Up Front and Center

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

A Bishop Learns from His Flock

A bishop learns from his flock
From the paths that they walk
Let them group at the temple
For unity he'll sample

A Bishop is Always a Bishop

A bishop is always a bishop
A shepherd to all of his sheep
He leads them to green pastures to sup
With the Lord, in safe watch-keep

The Bishop

The Bishop sees the upside
The narrow glimpse of hope
Where one finds the hands of Christ
Offering healing help

He points to you a way
And puts you on a path
That if you were to obey
You could put away the past

To All the Bishops I've Ever Had

To all the Bishops I've ever had
I hope to thank you some day
For taking me much by the hand
Along the narrow way

Through you I have discovered talents
And learned about myself
I have been preserved from sin's talons
And the influence of hell

Through you I have found purity
Unto the countenance of the Savior
Whom I have come to know with more surety
As I have been blessed with His spirit and favor

Some day, as our Lord judges
I will comprehend all of this more
How you helped smooth out my rough edges
And strengthened my spiritual core

The Purpose of the Priesthood

The purpose of the priesthood
Is to help others receive
Ordinances if they would
Be worthy and believe

To fifteen men God’s bestowed
All the keys which lock and unlock
They bear a heavy load
As they serve around the clock

For they admonish us unto dedication
And hold the keys of salvation
They provide spiritual edification
And the sealing powers for exaltation

An apostle is released
When in death, he’s called away
And once he is deceased
Another's called up in his place

Those who bear this priesthood
Organize, create, and heal
And their works are ever good
As they preside, conduct, and fulfill

When we’re in troubled waters
That churn and makes our vision pale
We can seek local priesthood in this matter
And heed what the heavens unveil

Those who’ve been given authority
Can speak the will of God
And if our faith’s a high priority
We’ll be saved from sea and fog

In the order of the priesthood there are legions
With assignments, keys, and doors
As there are wards, stakes, and regions
And to the worthy blessings afford

Who has the key to the temple
And how can I get in?
It's available to God's people
Who gain a recommend

First I go to the Bishop
For an interview
Then let naught interrupt
What's been cleansed for temple's view

Then to the Stake President for granting
The signature that completes the witness
That I'm ready for a name and a standing
For entering covenants of the highest

Elder Perry M. Webb
area authority

I Have a Sacred Grove

I have a "sacred grove"
Where I can pray and be alone
Where not a sound is heard
And no intruder does disturb

I kneel near the pulpit where I preside
And ask for the spirit to be my guide
Here I share my thoughts and concerns
Here in the stillness my heart to God turns

-----------------------------------

Let us each set aside
A meditative time
That is consistent every day
To subdue the spirit, kneel, and pray

There to express gratitude for life so sweet
And to drop burdens at His feet
Then ponder and wait for inspiration
While immersing in light for education

In the Book of Mormon or a recent talk
You will find what you need to rise and walk
Spiritual power will flow into your life
To be a better disciple of Jesus Christ

You will feel the love of God cleansing
As with regeneration there's more you're sensing
You will experience such moments of revelation
That in each of your roles you've faith to station

Yoshihiko Kikuchi
Opening the Heavens
Ensign, Aug 2009, 34–38

It is Confirmed- the Bishop's Called

It is confirmed
The Bishop's called
He is conferred
The mantle falls

His authority
Now extends
With singularity
To the fold he tends

And in this ward
Prayers lift and carry
While blessings pour
To each auxiliary

What Would That Man Who Leads Us Be Without His Supportive Wife?

What would that man who leads us
Be without his supportive wife?
As his call has been placed in trust
To support us towards unity in life -- (my new Bishop)
To support us for all of his life -- (Elder Perry)
To support us through all our strife
Please add to how this could end
I suspect it is endless

Thank you dear sisters in each ward
For this is not easy as you serve also
As we are all on a path ever moving forward
That necessitates we help each other as we go

I wrote this during the sacrament after
reading that L. Tom Perry wrote it.
I was so touched with the interview
Sherry Dew had with Elder and Sister
Perry. Imagine a prophet informing
an Apostle that he thought you were
better for service when you were a
married man and hinting that it was
time to consider remarrying. And he
married the most compassionate woman-
and he took on her commitment to her
elders- and carrying for aging family
members. If no one will take them into
there home for their last years- I will!
I just think their marriage so romantic-
a love to last forever!

