Poems based on Elder Holland's talks

The Tongue of Angels

I want to be named near a perfect man.
If I not offend in word, then I can.
A voice that utters fervent prayers and sings,
Is not the voice that destroys and demeans.
When we curse, it ought not to be so.
A bridle controls where a horse might go.
So it is the tongue we pray to tame.
As we call out to thee, in Christ's name.

Bless us to use caution, when ever we speak.
To have tongues like angels, we now do seek.
By constraint of the spirit and with care
Help us to now feel peace though there's much we do bear.
When we're unruly, it oft breaks soft hearts.
When we criticize, the spirit departs.
Yet words are a gift that's from above.
Help us to proclaim faith and much love.

We can forgive and be tenderhearted.
Help us see when the Spirit's departed.
Help us stay hopeful and not estranged.
Bless us to see our own faults, with our thoughts changed.
Life has many problems, there's much to face.
Help us look for what's good and speak with grace.
Our tears can be dried, our hearts then healed.
Bless us with more faith 'till doubts are stilled.

A voice can be tender and oh, so kind,
An extension of a good frame of mind.
There are those much plagued with varied disease.
Bless us to speak unto the least of these,
As the still small voice speaks to the spirit.
It edifies those who will but hear it.
Help us to love and to speak today.
May we serve Thee Lord more now we pray?

- Elder Holland

WELCOME TO THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

What I wish every new member knew
and every lifelong member remembered

Now that you're baptized, you're on a journey.
There are vistas as far as the eye can see.
There are wonders and beauty and a glad song.
Be of good cheer, Christ will lead you along.
He gives us wisdom to finish and with joy.
To a celestial reward we will enjoy.

Now that you're baptized you're on a journey.
Don't let this day be forgotten and flee.
We cannot flag or fail or halt halfway.
Those who endure are guiltless the last day.
Jesus our Lord will judge all from this world.
Someday earth's events will become unfurled.

We can wash garments in blood of the Lord.
With faith, we repent. He's shown we're adored.
With contrite Spirit and heart broken.
By way of covenant, we are now chosen.
Where ere we walk, there's a light in the path.
If we love the Lord, and do as he hath.

As garments are washed in blood of the Lord,
Now, there is much joy for you to live for.
Avoid backward glances where there's darkness.
Walk with the angels, you'll see much progress.
Our paths ascend up hills most of the days.
And, we've the Godhead's help in divine ways.

We've been urged to put our hands to the plow.
Some things the Holy Ghost can not allow.
This Gift is part of a Heavenly Kingdom.
We're asked to keep God's words of great wisdom.
Our eyes have not seen, nor have our ears heard,
Yet, we're enlightened and we move forward.

We've been urged to put our hand to the plow.
There is something more the Lord will endow.
As we press on, there is brightness and hope.
And the Holy Ghost dwells and helps us to cope.
He is our guide, on the path we should stay.
He's there on the path. He's there night and day.

We have our trials. They're suited to us.
We need not compare or think they're unjust.
We can have a constant companionship.
If we consciously pray and seek for it.
Promptings' warm feelings give light on our way.
And, help us discern what might be in gray.

We have our trials. They're suited to us.
Though we have them, we endure and we trust.
We've blessings more than we have burdens.
The church is a community of friends.
We'll help each other find eternal worth.
Here you will find help from Heaven on earth.

- Elder Holland


Precious Purity

A plain and precious truth
Must be taught to our youth.
Though one craves the heat and wants to feast,
Once without restraint it is a beast.
The souls at stake with winds around.
And, there’s a lit match upon the ground.

With much boldness of speech,
To the youth we must reach.
Wait until you've met a good true love.
Who, God will confirm with signs above.
With covenants made and hearts melted-
With sacred seal, love is welded.

If you wait till wedded,
You will not regret it.
The best gift is you, as one you will live.
To your love be true, and wholly give.
The joining can create a blend mild.
Spiritually God’s own- sealed your child.

There’s strength when you waver-
Scars heal through Christ’s favor.
Don’t be deceived and don’t be destroyed.
There is more than now to be enjoyed.
There are legions of youth who stay clean-
Fighting for what’s right, to Christ they do glean!

- Jeffrey R. Holland

The Only True God and Jesus Christ
Whom He Hath Sent

Here, in the premillennial inning
To a boy whose life was just beginning
Came the answer that's been sought out by man
Who is the incomprehensible God?
To Him, can I pray and be heard? Yes, I can.
And, He will guide us through an iron rod.

Joseph Smith prayed to know which church is true.
He, confused and not knowing what to do.
At first he was claimed by purgatory
Then in the grove a flood of light soon shown.
And with embodied and majestic glory
The Father and the Son risen and aglow.

And why did Jesus Christ also appear?
He to the left of the Father so dear.
Sinless, He'd redeemed us and set up justice.
He, with the Father came to earth in the flesh
To end confusion with their living witness.
We're led by divine beings whose purposes mesh.
​
- Elder Holland

For Times of Trouble

Make each day count
Avoid self doubt.
Evil is there
When e'er there’s despair.

It will work, it will grow, it will spread,
It will fill our lives with more dread.
As a germ it is fed. It is bred.

Wake up late and walk through the sand.
We’re open for sin, we just can’t win.
One poor thought, with no strength and we’re caught.

It can erode
Charity, faith and hope.
We turn inward-
It's then that we look downward.

We’ll feel shame and pity, woe is me.
It will fill our lives with more need.
With increase- soon it will be a disease

And again we will surely be.
It is troublesome and burdensome-
And it builds, as it yields blind fields.

