Our Pioneer Heritage

Our heritage
Came of sacrifice
Through faith and courage
For a better life

Preserved to labor
They carved, for us, a trail
A path to the Savior
Hear the echoes "all is well"

Let us do the same
For our children's children
In our Lord's name
Let us persevere for them

Working wonderfully well together

Without concerns of status

Yes! A modern day miracle

Of charity and peace amongst us

[Verse 1] Our heritage Came of sacrifice Through faith and courage For a better life Preserved to labor They carved, for us, a trail A path to the Savior Hear the echoes all is well [Pre-Chorus] Let us do the same For our children's children In our Lord's name Let us persevere for them [Chorus] Working wonderfully well together (Working wonderfully well together) Without concerns of status Yes! A modern day miracle A modern day miracle Of charity and peace amongst us [Verse 2] Hands across the table Bread shared in the light Old wounds held together By mercy in our sight What they built with believing Still lives in what we do Every door kept open Every burden carried through [Pre-Chorus] Let us do the same For our children's children In our Lord's name Let us persevere for them [Chorus] Working wonderfully well together (Working wonderfully well together) Without concerns of status Yes! A modern day miracle A modern day miracle Of charity and peace amongst us [Bridge] Let the proud grow humble Let the lonely draw near If we walk in patience Love will make us clear [Final Chorus] Working wonderfully well together (Working wonderfully well together) Without concerns of status Yes! A modern day miracle A modern day miracle Of charity and peace amongst us

...persevered against injustice, misunderstanding, some intolerance, occasional bigotry, occasional racism, against differences of custom and traditions and faith, [and] labored against all of that to carve out for us, their descendants, the wonderful day and the marvelous miraculous time in which we live

Elder Holland said. “We owe the same pioneering, persevering legacy to our children and our children’s children.”

Elder Holland spoke at the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days Devotional at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University on July 17, 2011, and encouraged individuals to work together while respecting and emulating their diverse pioneer heritage in their communities today.

“People working together are more successful, more prosperous and much more happy than neighborhoods or ethnic groups or religious faiths that are suspicious of one another, threatened by one another, and all too often hostile, even violent, toward one another,” he said.

Proven Prayer- Lovingly Led

I have been lovingly led
To a woman who completes me
When I was on a path to dread
Prayer helped me to believe and see
...
A recent love
Was a deception
I saw the dirt on her gloves
With prayer's closer inspection

Then in heart ache
I questioned myself
And for pain's sake
Put dating on the shelf

But, as time flew
I made a rebound
I had to move, too
For the right girl, I'd found

This time my vision's not been blurred
I'm with the right person, in the right place
And a prayer has sealed what my heart assured
She's whom I'll marry throughout time and space...

Now: work, love and school
There's no time for rest
Except for the spiritual fuel
I would not ace each test

And what lies ahead?
A sealing date, of course
And from this day, may I be lead
By proven prayer as my best resource
For that is the way to be safe from remorse

[Verse 1] I have been lovingly led To a woman who completes me When I was on a path to dread Prayer helped me to believe and see A recent love Was a deception I saw the dirt on her gloves With prayer's closer inspection [Pre-Chorus] Then in heart ache I questioned myself For pain's sake Put dating on the shelf But time flew And I moved, too For the right girl, I'd found Right here, right now [Chorus] Proven prayer Proven prayer She's the one I need Proven prayer Proven prayer It brought me back to peace [Verse 2] This time my vision's not been blurred I'm with the right person, in the right place And a prayer has sealed what my heart assured She's whom I'll marry throughout time and space Now: work, love and school There's no time for rest Except for the spiritual fuel I would not ace each test [Pre-Chorus] And what lies ahead? A sealing date, of course From this day, may I be lead By proven prayer as my best resource For that is the way To be safe from remorse For that is the way To be safe from remorse [Chorus] Proven prayer Proven prayer She's the one I need Proven prayer Proven prayer It brought me back to peace [Bridge] When the week runs long And the doubts lean in I lift up my hands And I trust again No fear can stay Where grace has found me What was once a wound Now is a mercy [Final Chorus] Proven prayer Proven prayer She's the one I need Proven prayer Proven prayer It brought me back to peace Proven prayer Proven prayer From this day on, I'm led Proven prayer Proven prayer And my heart can rest

