In Memory of Neal Maxwell

In memory of the faith's ultimate wordsmith
Who cut to the core as he taught gospel doctrine
He'd metaphors, similes and alliterations
And most of all, his life was an inspiration

He served through his cancer, as he shared of his life
And how he loved Colleen, his dear beloved wife
We cannot forget he left us with- His meekness in Christ
After 30 books- this as his legacy- sufficed

And if he could speak again what would he say to us?
That as a cancer patient, he'd a sharper focus?
And that as disciples we'll each have a difficult test
Of what's hardest for us to do... then comes Jesus' request!
(And, then of course comes the greatest blessing- eternal rest)


Thoughts from: Elder Neal A. Maxwell dies at 78
By Carrie A. Moore
Deseret Morning News
Published: July 22, 2004
If you click on the title- you can read the article

The Church of Christ

The Church of Christ became perfect
Once the women were organized
Their loving service would boost and affect
As their strength for good became utilized

They went about from house to house
Dedicated to give support
To assist the brethren, they did espouse
And gave aid to the needy and the poor

Let's devote ourselves to giving relief
And being a blessing to those around
May we encourage faith in those who've grief
And succor the weak where ever they're found

May we be prompted to action when comes
That child who's ill, or neighbor with needs
Or a family perhaps that's lost their income
May we assist them back onto their feet

Dear Sisters, each deed can be small
We can lift others in many ways
A smile, a kind note, perhaps a phone call,
Or to kneel and bow with them as one prays

In 1830, Joseph Smith gave this advise:
That the sisters "expound scriptures" and "exhort"
That in them the gospel truths might apprise
To nourish them and lend to them a gift that supports

May we renew those days of faith and hope
That our lessons might be a purifying stream
Which does refresh the heart to better cope
As it restores and edifies us to high esteem

Dear Sisters, may we now step up and be strong
To declare the truth with faith and boldness
May we with the angels rejoice unto song
As we live up to our privilege to witness

We have promise that is finest deep inside us
May we rescue God's daughters for His kingdom
That Relief Society might be a refuge, thus
As we feel blessed immeasurably with love and wisdom

Barbara Thompson
General Relief Society
Now Let Us Rejoice
September 2008, 114

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 -

We Are Deeply Thankful

We are deeply thankful we are able
To come anew unto our Lord's table
We have come for broken bread and pure water
To be found sanctified for Heav'nly Father

It's our time to be reverent and prayerful
Contrite in spirit with hearts that are full
He who paid the price and ransomed us from sin
Has given His life that we might live with God again

May we thank Him that for us He has suffered
May we with clean hands receive what He offers
May we feel a portion of His Spirit deep inside!
May we be humble, for then we will not be denied

We've Gone About Doing Good

We've gone about doing good
Loving as the Savior would
But, now we have felt impressed
There's more He would that we address

We must reach beyond our Sisterhood
To assist alongside the Priesthood
To understand our purpose and our role
We must study the restoration's goals

As calamities must come to pass
Faith must increase and covenants ever last
As the fullness is taught of the gospel
Unto the world by the weak and simple

As daughters t'wards eternal blessings
Our righteousness should be increasing
That we might help our family and friends
To serve the Lord and teach His children

And thus, through a divine commission
We'll bless the home and support the missions
Attend the temples and show welfare
As we extend hands that nurture and care

And in memory of the sisters of old
Who endured persecutions and were bold
May we walk in faith with fire in our souls
And rise in stature to accomplish our roles

May our homes be sacred sanctuaries
Where virtue and loveliness in it carries
Strength to defend and practice truth
To prepare our children and our youth

May the Holy Ghost show what we should do
As we pray, read, study, and ponder anew
With serious mental effort and fasting
To catch the vision the Lord is casting

Julie Beck
Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society
Ensign, November 2008, 108

What's a Testimony Good For?

What's a testimony good for?
But to motivate us in life
To prepare us for good things in store
And eventually Jesus Christ

It gives us reason for gladness
It helps us know and choose the right
For our peace of mind and happiness
For our confidence in Holy Light

To help us shine bright and stand tall
While listening to the prophet's voice
That we might arise unto our call
Growing valiant with each good choice

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Your Right to Choose the Right
New Era, Aug 2005, 4

I Know I've An Unique role

I know that I've
An unique roll
I must then strive
To reach each goal

To drift and float
Is not enough
For a lone boat
Sea waves are tough

Then watch the storm
More turbulent
Where sin's froth forms
From rules I've bent

I am inept
When I'm alone
Overboard I'm swept
My curse to own

Where came that squall?
How did I sway?
How did I fall
And lose my way?

Shall I sink
Unto despair?
Or shall I think
Unto repair?

I must do
Whate'er it takes
To swim anew
With great painstakes

As I was tossed
About much more
I became lost
With no boat, no shore

To drown or drift
In this great big sea
Only one can lift
And then rescue me

He who calms the wind
And stills each wave
Can help this end
And, too, me save

As I beseeched
I felt a hand
As an arm reached
And raised me grand

I wiped my eyes
There was someone
It was the Christ
The living Son!

