1903 Rise Beyond the Gray

In 1903, A dream of mankind was fulfilled
Wilbur and Orville made the first controlled powered flight
They'd worked many jobs. But, as inventors, how they thrilled.
For 13 seconds they soared and proved their hopes were right.

They'd done their homework. They knew the laws of gravity.
They had controls, wings and an engine to stay aloft.
They could get up off the ground and brave they proved to be.
They were determined and they did not heed those who scoffed.
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With our goals defined, and if we work diligently.
We will soon be on a controlled path that takes us far
Where self mastery and the Spirit guides us gently.
And choices mirror where our thoughts and desires are.

To lift up our souls we raise our eyes unto the hills.
Where there is brightness above the thick clouds which threaten.
Where there is brilliance so bright that the whole being thrills.
Where shines God's power to lift us up and thus strengthen.

Verse 1] In nineteen-oh-three, a dream of mankind was fulfilled Wilbur and Orville made the first controlled powered flight They'd worked many jobs, but as inventors, how they thrilled For thirteen seconds they soared and proved their hopes were right [Verse 2] They'd done their homework, knew the laws of gravity They had controls, wings, and an engine to stay aloft They could rise from the ground, and brave they proved to be Determined, they did not heed those who scoffed [Chorus] With our goals defined, and if we work diligently We'll soon be on a controlled path that takes us far Where self-mastery and the Spirit guide us gently And choices mirror where our thoughts and desires are [Verse 3] To lift up our souls, we raise our eyes unto the hills Where brightness waits above the thick clouds threatening Where brilliance shines so bright that the whole being thrills Where God's power lifts us up and strengthens everything [Chorus] With our goals defined, and if we work diligently We'll soon be on a controlled path that takes us far Where self-mastery and the Spirit guide us gently And choices mirror where our thoughts and desires are [Outro] Rise with courage, rise with purpose, rise beyond the gray Faith and patient effort show the upward way


14–19, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Jul 2006,
“On the Wings of Eagles, ” Liahona

The Wind Beneath our Wings

What laws of nature will carry us on our flight?
Over high mountains to a destination bright?
A strong forward thrust, a powerful uplift
With faith- the principle power- in the cockpit
We're on a journey, the gospel is at the core-
At the center of our hearts and forevermore

With agency, we choose Jesus as our copilot
With Him we spiritually soar more self-reliant
He's placed His temples as beacons to light our way
Towards Heavenly Father whom we love and obey
Our safety lies in the virtue of our lives
Our Savior teaches us how to prioritize

We have the commandments and we take on our Lord's name
And the test comes in practicing what we proclaim
For if we've Christlike attributes, we've direction
That, if we're contrite in spirit guides the corrections
With faith and hope over oceans of temptations
The winds' beneath our wings for our destination

[Verse 1] What laws of nature carry us on our flight? Over high mountains to a destination bright? A strong forward thrust, a powerful uplift With faith—the guiding power—in the cockpit [Pre-Chorus] We’re on a journey, the gospel at the core At the center of our hearts forevermore [Chorus] With agency, we choose Jesus as copilot With Him we spiritually soar, more self-reliant He’s placed His temples as beacons to light our way Toward Heavenly Father, whom we love and obey [Verse 2] Our safety lies in the virtue of our lives Our Savior teaches us how to prioritize We have the commandments, we take on our Lord’s name And the test comes in practicing what we proclaim [Pre-Chorus] For if we have Christlike attributes, we find direction A contrite spirit guides the needed correction [Chorus] With agency, we choose Jesus as copilot With Him we spiritually soar, more self-reliant He’s placed His temples as beacons to light our way Toward Heavenly Father, whom we love and obey [Bridge] With faith and hope above oceans of temptation The wind beneath our wings carries our destination When the course feels difficult, we will not lose sight His love will guide us safely through the night [Final Chorus] With agency, we choose Jesus as copilot With Him we spiritually soar, more self-reliant He’s placed His temples as beacons to light our way Toward Heavenly Father, whom we love and obey [Outro] The gospel is the center of our hearts forevermore With Jesus as our guide, we rise toward Heaven’s shore

100–103, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Nov 2005,
“Christlike Attributes—the Wind beneath Our Wings,”
Liahona

Glorious Sight- Our General Assembly

 

Here we now assemble
What a marvelous sight.
With our hearts in full swell
Overwhelmed in God’s light.