Hand Picked for Me- The One I Marry- My Love

Oh, the one I marry will have to be
The one Heavenly Father hand picked for me
He knowing the beginning from the end
Is the designer of eternal friends

I pray that we both will equally know
That our love from Heavenly Father doth flow
May faith and trust ground us well from the start
That our love may grow deeply in the heart

Thus, the one chosen for me
Comes, almost, familiarly
A bit, perhaps, of Mom and Dad
The best connections I have had

I will grow a testimony of my love
How perfectly a gift given from above
The differences- how they make a nice blend
As blessings for each other, gifts in the end

love-
Is it a match, a spark
A flame to dim and grow dark
Or is it a connection
Spiritual for detection

Promising more as the windows of heaven outpour
That individually we each have been framed for
Unto a mirror where lies the future and past
A place to remember promises forever cast

Verse 1] Oh, the one I marry will have to be The one Heavenly Father hand picked for me He knowing the beginning from the end Is the designer of eternal friends I pray that we both will equally know That our love from Heavenly Father doth flow May faith and trust ground us well from the start That our love may grow deeply in the heart [Pre-Chorus] Thus, the one chosen for me Comes, almost, familiarly A bit, perhaps, of Mom and Dad The best connections I have had [Chorus] Hand picked for me Hand picked for me From above, for me Heavenly Father, lead me Hand picked for me Hand picked for me A gift in love A blessing to receive [Verse 2] I will grow a testimony of my love How perfectly a gift given from above The differences- how they make a nice blend As blessings for each other, gifts in the end love- Is it a match, a spark A flame to dim and grow dark Or is it a connection Spiritual for detection [Pre-Chorus] Promising more as the windows of heaven outpour That individually we each have been framed for Unto a mirror where lies the future and past A place to remember promises forever cast [Chorus] Hand picked for me Hand picked for me From above, for me Heavenly Father, lead me Hand picked for me Hand picked for me A gift in love A blessing to receive [Bridge] He knowing the beginning from the end I trust the path He charts again If this is mine, let it be true A love He shapes in me and you [Final Chorus] Hand picked for me Hand picked for me From above, for me Heavenly Father, lead me Hand picked for me Hand picked for me A gift in love A blessing to receive

Forgotten Prayers

 

Daily, I forget to pray

And then, the day gets away

I would do well to ask of Thee-

Thy will, as one grown more meek

Our Dear Father, We Cry Aloud

When the people, fearing God, cried out with one voice....Were they singing?  

Was someone signing and they were saying the words in unison?  I do sense that the latter is what happened.

Heavenly Father, We cry aloud,
Lamenting our sins, with one voice.
Please forgive us our carnal state.
To speak Thy Son's name, we rejoice.

Oh have mercy and apply the
Atoning blood of Christ.
Help us to be more repentant,
With our hearts more purified.

May we be filled with Thy spirit,
For a remission of our sins.
May Thy mercy shine upon us.
With grace. Please forgive us and cleanse.

We feel less that the earth

Even  less than unwelcome dust

Help us realize our worth

The potential within each of us

Verse 1] Heavenly Father, we cry aloud Lamenting our sins, with one voice Please forgive us our carnal state To speak Thy Son's name, we rejoice [Pre-Chorus] Oh have mercy And apply The Atoning blood of Christ Help us be more repentant With our hearts more purified [Chorus] Please forgive us And cleanse us Please forgive us And cleanse us May Thy mercy shine upon us With grace, with grace [Verse 2] May we be filled with Thy spirit For a remission of our sins We lean in low We come again And ask You to begin [Pre-Chorus] Oh have mercy And apply The Atoning blood of Christ Help us be more repentant With our hearts more purified [Chorus] Please forgive us And cleanse us Please forgive us And cleanse us May Thy mercy shine upon us With grace, with grace [Bridge] We feel less than the earth Even less than unwelcome dust Help us realize our worth The potential within each of us [Final Chorus] Please forgive us And cleanse us Please forgive us And cleanse us May Thy mercy shine upon us With grace, with grace

Mosiah  Chapter 4

King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the Atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your sins through faithfulness—Impart of your substance to the poor—Do all things in wisdom and order. About 124 B.C.


1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.

