The Savior Wants to Forgive

Sins bring with them a heavy load
They are not easy to bear
Repent, pray, and turn to the Lord
Surrender unto His care

Another Week is Gone

Another week is gone,
Another Sabbath, too.
I know I'd be more strong,
If I planned the things I do!

Up Front and Center

Up front and center
This meeting is for you.
Those covenants, that you enter
With the Lord, DO renew!

Soar In the Gospel

http://www.clipartpal.com/clipart_pd/holiday/thanksgiving/colorfulturkey_10048.html

Three turkeys, how they marveled
As they looked up in the sky.
The eagles, how they traveled.
They could spread their wings and fly!

"What's wrong with us?" One wondered.
"How come lowly turkeys cannot soar?"
He jumped off things and floundered
And flapped his wings again some more

The eagles looked so happy
As they circled high above.
And their wings were barely flapping.
What was their strength made of?

With courage in his heart
He sought a school for flying.
New lessons soon would start!
With his friends, it was worth trying!

First, they took Wings 101
Then, Departing 100.
And when Landing 150 was done
They were much more than excited!

The class climbed up a cliff
With the instructor in the lead
"Just jump, with your wings stiff,
Here is the wind that you need!"

The first left the cliff's end,
Tucked his feet, with head held high
He circled with the current
And waved his friends to try.

Soon all three were in the air
Gobble gobbling with delight
They felt free from burdens there!
But, too soon, they would lose light.

Their teacher waved for them
From a rooftop landing strip.
How they had to run, then,
To make a stop and not trip!

Each accepted a diploma
Which they rolled beneath a wing.
And in the dark, they all walked homeward.
And soon forgot they'd been flying!

Each had their own excuse:
The cliffs were far.  It took too long!
He'd not spare time to use!
And, well, it had been wrong!

Do not be a turkey
And walk away from freedom's light.
Follow the Master's wisdom
And achieve with all your might!

Elder Zeballos inspired this poem. He was so cute flapping one elbow wing to tell the other turkeys to jump and his fingers ran on the pulpit when they came in for a landing. What do you think this story is about? Going to the temple? Using a recommend instead of just carrying it? Leaving the church?

A Mighty Change

What did you learn?
What did you feel?
Share of your light!
Show God is real!

Reflect Heaven's Light

Dear Saints,
Reflect all the flashes
That, from Heaven's light do bless.
Like a mirror free from scratches,
Of the love you feel, confess.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is there
To teach you in all ways
If with the Lord you share
Truth reaches through the haze

Haze a state of mental obscurity or confusion.

I treasure the times when a word comes and I look it up and it means more than I knew.  Inspiration is a treasure.

He Has My Back

There are many roads before us

That can take us way off track.

I must obey the Lord and trust

That He truly has my back!

He is a second set of ears

That hears what lies ahead.

I can set myself up for tears

Or walk with Him instead!

Access

In the temple, you can practice
For full access to the Lord!
One day you'll be in His presence
And be eternally restored!

Imagine this as you walk to the veil and thrill!

Hang On to the Boat

Hang on to the boat
And not to each other
The rapids will coat,
Tip, and try to smother!

Then you can look for those who fell overboard.

Row the oars

As a vessel of the Lord
Row the oars and rescue
Those who flounder and flail
How the Lord will bless you!

With stake boundaries and wards realigned, this is definitely the time to row the oars and rescue. It was a beautiful rainy day to think about it.

The Front Row Seat

You have the front row seat.
The atonement is real!
Here, as troubled hearts you greet
The Lord enters to heal

Priesthood

It was for the priesthood
That His church was restored
That we might grow in truth
And light from the Lord

I'm thankful for the priesthood and to see it in action as we just had our stake boundaries realigned. The stakes are stretching and strengthening the Saints.

Crowned With Light

Your soul has come to Christ.
Still, He wants for you more.
You will be crowned with light,
In the House of the Lord!

A beautiful and exciting thought from stake conference. I love converts! The temple awaits them.

Conversion Missionary

When you turn your life around
Leaving the old for the new
May you in goodness be found
As a missionary, too.

