Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Share Your Gift

Share the gift
That is yours
Care, uplift
God's the source!

Words of Comfort for the Suffering



In a fallen world
Many ills afflict
'Robbing us of worth'....
A lie we must reject
For... God's love is perfect!

Hold on, hope on
Believe in the day
Where joy will dawn
And...gloom will fall away
And all will be okay!

May one spark of hope
Flicker all about
And brighten your home
Ridding you of doubt
A lit seed can sprout!

Like the ancient palm seed
That was dormant two-thousand years
A trigger is what you need
That the dark thoughts, in Christ's light, clears
That life and hope in you appears

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Like a Broken Vessel
 Ensign, November 2013


  1. Ancient Date Palm Grown From 2,000-Year-Old Seed Blossoms …

    inhabitat.com/date-palm-grown-from-2000-year-old-seed-blossoms-for...
    A 2,000 year old date palm seed from Herod the Great's fortress that was planted in 2005 has just blossomed for the third time.

Choices Come With a Price

Choices come with a price
Each lead to light or pride
Choose well, it does matter!
Both now and much later

Church Calling

Each responsibility
Strengthens us for more
Increasing ability
And faith in the Lord

Monday, October 28, 2013

What Do You Treasure?

What gift do you treasure
That grows as you share?
Fasting's a pleasure
Through Heaven's good care


  • in the day of your fast ye find pleasureIsa. 58:3 .

Chapter 58

The true law of the fast, with its purposes and attendant blessings, is set forth—The commandment to keep the Sabbath is given.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the abands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go bfree, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the ahungry, and that thou bring the bpoor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from cthine own flesh?

Prepare to Declare

Prepare to declare
The gospel to share
Warm feelings will reach
With Christ's light... to teach

  1. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service How Do I Study ...

    www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/...
    The Lord has said, “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my ...

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Share What Makes You Happy

Share what makes you happy
And empowers you with light
Offer joy for sampling
Lead others to Jesus Christ

Gratitude

Gratitude
Is pride's antidote
See what's good!
Look up and take note

Let's All Work to Grow the Ward

Let's all work to grow the ward
And plant the seeds of Christ's love
Look upward and move forward
As share what comes from above

We Set Goals

We set goals
To increase faith
Much unfolds
As fear we face

Start Small

Start small
With simple things
See all
The Spirit brings 

A Quiet Thought

A quiet thought
Magnifies
And we are taught
To be wise

Budget Your Life

Budget your life
As well as your means
Give of your time
Establish routines

Let the gospel be a part of you...

We Do Not Know

We do not know
Our affect
How love may show
And connect

The Lord does His works in mysterious ways. Many times through the weak to confound the wise. Who is to guess what will cause a bosom to be touched or the affect one person will have on another.  We do not put ourselves up as a light, but the Lord! He works through those who are humble and meek.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

A Renewing Soothing Salve

From the Savior's blessed sacrament
Flows a renewing soothing salve
To cleanse and heal the repentant,
From the spiritual wounds they have


We Believe in Being Chaste
"From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent obedience. The results of sincere repentance are peace of conscience, comfort, and spiritual healing and renewal."
—David A. Bednar, "We Believe in Being Chaste"
Topics: AtonementJesus ChristRepentance

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Ye Are the Salt of the Earth

Ye are the salt of the earth
Shimmering in the sunlight.
Remember your unique worth,
And add flavor to all life

Life Would Be a Dead-End Road

Life would be a dead-end road
Without any hope or future
If our Lord did not atone
To redeem and be our Savior
Four Titles
"Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, life would be a dead-end road without hope or future. With the Atonement, life is an ennobling, inspiring journey of growth and development that leads to eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father."
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Four Titles"
Topics: AtonementJesus ChristEternal Life

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Saratov Approach - Theatrical Trailer


How were those kidnapped saved?
When a ransom went unpaid?
Was it pressure or prayer
That they escaped from there?

It's coming to LasVegas this weekend at Sam's Town!

http://youtu.be/ldu0V_wahw0



I saw it!  Loved it!

As a prisoner
You live in fear
You worry about others
Back home... there's tears
Then, the prayers change
A sad weight hangs
Concern for your captor
And you seek for answers
As a captor
What are you after?
Do you know that light
Will influence what's right?
Then, peace settles in
And you see an end
One way or another...
You've faith in our Brother!