2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

My Prayer

My prayer...take me as I am 

Mortal, and so prone to sin

And make of me something more

In tune and serving Thee, Lord

Walk in My Ways

Little by little

Temptations come

Trouble by trouble

You fail to become

Wisdom's corrupted

Judgment's gone off

Trust, now, interrupted 

And then you get caught

This "high" life cut short

Competitors leer

Your vacancy they're for 

Your enemies cheer

Remember the day

The Lord had your back

You walked in His ways

Your life was on track

The peace of the Sabbath

The calm of the covenant 

You were on the right path

It's time to be repentant

Return to the good days

When you could live with yourself

You had nothing to hide

When you felt and loved to help!

Hear the Lord call

Walk in my ways

Come follow me

Put love back in 

all of your days

Verse 1] Little by little Temptations come Trouble by trouble You fail to become Wisdom's corrupted Judgment's gone off Trust, now, interrupted And then you get caught This high life cut short Competitors leer Your vacancy they're for Your enemies cheer [Pre-Chorus] Remember the day The Lord had your back You walked in His ways Your life was on track The peace of the Sabbath The calm of the covenant You were on the right path It's time to be repentant [Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me [Verse 2] Return to the good days When you could live with yourself You had nothing to hide When you felt and loved to help No need to pretend No need to divide The door is still open The road is inside [Pre-Chorus] Remember the day The Lord had your back You walked in His ways Your life was on track The peace of the Sabbath The calm of the covenant You were on the right path It's time to be repentant [Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me [Bridge] Hear the Lord call Hear the Lord call The mercy is near The old chains fall [Break] Return to the good days You can live with yourself You had nothing to hide You were made to help [Final Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days

See A Pearl Farm in China by The Pearl Girls

The birth of a pearl
Is a miraculous thing

From an oyster to unfurl

A grain, a treasure to be

See the pearl shimmer 

with a soft inner glow

Unlike any other gem 

the earth holds to show

Iridescent 

With a luster of white

See it reflect and refract 

All the colors of light

See the Young Women

Inwardly aglow

Each prized in heaven

With beauty to grow

Her luster of virtue

From being washed clean

Is bright for the future

Like celestial crystalline

[Verse 1] The birth of a pearl Is a miraculous thing From an oyster to unfurl A grain, a treasure to be See the pearl shimmer with a soft inner glow Unlike any other gem the earth holds to show [Pre-Chorus] Iridescent With a luster of white See it reflect and refract All the colors of light [Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road [Verse 2] See the Young Women Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven With beauty to grow Her luster of virtue From being washed clean Is bright for the future Like celestial crystalline [Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road [Bridge] From grain to glory From hidden to shown What was once buried Becomes a holy stone [Final Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road

The birth of a pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike gemstones or precious metals that must be mined from the earth, pearls are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty. But pearls need no such treatment to reveal their loveliness. They are born from oysters complete -- with a shimmering iridescence, lustre and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on earth.

A natural pearl begins its life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster's body takes defensive action. The oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance around the irritant in order to protect itself. This substance is called "nacre." As long as the irritant remains within its body, the oyster will continue to secrete nacre around it, layer upon layer. Over time, the irritant will be completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings. And the result, ultimately, is the lovely and lustrous gem called a pearl.

How something so wondrous emerges from an oyster's way of protecting itself is one of nature's loveliest surprises. For the nacre is not just a soothing substance. It is composed of microscopic crystals of calcium carbonate, aligned perfectly with one another, so that light passing along the axis of one crystal is reflected and refracted by another to produce a rainbow of light and color.

Cultured pearls share the same properties as natural pearls. Oysters form cultured pearls in an almost identical fashion. The only difference is a person carefully implants the irritant in the oyster, rather than leaving it to chance. We then step aside and let nature create its miracle.

http://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html

In its Gleaming Glory

In its gleaming glory
The temple beckons us
Promising the weary
A place of peace and rest

The House of the Lord
Is for the homeward bound
As with all its splendor
Heaven on earth is found

thoughts from
quotes from President Thomas S. Monson
In the special temple Ensign, October 2010, 10

