today
We stand today on a mountain peak
Humbled for there is much more to seek
In the midst of the mountains of Israel
The long vast panavision found is surreal
To gain the height we have climbed up switches
Past forests of evil where sin's grime stretches
Past canyons, cliffs, and crags where some plummet
Yet, we've struggled and reached this high summit
Along the way as we've upwards climbed
Past roaring rivers of hate and crime
As we trudge forward sharp rocks cut our feet
We are leery of jackals there to meet
We saw the lion's lair and serpents coiled on ledges
And something lurking low in the brush along the dark edges
But, far in the distance... hid in the clouds
A morning mist exists and on Mt. Zion enshrouds
Yesterday
This Mount is the grandest peak of all
Where Heavenly angels beckon and call
Here are assembled the church of the first born
And...looking back we see their trails they have worn
Yet, still... the view is glorious indeed
We can hear praise for their every deed
As Angel Moroni flies high in the midst
From his trump, lo- here his strength to enlist
While angelic ministrants come with keys
What is rolling forth to fill the earth with peace?
A little stone that's been cut without hands.
Shorn from where the Lord's house gloriously stands.
As the stone breaks up earthly kingdom's damage,
It gains strength to smite the Babylonian image.
Then, hear the Elders cry unto these nations:
"Repent and assemble where one now stations!"
We see stakes and temples dotting the ground
Where gifts, signs, and miracles abound
As the sick are healed and dead are raised
And the power of God, in song is praised
Amidst this toil and sorrowing test
From which we abide our covenants the best
God's elect were strengthened, schooled, and bred
While murderers tried their blood to shed
We see Nauvoo in flames by those depraved
We see snow, bitter cold, death, and graves
With a new leader t'wards their promised land
"All is Well," is sung, as in strength they band
And as they lay all they have upon the alter
Proven and driven, their faith cannot falter
Then with a new prophet, they show they're not weak
As towards Mt. Zion, these trails they did seek
As our eyes watch all that lies here below
We rejoice that there is so much more to know
With such joy, how we anticipate tomorrow
Though we too may face suffering and sorrow
For we know we too will face great perils
As we're tested with our own severe trials
May our shoes be off, when there we're found
As this is when we stand upon holy ground
There to ponder and count the great blessings
Of following the pioneers and their old treadings
Crest upon crest on their charted course
We are hit with emotions full force
Tomorrow
What we can see causes us to rejoice
For those with clean hands and pure hearts are choice
What we can see causes to tremble
As we weep for those who's faith dimmed and then crumbled
We see wars and plagues coming to cover earth's kingdoms
As the wayward and worldly abuse God given freedoms
While some in the church drop down to this pattern
There to fall by the wayside all bruised up and tattered
But, the Lord's caravan must roll ever forward
To all the nations it must move toward
Our missionary's must give strong utterance
Till Ishmael's tribes have found their inheritance
As the stone breaks down all the barriers
We will not stop a while nor tarry here
For we see saints of the most high worshiping
In Moscow, Saigon, and in Peking...
In Egypt, India, and Africa
As contrails burst from America
We see Saints of God all the world over
Standing with lights and guides, that empower
Helping God's kingdom become triumphant
While our children take a virtuous stand
Crowned with God's power, defending truth
We see great wisdom of those still in youth
This visions not all sweetness, peace, and light
There's greater evils, than at any time
As the Saints prepare to meet their God
Sinking depravity rides hard shod
Hearts become heavy with forebodings
While liars, thieves, and murderers connive... goading
With blood, death, and carnage found everywhere
Mankind's hearts are finding it hard to care
Adulterers, fornicators, and homosexuals
Take the place of families as modern usuals
There to glorify all that is lewd and base
As the work of the Lord rolls on more in haste
For, while Satan reigns in the hearts of men
He'll show his power with Gadiantons
They'll fill the judgment seats of all nations
They'll overthrow freedoms with seductive sedition
Amidst it all there are revelations
There are prophecies and more- there are visions
There are gifts, signs, and marvellous miracles
As the works of the Spirit of God more fulfills
Amid this believing souls are born again
Preparing for God, there to dwell with Him
Is it any wonder that we rejoice?
