Israel's Caduceus

Years and years of manna
Fed the rodents around
Which spread across the land
Feeding serpents then more found

The fortieth year had come
Soon they'd claim their holy place
Where they'd build up God's kingdom
But, first they'd a king to face

And, the king of Edom
Turned poor Israel away
Unto the hills where on
The poisonous snakes did prey

And hot like an oven
Was their fiery bite
So full of venom
Death soon was found in sight

Moses made a serpent
At the end of a rod
When looked at t'would send
A quick healing from God

To look at and live
Was the easy way
It was allusive
To: look to Christ with faith

For He as our Savior
Was lifted upon a tree
To grant us living favor
And pay our ransom fee

He's given us laws to ponder
And on Him our eyes must rivet
For the world would we wander
Unto perishable things there to pivot

For, when the viper struck
Along the detour pass
Not all trusted to look
Upon the snake of brass

Some would rather perish
Than to listen and then do
They knew not what to cherish
Nor what their eyes could fix unto

For there's a way to be trained
On how to always look up
And this is how it is gained:
Through living bread and life cup

For we've made covenants
That lead and keep us safe
And, thereon mercy grants
From the increase of our faith

Some of this poem is speculative...

[Verse 1] Years and years of manna Fed the rodents around Which spread across the land More snakes could then abound The fortieth year had come Soon they'd claim their holy place Where they'd build up God's kingdom But, first they'd a king to face And, the king of Edom Turned poor Israel away Unto the hills where on The poisonous snakes did prey It felt like an oven Each fiery bite So full of venom Death soon was in sight [Pre-Chorus] Moses made a serpent At the end of a rod When looked at t'would send A quick healing from God To look at and live Was the easy way It was allusive To: look to Christ with faith [Chorus] Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith He was lifted up And He makes us live Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith Keep your eyes on Him And you shall not perish [Verse 2] For He as our Savior Was lifted upon a tree To grant us living favor And pay our ransom fee He's given us laws to ponder And on Him our eyes must rivet For the world would we wander Unto perishable things there to pivot For, when the viper struck Along the detour pass Not all trusted to look Upon the snake of brass Some would rather perish Than to listen and then do They knew not what to cherish Nor what their eyes could fix unto [Pre-Chorus] For there's a way to be trained On how to always look up And this is how it is gained: Through living bread and life cup For we've made covenants That lead and keep us safe And, thereon mercy grants From the increase of our faith [Chorus] Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith He was lifted up And He makes us live Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith Keep your eyes on Him And you shall not perish [Bridge] For there's a way to be trained On how to always look up And this is how it is gained: Through living bread and life cup When the venom comes around And the road looks full of grief Keep your eyes on the lifted One And find your healing in belief [Final Chorus] Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith He was lifted up And He makes us live Look to Christ with faith Look to Christ with faith Keep your eyes on Him And you shall not perish

Numbers 21

"We, like Israel of old, must rivet our eyes and minds upon the cross of Christ if we hope to gain eternal life...Our looks must not be allowed to wander across the way or to become fixed upon the perishable things of the world. The eye, 'the light of the body'- (Matt 6:22), must be trained to look upward. We must look to God and live.
Carlos E. Asay
'Look to God and Live,’
Ensign, Nov. 1978, 54.

quoted in
Look and Live
Elder Glen O. Jenson
Ensign March 2002, 32

All For His Work and Glory

A few weeks ago
On a cold dark winter's night
The stars seemed aglow
Millions... beautiful...bright

I then turned to read again
With great wonder and awe
About the creation
What Moses learned from God

There are worlds without number
All created by the Son
Through the priesthood, order
For God's purposes, done

Hubble scientists say
We are, but one galaxy
Of billions, far away
All for God's work and glory

To bring to pass salvation
For His spirit children
Some, to eternally station
Where He can be with them

For a place He prepares
May we make room for Him in our hearts
In our journey, He shares
And awaits us beyond the stars

This is My Work and Glory
Elder Ballard
Ensign, May 2013

He Who is Full of Grace and Truth

He who is ever full of grace and truth
Wrought work and glory unto creation ... as proof
Of His wond'rous power and intelligence
Over all things, time, and our existence

From His word, of the dust came birth of spiritual life
In a garden was created the first husband and wife
And they being free from known conflict and pain
Were frequently blessed as God, oft, to them came

Then a serpent sought to establish his own plan
And introduced temptation and death unto man
Eve recognized if she were to ever procreate
They would have to leave this wholly innocent state

God came... they were taught and sent on a good path
To experience life midst the offspring they'd begat
Then... to the wilderness they were relocated
Where trial and error, toil and wickedness awaited

Twas for them to experience every emotion
Even midst temptation and commotion
But, the love once nurtured with, they sought for ever still
For, if they could keep that feeling then all would be well

In God's wisdom, they had been taught how to sacrifice
In similitude of the one coming, Jesus the Christ
With Him, they learned they'd never be alone
For He, in perfection, would come to atone

Ours... it is to call to the Father in His name
In faith, believing, for He is mighty to save
He has taught us and labored to redeem all mankind
With a path back to God's presence ever lit to find

thoughts from Moses 1...

Pioneers Learned from a Rock

When the towers babbled, Moriancumer knew to pray
Four years they set up camp, much content the Northward Way
Then he led without prayer, and was rebuked to remorse
Twas time for eight vessels to take an unknown course
Since light was needed, he prayed some rocks would be bright
This Prophet discovered a prayer of faith unveils treasured sight
Pioneers need much faith, to find their promised land
They need to remember, to seek the help of God's hand

Israel was thirsty.  Moses could not ignore it
The Lord took his stand, above the rock of Horeb
Moses obeyed with faith; once again he used the rod
Once again Israel saw, the lifesaving power of God
We, too, should stand upon the rock, and look towards our Savior
To be blessed and benefit from his life giving favor
Pioneers need much faith, they know on whom they depend
They learned repeatedly, that the desert's not their friend

Bountiful was heav'nly, after an eight year long walk
But, they'd much more to go. Nephi melted tools from rock
Laman and Lemuel tried to throw him out to sea
If Nephi was found dead they thought they would be free
But, the Lord did shake them. And they helped to build the ship
Set for the Promised Land, across the ocean, their long trip
Our Pioneers are taught through faith. A rock contains the tools
For curious workmanship, if they'd but apply the rules

When the Saints were expelled, they tracked the mountainous trail
Though starved and though frozen, with handcarts they would not fail
They crossed at Sweet Water, with three young men as their bridge
Then faced a two- mile high wall. They climbed up the Rocky Ridge
Exhausted and dying. Their faith was not based in vain
Brigham Young sent rescue. Soon new Saints would come by train
Pioneers need much faith. Twas on a rock that they prayed
Twas at the height of pain: they were rescued and were saved

Pioneers need much faith and are taught by a great stone
They seek to find Zion, with God, no longer to roam
Twas only possible by faith in our Father of this earth
He,  who is our Savior died to give us all rebirth
His suffering was the key. The atonement turned the lock
To final'ty of death. He 'rose from a tomb of rock
Now we are each waiting, for his glorious return
He'll stand on the cleaved rock. The Great Day for which we yearn!