[Verse 1] In its gleaming glory The temple beckons us Promising the weary A place of peace and rest The House of the Lord Is for the homeward bound As with all its splendor Heaven on earth is found [Pre-Chorus] To enter through its doors Holiness is felt The spirit is restored Life's big problems melt [Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us) [Verse 2] We bring our list of worries Friends and families suffer Every wounded thought We lay it at the alter The dust falls from our hands The world is left behind In His holy place Our broken hearts align [Pre-Chorus] To enter through its doors Holiness is felt The spirit is restored Life's big problems melt [Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us) [Bridge] Let every weary heart Lift up and testify There is healing here There is grace alive Let every searching soul Find shelter in the flame Heart's sanctuary We are not the same [Final Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us)

Let Me Warn You With Caution

Let me warn you with caution
Repent now before it’s too late
For seeking to ease my conscience
I once allowed in judgment and hate

Willfully choosing this, I added
More sins upon my head
That unto Satan, I was handed
Unto being hardened and spiritually dead

Now while in this dark wasteland
Seeking for my long way back
I found the Savior’s hand
For alone the strength I lacked

Of this prideful experience
I would that you not have
For God’s laws have no variance
And, Satan waits patiently to trap

[Verse 1] Let me warn you with caution Repent now before it’s too late For seeking to ease my conscience I once allowed in judgment and hate [Verse 2] Willfully choosing this, I added More sins upon my head That unto Satan, I was handed Unto being hardened and spiritually dead [Pre-Chorus] Now while in this dark wasteland Seeking for my long way back I found the Savior’s hand For alone the strength I lacked [Chorus] Save me from my pride Save me from my pride Out of this wasteland Hold me in Your light Save me from my pride Save me from my pride God, Your ways don’t bend And Satan waits to trap [Verse 3] Of this prideful experience I would that you not have For God’s laws have no variance And, Satan waits patiently to trap [Bridge] So I lay it down Every bitter part Write Your mercy there Deep inside my heart [Chorus] Save me from my pride Save me from my pride Out of this wasteland Hold me in Your light Save me from my pride Save me from my pride God, Your ways don’t bend And Satan waits to trap

When We Believe, We Surpass

When we believe, we surpass
And we've happiness as our gas
For it's optimism we embrace
To see the value in life's race

A good marriage and home to roost
Will be only a short lived boost
If we've not faith which comes first
We will start seeing things as worst

When an optimist finds trauma has struck
The response is better, as though in luck
Without blame, worry, or ruminate
A solution forms to illuminate...

Here are some key words of advice
To see life as beautiful and nice
As we ponder sad moments and deviation
We must build ourselves up with appreciation

When thoughts circle and strengths wane
Write down what dwells within your brain
Do something that will distract
Take a break and let good attract

What other factors are in the midst?
Now it's time to ponder the list
We can make adversity's power slacken
By thinking beyond the worst that can happen

Avoid pessimism as you strive
And savor what it means to be alive
Don't revolve in boredom and tedium
Shake off the news and presidium

Share of yourself with gratitude
Help someone see your new attitude
Create true friendships with energy
Combine strengths and start synergy

Happiness can be a learned behavior
As we point our spirits to the Savior
Then we're centered with a divine role
And to be like Him becomes our goal

With prayer we can talk to Him
And feel His love build within
And as we serve others we forget ourself
Which helps us put our sadness upon a shelf

[Verse 1] When we believe, we surpass And we've happiness as our gas For it's optimism we embrace To see the value in life's race A good marriage and home to roost Will be only a short lived boost If we've not faith which comes first We will start seeing things as worst [Pre-Chorus] When an optimist finds trauma has struck The response is better, as though in luck Without blame, worry, or ruminate A solution forms to illuminate [Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through [Verse 2] Here are some key words of advice To see life as beautiful and nice As we ponder sad moments and deviation We must build ourselves up with appreciation When thoughts circle and strengths wane Write down what dwells within your brain Do something that will distract Take a break and let good attract [Pre-Chorus] What other factors are in the midst? Now it's time to ponder the list We can make adversity's power slacken By thinking beyond the worst that can happen [Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through [Bridge] Avoid pessimism as you strive And savor what it means to be alive Don't revolve in boredom and tedium Shake off the news and presidium Share of yourself with gratitude Help someone see your new attitude Create true friendships with energy Combine strengths and start synergy [Final Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through Happiness can be a learned behavior As we point our spirits to the Savior Then we're centered with a divine role And to be like Him becomes our goal With prayer we can talk to Him And feel His love build within And as we serve others we forget ourself Which helps us put our sadness upon a shelf

