Walk in My Ways

Little by little

Temptations come

Trouble by trouble

You fail to become

Wisdom's corrupted

Judgment's gone off

Trust, now, interrupted 

And then you get caught

This "high" life cut short

Competitors leer

Your vacancy they're for 

Your enemies cheer

Remember the day

The Lord had your back

You walked in His ways

Your life was on track

The peace of the Sabbath

The calm of the covenant 

You were on the right path

It's time to be repentant

Return to the good days

When you could live with yourself

You had nothing to hide

When you felt and loved to help!

Hear the Lord call

Walk in my ways

Come follow me

Put love back in 

all of your days

Verse 1] Little by little Temptations come Trouble by trouble You fail to become Wisdom's corrupted Judgment's gone off Trust, now, interrupted And then you get caught This high life cut short Competitors leer Your vacancy they're for Your enemies cheer [Pre-Chorus] Remember the day The Lord had your back You walked in His ways Your life was on track The peace of the Sabbath The calm of the covenant You were on the right path It's time to be repentant [Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me [Verse 2] Return to the good days When you could live with yourself You had nothing to hide When you felt and loved to help No need to pretend No need to divide The door is still open The road is inside [Pre-Chorus] Remember the day The Lord had your back You walked in His ways Your life was on track The peace of the Sabbath The calm of the covenant You were on the right path It's time to be repentant [Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me [Bridge] Hear the Lord call Hear the Lord call The mercy is near The old chains fall [Break] Return to the good days You can live with yourself You had nothing to hide You were made to help [Final Chorus] Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Come follow me, come follow me Walk in my ways Walk in my ways Put love back in all of your days

See A Pearl Farm in China by The Pearl Girls

The birth of a pearl
Is a miraculous thing

From an oyster to unfurl

A grain, a treasure to be

See the pearl shimmer 

with a soft inner glow

Unlike any other gem 

the earth holds to show

Iridescent 

With a luster of white

See it reflect and refract 

All the colors of light

See the Young Women

Inwardly aglow

Each prized in heaven

With beauty to grow

Her luster of virtue

From being washed clean

Is bright for the future

Like celestial crystalline

[Verse 1] The birth of a pearl Is a miraculous thing From an oyster to unfurl A grain, a treasure to be See the pearl shimmer with a soft inner glow Unlike any other gem the earth holds to show [Pre-Chorus] Iridescent With a luster of white See it reflect and refract All the colors of light [Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road [Verse 2] See the Young Women Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven With beauty to grow Her luster of virtue From being washed clean Is bright for the future Like celestial crystalline [Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road [Bridge] From grain to glory From hidden to shown What was once buried Becomes a holy stone [Final Chorus] Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Each prized in heaven Each one made to grow Inwardly aglow Inwardly aglow Beauty to become Bright for the road

The birth of a pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike gemstones or precious metals that must be mined from the earth, pearls are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty. But pearls need no such treatment to reveal their loveliness. They are born from oysters complete -- with a shimmering iridescence, lustre and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on earth.

A natural pearl begins its life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster's body takes defensive action. The oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance around the irritant in order to protect itself. This substance is called "nacre." As long as the irritant remains within its body, the oyster will continue to secrete nacre around it, layer upon layer. Over time, the irritant will be completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings. And the result, ultimately, is the lovely and lustrous gem called a pearl.

How something so wondrous emerges from an oyster's way of protecting itself is one of nature's loveliest surprises. For the nacre is not just a soothing substance. It is composed of microscopic crystals of calcium carbonate, aligned perfectly with one another, so that light passing along the axis of one crystal is reflected and refracted by another to produce a rainbow of light and color.

Cultured pearls share the same properties as natural pearls. Oysters form cultured pearls in an almost identical fashion. The only difference is a person carefully implants the irritant in the oyster, rather than leaving it to chance. We then step aside and let nature create its miracle.

http://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html

In its Gleaming Glory

In its gleaming glory
The temple beckons us
Promising the weary
A place of peace and rest

The House of the Lord
Is for the homeward bound
As with all its splendor
Heaven on earth is found

thoughts from
quotes from President Thomas S. Monson
In the special temple Ensign, October 2010, 10

