The Eternal Marriage Centers on Christ

The eternal marriage centers on Christ
From that crowning celestial moment
When the kneeling couple pledge their lives
To the new and everlasting covenant

Spiritual Eyes Ears and Voices

Spiritual eyes see afar
Into the distance
Unto a guiding star
Through perseverance

Spiritual ears hear the sound
Of the trumpet's call
Clear warnings are found
Lest a family fall

Spiritual voices speak
And testify of light
Discernment for the meek
Making knowledge bright

Pondering Elder Bednar
Ensign May 2010
"I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families—“watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."

A Treasure to Hold

I have a treasure that I hold
A pearl of great price
Discovered from the days of old
It shines before my eyes

Its reflection is so clear
It helps me to see
All in life that is dear
Including me


Matthew 13:46
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

A treasure to behold
A pearl of great price
A gift from days of old
Does shine before faith's eyes

Do the Right Thing

Do the right thing
Without delay
Rescue and bring
The lost home today


Doing the Right Thing at the Right Time,
without Delay by Elder José L. Alonso

Moonbeams and Orchids

As elusive as a moonbeam
And fragile as an orchid
A testimony can brightly beam
Or wilt much that we forget

Light comes to the mind
Warmly... the bosom burns
Doubt is left behind
Spiritually one learns



Personal Revelation and Testimony by Sister Barbara Thompson

President Harold B. Lee: “Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; it’s as fragile as an orchid; you have to recapture it every morning of your life,”

I have joined a book club for general conference-----
http://diapersanddivinity.com/2011/10/16/gcbc-week-3-personal-revelation-and-testimony-by-sister-barbara-thompson/comment-page-1/#comment-12578

The Wake-up Call

Let that wake-up call
Stir you to action
Whether great or small
Serve with compassion

As you give up a crust
To help someone in need
You receive so much
Gratitude indeed

You cannot give a crust to the Lord
without receiving a loaf in return -
Marion G Romney

Keep up the Good Work

Keep up the good work-
The best is yet to come-
You have to stretch much
To grow and become

Joseph Smith is like Paul

Joseph Smith is like Paul
He helped God's kingdom grow
Once he received his call
He taught that others might know

Plant a Seed in Your Heart

Plant a seed in your heart
And do not cast it out
For conversion to impart
Keep charity about

Lay aside all your pride
Give of yourself and grow
What is truth you must decide
Then share of what you know

Let nothing hold you back
From seeking the Lord out
When darkness attacks
Do not give in to doubt


Alma 32

As a Friend

The scriptures take on new meaning
As we read them again and again
We discover truths while reading
For they speak to us as a friend

Let us mark them and treasure
Each precious thing that we learn
Let us ponder and then measure
Our eternal hopes for which we yearn

pondering
The Power of Scripture
Elder Richard G. Scott
Ensign, November 2011

Wars and Rumors of Wars

Amidst wars and rumors of wars
Clear vision fails in the commotion
Lean to all the Lord offers
Press forward with faith and much devotion

Spread your wings high and far
Soaring as you should
Remembering who you are
Seek for all that is good



Counsel to Youth
President Boyd K. Packer
Ensign, November 2011

All at once our future was uncertain. We did not know what was ahead. Would we live to get married and have a family?

Today there are “wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth [is] in commotion.”4 You, our youth, may feel uncertainty and insecurity in your lives. I want to counsel you and teach you and give you a warning about some things to do and some things not to do.

Satan Seeks

Satan seeks to control
Our minds and actions
To confuse our role
And create distractions

But safety is assured
As we remember who we are
Precious beyond measure
We've wise counsel to take us far

Happiness is found
When we do not despair
But let the spirit abound
Holding to the rod with care

Counsel to Youth
President Boyd K. Packer
Ensign November 2011

"You are precious beyond measure....
We know from the scriptures that there was a war in heaven and that Lucifer rebelled and, with his followers, “was cast out into the earth.”2 He is determined to disrupt our Heavenly Father’s plan and seeks to control the minds and actions of all. This influence is spiritual, and he “is abroad in the land.”3

"But despite the opposition, trials, and temptations, you need not fail or fear."

What Think Ye of Jesus Christ?

