Buoyed Up By All the Blessings in my Life

Have you ever wanted to get to know a person just because you've seen their face?
After reading that Elder Donald L. Staheli had passed away, I thought I would read- what I heard was his only talk given at a general conference... thus, the poem-

Buoyed up by wonderous blessings in my life
I cherish all that is good, though oft there is strife
Ever the gospel affords unto each of us
Opportunities to learn and grow, as to God we trust

Then...through our obedience and dedication
We are lifted up unto currents of inspiration
Through the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost
We have help to attend to what matters the most

Yet...oft, we are at the mercy of what matters the least
Forgetting to partake of daily spiritual feasts
Having become captive to temptations and pressure
We often escape unto habitual pleasures

The varied cares of the world are so entangling
That there's always something new before us... dangling
And all too often we feel we're sailing along fine on our own
Until a challenge on the seas of life makes itself shown

Periodically one might do well, then, to ponder and ask
"If I continue this journey, what will endure and last?"
And, " Am I being chastened or challenged as life's seas ebb and flow?"
Then... might we recognize what saves us as we are tossed to and fro

When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest
The Holy Ghost becomes our constant companion as an invited guest
And in that moment of submission, God endows us with His power
For, to the faithful, there is a promise of blessings- warm in shower

Elder Donald L. Staheli
Obedience- Life's Great Challenge
Conference April 1998