An interesting thing- Someone who had been held hostage 20 years before (In South America) called to comfort one of the parents of the Elders.  He is the one I felt inspired to write this from.  He let them know what he thought was going on in the Elder's minds.  What was going on in his when he was held for ransom.

Because of Jesus Christ

Because of Jesus Christ
The atonement has been made.
The world has been made right
With the price of man's sins paid!
The fearful spectacle of death
Yields all the dead unto paradise.
Assuring, we will resurrect!
The body and spirit both will rise!
He, who has marked the narrow way,
Invites us to come follow Him.
He promises His spirit always
As we keep all God's laws for man.

Teaching Our Children
"Because of Jesus Christ the world has changed, the divine Atonement has been made, the price of sin has been paid, and the fearful spectacle of death yields to the light of truth and the assurance of resurrection. Though the years roll by, His birth, His ministry, His legacy continue to guide the destiny of all who follow Him as He so invitingly urged."
—Thomas S. Monson, "Teaching Our Children"
Topics: AtonementProphetic Messages

We talked about Paradise in Family Home Evening.  When Jesus was on the cross, He said,"Tomorrow you will be with me in Paradise. But, He also said to Mary, "Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." These are two different places! Paradise (Spirit World) being a place of learning. We will need to reunite with our bodies at some point and be judged at some point. Here is a great explanation: 

http://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/what-do-i-study-and-teach/lesson-2-the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng

The Atonement

Before the world was organized, our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Redeemer....
Christ in Gethsemane

The Hope of God's Light

The hope of God's light
Is available to calm,
To all it gives life
And can heal as a balm

The Hope of God's Light
"God's light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls."
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Hope of God's Light"
Topics: HealingAtonement

A Spiritual Work

A spiritual work
Begins on one's knees
There's guidance to seek
The Lord knows all needs

"As we serve in our councils and presidencies, we all constantly remind ourselves that ours is a spiritual work. While we do sit together in council meetings, our work begins on our knees as we seek the Lord’s guidance."
—Neil L. Andersen, "A Spiritual Work"
Topics: Work of Salvation

Monday, October 21, 2013

The Lord Has Set the Terms

The Lord pre-set the terms
For what we should repent
As that for which one yearns
Demands we be present

The meek and humble heart
Has turned the narrow way
Contrite, light can impart
As we seek Christ and pray

Be Humble and Do Not Boast

Be humble
And do not boast
Be worthy
Of the Holy Ghost

The Lord Can and Will

The Lord can and will
In a pre-set way
Answer, grant, fulfill
That for which we pray

He answers with yes, no, not yet...
Patience and delayed gratification are character building.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

"You Said"


Parents, remember what, "You said!"
For your children need to be fed
Spiritually, mentally,
Physically by you.. basically

Did you know you can watch all the old Mormon Ads on YouTube?

The Bosom Burns

The bosom burns
The mind grows clear
The student learns
The Teacher is near

All Things Fall into Place

All things fall into place
For our ultimate good
So, press on and embrace
The narrow way to God

Desire to Receive

Desire to receive.
Have faith that you will.
Believe.  You will achieve
God's works to fulfill.

The Lord Whispers

mormon jesus christ
The Lord whispers,
"Come unto me,"
His light enters
As we're willing.
His atonement
Heals our hearts.
His love is sent
Peace imparts...

Reach Every Human Heart

Reach every human heart
With what's painted on your own
Love can teach and impart
What you wish to make known

"If you're not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart- painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.'" Elder Neil Andersen, April conference 2013“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.  And such trust we have through Christ to God-ward.” (II Corinthians 3:1-4, KJV)

( not just words- but spirit, not just something great to carry around, but to be such a part of you that life flows) 
 

The Goodness of the Lord

The goodness of the Lord is felt,
A warmth comes and worries melt
To witness His love and light is real
And that He is able to cleanse and heal!

I had to really focus on the sacrament and this poem came to me.
 It was a pretty exciting day.  I was subbing for a primary class
and got to help with the children's sacrament program! You can
feel their testimonies shining through their own talks. Sweet.

