A Story You'll Never Forget Salt Lake man honors veterans for Memorial Day - ksl.com

Salt Lake man honors veterans for Memorial Day - ksl.com

The gestapo stopped him as he was about to pass
They demanded that he drop his pants
Seeking the evidence of a circumcision
His arrest was but a quick decision

His job would be to cut down the huge trees
To feed the fires for the crematories
His hard shoes were made of cloth and bark
From a dead man's feet, evidence his future was stark

Each man's weight was only skin and bones
Side by side six slept in a bed full of groans
Where on the hour together they would flip
Lest any one of them might break a hip

Then came a rucus... they were told to hide
In the sewer, a slippery fecal slide
Someone yelled out, they were now free!
And that they were alive, it was hard to believe

Each man in the service wept at the sight
How could these prisoners still be alive?
They helped to clean them and sought to understand
And for their courage they shook each slight hand

The boy... does anyone know what became of him?
Years passed and family found him healthy and trim
What a celebration! Having thought him dead!
With determination they would look ahead

But...for the others their story is retold
That the memory never ever grow cold
Shall we eliminate a color, religion, or race?
No! We are all God's children- with love to embrace

Facts

We are each very different
Why? I am not certain
But, of this truth, I am sure
Each good choice helps us endure

Our thoughts, desires, actions, and deeds
How we speak of others and respond to their needs
Truly effects how well we love, serve, and interact
As we strive to straighten out those answers we lack

Christ's teachings leads us to our way home
Beyond the veil to know what is unknown
There the answers we will find
Discovering above all what is divine

God Bless the Soldier

My prayer is for the soldier
May he always remembers to pray
Ever through the Savior
The Truth, the Light, the Way

My prayer is for our nation
May we remember to pray also
That together we might station
United...defending the freedom we know

Along the Wayside

Along the wayside
For anyone to see
Christ was crucified
Secured to a cross beam

The pain He suffered
Was for each of us
Perfectly offered
The heavens withdrew thus

Great storm clouds billowed
Darkening the sky
He said, "It is Finished"
They pierced His heart and side

His body soon lay
In a sepulchre
Till on that morning day
Angels rolled the stone away

Those seeking for Him
Can learn for themselves
He truly is risen
And can save us from ourselves

He knows each weakness
Sorrow, pain, and sin
In glory and meekness
He can cleanse us from within

All He asks of us
Is that we follow
In consecration, thus
And remember Him below

We had a strengthening sacrament meeting
Each could come up and talk about their
favorite Hymn and we then sang one verse.

Be a Patient Patient

Drink lots of water and get lots of rest
When you have the dysenteries
Yogurt and apples also should help.
Be a patient patient and get well

One Stood

One stood alone
Afraid to share
The sorrow known
And admit to be scared

One stood strong
Just in case
The doctors were wrong
And pain would erase

One stood silent
Remembering well
A strength, a giant
Letting others tell

One sat holding
On to love felt
Helping the passing
Of pain life delt

One lay slipping
Further away
Tell in death...sleeping
He died today

Then, he stood above
For a brief good bye
Showing us his love
We know for his dog barked is why

May 18, 2011

In memory of Uncle Bill

The dog kept barking at the ceiling
then looked at everyone
and barked again
then stopped

I Held Your Hand and Touched the Veil

I held your hand
So thin and frail
And felt as if
I touched the veil

I knew the moment
You had gone
You left this world
Yet still live on

Mom share with me the sacred experience of being with Uncle Bill during his passing and said she felt like she touched the veil when she touched his hand. And knew he would be gone in minutes.

 While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor

By the Voice of the People

By the voice of the people
Each great leader is chosen
To be a public servant
With their lives then made open

And being the top pick
Of all that could be found
The promises must stick
That respect abound

It is not a time for pride
For being the very best
It is time to reside
In the seat that will test

No Matter

No matter the night or day
Or what our situation be
We can know all will be okay
As part of Christ's family

He is the father to the orphan
The needed spouse to the widow
He knows each suffering of man
And succors the hands that hang low


Woke up at 4- I was writing a poem in my sleep

Climb the Mountain High

Climb the mountain high
Unto its highest peak
This requires that you try
To make strong where you are weak

The greatest things to see
Are worth reaching for
Stronger for this, you will be
As from this vantage there's but more

climb the mountain" which isn't always easy. Good things are worth reaching for.