What think ye of Jesus Christ?
The master of salvation
The creator of our lives
Who saved man from death's station

To Fail is to Give Up

To fail is to give up
When you're overcome and stuck
Whenever one stops trying
The will within starts dying

- Beethoven
- Thomas Edison
- Albert Einstein
- James Earl Jones
- Helen Keller
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Woodrow Wilson
- Stephen Hawking
- Susan B. Anthony
- Gen. George Patton
- Marie Curie
- Benjamin Franklin
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Walt Disney
- Winston Churchill
- Isaac Newton
- F. W. Woolworth
- Henry Ford
- Louis Pastuer
- Louisa May Alcott
- Christopher Columbus
- and the moms and dads of the world

Miley Cyrus mormon spoof 2

How does one discern
What is really true?
As to God we turn
The Spirit speaks anew

Forget You Parody (Mormon) For the Strength of Youth

A singing revolution
Is helping youth be strong
To avoid sin's pollution
Clearly, showing what is wrong

We Have a Spark of Eternal Fire

We have a spark of eternal fire
Burning within each breast
To know our Heavenly Father we desire
To serve Him and be blessed




You Matter to Him
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.

The Pleasing Word of God

The pleasing word of God
Heals the wounded soul
Refining us as gold
It does both warn us and console

Jacob 2

8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

Packets of Light

Studying the scriptures is like
Opening up packets of light
No two messages are found alike
As what inspires improves sight

Memorizing what illuminates
Allows us to put light up in store
As the Holy Ghost communicates,
We ponder... then we are given more

The Power of Scriptures
Richard G Scott
Ensign, Nov 2011

Deep Within the Chambers of the Heart

Deep within the chambers
of a meek and contrite heart
There comes strength as one labors
To teach the gospel and impart

Strands of Light

Like gathering strands of light
Our testimonies can grow bright
Helping us all the more see
Whatsoever is good and praise worthy


Articles of Faith
13.We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul "we believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy, we seek after these things.

Differences Are As Salt

Differences are as
Little specks of salt
Promising to last
Adding flavor by default

I believe our differences are the little pinches of salt that can make the marriage seem more flavorful.
-LDS Apostle James E. Faust
 Wedding gift idea- seasalt grinder

Oct. 2011 World Report: LA World Affairs Council

Without God, moral values decline
As laws and situations define
Let us be bridge builders and restore
Faith, hope, and trust in the Lord

As we travel from here and there
Let us speak highly of what's good
Ever with a glad message to share
Serving man and God- as we should

We Don't Need to Redefine America

We don’t need to redefine America
But return to its truths, self evident
The constitution was indeed a miracle
Putting policy where it is best spent

Promoting the general welfare, hence
While granting freedoms equally to all
Providing for the common defense
Responding to liberty’s call

The American Republic, once great
Ought not become a socialist state
Freeing industry improves the employment rate
We must act before it is too late!

Green jobs, stimulus packages, entitlements
Must be a thing of the past
Giving power back to local governments
Returned to the people at last

click on the title to read Tom McClintock's speech
California: A Morality Tale in Three Parts

The following is a speech delivered to the
Council on National Policy on September 30, 2011....

What Has Jesus Done For Me?

What has Jesus done for me?
One asked...while not wanting to see
But the words were said, I gave them much thought
Knowing the answer for each must be sought-

He created this earth and added for us light
As our Exemplar, He then came and did all that is right
He suffered our pains and sins, then was sentenced to death
And because of Him we will rise again through His living breath

Ever selfless up to and through His darkest hour
He gave us commandments, the priesthood, and sealing power
While humbly He listens to and attends to every prayer
Such that when we need Him, He is always there

To those in the dark who have lost their way
There is oh so much more I would like to say
May the Holy Ghost teach to you all of the rest
As you seek for it, in righteousness, truly you will be blessed

Pondering
Teachings of Jesus
Dallin H. Oaks
Ensign, November 2011

Thank you Danielle for your email. I love to put thoughts to poetry. It touches me that you have read some. I hope to get better as the years go by. Sometimes I think I will stop. But, writing has become a very close friend... and I miss it deeply- five days was a long time this week.

Let NOt a Day

Let not a day
Go by without
Taking time to pray
With faith about

Freely He gives
To those who ask
Through Christ who lives
And bears... as we task

God

God is a name
To use with care
Not to profane
But cry out in prayer

We Become

We become
So much more
When we work as one
With the Lord

Thoughts from listening to Relief Society ... on BYUtv during half time Sunday Conference

Simply Look Up

Simply look up
When you are weighed down
Life's seems extra tough
When all you see is the ground

When you're burdened by life
Don't look down but look up
And remember the Lord
And how full is your cup

Grind to the Dust

Let us grind to the dust
What is a waste of time
And replace it with what leads us
To a place sublime

Pondering conference...

Quick to Kneel

Let us be as quick to kneel
As we are to text
Let us seek for and feel
What leaves us warmly blessed

Elder Ian S. Andern?
thoughts from conference