Refined Gold

The refiner's fire bubbled
And troubled my life of gold
Then, I was ever humbled
At the scum that rose, so cold

May the surface, more, be skimmed
By the great hands of the Master
That His goodness flow to the brim
Refining me for what does matter

Speak Highly

Speak highly of those you know
Help them rise, by deeds you show
Integrity is quickly learned
By faith, as great light is discerned

Every Man Ought to Bear His Part

Contrary to that which is right
Corruption by rulers oft shows
As they put themselves up as a light
In truth, this ought not to be so

For every man ought to bear his part
Of the burden placed on each land
Enjoying light, as privileges impart
From heeding what the Lord commands

Mosiah is a great lesson on individual rights, self-government, responsibilities of citizens....
Mosiah 29:
26 ...Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law-to do your business by the voice of the people.

Heavenly Father Will Bless YOU

Heavenly Father will bless you
To do amazing things
If you heed His words, to do
His love comes shining through

The Tender Broken Heart

The tender broken heart
Is more prepared to hear
And feel what will impart
When the spirit draws more near

It is Easy

It is oh, so easy
For our light to show
When our thoughts are pleasing
With good works in tow

Warm Fuzzy


When we heed our Savior's call
Blessings come, both great and small
Like a shared warm fuzzy ball
He brightens smiles in us all

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Open Your Eyes and See

Open your eyes and see
Those struggling, in need
Heavy hearts, pain, despair
How can you show you care?

In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.

Happiness, Your Heritage

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Your Passport to Peace

Your patriarchal blessing
Is your passport to peace
Within, light is beckoning
T'wards home. How the words please!

Your patriarchal blessing is your passport to peace in this life. 
It is a Liahona of light to guide you unerringly to your heavenly home. President Thomas S. Monson

Get it Off Your Chest

Get it off your chest
Let go, do your best
Turn to the Lord's breast
Yes, with Him...confess

  1. get off chest - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and ...

    idioms.thefreedictionary.com/get+off+chest
    get something off one's chest. to unburden oneself; to confess something; to criticize or make a personal complaint to someone. You will feel better if you get it off ...

Hastening More Along

Hastening more along
The uncut stone moves on
Faster than ever before
All for the work of the Lord.

Romania Bucharest Mission Celebrates 20th Anniversary
  • LDS.org By Kim Woodbury, Church News contributor
    • 29 JULY 2013
...1996 to 1999, 11 new cities and the country of Moldova were opened to missionary work. “Miracle after miracle occurred and it was obvious that the Lord was in charge... ...shared the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands and said,...“Through the dedication of the Romanian land, this stone, this kingdom came in 1990 to the land of our ancestors, our Romanian land, which is sacred and holy to us.” “The history of the Church in Romania and Moldova is still being written,” Elder Nelson said. “Missionaries have brought the light of the Lord to the people, particularly those who suffered the ravages of communism and the wicked reign of a ruthless dictator. These converts have been so very faithful in embracing the gospel.”Chris Jessop, one of the first four proselyting missionaries in Romania, recalled arriving in Bucharest in December 1990, less than one year after the revolution that overthrew communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.“Romania seemed dark, cold and gray. Bullet holes still riddled many of the buildings in downtown Bucharest. However, we quickly learned that behind the pre-fabricated concrete lived people who were warm, loving and humble who were ready to be taught the gospel.” Brother Jessop said.

Agency is a Gift from God

Freedom and obedience 
are our gifts from God
For each great consequence. 
Let us give our all.


Obedience to Law Is Liberty - general-conference
  • www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-to-law-is-liberty
Men and women receive their agency as a gift from God, but their liberty and, in
turn, ... may well depend, freedom from sin; for truly 'obedience to law is liberty.

Obedience to Law Is Liberty

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle

On a Spiritual Journey

On a spiritual journey
The Lord guides our way
With love and light forming
Through each step we take

You Know Enough - general-conference
  • www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/you-know-enough?lang=eng
Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the
beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line ...

You Know Enough

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

He Will Sanctify Your Efforts

He will sanctify your efforts
To teach, rescue, and save
He will magnify your labors
Even your words... to save


As the number of missionaries increases in wards and stakes around the world, I implore you to exercise your faith, as did President Wilson in St. Thomas, as you prayerfully consider which of your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your acquaintances you would like to invite to your home to meet with the missionaries, that they might hear the message of the Restoration. As the Lord did with the city of St. Thomas, He will sanctify your efforts, and you will gain a capacity beyond your own to lift and bless the lives of others.
May we ever increase our faith and faithfulness in fulfilling our sacred duty to rescue our Heavenly Father’s children—our brothers and sisters. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.