In His warmth, here we bask.
United in His cause.
Strengthened for this great task.
We pledge to keep His laws.

May our futures be bright?
May we see through earth’s blight?

Here we now assemble.
What a glorious sight.
Though the earth may tremble.
We will sing with His might.

May angels join to sing?
May heaven hear our calls?
And down His Spirit bring
What’s holy to these halls?

May our hearts feel delight
As our voices unite.

Here we now assemble.
What a tremendous sight.
And with this preamble-
May we join in the fight?

As armies we must go,
In battle for lost souls.
Or, else they’ll never know
Of man’s Celestial roles.

May we give someone sight?
To desire God's light!

-Gordon B. Hinckley


65, Gordon B. Hinckley, May 1996,
“This Glorious Easter Morn, ” Ensign

God Watches Over Us

God watches over us
And warmly sends his love
He shares His son, Jesus
To bless us from above

God Watches Over You

God watches over you
Patiently from above
He listens and feels, too
And offers us His love

Heavenly Father

Heavenly Father
Is touching our lives
Through worthy brethren
With the priesthood of Christ

As a loving parent
He wants us to succeed
Through blessings its apparent
He knows our thoughts and our needs

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Speaks at the Harvard Law School (3/20/2012)

A divine course has been given
To the spirits of  Father in Heaven
We are each included in His grand plan
Of love, grace, and the redemption of man

Everyone is covered
Though it remains to be seen
Who cares how much He has labored
In this the Latter Day scene

If ever there is failure
It won't be because He didn't try
He offers still the Savior
And to the receiver He does not deny

Heavenly Father

I picture Heavenly Father in my mind
Hearing my prayers from above,
Bathing me with warmth from His light,
Knowing me perfectly, with love!

President Henry B Eyring
First Presidency Message
Exhort Them To Pray
Ensign, Feb 2012

Knowing Each Soul's Worth

Knowing each soul's worth
With perfect care
Heavenly Father tends to Earth
And hears every prayer

Ought we not to pray
Out of awe and respect
Each and every day
And of His love detect

Oh, To Be Back in His Presence

Oh, to be back in His presence
In heaven, where we truly belong
Living without corruption, hence
Singing an everlasting new song

Viewing with resurrected eyes
The glories of heaven above
Where, once, we parted with good byes
Fully knowing Heavenly Father's pure love

The Light of Belief Lies Within You

The light of belief lies within you
The warmth of its awakening burns
It is set ablaze by the holiness of God
As the added witness of the Spirit confirms

That as belief in God is being questioned
Midst the secular darkness all around
Our concern is for the path of progression
As we seek to be eternally bound

Without God, life would end at the grave
As also all we've accomplished
But, we know the plan that our Father has made
And His light will not be extinguished

We have been formed to see, think, and feel
After His own image and His own likeness
That we may know Him, though there be a veil
Led on by our prophet's sure witness

All who desire to feel of His presence
Must submit humbly and pray
Kneeling to seek for the Spirit's influence
Felt while reading what the scriptures say

As all the prophets in their dispensations
Have seen what defies all description
Building a righteous covenant nation
And our own time is not an exception...

He who was appointed for this Latter- day
Sought His Father to know what is true
He retired to a grove to ponder and pray
As prophets of old had done too

He beheld there in full brightness and glory
The Father as well as the Son
Joining with those out of ancient history
Who were taught how God's work is won

That by the power of the Holy Ghost
And the priesthood there's to bear
We can receive what we need the most
As they testify and declare

Know the Spirit can be constrained
Thus be careful and be taught
For when faithfulness and hope have waned
The natural man is our lot

Know, too, those who disbelieve
Desire to ridicule and falsely teach
Never content they must strive to deceive
And seek for those whom they might reach

Thus we must yield to the Lord, ever meek
And be as a child full of love
To please our Father, let us ever seek
That we might return to Him above

Let us now ponder His heavenly glory
With softened hearts, let us be touched
That we might be taught by the Spirit this story:
Our Dear Heavenly Father loves us so much!

Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ
Elder Robert D. Hales
Ensign, November 2009, 29

edited by Rick Miller
because a lengthy poem really needs to flow

Here Is Wisdom and It Remaineth in Me

"Light Echo" Illuminates Dust Around Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon). 

 Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI).

Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me
For eternal life and immortality
I, the supreme ruler and creator, do send
My works, powers, and words ever without end

All the heavens and firmaments speak well of me
As I caused lights to appear for life to be
That amidst each yielding fruit after its kind
My glory is present for the seeker to find



Moses 1,2

I wrote this poem and then read the article about the Washington DC visitor center....
A particular scripture inspired Bro. Woodhead throughout the process of creating the ‘Heavenly Majesty’ exhibit: “The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God…. Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power” (D&C 88: 45, 47). The committee’s hope in creating this exhibit was that children and youth who came would be inspired to study science, and that all would find their testimonies strengthened. From the reactions observed by Elder and Sister Rich and the sister missionaries, it would seem they have succeeded.

Visit the D.C. Visitors’ Center website to learn more about this.... click on the title to go to Meridian Magazine...
http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/091023heavens.html

To All of You Who Say Church is Boring

To all of you who say church is boring
There is something you are simply ignoring
We're more than just a body, we've a spirit
That knows God's voice and longs to hear it

We were with Him before we came to earth
And He's our Father in Heaven...He gives us worth
He, with perfect knowledge, knows who we really are
And we can learn of Him for His love is never far

All That I Am So Far

All that I am so far
I owe to our God above
He has carried me afar
And has taught me how to love

Hunger, thirst, and fatigue
Our dear Savior was born
I've awe that His light's in me
And, of my sins He has borne

The Holy Ghost can teach
As of truth it testifies
And helps to heavenward reach
The whole Godhead knows my cries

A Father is Tough

A father is tough
When he needs to be
His voice can be gruff
And not so friendly

He stands for what's right
And fights for justice
He's brave and shows might
When there's an injustice

He's sturdy and kind
A strength to lean on
He's someone to mind
And no one to con

And he gets wiser
Through experience
He's a despiser
Of disobedience

Having a daughter
Gives him a soft heart
When she says Father
His heart skips and starts

When he has a son
He renews hobbies
His chores become fun
Which mother lobbies

Whether girl or boy
They want time with him
His thoughts, they enjoy
But, his time runs thin

His role is to work
He provides so much
Of this he'll not shirk
For a man's made of such

He buys a new tool
It alerts neighbors
They think it is cool
And with him labors

All the Dad's gather
And while they work hard
The children gather
And play in the yard

For where Dad is found
They're set to be too
And when he's around
They've not else to do

But there is more here
Of a Father good
He alone can bear
The holy priesthood

He can bless his home
From child to mother
He'll act in God's name
Our Heavenly Father

He can bless neighbors
From his example
Of all his labors
This one shares ample

To Do It All Over Again

Infant is a slightly more formal term for the word baby, the youngest category of child. The term "infant" derives from the Latin word in-fans, meaning "unable to speak." "Infant" is also a legal term with the (quite different) meaning of minor; that is, any child under the age of legal adulthood. A human infant less than a month old is a newborn infant or a neonate[1]. The term "newborn" includes premature infants and postmature infants, as well as full term newborns.


To start over is a scary thing
To be an infant all over again
Would we submit and come to being?
Would we stay premortal rather than?

To leave our Heavenly parents for new
From life of bliss to one of helplessness
To be small and uncomfortable, too
Here, to place trust while we are speechless...

Perhaps, at the start, we felt unsure
And spent every moment to prepare
Perhaps we gained faith that we'd endure
By watching mothers give their kind care

Can a mother be one, by random?
Can the father who gave of his seed?
For them both, we left what was grandsome
From them, we have our earth life indeed

Our kind wise Heavenly Father
Placed a veil here so we would not grieve
So all our past growth would not bother
Our progress here and need to believe

What is learned by having a body?
Perhaps to become closer to God?
Would He that we treat it as shoddy?
Or compare and put on a facade?

Our spirits do not depreciate
We can not go back or start over
So we should learn and appreciate
All we've been given to discover

There is a plan that's been put in place
To return to God in unity
We've a Savior, our sins He'll erase
Pray we take the opportunity

When our sins become overwhelming
What should we then do as our first move?
Give remorse its place for delving
Corrections are a way to improve

Walk in the Light

We were all taught by Elohim,
He, the Father of our spirits.
We wanted to be like Him
To prove faithful, and fully His.

We've unique characteristics.
He designed our earth life with love
And o'ersaw all the logistics.
What can we experience enough of?