So- I changed the last line for my
new bishop put in on Sunday- and the comments
he made. It was going to be towards
eternal life

Under the Direction of the Presiding Bishop

Under the direction
Of the presiding Bishop
We have sacrament meeting
For meditation and worship

It is a time for contemplation
Of our commitment to Jesus Christ
And to renew His name upon us and station
Filled with His spirit, truth, and light


Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament
Dallin H. Oaks
Ensign, November 2008, 17

If I Were a Bishop Today

If I were a bishop today
What counsel would I give to you?
That each day and night you should pray
And let the scriptures speak to you

May you find time for quiet reading
While being thoughtful and introspective
As in them are the insights you are needing
For the love affair with inspiration it well gives

As you search, your mind will be enlightened
Such that you will spiritually uplift
And your day will ever be brightened
As back to a scripture your thoughts drift

P.S.
At first it may seem to be tedious
But that will change through time
Into an experience wondrous
With thoughts and words of things divine

The Light Within You
President Gordon B. Hinckley
Ensign, May 2007, 116

We Can All Benefit- By Looking Deep Inside

For the entire membership of the Church
General Conference is an inspiring time of the year
As we're instructed and edified
We learn how to act upon the laws we hold dear

Great things are happening in God's kingdom
We are moving forward as never before
The great mountain will fill the whole earth
And if we are righteous, we'll see so much more


We can all benefit by looking deep inside
During reverent moments of worship
To be proved true, there's nothing we will hide
As we journey in our membership

Each Sunday's a spiritual checkup
That helps navigate life's highways and byways
During sacrament meetings while we sup
We can get our bearings and see the right ways

To stay on the narrow path of faith
With the Bishop, we've worthiness interviews
Have we pursued what's foolish or vain?
It's easy to get diverted from what is true

Truth provides virtues unto our lives
Steadfast, loyal, honest, and just are but a few
In our career paths, as one strives
We must not serve two masters, but always be true

With full faith in their every footstep
The pioneers forged and tempered their souls
Without the Lord, they would be inept
May we too be true, in all of our roles

Elder Wirthlin - General Conference April 1997

D&C 59: 23
23 But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.

DIVORCE?

Dear Father, we join hands and kneel together
We want to see this marriage last forever
Help us keep our love precious and living
While there is prospect of life and of healing
Help us be hopeful, considerate and kind
We unite in this plea and in this hard climb
Soften hearts; help wounds mend though there is much pain
Help us to see the good side for there's much to gain
Help us be patient again and again, with whom should be our best friend
Help us count our companion as our blessing Thou did send

United most humbly, we seek for thy guidance
Healed by the atonement as our second chance
Yes, we know life was not meant to be an easy ride
Yet, we've so much to overcome- there are thorns on every side
Help us remember the good of the past
To think of the children first and of our needs last
We've hope for their future and of their well being
We've our bishop's judgment and his counseling
And as we can dwell up wrongs, then, seemingly lengthened
Help us overcome our own faults with love that's strengthened

Dallin H. Oaks
Divorce
Ensign, May 2007, 70-73

The Shepherd of Israel

In our Savior's name, we do pray.
For our Bishop who serves this day.
He's our Shepherd, and we're his flock.
He is there when we need to talk.
May our prayers help him with his load.
Bless him with safety on the road.
Bless his dear children, and his wife.
Keep them safe from harm and from strife.

Please bless us to be teachable,
For he makes himself reachable.
Bless him when there are not enough hours,
Sustained by his priesthood powers.
Bless us to trust when he knows best
For with all thy funds he's honest.
Bless him through his meeting this day.
And us to heed what he will say.

Please help us trust his confidence.
He can lift burdens tremendous.
When clouds bring anguish and despair,
Bless him with wisdom for repair.
He places in us stewardship.
Help us to improve fellowship.
Help us be worthy as a ward.
We ask for these things with one accord.

- President Gordon B. Hinckley

60–62, Gordon B. Hinckley, Nov 2003,
“The Shepherds of Israel, ” Liahona

MY PRAYER IS FILLED WITH FAITH

My prayer is filled with faith.
Please grant me vision and grace.
A child of God I am wanting.
Help me to see that life's not daunting.
Please take my doubts and cast them away.
For these things continually I pray.

Turmoil is full of lies.
Grant me strength to seek the wise.
Who's filled with compassion and love?
Their counsel comes from God above!
And while the kiln is still burning strong,
Please witness that to Thee I belong.

Please cast my fears aside.
With the Holy Ghost as my guide,
I then feel loves gentle smile.
Comforting me through each trial,
When I obey there is much to gain.
And gratitude sees past all of the pain.


A Bishops can lift earth stains.
And leaders I must sustain.
Call me to rise above my needs.
For others I will bend my knees.
And with my ward, I will serve, I will grow.
Together of Thee we'll come to know.