Faith in the Work of Salvation

THOMAS S. MONSON

Crowning Truth and Light was Given

Crowning truth and light was given
As effort coupled with renewed faith
Through much encouragement, even
The work of salvation took place!
I provided encouragement for them to grow in numbers by their personal efforts to fellowship and to teach. The outcome, brothers and sisters, is a classic example of faith coupled with effort and crowned with testimony.

Faith in the Work of Salvation

THOMAS S. MONSON

No Words are More Relevant

No words are more relevant
Than those of the Lord
Let us not be hesitant
To spread His great word!
The holy scriptures contain no proclamation more relevant, no responsibility more binding, no instruction more direct than the injunction given by the resurrected Lord as He appeared in Galilee to the eleven disciples. Said He: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). The Prophet Joseph Smith declared: “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.” Some of you here today will yet remember the words of President David O. McKay, who phrased the familiar “Every member a missionary!” President Gordon B. Hinckley told us: “So many of us look upon missionary work as simply tracting. Everyone who is familiar with this work knows there is a better way. That way is through the members of the Church.”
To their words I add my own. Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.

Faith in the Work of Salvation

THOMAS S. MONSON

God's Hour is Upon Us

God's hour is upon us
To counsel all anew
To widely seek, thus 
What He would have us do

The Lord had inspired both President Patrick and Sister Palmer, but for a miracle they didn’t expect. We cannot always see the end from the beginning. We trust in the Lord and wait upon Him, knowing that in His own time and His own way, He will bring about His miracles. While the Lord was inspiring President Patrick and Sister Palmer, He was also preparing Sister Valerie Adams, a less-active member who hadn’t been back to the Church in more than a decade. Sister Adams’s son Braden and Rhett Palmer were already friends from school.

A Spiritual Work

NEIL L. ANDERSEN
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Hastening more Along

Hastening more along
The uncut stone moves on
Faster than ever before
All for the work of the Lord.

My dear brothers and sisters, I am grateful to be with you on this special occasion. This event is historic because we have in attendance 173 new mission presidents and their companions! They come from 19 different countries and are assigned to serve in 50 nations around the world. This record number of new mission presidents, coupled with the record number of 70,000-plus missionaries, are significant signs that the Lord is hastening His work.

The Work of Salvation: Parable of a Father at Bedtime

RUSSELL M. NELSON
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

The Good News Comes Alive


 The good news comes alive
Through an individual's story
Conversions unto Christ
Are for God' work and glory.
Missionary work comes alive when we hear remarkable stories of individual conversion. I would like to begin my message today by relating a conversation recently recorded with Sister Neill F. Marriott, sustained last April as second counselor in the general Young Women presidency. Many lessons can be learned as you listen carefully to her story.

The Work of Salvation: Parable of a Father at Bedtime

RUSSELL M. NELSON
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Callings Build on Each Other

Callings build on each other
Anchored on Christ.
Linking lessons together
Lifting us to light.

Well, I love Church meetings. I know that sounds strange, but my real heart is in my home. And so with each calling—and they did seem to build one on another—I would take care of my home first. Some meetings I missed, but it wasn’t an intrusion on family life. If anything, it taught me to be a better mother.
ELDER NELSON
You’re a better mother because you’re anchored to the gospel.

The Work of Salvation: Parable of a Father at Bedtime

RUSSELL M. NELSON
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

An Invitation

An invitation, humbly born
Of our love for Christ and others.
Will never offend or scorn.
Have faith, brothers and sisters.

This is a responsibility that we sometimes avoid because we fear that an invitation to meet with the missionaries or attend church may offend a neighbor or a friend—or even a member of our own family, like those portrayed in this video. However, an invitation that is born of our love for others and for the Lord Jesus Christ and our desire for the happiness of these friends and family members will never be seen as offensive or judgmental.

Our Responsibility to Invite

JEFFREY R. HOLLAND
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Our Baptisms were Low

Our baptisms were low
We looked where we could be strong
Our numbers to grow
Through reactivation's song.

