Ganbaru- 15 years since 2011 Earthquake in Japan= 18,500 deaths

One word from Japan to share
It's "Ganbaru," which means
Hold out, stand firm, hang in there
And believe in your dreams

In the face of destruction
Widespread to cast
Comes this simple instructiion
And friendships to last

In the wake of a tsunami
Comes the rising sun
Men are rebuilding
And faith in us is won

There has not been pity
But a desire to serve
To restore each man's dignity
And ability to work


Verse 1] One word from Japan to share It’s Ganbaru Hold out, stand firm Hang in there Believe in your dreams When the world shakes hard A simple instruction For a broken heart [Pre-Chorus] In the face of destruction We do not fold We reach for each other And keep our hold Friendships to last Like roots in stone When the night gets heavy You’re not alone [Chorus] Ganbaru, Ganbaru Stand firm and stay true Ganbaru, Ganbaru Your dreams will pull you through Ganbaru, Ganbaru Hold on, don’t let go Ganbaru, Ganbaru We rise, we grow [Verse 2] In the wake of a tsunami Comes the rising sun Men are rebuilding Stone by stone they come There has not been pity Only hands to serve To restore each man’s dignity And the work he deserves [Pre-Chorus] No one is forgotten No one stands aside We carry the wounded We walk with pride From the ash and water From the torn up ground A stronger morning Can still be found [Chorus] Ganbaru, Ganbaru Stand firm and stay true Ganbaru, Ganbaru Your dreams will pull you through Ganbaru, Ganbaru Hold on, don’t let go Ganbaru, Ganbaru We rise, we grow [Bridge] Restore each man’s dignity Let the labor live Take the shattered pieces And learn to give If the sea comes calling We face it clean With a steady spirit And a waking dream [Final Chorus] Ganbaru, Ganbaru Stand firm and stay true Ganbaru, Ganbaru Your dreams will pull you through Ganbaru, Ganbaru Hold on, don’t let go Ganbaru, Ganbaru We rise, we grow

http://desne.ws/mFv1UI

Bishop Burton presents Mormon church aid to Japanese fishermen
June 15, 2011
By Sarah Jane Weaver, Deseret News

15 years later...

We still remember!

• The total confirmed death toll was approximately 18,500, with many victims drowning in the tsunami waves.
• Additionally, 2,533 people were reported missing, and 6,157 were injured.
• The disaster also caused extensive damage, destroying or damaging over 196,000 buildings.

Prayer of George Washington Echoes Still

George Washington

Felt the heavy burden fall on him

Continually he prayed

Throughout his service to our nation

We would do well to remember

His prayer recorded on this occasion

May we echo them that they not slumber

We pray to our Almighty God

Who has given us this great land

For our heritage, we've awe

Mindful of Thy favor, Thy hand

We seek to know Thy will

Humbly, we are glad to do it

Bless our land and its people

That we labor honorably

In sound learning families

With manners of civility

Pursing life happily

Save us from violence

Discord, confusion, pride

From arrogance and every evil way

Defend our liberty

Help us to be united as one

We have come from many lands

Many kindreds and tongues

Endue us with wisdom

And self-government

With justice and peace

Help us be obedient

To Thy commands always

In prosperity and trouble

Fill our hearts with praise

Help us shine Thy Law forth 

 To all the nations of the earth

Help our trust in Thee endure

“All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

[Verse 1] George Washington Felt the heavy burden fall on him Continually he prayed Throughout his service to our nation We would do well to remember His prayer recorded on this occasion And echo him that our purpose not slumber [Pre-Chorus] We pray to our Almighty God Who has given us this great land For our heritage, we've awe Mindful of Thy favor, Thy hand We seek to know Thy will Humbly, we are glad to do it [Chorus] Bless our land and its people Bless our land and its people That we labor honorably That we labor honorably Save us from violence Defend our liberty Help us to be united as one Help us to be united as one [Verse 2] From sound learning families With manners of civility Pursing life happily Save us from violence Discord, confusion, pride From arrogance and every evil way Defend our liberty [Pre-Chorus] Help us be obedient To Thy commands always In prosperity and trouble Fill our hearts with praise Help us shine Thy Law forth To all the nations of the earth Help our trust in Thee endure [Chorus] Bless our land and its people Bless our land and its people That we labor honorably That we labor honorably Save us from violence Defend our liberty Help us to be united as one Help us to be united as one [Bridge] We have come from many lands Many kindreds and tongues Endue us with wisdom For self-government For justice and peace Help us be obedient To Thy commands always [Final Chorus] Bless our land and its people Bless our land and its people That we labor honorably That we labor honorably Help us shine Thy Law forth To all the nations of the earth Help our trust in Thee endure Help our trust in Thee endure [Outro] “All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