Years ago we formed a family mission based on a Steven Covey book. I had almost forgotten....
found a great site: http://simplemom.net/back-to-the-basics-create-a-family-mission-statement/

Abusing Power and Fame

Abusing power and fame
Integrity is lost
In the political game
Fidelity is one cost

Money and position
Becomes but a tool
To feed pride's ambition
And a public servant becomes a fool

There's a lot of talk about politicians and affairs. I feel that many politicians have become a branch of the acting world. (Yet Ronald Reagan came of the acting world and became one of our best Presidents) Would you vote for someone known for cheating on the spouse? Or is that something separate from the ability to perform duties? What if government funds are used to enable these activities? should we feel cheated? Are these affairs just a sample of what the nation is struggling with?

A Peaceful Passing

A peaceful passing
A death was made sweet
With home and family
And suffering brief

While I was not there
My heart went out to you
For your love and care
I give my thanks to God, too

In memory of my Uncle Bill...

The Final Outcome

The final outcome
And purpose of life
Is to become
Like Jesus Christ

Our measure of stature
Must be in fulness
The changing of nature
Is ever a process

Awakened
Rebuked
Chastened
Refined

We struggle in labor
For strength to survive
Then through our deliverer
We are sanctified

The burden once heavy
Becomes light to bear
The experience heavenly
Through faith, made aware

“As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Ensign, May 2011

“Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

“Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people” (Mosiah 23:21–22).

One Way or Another

One way or another
God will have His voice heard
A testimony of love or a warning
Goes forth from Him to the world

One way or another
God comes to all
Let us serve no other
But answer His call

An Ensign to the Nations Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Ensign, May 2011

If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance.

A Golden Society

A society
Is found golden
When with charity
It is woven


We are under condemnation
And cannot please the Lord
When we turn our hearts from nations
Or people that are poor

We are to feed the hungry
And help those in need
Giving thanks, humbly
For all we have, indeed

The Sanctifying Work of Welfare H. David Burton
Presiding Bishop
Ensign, May 2011


The work of caring for one another and being “kind to the poor” is a sanctifying work, commanded of the Father.

Commanded of the Lord- Welfare Relief

Soon after the church came to be
The Saints were commanded of the Lord
To visit the sick and the needy
And give relief to the poor

How else could they be His people
With all their heart, soul, and mind
But by embracing the gospel
And acclaiming Him to all mankind

The purpose of the church welfare
Is to help the afflicted along
To be self reliant and fully share
In the blessings of the faithful strong

The sisters are to add their relief
By assisting the widow and orphan
Correcting morals, restoring belief,
While promoting the good works of man

The brethren of the priesthood
Are to lend their strength and support
While assisting families on the move
And offering blessings of comfort

The men and women are to consecrate
All they have and are to the Lord
Allowing the Bishop to deligate
Having charity as their reward

When we let love guide our actions
This is pure religion indeed
For only then is a Saint active
As through each other the Lord meets each need

To help one another, He calls
And the giver is made humble
While the one in need, He exalts
As we are equally God's people


The Essence of Discipleship Silvia H. Allred
First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
Ensign, May 2011

When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action.

Unlikely Things Happen

Unlikely things happen
When we listen to God's Word
For His light we are given
As in our hearts He is heard

A Leap of Faith

We step in the dark
As a leap of faith
New purpose imparts
And old doubts fade

Victory

There is no victory
Without sacrifice
No making of history
Without paying the price

The First Easter

The first Easter morning
Is a miracle for mankind
Above all the most comforting
To the heart, soul, and mind

To Consecrate

To consecrate
Is to set apart
And not deviate
From what lay in your heart

What is the Purpose of Pain?

What is the purpose of pain?
On the path of getting well
As it penetrates we strain
And thoughts expand to swell

Like the Breeze that Cools the Brow- the Temple

Like the breeze that cools the brow
The Lord's holy house endows
Both refresh us when we are faint
But one restores us unto strength

Education is Power

Education is power
In many real ways
As opportunities shower
And secularly pays

Learning to think clearly
One can see far and wide
Appreciating life dearly
Working well to decide

Even while food is scarce
It is wise to teach your children
For light is abundant to share
And shines upon all we're given

But herein is wisdom
Let not knowledge turn to pride
For the mind is not a kingdom
In which we can reside