Where once we had been weak
Light touched those around
Who brings more in who seek
To know what they have found

We were having a terrible time having baptisms in our ward. They were very low, and we realized that the Lord would not bless us with new converts until we took care of the people in our ward that we already had.

A Spiritual Work

NEIL L. ANDERSEN
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

A Miracle Comes


A miracle comes
Not as we expect...
As God speaks to us,
His love we detect!
We wait upon the Lord, knowing that miracles will follow our faith.
Nephi said that he was “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do” (1 Nephi 4:6). This is the way of a disciple. We don’t always know what is ahead, but the Lord does, and as we trust in Him, He leads us by the hand, and His miracles follow. I love the Lord’s declaration, “I am a God of miracles; … and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith” (2 Nephi 27:23).

A Spiritual Work

NEIL L. ANDERSEN
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

God Won't Let Us Fail


God won't let us fail
When we wait upon Him
Have faith. All is well.
The heavens will open.
There’s been a big change in how much we love these people. We’re all in it together, and we’re a whole bunch of imperfect leaders. And the biggest difference is that we know it’s His work; He won’t let us fail if we do the best we can.

A Spiritual Work

NEIL L. ANDERSEN
OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Sometimes You Have to "BACK TRACK"

Sometimes you have to "back track"
To get where you should be.
To receive the strength you lack
To get yourself moving.

Recall things in a journal
Let the spirit guide
Endure like life's a final
With God on your side.

There’s a word,repent. What does the “re” in repent mean? It means you do it again—repeat, repent. And then you have to backtrack to the point where you went off track and go forward, free from the challenges that were with you then. 

Teaching in the Church

BOYD K. PACKER
PRESIDENT OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Decide to "DO IT RIGHT"


Decide to "do it right"
And you will receive
From beyond the veil, light
If you but believe.
So, my counsel is simple. Just decide to do it right, decide to be better, decide to trust the scripture, and as you do, you’ll grow and the challenges you have will be for your good.

Teaching in the Church

BOYD K. PACKER
PRESIDENT OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Trust in Your Call


Trust in your call
Words will come to you
Give of your all
And light will shine through.
I wish that there would be a way to promise you that if you studied earnestly and seriously that you’d be better. It won’t hurt you. But it won’t make you better, even as good as it would if you’d trust in the Lord and trust in the Spirit and go ahead. That doesn’t quite become second nature, but you, in due time, learn to trust the Spirit that it will be there. Many times I’ve stood at the pulpit and wondered what to say, kind of empty-headed and knowing that there was a great responsibility, but it always comes. It comes when you start. You start and begin, and then the revelation starts to flow. The credit we deserve from all of that is very little for ourselves, because the Spirit is the generating power.

Teaching in the Church

BOYD K. PACKER

PRESIDENT OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES 

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The Captain of the Soul- Invictus/ The Soul's Captain by Elder Orson F. Whitney

Invictus by William E. Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Soul's Captain [The Answer]
by Elder Orson F. Whitney
of the Quorum of the Twelve
Art thou in truth? Then what of him
Who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?
Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear.
The God who died that man might live,
And endless glory share?
Of what avail thy vaunted strength,
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom,
That thou mayest see aright.
Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree.
Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth
Who gave that place to thee?
Free will is thine — free agency
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.
Bend to the dust that head "unbowed,"
Small part of Life's great whole!
And see in him, and him alone,
The Captain of thy soul

He's Been There Before

He's Been There Before by Elder Troy Whittle
The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets
A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes

The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much
"We have a super day planned," My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath, "Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to
Face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?
"The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"


"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before
By Elder Troy Whittle
Texas Houston Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

These poems are my own thoughts and impressions as I study the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints

I encourage you to read from the Book of Mormon and the standard works, and listen to modern day prophets, also, that your mind and heart might be touched.

