However Long, However Painful

However long
However painful
We will be proved strong
For this I am thankful

The Lord's written
Laws for mind and hearts
The weak, smitten
Find repentance starts

Mists of darkness
Deepen day by day
Walk in meekness
And learn how to pray

Once repentant
There's protection from
The moral environment
Where temptations come

May we know merit,
God's love, and blessings
Being filled with spirit,
His hands confessing

In life's hardest battles
Prisoners are confined
They've not escaped sin's labels
And hopeless, they're resigned

There is a key
To open a gate
For those turning
To make a clean slate

They'll now succeed
As those forgiven
God's power does exceed
The leagues of Satan

From varied sins
Even those hard core
The Lord can cleanse
Till sins are no more

To sorrowing parents
Who have lost control
Believe in repentance
Where we are cleansed whole

Once their debts are paid
And they have suffered
Providence to them is laid
From sealings offered

The sealed family's
Everlasting tie
Is promised eternities
This hell can't deny

We should have faith
Hope on and trust on
We cannot grow faint
Before a bright dawn

Wayward children will return
From which fount they sprang
Though we've torment while they learn...
God's kingdom will reign!

Those who pollute
The fountains of life
(Let no man of this dispute)
They'll know intense strife

We're God's offspring
We keep general laws
And, for happiness to ring
We need to heed His "nots"

Those who will tempt
Act on center stage
They think they're exempt
Because it's the rage

This is our plague
As sin's been disrobed
In this fog- God's seen as vague
And His laws aren't probed

Who will persuade
This generation
To follow the path Christ laid
With dedication?

An Apostle
Has full credentials
And each knows it's possible
To overcome Satan's pulls

If those who sin
Could see Christ's sorrow
Oh, what pain they'd have within
What counsel they would borrow
To start new tomorrow