The Master Bridge Builder

We're as explorers and travelers.
Who're to pass o'er steep precipices.
Yet, below, there's turbulent waters.
And none have prior experiences.

But, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Is proven as Supreme Architect.
His cables are saddled and not spliced.(1)
And His anchors suspend well the great deck.(2)

He's built three bridges for you and me.
And we must cross them to journey home.
They will save us from our sins, for free.
Here He shines light bright so we'd not long roam.

What are these bridges the Savior built?
He, the first to pass- Obedience.
As temptations of winds blow, the cables tilt.(3)
Then a still small voice is heard- “Get Thee hence!”

The next bridge is loaded heavily.
So, tall its towers and deep its piers.
There we can act as one heavenly
Heard are calls for Service for each that nears.

The next bridge, the angels must bear up.
For on there lie the Prayers for us sent.
And the blood shed is inside a cup.
Here we can stay 'till our days are all spent.

-President Monson (T-o-m-m-y M-o-n-s-o-n)


1 At the top of the towers each cable
passes over a cable saddle. At the cable
saddle the cable transfersthe load from the
cables to the tower.

2 Large anchors, or anchorages, at both ends
of the bridge act as counter weights that hold
the ends of the main cables. The anchorages are
normally either a mass of concrete or solid rock.
In the anchorage, the cables splay into separate
strands to distribute the tension load evenly
and safely.

3 Because they are relatively light and flexible,
suspension bridges are all susceptible to wind.
They vibrate and move, both vertically (up and down)
and laterally (sideways). The challenge for the bridge
engineer is to keep this motion within safe limits.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TNBhistory/Machine/machine1.htm

4–9, Jan 2008, “The Master Bridge Builder, ” Ensign
President Monson