Kelly Miller

153 Countries Visited! June 2015


Global Statistics
Visits from 153 countries registered.
No.CountryDate of Last VisitPercent & Number of Visits ↓
1
United States
June 15, 2015
82.86%25,281
2
United Kingdom
June 14, 2015
2.61%795
3
Canada
June 13, 2015
2.42%737
4
Australia
June 13, 2015
1.81%551
5
Philippines
June 14, 2015
1.35%412
6
New Zealand
June 14, 2015
0.99%303
7
India
June 14, 2015
0.79%241
8
Brazil
June 14, 2015
0.58%176
9
Germany
May 15, 2015
0.49%151
10
Mexico
June 3, 2015
0.40%121
11
South Africa
June 8, 2015
0.34%105
12
Russian Federation
Apr 20, 2015
0.26%80
13
France
June 3, 2015
0.21%64
14
Malaysia
June 5, 2015
0.14%44
15
Czech Republic
Apr 17, 2015
0.14%42
16
Pakistan
Mar 21, 2015
0.13%41
17
Spain
Apr 28, 2015
0.13%41
18
Italy
June 8, 2015
0.13%39
19
Netherlands
May 28, 2015
0.12%38
20
Europe
June 11, 2015
0.11%35
21
Indonesia
May 18, 2015
0.11%35
22
Cote D'Ivoire
May 17, 2015
0.11%35
23
Japan
Apr 17, 2015
0.11%33
24
Singapore
May 28, 2015
0.11%33
25
United Arab Emirates
Apr 25, 2015
0.10%32
26
Argentina
Apr 27, 2015
0.10%31
27
Korea, Republic of
Feb 1, 2015
0.10%31
28
-
May 10, 2015
0.10%31
29
Thailand
Apr 5, 2015
0.10%30
30
Ireland
May 19, 2015
0.10%29
31
Jamaica
June 1, 2015
0.09%28
32
Turkey
June 14, 2015
0.09%28
33
Trinidad and Tobago
May 18, 2015
0.09%26
34
Sweden
May 8, 2015
0.09%26
35
Guatemala
May 5, 2015
0.08%24
36
Denmark
May 10, 2015
0.08%23
37
Saudi Arabia
May 1, 2015
0.07%20
38
Nigeria
Apr 4, 2015
0.07%20
39
Hong Kong
Apr 18, 2015
0.07%20
40
Colombia
May 29, 2015
0.07%20
41
Chile
Mar 23, 2015
0.06%19
42
Finland
Mar 25, 2015
0.06%19
43
Taiwan
Mar 28, 2015
0.06%18
44
Romania
May 17, 2015
0.06%18
45
Fiji
Feb 27, 2015
0.06%17
46
Ghana
May 8, 2015
0.06%17
47
Belgium
May 30, 2015
0.05%16
48
Switzerland
Apr 12, 2015
0.05%16
49
Poland
Apr 6, 2015
0.05%15
50
American Samoa
Apr 10, 2015
0.05%14
51
Ecuador
Feb 23, 2015
0.05%14
52
Serbia
Mar 10, 2015
0.05%14
53
Austria
Apr 8, 2015
0.04%13
54
Senegal
Nov 24, 2014
0.04%13
55
Norway
June 1, 2015
0.04%13
56
Uruguay
Aug 18, 2014
0.04%12
57
Peru
Apr 13, 2015
0.04%12
58
Portugal
Apr 6, 2015
0.04%12
59
Kenya
Oct 29, 2014
0.04%12
60
Tonga
Dec 9, 2014
0.04%11
61
Dominican Republic
Mar 12, 2015
0.04%11
62
Hungary
Feb 16, 2015
0.03%10
63
Guyana
Apr 28, 2015
0.03%10
64
Bangladesh
Jan 19, 2015
0.03%9
65
Algeria
Feb 5, 2015
0.03%9
66
Kuwait
Mar 30, 2015
0.03%9
67
Egypt
Apr 4, 2015
0.03%9
68
Belize
May 8, 2015
0.03%9
69
Costa Rica
Feb 4, 2015
0.03%8
70
Bahamas
Jan 9, 2015
0.03%8
71
Israel
Feb 27, 2015
0.03%8
72
Ukraine
Jan 24, 2015
0.03%8
73
Asia/Pacific Region
June 9, 2015
0.03%8
74
Honduras
Feb 6, 2015
0.02%7
75
Cyprus
Mar 21, 2015
