Clarion Call- Console Death

 

[Verse 1]

At a cemetery I oft visit For contemplating life I found a bench to sit And ponder death and strife Adorning the weathered tombstones Family names were mostly Swiss Pioneers buried long ago When there was little food to subsist Trials surrounding harvests never ceased They worked hard all their lives Now buried, they did rest in peace Their legacy... sacrifice [Chorus] This is the clarion call of Christendom Promising resurrection and peace Surpassing understanding... God's wisdom Providing universal hope for increase [Verse 2] Feeling tender emotions My thoughts went afar to France Where in war's cauldron of commotion Lives were cut short in an instant I reflected on shattered dreams, Unfulfilled hopes, grief stricken hearts On the sorrow that death brings Of lost loved ones...a lone tear starts Thinking back to when I was a Bishop At the bedside of a young man Harrowed between life and the great beyond Pleadingly...he took my hand Looking in my eyes, he said Bishop, I know I'm soon to die. He asked what happens...and I read How we are taken home...unto paradise [Verse 3] For the righteous will be received Unto a state of happiness, A state of rest, a state of peace Freed from sorrows and what troubles us This young father of two Closed his eyes... never again to open And after saying thank you Slipped away to that place of which we'd spoken Each...having come here to earth To live, learn, and progress Just as surely, came with that birth Uncertainty and need for rest [Bridge] The victory over the tomb Was best described in Luke Both Marys came with perfume But found angels when they looked Appearing in shining garments One of the two said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead He is not here, but is risen [Chorus] This is the clarion call of Christendom Promising resurrection and peace Surpassing understanding... God's wisdom Providing universal hope for increase

From “He Is Risen,” Liahona and Ensign, Apr. 2003, 2–7.

Wherever I travel, I try to pay a visit to the town cemetery. It is a time of contemplation, of reflection on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. In the small cemetery in the town of Santa Clara, Utah, I remember the preponderance of Swiss names which adorn the weathered tombstones. Many of those persons left home and family in verdant Switzerland and, in response to the call “Come to Zion,” settled the communities where they now “rest in peace.” They endured spring floods, summer droughts, scant harvests, and backbreaking labors. They left a legacy of sacrifice.

Alma 40:
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

Luke 24:2-6
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen...

From Birth to Rebirth- Jesus

 

Yes, more than 2,000 years ago
Christ, our Savior; as promised, was born
Mortal...as a babe to grow
Perfectly, so we might be reborn

There is very little written of His boyhood
Save He increased in wisdom and stature
Gaining favor, as He went about doing good
The son of the Father lived pure

He was baptized by John in the river Jordan
Called forth apostles, testified, and healed-
A man of miracles to all before Him
That ancient prophecy might be fulfilled

He provided a perfect example and taught us
Even as His mortal mission drew to a close
Giving the last supper with His Apostles
Then.. onto Gethsemane and Calvary, He arose

No mere mortal can conceive the full import
Of what Christ did for us on that night
He Himself said He suffered and bled at every pore
Both in body and spirit- to the fullest height

Following this agony...drained of strength
He was seized by rough, crude hands to stand accused
Cursed, spat upon, and crowned with thorns of cruel length
Blood coursed His face as He was scourged and abused

His flesh tore from bones and sharp metals
Ripping Him with striking blows repeatedly
For any other this would have proved fatal
As He, racked with pain, was mocked heatedly

Then, He walked to Calvary...the way not foreign
With stumbling steps, He carried His own cross
Till another shouldered the burden for Him
When He could go no further... His strength lost

Finally, on this hill, for all to see
While His helpless followers looked on
His wounded body was nailed...what humility
For His enemies were not yet gone

He was mocked, cursed, and derided
Yet He cried out, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"
Then His spirit, to God, He commended
And the serenity of death freed Him, unto the Father's presence, too

At that last moment, the Master could have turned back
But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save
He doing for us, alone, when our own strength we lack
That a path to the Father might be paved

Hurriedly...gently, His body
Was placed in a borrowed tomb
No words of Christendom have more meaning
Than were said to Mary when she came with perfume

Spoke by the angel: "Why seek ye the living among the dead?"
"He is not here... but is risen"
Thus answering the question Job posed centuries ahead
If a man die....yes, he shall live again!

We can take comfort in our hour of deepest need
In the sure knowledge that soon...will come the day
When God shall wipe away all tears, that no man weep
For there'll be no more death or sorrow...as these shall pass away

He Is Risen!
President Thomas S. Monson
Ensign, November 2010,

Revelations 21: 4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Job 14:14
"If a man die, shall he live again?"

If a Man Die- Shall He Live Again?

If a man die

Shall he live again?

Or shall he just lie?

Is this the end?

Now, what do you suppose?
Do you know Jesus Christ?
In surety, He arose
To give us all new life

This victory was made
He atoned for us
Overcoming death in days
He resurrected, thus

Full of life and breath...
What was required He kept
He opened the gates of death
And awoke those who slept

Now is a time to prepare
For that great and dreadful day
When at our past we'll stare
And confess- He is the Way


He offers us peace and rest
If we repent and turn
To Him- How we are blessed!
So listen well... and learn!

pondering...
The Victory over Death
President Gordon B. Hinckley
Ensign, Apr 1997, 2     If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14)


I keep going back to the beautiful song based on a poem President Hinckley wrote to comfort someone. 