But in all learning be humble
Given much to fasting and prayer
Know that it will enoble
He who feels blessed to share

Teach diligently
Seeking God's light
While continually
Doing what's right

Knowing it is through grace
That doctrine can expand
Magnify your place
And seek out the Lord's hand

Without the Lord there is less
Expansion of the mind
Know...He is eager to bless
Those who serve mankind

When we reach beyond
What we know in mortality
The touch of the Master
Comes to those with humility

The Child Did Not Doubt

The child did not doubt
He could say a prayer
And find what hid about
Trusting God would share

The child simply asked
As one would to a Dad
And before much time had passed
He gave thanks, with the thing he had

Service

During His three year ministry
Jesus served like none before
Then with incomprehensible humility
He suffered and bled from every pore

Of what Christ taught in service
Let us not forget
And, too, learn our purpose
As one passionate

Painting Heaven

Having just lost his son
He started painting heaven
His last, a glorious one
With himself there, even

As An Expression of Love

As an expression of love
With a belief in the hereafter
I'd like your permission to seal above
Our family forever

As Spirits we Lived

As spirits we lived
With Father in Heaven
Till the time appointed
When Earth classes were given

We liked the same things
And prepared together
Then blessing of blessings
You were to be my mother!

Daily I watched you grow
From an infant to a toddler
Learning what I'd need to know
When sent by Heavenly Father

Preparing... for life ahead
Uncertain about life
The things people did and said!
Creating their own strife

But, I loved to hear you sing
And listened to your prayers
Blessings were a joy to bring
Then... I was yours to bear

Now with a heart beat
I am learning how to move
Pushing with my feet
This is the one thing I love

For then I hear my name
And almost feel your touch
I am so glad I came
I love you OH SO MUCH!

I Was Sitting in the Kitchen

I was sitting in the kitchen
Scraping the floor we'd torn up
Thinking of Grandma and wishing
To say goodbye, with love

Quietly, I felt her presence
She had come to me!
Freed from her frail existence
Briefly visiting

She saw what I was doing
Someone was escorting her
He was teaching her the gospel
Perhaps... my great Grandfather

Whom I had baptized proper...

Angels Amongst Us

When my mother was small
In the hills of Tennessee
It was nearly nightfall
When she became lost in the trees

A man approached and called her
She took the hand of this stranger
His feet never touched the earth
Sent to keep her from danger

In the distance there were noises
A search party was near
She skipped toward their voices
And her angel disappeared!

A treasured experience of my Mom's. She said it was odd that his hand comfortably held hers when his feet didn't meet the ground. I feel like my mom is angel on earth. She has been by the side of both my grandma's and now an Uncle as they died. It is a truly spiritual experience as the veil is very thin. Last Tues. my Uncle passed and the dog ran to the corner of the room and started barking at the ceiling. Turned and looked at everyone then barked again. I told this to someone else and they said they had the same experience. Just wanted to share this because there is so much talk that heaven is just in our heads...

We the Family

The writers of the Constitution
Never would have thought
The family institution
We'd turn our own backs on

What could be more stable
Than the family and the home
Where children grow up able
To self govern and raise their own

The family can promote
"The general welfare"
By being home to note
Who is in need of care

As in the day to day
Parents " establish justice"
Reeinforcing always
The light for good within us

Being known to honor
and "pursue happiness"
Each takes their place as patriots
"To provide for the common defense"

The family, being moral
"Secures the blessings of liberty"
Wanting "a more perfect union for all"
Ought we not protect the family?

The generations past
Knew how to sacrifice
Perhaps to them our eyes should cast
For they know freedom's price

Our country is being torn
In half by divorce,
By entitlements we've formed,
And the way our courts discourse

A return to the family
To the bonds we have known
Will help us pursue happily
Liberty- home grown

"We the Family"
Makes a nation strong
Through matrimony
With commitments made lifelong

"We the Families"
by Tom Christensen
United Families International
May 10, 2011

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Went on a tour given to the parents and family of the graduating class of doctors. This poem is based on all the brass plaques, statues, and messages displayed throughout the campus. What a great day!

The best way to learn is to reach out
And help another in turn
To understand what disease lay about
Then to alleviate, heal, and discern

Learning to help those in harms way
Whether in the clinic or battlefield
Using the technology of our day
For the benefits it will yield

Whether implicit or explicit
Leadership is woven here
With so many rotations in transit
We're prepared to go anywhere

Honor, Courage, Commitment
These are the oaths of enlistment
Whether in time of peace or of war
Serving through caring is what we are trained for!