0.02%7
76
Guam
Apr 10, 2015
0.02%7
77
Greece
June 2, 2015
0.02%7
78
China
Dec 16, 2014
0.02%7
79
Panama
Apr 7, 2015
0.02%6
80
Morocco
Mar 3, 2015
0.02%6
81
Sri Lanka
Sept 28, 2014
0.02%6
82
Iraq
Feb 25, 2015
0.02%6
83
Togo
June 6, 2015
0.02%6
84
Botswana
May 7, 2015
0.02%6
85
El Salvador
Apr 23, 2015
0.02%5
86
Vietnam
Oct 30, 2014
0.02%5
87
Cook Islands
June 3, 2015
0.02%5
88
Bulgaria
Oct 27, 2014
0.02%5
89
Lithuania
June 23, 2014
0.02%5
90
Slovakia
Jan 19, 2015
0.02%5
91
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mar 23, 2015
0.02%5
92
French Polynesia
Nov 23, 2014
0.02%5
93
Bahrain
Nov 11, 2014
0.02%5
94
Slovenia
Jan 16, 2015
0.02%5
95
Grenada
Mar 10, 2015
0.02%5
96
Qatar
Jan 15, 2015
0.02%5
97
Saint Lucia
May 8, 2015
0.02%5
98
Puerto Rico
Feb 27, 2015
0.01%4
99
Tunisia
Jan 23, 2015
0.01%4
100
Malta
Mar 22, 2015
0.01%4
101
Croatia
Jan 20, 2015
0.01%4
102
New Caledonia
Jan 13, 2015
0.01%4
103
Barbados
Apr 29, 2014
0.01%4
104
Azerbaijan
Jan 14, 2015
0.01%4
105
Moldova, Republic of
Nov 29, 2014
0.01%3
106
Lebanon
Feb 11, 2014
0.01%3
107
Zimbabwe
July 23, 2014
0.01%3
108
Benin
Feb 19, 2015
0.01%3
109
Antigua and Barbuda
Aug 1, 2014
0.01%3
110
Isle of Man
Dec 20, 2014
0.01%3
111
Bhutan
June 8, 2015
0.01%3
112
Venezuela
May 14, 2014
0.01%3
113
Georgia
Mar 3, 2015
0.01%2
114
Namibia
Oct 22, 2014
0.01%2
115
Armenia
Jan 12, 2015
0.01%2
116
Virgin Islands, U.S.
June 20, 2014
0.01%2
117
Jordan
May 19, 2015
0.01%2
118
Mozambique
June 23, 2014
0.01%2
119
Uganda
Aug 4, 2014
0.01%2
120
Marshall Islands
Jan 28, 2015
0.01%2
121
Mauritius
Feb 20, 2015
0.01%2
122
Oman
May 12, 2014
0.01%2
123
Curacao
Apr 29, 2015
0.01%2
124
Sierra Leone
Apr 26, 2015
0.01%2
125
Samoa
Nov 1, 2013
0.01%2
126
Saint Kitts and Nevis
June 30, 2013
0.01%2
127
Macau
July 18, 2014
0.01%2
128
Albania
Aug 17, 2014
0.01%2
129
Dominica
Mar 12, 2013
0.01%2
130
Ethiopia
Jan 8, 2015
0.01%2
131
Estonia
Mar 20, 2015
0.01%2
132
Cape Verde
May 27, 2013
0.00%1
133
Cayman Islands
July 27, 2014
0.00%1
134
Cambodia
Sept 16, 2013
0.00%1
135
Myanmar
July 18, 2014
0.00%1
136
Lesotho
Jan 12, 2013
0.00%1
137
Mongolia
Mar 14, 2015
0.00%1
138
Zambia
Apr 22, 2013
0.00%1
139
Montenegro
Nov 19, 2014
0.00%1
140
Kazakhstan
Jan 9, 2015
0.00%1
141
Nicaragua
May 29, 2014
0.00%1
142
Paraguay
Mar 10, 2013
0.00%1
143
Haiti
Feb 1, 2015
0.00%1
144
Timor-Leste
Feb 21, 2013
0.00%1
145
Iceland
June 20, 2014
0.00%1
146
Aruba
Jan 9, 2014
0.00%1
147
Liberia
Jan 3, 2014
0.00%1
148
Northern Mariana Islands
Oct 9, 2014
0.00%1
149
Gibraltar
Jan 27, 2014
0.00%1
150
Swaziland
June 16, 2014
0.00%1
151
Jersey
Mar 30, 2013
0.00%1
152
Niue
Nov 30, 2014
0.00%1
153
Latvia

Followers