 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2010/02/what-is-this-thing-man-calls-death?lang=eng


[Verse 1] If a man die Shall he live again? Or shall he just lie Till the end of time? Look at the wound Look at the stone The grave held still But He was not gone Do you know Jesus Christ? In surety, He arose To give us all new life That mercy overflowed [Pre-Chorus] This victory was made In blood and love He kept the cost And rose above He opened the gates For those asleep Now every soul Can wake and see [Chorus] He arose, He arose Death lost its hold He arose, He arose Now hearts can be bold He is the Way He is the Way Come turn today He is the Way [Verse 2] What was required He kept it all He bore our shame And broke the fall Overcoming death In days we feared Full of life and breath The living King appeared Now is the time To prepare your heart For that great and dreadful day When we stand apart [Pre-Chorus] At our past we'll stare And tell the truth Every hidden thing Will face the proof But mercy still Calls out your name Repent and turn And you’ll be changed [Chorus] He arose, He arose Death lost its hold He arose, He arose Now hearts can be bold He is the Way He is the Way Come turn today He is the Way [Bridge] He offers us peace and rest For the weary and worn If you come to Him You will not be shorn No need to fear The judgment day His hands still reach His arms still say [Chorus] He arose, He arose Death lost its hold He arose, He arose Now hearts can be bold He is the Way He is the Way Come turn today He is the Way [Outro] So listen well and learn Let your soul awaken He is alive And the chain is broken

If a Man Die- Shall He Live Again?

If a man die

Shall he live again?

Or shall he just lie?

Is this the end?

Now, what do you suppose?
Do you know Jesus Christ?
In surety, He arose
To give us all new life

This victory was made
He atoned for us
Overcoming death in days
He resurrected, thus

Full of life and breath...
All that was required He kept
He opened the gates of death
And awoke those who slept

Now is a time to prepare
For that great and dreadful day
When at our past we'll stare
And confess- He is the Way


He offers us peace and rest
If we repent and turn
To Him- How we are blessed!
So listen well... and learn!

pondering...
The Victory over Death
President Gordon B. Hinckley
Ensign, Apr 1997, 2     If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14)

At a Cemetary I oft Visit

At a cemetery I oft visit
For contemplating life
I found a bench to sit
And ponder death and strife

Adorning the weathered tombstones
Family names were mostly Swiss
Pioneers buried long ago
When there was little food to subsist

Trials surrounding harvests never ceased
They worked hard all their lives
Now buried, they did rest in peace
Their legacy... sacrifice

Feeling tender emotions
My thoughts went afar to France
Where in war's cauldron of commotion
Lives were cut short in an instant

I reflected on shattered dreams,
Unfulfilled hopes, grief stricken hearts
On the sorrow that death brings
Of lost loved ones...a lone tear starts

Thinking back to when I was a Bishop
At the bedside of a young man
Harrowed between life and the great beyond
Pleadingly...he took my hand

Looking in my eyes, he said
"Bishop, I know I'm soon to die."
He asked what happens...and I read
How we are taken home...unto paradise

For the righteous will be received
Unto a state of happiness,
A state of rest, a state of peace
Freed from sorrows and what troubles us

This young father of two
Closed his eyes... never again to open
And after saying "thank you"
Slipped away to that place of which we'd spoken

Each...having come here to earth
To live, learn, and progress
Just as surely, came with that birth
Uncertainty and need for rest

The victory over the tomb
Was best described in Luke
Both Marys came with perfume
But found angels when they looked

Appearing in shining garments
One of the two said unto them,
"Why seek ye the living among the dead
He is not here, but is risen"

This is the clarion call of Christendom
Promising resurrection and peace
Surpassing understanding... God's wisdom
Providing universal hope for increase

From “He Is Risen,” Liahona and Ensign, Apr. 2003, 2–7.

Wherever I travel, I try to pay a visit to the town cemetery. It is a time of contemplation, of reflection on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. In the small cemetery in the town of Santa Clara, Utah, I remember the preponderance of Swiss names which adorn the weathered tombstones. Many of those persons left home and family in verdant Switzerland and, in response to the call “Come to Zion,” settled the communities where they now “rest in peace.” They endured spring floods, summer droughts, scant harvests, and backbreaking labors. They left a legacy of sacrifice.

He is Risen
President Thomas S. Monson
Ensign, April 2010, 11

Alma 40:
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

Luke 24:2-6
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen...

If a Man Die, Shall He Live Again?

If a man die, shall he live again?
As one chapter ends, does another begin?
When I die, where does my spirit go?
These are my questions. I've hope to know...

In Alma 40- the answer's there
Stated simply in words that are clear
We'll return home to our God who gave us life
Where the righteous will be found in paradise

To know a state of rest from troubles
From sorrows and cares of tomorrows
To know peace until through Christ, they claim
Resurrected bodies of perfect frame

And what of the wicked, could that be me?
As it is anyone judged as unclean
They, like bad fruit, are to be cast out
To taste what bitter dregs are about

And while in this state of hopeless condition
There will be teachings and reparations
If they so seek, there's safety from perdition
If they so seek, there's wickedness and separation

Thus, we will all know restoration
Until the glad day of consignation
Let it be known the righteous will shine
And live with God in His kingdom sublime!

Thoughts after watching a video of
President Monson telling about visiting
A dying man- and his scriptures opening to
Alma 40 -