Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father

Consolingly, God's grace flows
Not only to those who obey Him
But, to those who seek so to do
And plea for the blessings of heaven

There are those who love God valiantly
And, also acknowledge how they fall short
They with vows of consecration, live reverently
And are conscientious in prayer and exhort

A second group of members are honorable
They too fall short, yet seek not to do much more
They being neither wicked nor miserable
Have missed living deeply in the things we're here for

A third group lives their lives without the Master
Having minds upon the things of the flesh
This is but the path of pain and disaster
As estranged to the lord, to another they mesh...

We who've sufficient faith, do avoid major sins of commission
But, as we're the first group, we must get outside of our needs
And, strive to rise above the placid sins of omission
Unto a burning desire to tilt toward God with service as our deeds

As according to our desires shall it be done unto us
God can educate the very core of our souls if we so want
For as we align our natures to the path of Jesus
We are strengthened with His name upon us and become one

When we learn to ever pray before the Lord's alter
We allow ourselves to be swallowed up in His will
And as this is truly all we have to offer
Our submission assists us that our works fulfill

As we've trials, we humbly seek out inspiration
Through a process that requires, first, we believe
For it's through nothing save the spirit of revelation
That the highest blessings given to man, we receive

As we shed our old selves, do we lose our identity that makes us sing?
What of our roles, our time, possessions, and preeminence?
Well, gone would be the consuming preoccupations of lesser things
For we then become the creatures, we prepared for in the pre-existence

With submission comes enhanced capacity to live as Christ spoke
No longer weak, we expand deliberately ever outward with joy
And with confidence we square our shoulders to better bear the yoke
That we with our brethren might know what God would have us enjoy

May the malignant mole of materialism in us be removed
And the perplexing trials help us comprehend what we're here for
May we humbly trust and do as our Heavenly Father has behooved
And drop by drop fill our cup of consecration till it brims o'er

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Swallowed Up in the Will of the Master
Ensign, November 1995, 22

D&C 46:9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts.

D&C 11:17 And then, behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

D&C 4:3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

Mosiah 15: 7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.