Synergy- the working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects

click on the title to read the article
Happiness is a Learned Behavior
By Sharon Haddock
Mormon Times Friday, March 27, 2009

illustration by Roman 92
wikimedia commons

How Rare a Possession - The Book of Mormon (Full Movie)

A farmer laid
In the bowels of the earth
His fruits sustained
By a spiritual birth

To then spring up
For branching forth
From a strong trunk
To tower once more

And God sent down
To lodge there secure
In the branches grown
Gospel fruit made pure

Go and partake

And spread the news

We've covenants to make

To freely choose

Stay by the tree

The love of God

In truth, happily

Endure. Belong

Verse 1] A farmer laid In the bowels of the earth His fruits sustained By a spiritual birth To then spring up For branching forth From a strong trunk To tower once more [Pre-Chorus] And God sent down To lodge there secure In the branches grown Gospel fruit made pure [Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God [Verse 2] In truth, happily Endure A farmer laid And the seed came through His fruits sustained Now they live in you [Pre-Chorus] And God sent down To lodge there secure In the branches grown Gospel fruit made pure [Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God [Bridge] From the deep below To the open sky What was hidden grows And it never dies Stay by the tree With a willing heart In truth, happily Endure the start [Final Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God

Here's a great talk to read more:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-04-5020-elder-kevin-w-pearson?lang=eng

Adversity Begins With the First Breath

Adversity begins with our very first breath
As we sense the struggle between life and death
Dependent completely for everything at first
One develops ability for better or worse

Then comes the search for independence and choice
To experience the freedom to dream and rejoice
And as we learn, our knowledge comes with a high price
For we discover that the world is not always good and nice

Soon we find we're not always innocent, for we've much that does afflict
As our agency overwhelms us, thereto act and self-inflict
One thing becomes certain, hard times define what we are
And, too, they determine if and when we'll travel far

Fortunately, we've a Savior, who's experienced it all
He is there to give us aid, and comfort us when we fall
He is there to guide us, when we're confused and we're tested
It is for our souls, that He has suffered and invested

As we mature, we gasp that we've this incredible blessing
And we learn ever to grasp His hand when life is distressing
Then we look around at those struggling and want to share
That there is a Savior, with hands, ever stretching to give care

Our Father, in His wisdom, gives us trials to rise above!
Oh, what things we receive when we learn what it is to love
As work hardens our muscles and sorrows try our very souls
It is then we're prepared and strengthened to achieve our highest goals

Are we not exposed to temptations to test and to try us?
And, further, to value the perfection of our Lord, our Jesus?
With pain we learn patience, and conquer feeling horrified
And peace replaces fear of death, unto faith in our being glorified!

[Verse 1] Adversity begins with our very first breath As we sense the struggle between life and death Dependent completely for everything at first One develops ability for better or worse Then comes the search for independence and choice To experience the freedom to dream and rejoice [Pre-Chorus] And as we learn, our knowledge comes with a high price For we discover that the world is not always good and nice Soon we find we're not always innocent For we've much that does afflict As our agency overwhelms us Thereto act and self-inflict [Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day [Verse 2] One thing becomes certain, hard times define what we are And, too, they determine if and when we'll travel far Fortunately, we've a Savior, who's experienced it all He is there to give us aid, and comfort us when we fall He is there to guide us, when we're confused and we're tested It is for our souls, that He has suffered and invested [Pre-Chorus] As we mature, we gasp that we've this incredible blessing And we learn ever to grasp His hand when life is distressing Then we look around at those struggling and want to share That there is a Savior, with hands, ever stretching to give care [Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day [Bridge] Our Father, in His wisdom, gives us trials to rise above! Oh, what things we receive when we learn what it is to love As work hardens our muscles and sorrows try our very souls It is then we're prepared and strengthened to achieve our highest goals Are we not exposed to temptations to test and to try us? And, further, to value the perfection of our Lord, our Jesus? With pain we learn patience, and conquer feeling horrified And peace replaces fear of death, unto faith in our being glorified [Final Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day

Thoughts from
President Patterson's talk
March 15, 2009
In Moorpark's Ward Conference
He quoted President Kimball: "Is there not wisdom in his giving us trials that we might rise above them, responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, sorrows to try our souls? Are we not exposed to temptations to test our strength, sickness that we might learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified?"