[Verse 1] In its gleaming glory The temple beckons us Promising the weary A place of peace and rest The House of the Lord Is for the homeward bound As with all its splendor Heaven on earth is found [Pre-Chorus] To enter through its doors Holiness is felt The spirit is restored Life's big problems melt [Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us) [Verse 2] We bring our list of worries Friends and families suffer Every wounded thought We lay it at the alter The dust falls from our hands The world is left behind In His holy place Our broken hearts align [Pre-Chorus] To enter through its doors Holiness is felt The spirit is restored Life's big problems melt [Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us) [Bridge] Let every weary heart Lift up and testify There is healing here There is grace alive Let every searching soul Find shelter in the flame Heart's sanctuary We are not the same [Final Chorus] House of the Lord Eternal family's here Perspective's found House of the Lord Holiness to Him Peace over us Peace over us (House of the Lord) (Peace over us)

Let Me Warn You With Caution

Let me warn you with caution
Repent now before it’s too late
For seeking to ease my conscience
I once allowed in judgment and hate

Willfully choosing this, I added
More sins upon my head
That unto Satan, I was handed
Unto being hardened and spiritually dead

Now while in this dark wasteland
Seeking for my long way back
I found the Savior’s hand
For alone the strength I lacked

Of this prideful experience
I would that you not have
For God’s laws have no variance
And, Satan waits patiently to trap

[Verse 1] Let me warn you with caution Repent now before it’s too late For seeking to ease my conscience I once allowed in judgment and hate [Verse 2] Willfully choosing this, I added More sins upon my head That unto Satan, I was handed Unto being hardened and spiritually dead [Pre-Chorus] Now while in this dark wasteland Seeking for my long way back I found the Savior’s hand For alone the strength I lacked [Chorus] Save me from my pride Save me from my pride Out of this wasteland Hold me in Your light Save me from my pride Save me from my pride God, Your ways don’t bend And Satan waits to trap [Verse 3] Of this prideful experience I would that you not have For God’s laws have no variance And, Satan waits patiently to trap [Bridge] So I lay it down Every bitter part Write Your mercy there Deep inside my heart [Chorus] Save me from my pride Save me from my pride Out of this wasteland Hold me in Your light Save me from my pride Save me from my pride God, Your ways don’t bend And Satan waits to trap

When We Believe, We Surpass

When we believe, we surpass
And we've happiness as our gas
For it's optimism we embrace
To see the value in life's race

A good marriage and home to roost
Will be only a short lived boost
If we've not faith which comes first
We will start seeing things as worst

When an optimist finds trauma has struck
The response is better, as though in luck
Without blame, worry, or ruminate
A solution forms to illuminate...

Here are some key words of advice
To see life as beautiful and nice
As we ponder sad moments and deviation
We must build ourselves up with appreciation

When thoughts circle and strengths wane
Write down what dwells within your brain
Do something that will distract
Take a break and let good attract

What other factors are in the midst?
Now it's time to ponder the list
We can make adversity's power slacken
By thinking beyond the worst that can happen

Avoid pessimism as you strive
And savor what it means to be alive
Don't revolve in boredom and tedium
Shake off the news and presidium

Share of yourself with gratitude
Help someone see your new attitude
Create true friendships with energy
Combine strengths and start synergy

Happiness can be a learned behavior
As we point our spirits to the Savior
Then we're centered with a divine role
And to be like Him becomes our goal

With prayer we can talk to Him
And feel His love build within
And as we serve others we forget ourself
Which helps us put our sadness upon a shelf

[Verse 1] When we believe, we surpass And we've happiness as our gas For it's optimism we embrace To see the value in life's race A good marriage and home to roost Will be only a short lived boost If we've not faith which comes first We will start seeing things as worst [Pre-Chorus] When an optimist finds trauma has struck The response is better, as though in luck Without blame, worry, or ruminate A solution forms to illuminate [Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through [Verse 2] Here are some key words of advice To see life as beautiful and nice As we ponder sad moments and deviation We must build ourselves up with appreciation When thoughts circle and strengths wane Write down what dwells within your brain Do something that will distract Take a break and let good attract [Pre-Chorus] What other factors are in the midst? Now it's time to ponder the list We can make adversity's power slacken By thinking beyond the worst that can happen [Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through [Bridge] Avoid pessimism as you strive And savor what it means to be alive Don't revolve in boredom and tedium Shake off the news and presidium Share of yourself with gratitude Help someone see your new attitude Create true friendships with energy Combine strengths and start synergy [Final Chorus] When we believe We rise up higher When we believe Hope sets the fire When we believe We can be made new When we believe We walk on through Happiness can be a learned behavior As we point our spirits to the Savior Then we're centered with a divine role And to be like Him becomes our goal With prayer we can talk to Him And feel His love build within And as we serve others we forget ourself Which helps us put our sadness upon a shelf

