, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the
beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife,
except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery and
whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”.. if the case of the
man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.” (Matt. 19:8-10) Jesus taught: For
he that said, do not commit adultery, said also, do not kill.” (James 2:11) “For I
hate divorce, saith the LORD, the God of Israel, and him who covers his
garment with wrong, saith the LORD of hosts. So take heed to your spirit, that
you do not deal treacherously.” (Mal. 2:16) “And if a man be found lying with a
woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man
that lay with the woman ,and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in
the city, and lie with her, then shall ye bring them both out unto the gate of that
city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they died; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and
the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man
find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her
shall die: but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing...for the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save
her. And if a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and
they be found; then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she
shall be his wife; because he hat humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.” (Deut. 22:22-28)
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest
that woman... which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to suede
my servants to commit fornication... I will cast her into a bed, and them
that commit adultery with her into great tribulation... and I will kill her
children with death... I will give unto everyone of you according to your
works.” (Rev. 2:20-23) “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the
Lord; and the Lord for the body.... know ye not that your bodies are the
members of Christ... know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is
one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined
unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication ... he that committeth
fornication sinneth against his own body ... your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye
have of God... therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor. 6:13-20)
*************


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Esther’s Favorite

Inspirational Songs, Poems,

What we don’t learn from the experience of others,

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Complied by CR Larson for her mother, Esther Jones, March 2011.

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Soft as the voice of an angel

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast

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Angels are Given Much Power of God

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The Cattle breathed their breath on Him;

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While he was still a young man, the tide of popular

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(2) Jesus loves me! This I know, as he loved so long ago,

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If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -

Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?

Or would you sigh with great relief

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The music ceased and the auctioneer with a voice

God Has Spoken Unto Us By His Son

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My labor has been for nothing!” and I bowed my head and

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Would make a king (in craven fear)

The Dead Shall Arise at Christ’s Voice

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But thou art ever gracious, ever kind:

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“As for my and my house we will serve the Lord.”

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER’S HOUSE

Esther's Spiritual Poems A

Esther's Spiritual Poems A