We Oft Walk on Water

We oft walk on water
Against life's mighty storm
As we serve our Father
With His works to perform

But, feeling inadequate
Emotionally we sink
As from prayers we quit
And spiritually we shrink

So pray continually
And vow to never give in
To feeling down and lonely
For we are strong with Him

Miracles do come

When on the Lord's errand

Believe in your call

And that angels attend

[Verse 1] We oft walk on water Against life's mighty storm As we serve our Father With His works to perform But, feeling inadequate Emotionally we sink As from prayers we quit And spiritually we shrink [Pre-Chorus] So pray continually And vow to never give in To feeling down and lonely For we are strong with Him [Chorus] Walk on water, walk on water We are strong with Him Don't let your soul grow dim Miracles do come When on the Lord's errand Believe in your call mmmmm And that angels attend [Verse 2] When the burden presses in And hope feels far away Lift your eyes again Let His promise have its say The weak can rise in faith The weary can stand tall He hears the quiet heart He catches every fall [Pre-Chorus] So pray continually And vow to never give in To feeling down and lonely For we are strong with Him [Chorus] Walk on water, walk on water We are strong with Him Don't let your soul grow dim Miracles do come When on the Lord's errand Believe in your call mmmmm And that angels attend [Bridge] When doubt says, "You can't" Grace says, "Go ahead" When tears blur the road He goes on before you Hold fast to the call Keep your hand in His The storm will bow low And your faith will live [Final Chorus] Walk on water, walk on water We are strong with Him Don't let your soul grow dim Miracles do come When on the Lord's errand Believe in your call mmmmm And that angels attend

It Is Never Ever Past Too Late

It is never ever past too late

In the race of giving our all

To rise up well from our fallen state

And answer our Redeemer's call.

It is never ever past too late

To cleave to the gospel He gave:

The Atonement, the narrow gate,

And His abiding grace to save!

A new year fast approaches

And so we oft reflect

And seek out the best coaches

For our betterment.

Then by the graceful hand of God

Someone is placed at our feet

With the training, from where we've stalled

That resolutions we might meet.

It is never too late

To make His atonement

Your foundation of faith

"Can Ye Feel So Now?"

"For any whose lives are not in order, remember, it is never too late to make the Savior’s Atonement the foundation of our faith and lives."

—Quentin L. Cook, ""Can Ye Feel So Now?"", Liahona and Ensign, October 2012
Topics: Parenthood, Family, Testimony

"The Race" by D. H. Groberg

“Quit, give up, you're beaten,”
they shout at me and plead.
“There's just too much against you now, 
this time you can't succeed!”

And as I start to hang my head
in front of failures face,
my downward fall is broken
by the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will
as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race
rejuvenates my being.

A children's race, young boys, young men,
how I remember well.
Excitement sure, but also fear
It wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope
each thought to win the race
or tie for first, or if not that
at least take second place.

And fathers watched from off the side,
each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
that he would be the one.

The whistles blew, and off they went
young hearts and hopes afire.
To win, to be the hero there
was each young boy’s desire.

And one boy in particular
whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought,
“My dad will be so proud!”

But as they speeded down the field
across a shallow dip
the little boy who thought to win,
lost his step and slipped.

Trying hard to catch himself
his hands flew out in brace
and mid the laughter of the crowd,
he fell flat on his face.

So down he fell and with him hope,
he couldn't win, not now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
to disappear somehow.

But as he fell, his dad stood up,
and showed his anxious face, 
which to the boy so clearly said;
get up and win the race.

He quickly rose, no damage done,
behind a bit that's all,
and ran with all his might and mind
to make up for the fall.

So anxious to restore himself,
to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs,
he slipped and fell again.

He wished then he had quit before,
with only one disgrace.
“I'm hopeless as a runner now,
I shouldn't try to race.”

But in the laughing crowd he searched,
and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again,
“Get up and win the race!”

So he jumped to try again,
Ten yards behind the last.
“If I'm going to gain those yards, 
I've gotta move real fast!”

Exerting everything he had
he regained eight or ten.
But trying so hard to catch the lead
he slipped and fell again.