Amidst commotion there's a still small voice
The ungodly will be swept out from the church
As the little stone fills more of the whole earth
Then God's house of Zion will be found unmoved
Amidst great trembling, the Mt. is best proved
Ahead lies what's dark, dreary, and dreadful
Upon each issue we must be increasingly careful
The blood of martyrs will poor again
As though doors of Carthage enclose us in
We must heed the Prophet and his Apostles
And allow their words to penetrate our auricles
As whether in life or death, we will soon see
Our blessed Lord return in all His Glory
Those blessed will see New Jerusalem coming down
To join the Holy City we have built sound
There we'll mingle with Enoch's pure city
While we worship and serve the Lord in vicinity
New Jerusalem
From peak to peak, hear the echoing soft strains?
Glory to the Lord our God, in song it acclaims
For much comes to the ears of those who are meek
There to hold dear to the heart things unlawful to speak
From peak to peak the echoing strains acclaim:
Glory and honor unto the Lord our God
Let heaven and earth acclaim his name
He hath wrought wondrous works to all
Sing unto him, for he sendeth his angel
And restoreth his pure word in these latter days
He who calleth truth and raineth from heaven
Blessed be his great and righteous ways
He restoreth the kingdom to Israel;
And gathereth his elect from all nations;
He inviteth the Gentiles to join with his people.
For he cometh to reign gloriously where man stations.
He cometh with fire, and the wicked are stubble.
He cometh with loving kindness,
And his redeemed will inherit the earth.
To live as Zion, praising the highest.
Sing unto him for his wondrous works.
Blessed be his great and holy name.
All glory to the Lord our King.
As his words to our hearts echo and remain.
We hear things not lawful to utter;
Which cometh to us for our witness
That He who called his ancient people,
Guideth and preserveth now in peace and rest
Bruce R. McConkie
"The Coming Tests and Trials and Glory
Ensign 1980
We stand today on a mountain peak
Humbled for there is much more to seek
In the midst of the mountains of Israel
The long vast panavision found is surreal
To gain the height we have climbed up switches
Past forests of evil where sin's grime stretches
Past canyons, cliffs, and crags where some plummet
Yet, we've struggled and reached this high summit
Along the way as we've upwards climbed
Past roaring rivers of hate and crime
As we trudge forward sharp rocks cut our feet
We are leery of jackals there to meet
We saw the lion's lair and serpents coiled on ledges
And something lurking low in the brush along the dark edges
But, far in the distance... hid in the clouds
A morning mist exists and on Mt. Zion enshrouds
Yesterday
This Mount is the grandest peak of all
Where Heavenly angels beckon and call
Here are assembled the church of the first born
And...looking back we see their trails they have worn
Yet, still... the view is glorious indeed
We can hear praise for their every deed
As Angel Moroni flies high in the midst
From his trump, lo- here his strength to enlist
While angelic ministrants come with keys
What is rolling forth to fill the earth with peace?
A little stone that's been cut without hands.
Shorn from where the Lord's house gloriously stands.
As the stone breaks up earthly kingdom's damage,
It gains strength to smite the Babylonian image.
Then, hear the Elders cry unto these nations:
"Repent and assemble where one now stations!"
