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Friday, June 6, 2008

Doors of Death

A crucial component of life
Comes at the doors of death
When we lose a husband or wife
We feel lost and bereft
The separation evokes pangs
Of loneliness and shock
Where this heavy door hangs
There's an unbearable clock

The younger the greater the grief
They're seen as a victim
The tragedy's beyond belief
The loved one's far stricken
Yet, even when the infirm are called
Though it gives them relief
In some way they had stalled
And their last good-bye seems brief

The deepest expression of love
Is to mourn for those we've lost
We've divine command from above
To weep when there's a loss
The only way to avoid tears
Is to remove all the love
Oh, the reunion with our dears
When we return to home above!

God's our primary directive
Spiritually for handling
When we've eternal perspective
We've peace past understanding
Life does not begin with birth
Nor does it end with death
Prior to birth we had worth
We'll go on without breath

As seedlings of God while on earth
We were born to die and then live
From blossoms to flowers of worth
We've a journey with a motive
To everything there's a season,
A time, a plan, and a purpose
We each are here for a reason
And life's lessons will further us

We pass through- not around deaths doors
On a returning trip
To live with the Father once more
Though trials we would to skip
Deaths essential to happiness
And there's life beyond the veil
If we could just peek and witness-
How we'd prepare there to dwell!

For, this much we know within
The real sting of death is sin
As the spirit's mortified
From God, separate, and denied
With opportunity gone
As we see clearly each wrong
That of our sins, we'll not be saved
Except we repent, and have them waived

The twilight of life is long
It's difficult to be strong
We must endure physically
And learn to cope spiritually
We've a divine injunction
To endure till there's no function
With heavy hardships how we lean
But, with them much can be gleaned

We must endure our trials
And suffer long with kind smiles
We'll pattern after the Lord
Through suffering, He loved, adored
And after tribulation
We're promised blessing's station
Our life is temporary
Then there's extraordinary

Returned to God and His home
Where a state of rest is known
This is temporary still
According to our Father's will
The grave must deliver up
The body and spirit cuff
To become a living soul
That's immortal in its new role

Our bodies will be perfect
As they are no longer subject
With eternal laws employed
These bodies can't be destroyed
Then comes the day of our Lord
Where our judgment is offered
There we'll be judged of our works
Presided by Christ and not clerks

Those who've almost to death crashed
Report seeing their whole life flashed
Having a rapid recall
They saw good and bad- It all
There's a sense of returning
And of a bright light burning
Some have seen their ancestors
But, their time was not answered

They live to tell us of peace
We know that life will increase
This is our time to prepare
We can bless others with kind care
Be generous and give thanks
And seal unto your family its ranks
For with loved ones close to enjoy
Death's door will be sweet unto joy


When our departure's at hand
May the veil of death be thin
As loved ones on both sides stand
There's comfort to journey in
Death does not hold one hostage
But, it will come eventually
When we've reached our time full-fledged
Then we slip away ever so gently

Russell M. Nelson
"Doors of Death",
Ensign, May 1992 pg 72

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