Defeat! He lay there silently;
all hope had fled away.
“So far behind, so error prone
I can't make it all the way.”

“I've lost, so what's the use,” he thought
“I'll live with the disgrace.”
But then, he thought about his dad
who soon, he'd have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low,
‘Get up and take your place.
You weren't meant for failure here,
get up and win the race.”

With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said.
“You haven't lost at all
for winning is no more than this;
to rise each time you fall.”

So up he rose to run once more,
and with anew commit.
He resolved that win or lose,
at least he wouldn't quit.

Three times he'd fallen, stumbling,
three times he rose again,
Now he gave it all he had
and ran as though to win.

They cheered the winning runner
as he crossed the line first place
head high, and proud and happy
no falling, no disgrace.

But when the fallen youngster
crossed the line last place,
the crowd gave him the greater cheer
for finishing the race!

And even though he came in last
with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he won the race
to listen to the crowd.

And to his dad he sadly said
“I didn't do so well.”
“To me you won,” his father said.
“You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and hard
and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy
helps me in my race.

For all of life is like that race
with ups and downs and all,
and all you have to do to win
is rise each time you fall.

“Quit, give up, your beaten!”
They still shouted in my face.
But another voice within me says,
“Get up and win the race!” 

Heatwave

 

During a heatwave 

At dangerous levels

Drink more in the shade

Be like the animals

Who nap away the day

Or make water your friend

Dive in and splash away

Eat watermelon 

Using sunblock all day

Still...count on a nap....long

Come What May

Come what may
We still will know peace
Come what may
Our souls will then increase

Let our hearts
Be turned unto Thee
For life charts
A course that's challenging

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

We'll be wise
When comes disaster
Though fear tries
Blessings are seen after

We'll endure
The nights dark shadows
For we're sure
We've brighter tomorrows

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

We'll not moan
On trails to Zion
We're God's own
And we shall soon triumph

With life's peaks
The heart grows heavy
But God speaks
And brings strength from heaven

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

The birds sing
Come now and listen
As bells ring
Come let your eyes glisten

When we're caught
And seized by trials
It's but ought
The wheel of life's dials

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

Know each tear
That clouds up today
Soon will clear
Unto a joyous day

We shall seek
For life eternal
We'll be meek
With peace that's internal

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

God does see
Beyond- to success
And we'll be
Strengthened though we've distress

For each loss
He will compensate
When we cross
Beyond what comes of late

Come what may
We will profit
We will say
That we love it

Elder Wirthlin
Come What May, And Love It
Ensign, November 2008, 26

The words came to me
after choir practice
with Once In Royal David's City
still playing in my mind

Religious Freedom Day

It takes a leap of faith
To create a nation strong
Good morals are needed to frame
A foundation of right and wrong

I give my thanks today
For the freedom of religion
That I have the choice to pray
And choose a church I believe in

To those who paid the price
And against tyranny did fight
I give thanks they'd sacrifice
For each inalienable right

With the Bill of Rights declared
Our country could expand
Through each suffrage shared
Liberty's now established to each hand

In each instance it took faith
Through God given convictions
To stand up and face
Limitations and restrictions

Without Martin Luther King
How could all men unite?
Without women following
How could each enjoy freedom's light?

Without Charlie Kirk's words

That opened space for dialogue

How can differences be heard

To debate and right what's wrong

For, in the image of God each has worth
No matter our age, sex, size, or race
From conception these rights give birth
Divinely given to embrace

True religion and good morals
are the only solid foundations
of public liberty's happiness
Continental Congress 1778

This song is dedicated to Martin Luther, also, Who made the scriptures available.  I chose the waldzither- a Renaissance-era musical instrument to carry the song.  Many called it a Lutherzither because Martin Luther was also a musician.

