I Knew, Yet I Would Not Know

I knew, yet I would not know
For I was called, but would not hear
But, then an angel did show
And now it is God that I hold dear

I had not been given to the ways of the Lord
And of His mysteries and marvelous powers
Now... as I say this, it strikes a discord
For I can recall being preserved in dark hours

And as much as I knew this …my heart was yet hard
For I was called many times and would not hear
As one rebelling, God was a thought to discard
For as a man of position, what could I fear?

I am a man of no small reputation
Being well born, I’ve become hard working and rich
And, from Mammon has come my best education
As for gold my hands of industry did itch

To see kindred- I went on a journey
For I had many… as well as friends
Then, behold, this angel appeared unto me
And turned me around… this is where my past ends…

I was sent to my home to feed... a prophet!
Who’d fasted many days and was in need
And as I received him, it was I who did profit
For He blessed me and my house and did feed

His name was Alma and in my house he dwelt
And through him, I testify that the Lord liveth
For he testified to my family and a witness was felt
And now I know I must lean to the Lord who giveth

Thank you Shawn for your insight
and suggestion for this poem- with the title as well

Alma 10:6
"knew concerning these things, yet...would not know"

Hugh Nibley
He forsook "all his gold and silver, and his precious things which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God." Alma 15-16
It had to be one or the other. But all was not lost, you might say, he still had his old friends and admirers and loved ones. Please let us not underestimate the power of money. Having lost his fortune, he was promptly "rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred" Alma 15-16 ( The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 562