Her View of Life Had Now Become Marred

A child has so much to investigate
When we've an answer, we should not hesitate
And when there's a question about faith
A parent can pray for the right thing to say

A window opens and lightens the mind
And a new discovery one can now find...
Here's an example from my dinner meal
When my daughter confessed how she did feel

Her view of life had now become marred
She asked why life had to be so hard?
How can I, a parent, on this shed light-
And provide God's viewpoint to give her insight?

I drew the gravitational pull
Through prayer, this object lesson became my tool
I showed tugging from two great forces
That do shift us unto opposing courses

One is as black as the darkest night
From what's dim we progress to the brightest bright
We move in stages t'wards either one
And light increases like the stars, moon, and sun

We can each become Christ's disciple
And lead others to light through our example
But as one converts unto what's bright
Satan will jerk back to tempt, frighten, and fight

Those who are an investigator
Need to be warned of this instigator
Satan holds a great chain in his hand
Desiring to capture poor souls who can't withstand

When darkness surrounds to devour
We can pray it depart through heavenly power
As we journey towards an increase
We grow in strength for we've not moved with ease

When we're baptized, we sacrifice
Our sins- of which Satan would to us entice
This is the first level on our path
Towards all that Heavenly Father hath

The path to the Father has been perfectly paved
Through the works of the Son and His grace we are saved
I can picture the Savior running t'wards me
In His eagerness to shine His light for me

As He calls me, there's more He does teach
And, I've His splendid light more within my reach
He's there waiting till our day is through
With sanctification, after all we do

In Christ, we can become perfected
And from Satan's grasp we can be protected
The Holy Ghost is our special guide
T'wards spiritual muscles where the light resides

Our whole bodies can be filled with light
As with singleness we keep God in our sight
We can't substitute our Father's love
We're either being pulled below or more above

A member starts with light like the moon
With phases of reflected light in bloom
As it is borrowed- the tests will come
We need our own access to the brightest sun

This comes through our temple endowment
We’ve passed through the orbit where we circumvent
And we vow to show dedication
Through a life of service and consecration

In this bright light we see each weakness
To motivate us and not move us to bleakness
As we learn from more and more mistakes
Our heart's softened to do whatever it takes

Oh, that we could love as our Lord does
To feel sorrow and empathize just because
Both are but two sides of the same coin
Where a depth of love for people and Christ join

When we've this much light, we are God's friends
Not as servants but followers to the ends
Like still waters, His peace will run deep
And, we'll sense that "glorious thought, I am with Thee!"

Bruce C. Hafen
A Disciple's Journey
Devotional Address
5 February 2008