Synergy- the working together of two things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects

click on the title to read the article
Happiness is a Learned Behavior
By Sharon Haddock
Mormon Times Friday, March 27, 2009

illustration by Roman 92
wikimedia commons

How Rare a Possession - The Book of Mormon (Full Movie)

A farmer laid
In the bowels of the earth
His fruits sustained
By a spiritual birth

To then spring up
For branching forth
From a strong trunk
To tower once more

And God sent down
To lodge there secure
In the branches grown
Gospel fruit made pure

Go and partake

And spread the news

We've covenants to make

To freely choose

Stay by the tree

The love of God

In truth, happily

Endure. Belong

Verse 1] A farmer laid In the bowels of the earth His fruits sustained By a spiritual birth To then spring up For branching forth From a strong trunk To tower once more [Pre-Chorus] And God sent down To lodge there secure In the branches grown Gospel fruit made pure [Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God [Verse 2] In truth, happily Endure A farmer laid And the seed came through His fruits sustained Now they live in you [Pre-Chorus] And God sent down To lodge there secure In the branches grown Gospel fruit made pure [Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God [Bridge] From the deep below To the open sky What was hidden grows And it never dies Stay by the tree With a willing heart In truth, happily Endure the start [Final Chorus] Go and partake And spread the news We've covenants to make To freely choose Stay by the tree Stay by the tree Belong, belong To the love of God

Here's a great talk to read more:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-04-5020-elder-kevin-w-pearson?lang=eng

Adversity Begins With the First Breath

Adversity begins with our very first breath
As we sense the struggle between life and death
Dependent completely for everything at first
One develops ability for better or worse

Then comes the search for independence and choice
To experience the freedom to dream and rejoice
And as we learn, our knowledge comes with a high price
For we discover that the world is not always good and nice

Soon we find we're not always innocent, for we've much that does afflict
As our agency overwhelms us, thereto act and self-inflict
One thing becomes certain, hard times define what we are
And, too, they determine if and when we'll travel far

Fortunately, we've a Savior, who's experienced it all
He is there to give us aid, and comfort us when we fall
He is there to guide us, when we're confused and we're tested
It is for our souls, that He has suffered and invested

As we mature, we gasp that we've this incredible blessing
And we learn ever to grasp His hand when life is distressing
Then we look around at those struggling and want to share
That there is a Savior, with hands, ever stretching to give care

Our Father, in His wisdom, gives us trials to rise above!
Oh, what things we receive when we learn what it is to love
As work hardens our muscles and sorrows try our very souls
It is then we're prepared and strengthened to achieve our highest goals

Are we not exposed to temptations to test and to try us?
And, further, to value the perfection of our Lord, our Jesus?
With pain we learn patience, and conquer feeling horrified
And peace replaces fear of death, unto faith in our being glorified!

[Verse 1] Adversity begins with our very first breath As we sense the struggle between life and death Dependent completely for everything at first One develops ability for better or worse Then comes the search for independence and choice To experience the freedom to dream and rejoice [Pre-Chorus] And as we learn, our knowledge comes with a high price For we discover that the world is not always good and nice Soon we find we're not always innocent For we've much that does afflict As our agency overwhelms us Thereto act and self-inflict [Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day [Verse 2] One thing becomes certain, hard times define what we are And, too, they determine if and when we'll travel far Fortunately, we've a Savior, who's experienced it all He is there to give us aid, and comfort us when we fall He is there to guide us, when we're confused and we're tested It is for our souls, that He has suffered and invested [Pre-Chorus] As we mature, we gasp that we've this incredible blessing And we learn ever to grasp His hand when life is distressing Then we look around at those struggling and want to share That there is a Savior, with hands, ever stretching to give care [Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day [Bridge] Our Father, in His wisdom, gives us trials to rise above! Oh, what things we receive when we learn what it is to love As work hardens our muscles and sorrows try our very souls It is then we're prepared and strengthened to achieve our highest goals Are we not exposed to temptations to test and to try us? And, further, to value the perfection of our Lord, our Jesus? With pain we learn patience, and conquer feeling horrified And peace replaces fear of death, unto faith in our being glorified [Final Chorus] There is a Savior There is a Savior When I fall, He stays There is a Savior There is a Savior Hands out every day

Thoughts from
President Patterson's talk
March 15, 2009
In Moorpark's Ward Conference
He quoted President Kimball: "Is there not wisdom in his giving us trials that we might rise above them, responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, sorrows to try our souls? Are we not exposed to temptations to test our strength, sickness that we might learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified?"