A panic bold-
Soon fear takes a hold.
An evil twin
Grips and it sweats within.

No more breath, no more depth, feels like death.
It will fill our lives till we’re deaf.
Fear and self doubt have met and they fret

Panic and despair lead us nowhere.
The times of trouble now are double.
Where one stops one begins and hops.

It will attract.
It seeks to distract.
With misery-
You don’t think so clearly

Don’t give up, don’t give in, you can change.
All thought patterns will rearrange.
Free of filth, free of mange, there’s more range.

We must confess- our sins address.
Make restitution, make ablution.
And we will feel cleansing that’s real.

Preparation
Acts as a prevention.
From self defeat-
The three cannot meet

We will work, we will grow, we will spread.
And, yes we’ll use our head, to where lead.
We’re ahead; it’s our bread, now we’re fed.

Preparation is our cure for this.
Being more aware coupled with prayer.
The prepared are not impaired.

Carry the calm-
With focus the balm.
Composed to fight
Attack new goals with might.

We will work, watch the time, thoughts are seen-
And we’ll burst at the seam.
When we’re keen, how we dream and we beam!

Having a vision, for our mission.
And, we’ll work out a plan- one that we can.
With each step we will holler, yep!

Off to the school
With the golden rule.
We’re on our own-
From home we’ve flown

Off we go it’s a test, on our breast
We will wear the BYU crest
Do our best, and with zest we’ll not rest.

In each class we’ll pray. Always we’ll say-
We’re so thankful with hearts so full,
For this chance for minds to enhance.

-Elder Holland- to a tune similar to
the caissons go rolling along
And may BYU remain strong!

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

The atonement was done
of the Only Begotten Son of God
It is the crucial foundation
upon which all Christian doctrine rests
Upon which every law,
principle and virtue of the gospel draws
And the plan hinged from
the significance of this single pivotal event.

The foreordained Atonement of Christ
was the voluntary act.
He offered His life and spiritual anguish
as a redeeming ransom.
As the Savior to those who will repent,
He will keep justice intact.
Those not spiritual, He'll still save
from physical death, and to them woe will come.

Our Lord has already offered
the atonement in our behalf
He has done His part to make
man's eternity a reality.
Counting those who've died before maturity,
He has already saved half.
Now it's up to all the rest,
how the demands of justice will be for infinity.

The Garden of Gethsemane

I had a dream, I was in Gethsemane
And soon to witness the Savior's agony
I stood behind a tree in the foreground nearby
As He came through a wicket gate at my right.
He asked Peter, James and John to pray
He passed to the other side away
He knelt and prayed that the cup would pass from Him
Nevertheless, He'd do as the Father wilt.

Why did He suffer? Why did He plead His case?
As He prayed great tears streamed down His face.
I was so moved at the sight, I wept also
Out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow.
My whole heart went out to Him. What love I felt!
I longed for Him as I longed for nothing else.
Then He arose and found the Apostles asleep.
He gently shook them and asked them to watch keep.

He returned to His place and He prayed again.
Then to the Apostles- and He awoke them
To admonish...And then He prayed as before.
Three times this happened- I knew His face and form.
He of noble stature and majestic mien.
He was lowly as a child, Our God was meek.
And, I was familiar with His appearance.
Then, at once things changed to a new circumstance.

The scenery changed, Jesus was to my left.
He soon to ascend, I grabbed His knees and begged.
He stooped and raised me up so we could embrace.
His bosom was warm, I gazed unto His face.
He said, "The Apostles work was done for them.
You must stay and finish yours." I clung to Him.
"Promise me, that I will come to you," I tried.
He smiled sweetly and tenderly, and replied-
"That will depend entirely upon yourself."
I awoke, a sob was in my throat- and, I was all by myself.

Same Gender Attraction

What drew me to him was the pain in his eyes
Though he was pleasant, he did not oft smile
Of his membership, he said, "I'm not worthy
I am attracted to men -I've strong feelings
Just why am I this way? With feelings so real?"
However, he'd not acted on how he'd feel
He would not violate the law of chastity
For he sought to keep his life in harmony

He spoke for a while we each were in relief
This man showed courage to live within beliefs
For he did not act upon what was in him
I assured him that attraction's not in sin
Whatever the cause of how he now does feel
It does not matter his worthiness was real
He's worthy to serve and enjoy fellowship
He still did belong and with his membership

I told him much more from spirit to spirit
And of every single word, he wanted to hear it
I told him thank you for wanting to be clean
That this attraction was not differently seen
Heterosexuals and homosexuals, too
Have the same requirements that they must do
I gave him assurance and he sat up straighter
Sex is a small part, On Christ we must center

With hope in his eyes, newly detected
Not feeling rejected, next steps were directed
With a recommend, he could simply endure
For during this life, there might not be a cure
God loves his children, we don't know all meanings
And what we now feel may not be as it's seemings
When we're unworthy, may we act to repent
Let's love each other, we're all so different

To you who struggle :

When we've fears we're quick to feel offended
Please recognize that to harm was not intended
We can do things to keep weeds from choking
And when we've faith, great blessings we're invoking
Like anyone else there's lessons in gardening
And things to do to keep soils from hardening
For spiritual nourishment there's things we must do
Like scripture reading, worship, fasting and prayer, too.

The Lord's aware of each current circumstance
Fight the good fight. We can take a stance
We can promote the law of chastity
Whatever our situations here might be
Dear Father, in regards to those who have this struggle
Help them overcome all the thoughts that juggle
We weep for them. We've admiration and respect
Of what we can do to show love, let us detect

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Helping Those Who Struggle With
Same Gender Attraction