Demara is now a doctor of the Airforce- what a wonderful day. We spent the day in Washington DC. My heart was turned to the history of this nation and the wonderful leaders born of this great land of freedom. I want to read about Dr. Benjamen Rush- a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one who struggled to save lives and alleviate suffering during rampant yellow fever. And great quotes of Mark Stephens, Ronald Reagan, and Congressman Hebert.
Here is
The Oath of Hippocrates:
"I do solemnly swear that I will be loyal to the profession of medicine and just and generous to its members,
that I will lead my life and practice my art in uprightness and honor, that into whatsoever home I shall enter
it shall be for the good of the sick and the well
to the utmost of my power
and that I will hold myself aloof from wrong and from corruption
and from the tempting of others to vice.
I will exercise my art solely for the cure of my patients
and the prevention of disease
and will give no drugs and perform no operation for a criminal purpose
and far less suggest such thing.
Whatsover I shall see or hear of the lives of men
which is not fitting to be spoken,
I will keep secret.
These I do promise and in proportion as i am faithful to this oath,
may happiness and good repute be ever mine.
The opposite if I shall be forsworn."

Don't Let the Day

Don't let the day
Be in control
Prepare, plan, and pray
Know of your role

Be of kind service
Do as Christ would
Build on your purpose
Growing ever good

Each Song we Sing

Each song we sing
Or drill we say
Helps us improve
In some small way

It might be for Reading
Or to help with Math
Or just for leading
Us on the right path

From the patterns in Phonics
To the methods of Science
Poetry sticks
For self-reliance

Something in you Died

Something in you died
And withered away
You built up a wall to hide
And there you stay

Please, my child
Come home, come back
The peace of home is mild
When the world would to attack

It Is Our Duty

It is our duty
To become gospel scholars
To spread what truly
Blesses the lives of others

No Matter What You Do

No matter what you do
Family is there for you
Waiting to welcome you back
And help you stay on track

Like the prodigal son
Given to wasteful living
Though what he did could not be undone
The father was forgiving

Having shared the same blood
When one is lost, they are missed
To them emotion does flood
And their return is wished

Because this truth is so
Family pain can cut so deep
That these feeling will not show
Till the wounded heart feels safe to leap

Each Spark of Inspiration

Each spark of inspiration
Each revealed law
Is a blessing to that nation
And is available to all

The greatest leaders the world has known
From Muhammad to Confucious
To them a portion of God's light shown
To bless, inspire, and move us

'How very fortunate for mankind that God's word was given in diverse ways to the people of India, of Persia, of Babylon, of Arabia, of China, of Greece, of Rome, and of America. Each spark of inspiration, each revealed law, and each guideline for living was an expression of God's limitless love for the family of Adam. It mattered not whether the word came in high or low places or whether it was conveyed in loud or in muted voices. Some of God's light was reflected through a religious leader in ancient Arabia; additional light was received by an American religious leader in the nineteenth century. What mattered was that saving truth was received by man from God-the divine fountain of eternal truth. And what mattered even more was whether those who received such truths had sufficient reciprocating love and faith to live accordingly.'
'On 15 February 1978, the First Presidency of the LDS Church issued a statement to the world regarding God's love for all mankind. I desire to read portions of that statement. As I do so, you will note that thoughts previously mentioned are amplified. '
'Based upon ancient and modern revelation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the Christian doctrine that all men and women are brothers and sisters, not only by blood relationship from common mortal progenitors but also as literal spirit children of an Eternal Father.
The great religious leaders of the world such as Muhammad, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals...
Consistent with these truths, we believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come...
Our message therefore is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.'

God's Love for Mankind
Elder Carlos E. Asay
Mormons and Muslims: Spiritual Foundations and Modern Manifestations, ed. Palmer, Spencer J., (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University 2002), 51-61.