George Washington consulted the Lord continually throughout his service to our nation. We all should echo the words of his prayer: “Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. “Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and pure manners. “Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. “Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought out of many kindreds and tongues. “Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be peace and justice at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. “In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail. “All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
https://x.com/PeacemakingSt/status/2073049875089080475?s=20

As I Have Not Yet Been Blessed

As I have not yet been blessed
With a husband and family of my own
Of this passage I can attest
"It is not good for man or woman to be alone"

Oft times, I am painfully aware
That part of me is not complete
With no help meet with which to share
I've also no children to rush and meet

Yet with all that I am and know
I am pointed to this divine truth
That from the garden family did flow
And we are now that living proof

Ordained of God, marriage is sacred
And includes the command to procreate
Where the basis of our society is bred
As children are taught what's appropriate

Though governments and schools may help
The success of a nation starts in the home
As in our day pervasive threat's develop
Sexual immorality has become the worst ever known

Nothing would do more to strengthen the world
Than a resurgence of moral virtue
Thus there must be more than consequences heard
If we're to have moral fiber embraced for good

It may seem hopeless or even ridiculous
To believe we can raise up greater women and men
But through a recommitment to what is virtuous
And, with Heavenly Father's help, we know we can




LDS Church News
Sheri L. Dew: The Power of Virtue
By Sheri L. Dew
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Following is the complete text of a talk given by Sister Sheri L. Dew at the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Aug. 10, 2009.
click on the title to go to LDS Church News

Kintsukuroi Master Refiner

 

Broken.  Shattered, in fact.
One feels SO of no use.
But, our souls can be put back!
Oh, how this is good news!

The Master refiner of gold
Picks up the pieces, the shards
And makes beauty out of the old
Us, He never ever discards

Transformed out of our pain
There's awe in what we've been through
See now what was once plain?
Wow!  What His atonement can do!

The widow the childless

The sick the infirm

Kintsukuroi, the gold in us

In trials, 

refined

becomes pure

[Verse 1] Broken. Shattered, in fact. One feels so of no use. But our souls can be put back. Oh, how this is good news! [Pre-Chorus] The Master refiner of gold Picks up the pieces The shards And makes beauty out of the old Us, He never ever discards [Chorus] Kintsukuroi gold Kintsukuroi gold In trials, refined We become pure [Verse 2] Transformed out of our pain There's awe in what we've been through See now what was once plain? Wow! What His atonement can do! [Pre-Chorus] The widow, the childless The sick, the infirm He gathers the broken And holds every hurt What the world called ruined He calls made new [Chorus] Kintsukuroi gold Kintsukuroi gold In trials, refined We become pure [Bridge] Pieces in His hands Never lost, never gone Ash to beauty now We are held, we are strong The old made radiant The scar turned bright He takes the fractured heart And brings it back to life [Chorus] Kintsukuroi gold Kintsukuroi gold In trials, refined We become pure

;The belief of kintsukuroi is that the piece is more beautiful for being broken. This is a great metaphor for our lives. In the Bible, Job declares his belief that when his trials are over, he “shall come forth as gold.”https://www.ldsdaily.com/personal-lds-blog/this-beautiful-japanese-technique-of-fixing-pottery-teaches-us-gospel-truth/

Refiner; Refining Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/refiner-refining/

REFINER; REFINING. re-fin'-er, re-fin'-ing: Two Hebrew words have been translated "refine": (1) tsaraph, literally, to "fuse" (Zechariah 13:9; Isaiah 48:10; Malachi 3:2,3, etc.). The same word is rendered also "tried" (Psalms 66:10); "melt" (Jeremiah 6:29 the King James Version); "purge" (Isaiah 1:25). (2) zaqaq, literally, to ...

Ten Fingers Ten- Commandments

 

God gave us ten fingers

and ten commandments

Ever to remember

Midst life's commitments

Point to the sky

As high as you can

Put our God first

Before any man

Do not bow down

in worship or prayer

To other God's

There's not a heart there

Hey, watch your words

Three fingers to your lips

Speak well of the Lord

Never with hands on your hips

Four things to keep

On the Lord's Day renew

Faith hope repentance

And the sacrament, too

Live long upon the land

Five fingers- a hand

 Raised to honor and

Praise your parents, grand

Five in a hand

Never ever six

Do not kill, man

This is evil, sick

Cross all seven parts

If that is what it takes

Including your heart

With your eternal mate

Four fingers twice makes eight

Tip to tip looks like bars

What you wanted, you will hate

One more that's for the liars

Clasp ten fingers close

Treasure your blessings

Don't covet others

Yes, you've a plenty

Heavenly Father's love

Perfect in every way

Continually blesses us

Every second of every day

https://x.com/AndersenNeilL/status/2075218415736754393?s=20

Mother Earth

http://hdw.eweb4.com/out/654923.html

The Earth received her breath of life

As it spun in and out of light.