The Thinning

Your skin ages with you

It tells where you've been

It shows what's within, too

And the old scars are seen

Too, the veil becomes thin

Life's departure, man's fate

With the deceased to begin

A new journey awaits

Pray it be with the Lord

Unto glory beyond imagining

Received unto favor

In the temple receive a sampling

Settle Your Mind and Listen

Settle your mind
And with God's word think
Seek and you'll find
That spiritual link

The Light of Christ guides
Our conscience to do
The Holy Ghost resides
Testifying what's true

We have tools in place
All, with faith, that we need
Right before our face
If we listen and heed

When we know naught of peace or rest
We have the fullness of more
The priesthood to speak to us and bless
And we can go to the House of the Lord

A Man on a Hot Day Stood at the Crossroads

A man on a hot day
Stood at the crossroads
Questioning which way
He should go

The path of safety
He had always known
Where he tread safely
To and fro

But on this day
He was tired and weak
And the shady way
He did seek

He knew of the lion
But did not care
His instincts he'd rely on
To get him there

The first day this was true
For the lion had been full
But by the day after two
He waited with drool

Then it wasn't long
That the man was taught
The lion proved strong
And he was caught

That was the end
Of a man I knew
He'd been a friend
And a smart one too

clip art by John Olson

[Verse 1] A man on a hot day Stood at the crossroads Questioning which way He should go The path of safety He had always known Where he tread safely To and fro [Chorus] At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? [Verse 2] But on this day He was tired and weak And the shady way He did seek He knew of the lion But did not care His instincts he'd rely on To get him there [Chorus] At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? [Bridge] The first day this was true For the lion had been full But by the day after two He waited with drool Then it wasn't long That the man was taught The lion proved strong And he was caught [Final Chorus] At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? At the crossroads At the crossroads Which way will you go? [Outro] That was the end Of a man I knew He'd been a friend And a smart one too

Increase Your Faith

Questions come that threaten

Your foundation of faith

Remember all you've been given

Ask God to increase your strength

Study, prayer and service

This is the path to seek for truth

Conversion with purpose

Feeling God's love is your proof

Spirit to spirit

From my heart to yours

His love does confirm

As it warmly outpours

Someone comes at you

Citing scriptures on end

Leaks in our history

Pinning doubts on events

They preach their slogans

Intellectually

The "know its" of man's notions

Not spiritually

Their quest's rational

Without the spirit and prayer

They're not inspirational

Applying not service and care

They have prepared a meal

To lure you away

But the Spirit does heal

So increase your faith

Defend light and truth, but with faith

Give up the need to be right

With those grown distant in debate

Seek God's word, His love, His light

Always remember

Whose job it is to convince

Always the spirit

To those with open minds, hence

Verse 1] Questions come that threaten Your foundation of faith Remember all you've been given Ask God to increase your strength Study, prayer and service This is the path to seek for truth Conversion with purpose Feeling God's love is your proof [Pre-Chorus] Spirit to spirit From my heart to yours His love does confirm As it warmly outpours [Chorus] Increase your faith Increase your faith Defend light and truth Give up the need to be right Increase your faith Increase your faith Seek God's word, His love, His light (Your faith) (Your faith) [Verse 2] Someone comes at you Citing scriptures on end Leaks in our history Pinning doubts on events They preach their slogans Intellectually The know its of man's notions Not spiritually [Pre-Chorus] Their quest's rational Without the spirit and prayer They're not inspirational Applying not service and care [Chorus] Increase your faith Increase your faith Defend light and truth Give up the need to be right Increase your faith Increase your faith Seek God's word, His love, His light (Your faith) (Your faith) [Bridge] They have prepared a meal To lure you away But the Spirit does heal So increase your faith Always remember Whose job it is to convince Always the spirit To those with open minds, hence [Final Chorus] Increase your faith Increase your faith Defend light and truth Give up the need to be right Increase your faith Increase your faith Seek God's word, His love, His light With those grown distant in debate (Increase your faith) (Your faith)

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slogan meaning/ origin:   It is made up of the Scottish Gaelic word sluagh, meaning "army," and ghairm, meaning "call, cry." 

Jane Manderscheid Wadsworth

 ·

It is not our job/work to debate, try to convince or convert anyone-

that is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our work is to invite and show/share the reason for our faith & beliefs and where & how to find more of what we believe to see the truth for themselves -

ComeUntoChrist.org

And then may we suggest for them to ask God, in sincere prayer (with an open mind and willing/ready to act on His answers) ---with reading Bible scriptures and including the BofM.

-- We may use some time to share/give evidence for our belief/faith *if* people are open minded and respectful

(not calling names or trampling pearls etc)

---otherwise it is

best not to waste our time.

God bless us all with whatever we need most.

ComeUntoChrist.org