You Have the Tools

You have the tools and support
To survive Babylon
With the Lord's armor
You have help to go on

You have the Lord's priesthood
To stand against
All the devil would
Use to take your strength

A Real Man Today

A real man today
Must learn his duty
Then listen and obey
What he's convinced of truly

Liken the Scriptures

What does it mean to liken
The scriptures to our lives?
The Holy Ghost can quicken
Us to go and strive

Clothing and the Needy

I know what a needle is
I have a pin cushion full
Not so in the Philippines
This is but a sample

We are blessed with so much
Excepting our debt
Us, prosperity seems to touch
And yet...how we fret

I am so grateful
For a washing machine
For socks by the hand full
And water made clean

What can we give
To those who are in need
With love the motive
We can bless them indeed

Helping another
To a healthy status
Lifts us like no other
That is the wealth in us

To clothe the naked
We can make donations
Plus needles, fabrics, and thread
Can warm their situations


Pondering a story about a time in the Philippines when a needle was needed and people went asking their neighbors. We were sewing baby hospital gowns for As We Lay You Down To Sleep- they are burial gowns
for still born infants and premies. In this time of great humanitarian
need there are multitudes of ways to bless others. Making something and giving of our time feels wonderful. Helping another to earn wages that is where my thoughts turned.

Coasting Along

We were coasting along
Doing the day to day stuff
Till...bam- all went wrong
Like a sea turned rough

What is the purpose
Of pain and conflict
Is it to learn patience?
As trials afflict

For we then gain faith
That all will be okay
Trusting God, unafraid
As Him even the winds obey

Our thoughts and needs- He knows
From the great to the small
Like unto each sparrow
He knows when we are set to fall
.....And He would that to Him we call

When Your Job Calls You Away

When your job calls you away
From keeping the Sabbath Day
What is it that you should do?
Turn to fasting for faith anew

My heart has turned to those who have to work on Sunday.
There are many professions that require it. My husband's
job announced that for the next month or so everyone was
to work on 7 day weeks... with a deadline push.
You really learn to appreciate what blessing the Sabbath is
when it is taken from you.

Pondering Seminary

Pondering what's good
About seminary
Alone one thought stood
The feelings I carry

But being quite shy
I don't share very much
I tell myself try
And hope it's you I can trust

When I look at you
I think in my heart
You've the kindness to
Let a friendship start

Thank you Jason for the inspiring words.
What a blessing seminary is at a very important time in life!

Of All Your Birthdays

Of all your birthdays
There's one I treasure the most
You had turned eight
And had received the Holy Ghost

Everyone had come
And you sang like an angel
Truly it was delightsome
Looked upon from every angle

Now you have reached the age
When many would go drink
But you've more to write upon life's page
As with heaven you link

You bring beauty to all who near
With talent on every side
Just to know you- how I cheer
With a smile, long and wide!

love you forever,
Mom

Mother You Are

Mother you are that pillow
Offering us peace and rest
Always, I want you to know
That through you I feel blessed

Mother you are that flower
Refusing to droop or wilt
You represent strength and power
That through belief is built

Mother you are that chocolate
Promising good fruit inside
You are sweet and delicate
I love you by my side

Who is the One- Mother

Who is the one who always tries
To see the world with child-like eyes
To light the world with magic and love
It is the mother whom we speak of

Who is the one who believes in us
And for that purpose, gives service
To light our path endlessly
It is through the mother that we see

Your Body is a Temple

Your body is a temple
Of God. We've spirit within
Our lives are but a vessel
To find our way back to Him

Raise the Bar

Raise the bar
On who you are
Be a bright shining star

Turn to God
As He does call
With light to give your all

What Do You Hear?

What do you hear in your heart
When the world grows still
The heavens would to impart
Works to fullfill

Shall You Stand at the Gate

Shall you stand at the gate
And hope for a sign
When baptism awaits
And glory divine

The sign is the change
Of a heart made clean
No longer estranged
With what's spiritually seen

A Mother's Day Tribute at Passing

You know how to warm a heart
Sweetly- you’ve touched mine
Faith and charity you impart
Giving of your self and time

Mother, you are an inspiration
This is your legacy
So bright with dedication
…Your passing saddens me

Lately, I hold myself close
Wishing you were here
At times, I hear you speak almost
And it brings to me a tear

Oh mother, mine
I miss your voice
It's been a long time
Without you there’s a void

A shining pillar of motherhood
Your example was good and faithful
Always bringing life to the mood
I enjoyed that you were playful

I miss you every day and night
The way you loved and cared
Thanks for being such a light
For the memories we’ve shared

Thank you Tim for inspiring this poem.
For putting to words so much that is
true about Mothers... and how they are missed.