The mission president and his wife spoke. There are 600 missionaries in this mission. Our stake has 64 missionaries out. We are a missionary church.

When Alma was converted, he wanted nothing but to do missionary work. He was one of the greatest missionaries the world has ever known. He converted those who had been perceived as enemies.

LasVegas Temple

This hill of morning light
Fresh in living water flow
Is an oasis of peace and life
Blessing all, who come, to grow

Part of stake conference is hearing from the temple president and his wife. I love my temple and the feeling that is there. I love how I see the prophet and his counselors as I am heading back to the dressing room. It is though they are saying,  "Come back. Come often."

Together

We are all in this together
As a fellowship of Saints
We serve and teach each other
And prepare for what awaits

We just had our stake conference with two general authorities. Elders Heyman and Zeballos. It was actually two stakes because they split Anthem stake into two and pulled parts of two wards (ours) from Green Valley stake into what is now Carnegie stake. It was a beautiful thing to listen to Sister Tate talk about living here for 20 years and how everyone had taught her children and she them.

A Fire of Faith

Build a fire of faith
In the hearts of all
Refine them to face
And heed the Master's call.

Once Again

Once again
Come to the Lord all anew
And begin
To act on the knowledge in you

And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, Redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delight some people. Words of Mormon 1:8

Relief Society

It's quiet time sisters
To reflect and prepare
For a week of service,
Love, and Christ-like care

Except for the one teaching, Relief Society is such a strengthening peaceful time!

The Much Yellowed Paper

The much yellowed paper
Records a distant age
Through a task of labor
Words were placed upon the page

There was no erasure
Only the blotting out
Thoughts had to be premeasured
Can there be any doubt?

I remember learning to type on an old typewriter. To start, I handwrote the paper and transcribed once all the editing was done.  Thankfully there was whiteout!  That only helped if I caught my mistake before proofreading.  Of course, you would read it line by line because you had to predetermine when to stop and go to the next line. I held the white-out strip on top of the paper and retyped the mistake.  Then, I went back and typed the correction on top,.  If I pulled the paper out and a line had to be changed, I had to start all over again!  Writing is so incredibly easy today!

It is interesting to read how hard it was to find someone willing to print this large volume. To print books at the time of the first publishing was extremely time-consuming.  Fifteen years later, the rotary press and an improved type of wood pulp paper would make publishing additional Book of Mormons faster and cheaper.

Where the Book of Mormon Went to Press

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1989/02/where-the-book-of-mormon-went-to-press?lang=eng

The Book of Mormon Goes to Press

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/12/the-book-of-mormon-goes-to-press?lang=eng

An Endless Book of Possiblities

An endless book of possibilities
Exists for each of our lives
As we test out our abilities
And exercise God-given rights

It is a beautiful and terrifying process to raise a child.  There is so much responsibility!  There are so many influences, possibilities, and risks!  Where would we be without the gospel? Where much is given, much is required.

Boundary Change

The change in boundaries came
And uncertainty grew within
I had known each face and name!
And must work to settle in

When we moved 8 years ago I settled into the ward and got a calling. It was a growing experience. Our relocation only impacted my husband and I.  The news came today that our ward was invited to another stake building.  Hmmm.  Speculation time! New ward???  Sigh.  I only know that my neighbor Saints will go with me and that I will adjust to the change.  Isn't it wonderful that the gospel message is the same wherever we may go? 

Vacation Trip

The white line in the road
Offers safety and peace
So you can take your load
To a place new to please

Silently Do Not Suffer

Silently, do not suffer
In pain, all alone.
Know you do have a Savior
Whom, for you, did atone.

Hand in Hand

Feel His love and heed His word
With His spirit you are ready
To walk daily with the Lord
And when you trip, He will steady

If you want to read about the hand of the Lord and how to have it, this is a very personal and tender example:  The Lord Thy God Will Hold Thy Hand

W. Craig Zwick 

Let there Be Light

"Let there be light!"
It was said long ago.
Through Jesus Christ
We may seek the way home