We see stakes and temples dotting the ground
Where gifts, signs, and miracles abound
As the sick are healed and dead are raised
And the power of God, in song is praised
Amidst this toil and sorrowing test
From which we abide our covenants the best
God's elect were strengthened, schooled, and bred
While murderers tried their blood to shed
We see Nauvoo in flames by those depraved
We see snow, bitter cold, death, and graves
With a new leader t'wards their promised land
"All is Well," is sung, as in strength they band
And as they lay all they have upon the alter
Proven and driven, their faith cannot falter
Then with a new prophet, they show they're not weak
As towards Mt. Zion, these trails they did seek
As our eyes watch all that lies here below
We rejoice that there is so much more to know
With such joy, how we anticipate tomorrow
Though we too may face suffering and sorrow
For we know we too will face great perils
As we're tested with our own severe trials
May our shoes be off, when there we're found
As this is when we stand upon holy ground
There to ponder and count the great blessings
Of following the pioneers and their old treadings
Crest upon crest on their charted course
We are hit with emotions full force
Tomorrow
What we can see causes us to rejoice
For those with clean hands and pure hearts are choice
What we can see causes to tremble
As we weep for those who's faith dimmed and then crumbled
We see wars and plagues coming to cover earth's kingdoms
As the wayward and worldly abuse God given freedoms
While some in the church drop down to this pattern
There to fall by the wayside all bruised up and tattered
But, the Lord's caravan must roll ever forward
To all the nations it must move toward
Our missionary's must give strong utterance
Till Ishmael's tribes have found their inheritance
As the stone breaks down all the barriers
We will not stop a while nor tarry here
For we see saints of the most high worshiping
In Moscow, Saigon, and in Peking...
In Egypt, India, and Africa
As contrails burst from America
We see Saints of God all the world over
Standing with lights and guides, that empower
Helping God's kingdom become triumphant
While our children take a virtuous stand
Crowned with God's power, defending truth
We see great wisdom of those still in youth
This visions not all sweetness, peace, and light
There's greater evils, than at any time
As the Saints prepare to meet their God
Sinking depravity rides hard shod
Hearts become heavy with forebodings
While liars, thieves, and murderers connive... goading
With blood, death, and carnage found everywhere
Mankind's hearts are finding it hard to care
Adulterers, fornicators, and homosexuals
Take the place of families as modern usuals
There to glorify all that is lewd and base
As the work of the Lord rolls on more in haste
For, while Satan reigns in the hearts of men
He'll show his power with Gadiantons
They'll fill the judgment seats of all nations
They'll overthrow freedoms with seductive sedition
Amidst it all there are revelations
There are prophecies and more- there are visions
There are gifts, signs, and marvellous miracles
As the works of the Spirit of God more fulfills
Amid this believing souls are born again
Preparing for God, there to dwell with Him
Is it any wonder that we rejoice?
Amidst commotion there's a still small voice
The ungodly will be swept out from the church
As the little stone fills more of the whole earth
Then God's house of Zion will be found unmoved
Amidst great trembling, the Mt. is best proved
Ahead lies what's dark, dreary, and dreadful
Upon each issue we must be increasingly careful
The blood of martyrs will poor again
As though doors of Carthage enclose us in
We must heed the Prophet and his Apostles
And allow their words to penetrate our auricles
As whether in life or death, we will soon see
Our blessed Lord return in all His Glory
Those blessed will see New Jerusalem coming down
To join the Holy City we have built sound
There we'll mingle with Enoch's pure city
While we worship and serve the Lord in vicinity
New Jerusalem
From peak to peak, hear the echoing soft strains?
Glory to the Lord our God, in song it acclaims
For much comes to the ears of those who are meek
There to hold dear to the heart things unlawful to speak
From peak to peak the echoing strains acclaim:
Glory and honor unto the Lord our God
Let heaven and earth acclaim his name
He hath wrought wondrous works to all
Sing unto him, for he sendeth his angel
And restoreth his pure word in these latter days
He who calleth truth and raineth from heaven
Blessed be his great and righteous ways
He restoreth the kingdom to Israel;
And gathereth his elect from all nations;
He inviteth the Gentiles to join with his people.
For he cometh to reign gloriously where man stations.
He cometh with fire, and the wicked are stubble.
He cometh with loving kindness,
And his redeemed will inherit the earth.
To live as Zion, praising the highest.
Sing unto him for his wondrous works.
Blessed be his great and holy name.
All glory to the Lord our King.
As his words to our hearts echo and remain.
We hear things not lawful to utter;
Which cometh to us for our witness
That He who called his ancient people,
Guideth and preserveth now in peace and rest
Bruce R. McConkie
"The Coming Tests and Trials and Glory
Ensign 1980
No comments:
Post a Comment