With a body of cravings that grow
We would be subject to illness.
Pain, suff'ring and death we would know
On our journey t'wards fullness

We progressed as much as we could
And Lucifer rebelled the plan
He thought better of what we should
He'd forgo a body, rather than

Cast out with a third of the hosts
They spend all their time to deceive
Of their power to tempt, they do boast
Wanting to prevent what we'd receive

As part of Father's grand design
We'd need help to learn to behave
He lit up all the earth with a sign
A light for our conscience that would save

This Light had come from our Savior
Who never strayed from all that's right
He would condescend, though He's pure
And teach us how to walk in the light

As part of the plan, He must die
After suff'ring for all our sins
After all temptations were denied
He'd help us return, as He ransoms

We came as a babe that was mild
Our prior existence was veiled
So that we could learn as a child
All that we prepared for and detailed

Now, our lives are not perfect
We make mistakes, and often sin
But, tools are in place to protect
Though, for some, from God's laws they harden

As we learn to sense what is right
We become privileged to find more
Those with the Holy Ghost gain insight
And can share this light from the Savior

From our joy, we feel the light's warmth
As it illuminates our path
Where for everyone there is roomth
Hoping to see what the Father hath.


You make choices every day
That will keep you walking in the light
Show new faith, when there is dim sight.
For, if not you are moving away.

May you watch, may you pray
May you help others to walk in the light,
May you know a countenance bright.
Glowing with warmth to brighten the way


Henry B. Eyring
“Walk in the Light,”
Ensign, May 2008, 123–25

Our God Truly is God

Our God Truly is God

Oh God, where art Thou?
I cry out to Thee
For guidance, and how
With humility

As I ponder Thee
I can see Thy hand
Working hard for me
And for every man.

Those who disbelieve
Need not look too far
For our bodies leave
Proof in who Thou art

We've our eyes and hands
So complex from birth
There one understands
True beauty and worth

The blind and infirm
Through Thy Son could feel
All Thy love confirmed
And saw Thou art real!

When I look at hands
I am in amaze
They grasp and expand
For creative ways

I know who Thou art
I'm in Thine image
I can do my part-
And, with my hands, I'll start!

-Elder Douglas L. Callister

64–68, Jan 2008, “Our God Truly Is God, ”
Ensign

The Caravan Moves On

Do I worship God who created earth and space?
Do I put Him first as He fills my life with grace?
Do I think on Him? Is His countenance on my face?
As His disciple, will I pass the test?
Humbling serving Him, have I done my best?

The Lord's Caravan moves with captains all in place.
Though there are vicious dogs that snap at the heels to chase.
His caravan grows, and moves at its appointed pace.
The Church will triumph. Though there are predators.
Lurking to confuse weary travelers.

Am I enduring? This is the life that I craved!
With fear and trembling, only valiant Saints are saved.
With God's attributes, I will keep on the path Christ paved,
There are ravines to cross and steep grades to climb.
His oxen are strong, His teamsters are wise.

Although hell does rage and some try us and defame.
Prophet Joseph Smith- I will honor his good name.
Powers and priesthood and seers for the latter-day.
Though the storms may rage, Caravan move on.
Floods may wash the bridge. Such is life. Move on.

Have I kept the faith? Have I tried with all my might?
Do I spend my days with love of life, full of light?
Do I please my God? Serving purposely day and night?
We've much more to go- rivers we must ford,
To a celestial place, resting with our Lord.

-Bruce R. McConkie

82, Bruce R. McConkie, Nov 1984,
“The Caravan Moves On, ” Ensign

The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent

Here, in the premillennial inning
To a boy whose life was just beginning
Came the answer that's been sought out by man
Who is the incomprehensible God?
To Him, can I pray and be heard? Yes, I can
As He guide us to Him through an iron rod

Joseph Smith prayed to know which church is true
He, confused and not knowing what to do
At first he was claimed by purgatory
Then in the grove a flood of light soon shown
And with embodied and majestic glory-
The Father and the Son stood risen and aglow

And why did Jesus Christ also appear?
He to the left of the Father so dear
Sinless, He'd redeemed us and set up justice
He, with the Father came to earth in the flesh
To end confusion with their living witness-
We're led by divine beings whose purposes mesh.

​- Elder Holland

40–42, Jeffrey R. Holland, Nov 2007,
“The Only True God
and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent, ”
Liahona