Her land, a mass, a solid ground

Became fertile, life soon was found.

As it is from life, that new life flows

The Earth is alive, her wisdom grows.

Thus, from her dust we came to be.

Yes, she provides for her offspring.

Water wells to quench her thirst.

Just like mankind, she is two-thirds.

Her inner core bellows with fire.

Her energy flows to inspire.

She testifies of Jesus Christ.

Her beauty shines with His pure light.

Every living thing is a sign

Of her creator by design.

Then, when Adam and Eve fell

She groaned at the weight and fell too!

For with Satan, here to dwell

There is much more work for her to do.

For as temptations tempt and try,

The innocent cry out in pain.

And she, too, with us does cry.

Then... one day, how she did rain!

She immersed her whole self

In Christ's own living water;

And promised her all to help

God, our Heavenly Father.

Thus, she quakes at His command,

And her mighty oceans heave,

Her lofty mountains fall or stand,

And His love does never leave.

Her spirit is all aglow,

As from space, she is seen.

For a sign, she sought to know

When will come her King?

Then the star, at last appeared!

And touched her very soul.

Soon angels sang and heaven neared.

It was then she felt whole.

Christ taught of her beauty-

How she pointed to Him!

She grew in her duty

Miraculously, often!

Then, His blood covered her.

She was sick, nigh unto death.

When He died, she shuddered.

Perhaps, she held her breath?

Then, she received his body-

So torn, and bruised, and spent.

Her burden...was too heavy-

From  her, life also, went.

Darkness covered all the Earth.

She reeled and lost control.

This, for her, by far the worst

Part of her lonely role.

But, then, something happened-

He arose, breathing again.

The Holy Ghost... hers for sampling-

God had sent to her a friend!

Jesus came and went,

Preaching to her isles.

Blessings too were sent.

She was filled with smiles.

But, the day came- He left,

And one by one the righteous, too.

In darkness she was kept.

Just to live, seemed all she could do.

Then, one day, some came to treasure

Christ's records which she held.

Oh how this gave her such great pleasure;

And hope within her swelled.

Many sought for religious freedom.

This, she would provide!

They wanted to receive wisdom,

In Zion to reside.

A young farmer prayed to know

Which of the churches were true.

First, Lucifer tried to show.

The boy prayed, light burst through...

God the Father and His Son!

Their warmth, the Earth now felt!

Her restoration was begun.

She thought that she would melt!

One by one there were temples-

Heaven was coming to Earth!

For every land and people,

There were sealings for rebirth.

As for good and evil, people yearn

She's in a constant state of change.

She hopes and waits for the Lord's return.

When she'll be relieved of Satan's chains!

The weight of the wicked people

Causes her to lose her strength.

The world grows ripe with evil

While less and less she hears, "thanks".

She has enough and to spare!

And yet there is greed, hate, and envy.

Pride seems to be everywhere,

As the hearts of men go empty.

Still the church, grows of God

And lights her as never before.

This helps her to give her all,

While anticipating the Lord.

After watching Glenn Beck's The Man in the Moon, I thought about the Earth and how it is a living thing.  I read many scriptures and struggled how I would write this.  One Sunday I thought about the Earth receiving the blood the Savior spilled.  How horrible that must have been!  This thought stayed with me for a week and then the next Sunday morning, the whole story came to me except for a few edits. It was an amazing experience!  I hope it stirs someone to think as I did and that new thoughts might settle in the heart to feel joy in the blessing of Mother Earth!

I Pushed Everything Aside- At My Core

I pushed everything aside
To be swept of pride
Then I invited in the Lord
That His Spirit be my guide

Then... slowly, one by one
I called back just some
Of the old things I had done
That held Light unto the Son

And feeling richly blessed
Through abandoning sins- confessed
I felt such peace and rest
Words cannot be expressed

At my center

At my core

I had place love

From the Lord

The obstacles gone

I can see all I'd harmed

Each offense each wrong

Now I lean on Christ's arm

To always remember Him

As a new creature

How I love to follow Him

He is my teacher

Verse 1] I pushed everything aside To be swept of pride Then I invited in the Lord That His Spirit be my guide [Pre-Chorus] Then... slowly, one by one I called back just some Of the old things I had done That held Light unto the Son [Chorus] At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord [Verse 2] And feeling richly blessed Through abandoning sins- confessed I felt such peace and rest Words cannot be expressed [Pre-Chorus] The obstacles gone I can see all I'd harmed Each offense each wrong Now I lean on Christ's arm [Chorus] At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord [Bridge] To always remember Him As a new creature How I love to follow Him He is my master teacher [Chorus] At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord At my center At my core I had place love From the Lord

To Always Remember Him
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Ensign, April 2011, 49

"You and I can put Christ at the center of our lives and become one with Him as He is one with the Father. We can begin by stripping everything out of our lives and then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center."