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

Our Prophet, We Sustain and Pray For

Our prophet shared from his heart
In a remarkable session
Oh, the spirit we each felt
At this solemn occasion

This day, we were called to stand
Looking back and moving forward
We raised a sustaining hand
And our hands reached heavenward

Now we know, and we pray for
President Monson, our prophet
Whom we love and we support
What we've felt, we'll not forget!

May he be an instrument
To move forward this great work
May we value his judgment
And when called, may we not shirk

May he have continued health
As he travels the world over
May the church have sufficient wealth
To meet its needs, moreover

When he asks, may we hear it
As though, Thou, were the one calling
May he feel of our spirit
And find in us, we're willing

When life is precarious
Is there no balm in Gilead?
Temples- Thou has given us
Help us to go as we should.

He's pledged his life and his strength
To direct the church's affairs
Give his days sufficient length
Ease his burdens and his cares.

[Verse 1] Our prophet shared from his heart In a remarkable session Oh, the spirit we each felt At this solemn occasion! This day, we were called to stand Looking back and moving forward We raised a sustaining hand And our hands reached heavenward [Pre-Chorus] Now we know, and we pray for Our new president, our prophet Whom we love and we support What we've felt, we'll not forget! [Chorus] May he be an instrument To move forward this great work May we value his judgment And when called, may we not shirk (We hear him) (We stand with him) [Verse 2] May he have continued health As he travels the world over May the church have sufficient wealth To meet its needs, moreover When he asks, may we hear it As though, Thou, were the one calling May he feel of our spirit And find in us, we're willing [Pre-Chorus] When life is precarious Is there no balm in Gilead? Temples- Thou has given us Help us to go as we should. [Chorus] May he be an instrument To move forward this great work May we value his judgment And when called, may we not shirk (We hear him) (We stand with him) [Bridge] He's pledged his life and his strength To direct the church's affairs Give his days sufficient length Ease his burdens and his cares (Guide him now) (Keep him near) [Final Chorus] May he be an instrument To move forward this great work May we value his judgment And when called, may we not shirk (We hear him) (We stand with him) May he feel of our spirit And find in us, we're willing

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/10/sustaining-the-prophets?lang=eng

President Nelson talk with the sustaining of
Thomas S. Monson

Oct 2014

What a Wonderful Time that is Ours

What a wonderful time is ours to live
Especially in the summer, when the world grows alive
We've gatherings, picnics, reunions, and vacations
Due to the benefits of prosperity and innovations

We know this land is blessed like no other
Let us serve it well and lift one another
Ours is the greatest history we have ever known
But the challenges of pride are more and more shown

Having become idle, time is being filled with distractions
Some, unto lustful behaviors and evil attractions
Thus, with the blessings of wealth, there comes a warning
To those turned to wickedness, calamities are forthcoming

As brothers and sisters we're a blessed people
Privileged fully with the everlasting new gospel
Happy are we to have a foundation of faith
As with our families we prepare for what ever awaits

In all our associations we should be good
Forming everywhere a sense of brotherhood
We've greater appreciation of knowledge and love
Let us keep the commandments and send prayers high above

Let us not fear the future nor be dismayed
For God is near to strengthen and give us aid
If we heed what our leaders now counsel us
With God we'll be upheld with His hand of righteousness

Thoughts from The Messenger
Shadow Canyon Ward
Henderson NV
Green Valley Stake

Bishop Baird
As members of the church what are we to do?

I Smile at You

 

A broad smile

The corners wrinkle All the while The eyes twinkle [Verse 2] Like sunlight Upon the water When it shines just right And spreads that much farther [Chorus] I smile at you And something soft comes through No grand design, no words to prove I smile at you [Instrumental] [Chorus] I smile at you And something soft comes through No grand design, no words to prove I smile at you [Outro] A broad smile The corners wrinkle All the while The eyes twinkle

Wealth

Wealth is a burden and a blessing
As it effects who's your friend
Buying moments of less stressing
As well as power that it lends

If I had piles of it
I would pay off all my debts
Then consider who would profit
By a generous message

But the bulk I would give
For the building of a temple
That more families might live
Together forever as God's people

pondering one of the many emails scamming about putting millions into your checking. this one was different and wanted to donate millions for the building of a house of God. she states she is dying of cancer. but her email is suspect...

Pondering natural disasters and how a home can be gone in seconds....

Pondering when you die, you can't take it with you...

[Verse 1] Wealth is a burden and a blessing It can change who calls you friend Buying moments of less stressing And the power that it lends [Verse 2] If I had piles of it I would pay off all my debts Then consider who would profit From a generous message [Chorus] What I hold is not my keeping What I have is passing through Let my hands be openhearted Let my wealth belong to You [Verse 3] But the bulk of it I’d give For the building of a temple That more families might live Together as God’s people [Chorus] What I hold is not my keeping What I have is passing through Let my hands be openhearted Let my wealth belong to You [Bridge] Not a tower raised for glory Not a name carved into stone Just a shelter for the weary A place where none stand alone [Final Chorus] What I hold is not my keeping What I have is passing through Let my hands be openhearted Let my wealth belong to You Let my hands be openhearted Let my wealth belong to You [Outro] Together forever, as God’s people Together forever, as God’s people

Cover to Cover

I pick up a book

I can almost disappear

Into the pages

Each scene, I can see and hear

I can be anyone

My character is

I can be anywhere

I'll react, you'll notice

Sometimes I laugh

Sometimes I cry

Sometimes I question

In the end I sigh

Because it's over

I red it cover to cover

[Verse 1] I pick up a book I can almost disappear Into the pages Each scene, I can see and hear I can be anyone My character is I can be anywhere I'll react, you'll notice [Pre-Chorus] Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I question Why I try [Chorus] I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere When the cover opens wide I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere Then I turn the last page and sigh [Verse 2] Because it's over I red it cover to cover And I held each moment Like it might stay longer Now the room feels smaller After every line But I keep coming back One more page at a time [Pre-Chorus] Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I question Why I try [Chorus] I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere When the cover opens wide I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere Then I turn the last page and sigh [Bridge] If I lose my name Inside that little glow I don't mind the ache I already know Every borrowed heartbeat Leaves a mark on me When the story ends It still lives in me [Chorus] I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere When the cover opens wide I can be anyone I can be anyone I can be anywhere Then I turn the last page and sigh

Such Light and Power

 As I prepared for the sacrament

I asked God, "How am I to do this?"

Do I focus on Thy Son's atonement?

Or my sins to repent then, and seek for newness?

In this moment placed before me

I chose to focus on Christ's sacrifice

And, I couldn't get out of my mind

Him bruised and broken, how high the price!

And I am flooded with gratitude

At the exquisite majesty

Of the truth of what He has done

Such light and power! The tomb was empty!

I marveled that I can have His Spirit,

Always, to be with me.

I wanted to be more worthy for it;

I bowed low, repenting.

May I keep a prayer continually

In my heart and in my mind.

May I reed more, His light seeking,

That my purpose I might find.

May His Spirit be with me,

May His light about me shine

[Verse 1]

As I prepared for the sacrament,

I asked God, “How am I to do this?”

Do I focus on Thy Son’s atonement,

Or my sins to repent, then seek forgiveness?

[Verse 2]

In this moment placed before me,

I chose to focus on Christ’s sacrifice.

And I couldn’t get out of my mind

Him bruised and broken—how high the price!

[Chorus]

And I am flooded with gratitude,

At the exquisite majesty

Of the truth of what He has done:

Such light and power—the tomb was empty!

[Verse 3]

I marveled that I can have His Spirit,

Always, to be with me.

I wanted to be more worthy for it;

I bowed low, repenting.

[Bridge]

May I keep a prayer continually

In my heart and in my mind.

May I read more, His light seeking,

That my purpose I might find.

[Final Chorus]

And I am flooded with gratitude,

At the exquisite majesty

Of the truth of what He has done:

Such light and power—the tomb was empty!

Such light and power—the tomb was empty!

[Outro]

May His Spirit be with me,

May His light about me shine