And He told me
To study more
For on the sea
There is no shore

He showed me His lone star
And how to navigate
Unto His bright pillar
For which it's hard to wait

On my boat once more
I am not afraid
For I'm prepared for
Travels of crusade

I'm set on my way
Where the water's deep
I read and I pray
For I have goals to keep

Prayers the answer
That saves us
I must anchor
Unto Jesus

On A Ship that Rides the Sea

On a ship that rides the sea
I've a course for my journey

I've a purpose and destiny
And I will try my best to be

I'll not rest until I'm done
And live with God and the Son

I'm pointed towards our Lord's star
It's polar and seen afar

And when clouds come and perform
I'll anchor and ride the storm

While I'm tossed upon the waves
I will pray, my soul, God saves

I've a light inside of me
That will help me know and see

I've covenants that I have made
Thus, I'll see the path that's laid

Once a week, I'll land ashore
To renew my chart once more

I'll assess my goals and needs
And build faith for loftier deeds

I will search the horizon
For my Lord and New Zion

He's coming here, to return
And for this my soul does yearn

I Have Light for What's Right

I have light
For what's right
If not I'd loose
The right to choose!

I wonder
And ponder
Continually
And spiritually

My best thoughts
Can't be bought
My motive is
To know God lives

I seek for
An answer
Knowing what's true
For God, I do

My success,
Peace, and rest
I testify
Begins with "why"

Walking tall
Giving all
I will shine bright
With God in sight

I'll not fear
What draws near
I've help to grow
From thoughts that flow

And no one
Can reason
Away God's truth
I have my proof

It's in me,
All I see,
Through His word
In faith, I've heard

I am free
Joyfully
To seek options
For my adoptions


Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Your Right to Choose the Right
New Era, Aug, 2005, 4

It's Through Faith That We Pray

It's through faith that we pray
And are willing to obey
Never mind that we're weak
We're strong when to God we speak

But, to each comes the test
Which tries our very faith
Then, we know not of rest
Till we heed what our Lord sayeth

In faith's absence there is fear
That can shake us off our feet
For though now to Him we're not near
The day will come when we will meet

What can we do to prepare?
For the day of our challenge?
Read what the scriptures declare
From that we should not estrange!

It is our liahona
To lead us where we should go
And just like an antenna
Our faith must upwards grow

And as it enlarges
It must also be maintained
For the storms of life damages
What is not oft sustained

Then we are oft reminded
Of the covenants we have made
If not, we're spiritually blinded
And our remembrances soon do fade

An Eye of Faith

With an eye of faith
The veil's no longer
And from what is seen
Faithfulness grows stronger

A long time ago
Before the Lord's day
One seeking to know
Grew such a great faith

He saw God's finger
Then he saw all things
He'd proven eager
For what God's promises bring

The brother of Jared
Moved mountain Zerin
As with faith he was led
Unto the power that's therein

Ether 12: 19
And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even abefore Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.


Alma 32: 40
And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

D&C 4: 5
And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

WWJD

What would Jesus do?
Is my thought today
As I think anew
On His words and pray

I've His holy light
To brighten my choices
When I chose what's right
My soul soon rejoices

May this be my thought
Each and every day
Wisdom must be sought
And He is the Light, the Truth, the Way

Another Angel

Another angel
Went up today
To adorn a temple
Where we go to pray

Where we go and feel
The joy it leaves
When there we seal
Our families

Where we go and think
Of our troubles
Where precious thoughts link
And our faith doubles

Where we go to serve
And represent
It's time to reserve
And be found present

The angel's trumpet
Sounds in the air
We've work to do yet
It's song declares

Thank you R. Scott Llyod
http://deseretnews.com/cn/view/1,1721,500006945,00.html?linkTrack=Email-LDS

The Sacrament's There

The sacrament's there
Let's sing and prepare
The words in the hymn
Speak of His emblems

The wine is the blood
That from Him did flood
As He bleed from each pore
While our sins pressed Him more

The bread is His body
Which was torn and bloody
As He was punished
Till He said, "It is finished"

His work was fulfilled
With a message instilled
That He did love us
And, in God, He did trust

Come eat and be fed
On Christ's living bread
Come humbly partake
And much more- sins forsake

Come and with Him- dine
On His holy wine
This drink typifies
Loving sacrifice

His Spirit is here
Be reverent and revere
Leave what's of the world
For the wisdom unfurled

There's joy in the heart
As each prayer does start
Meekly, we can hear it
And feel of His Spirit

We remember our Lord
Our Redeemer, adored
His word's in us live on
And, with Him, we belong

Come keep your promise!
This you'll not want to miss!
As we take on His name
And are never the same

I Had a Dream Long Ago

I had a dream
Long ago
Of what Id seen
I still know

There was a knock
On my door
"Come take a walk"
A voice implored

It was a man
Dressed in white
I took his hand
Into the night

Above the street
I saw a star
It made a streak
And burst afar

And then I too
Shot out of sight
In fact we flew
Into a light

I saw some scenes
Flash before me
My life and dreams
My memory

Could this be death?
I felt my face
I took a breath
My heart did race

I saw my son
Whom Id not seen
Since he was one
And so I leaned

My arm reached out
It was so real
I gave a shout
The sound was shrill

The baby smiled
He was so small
So still and mild
Then- not at all

The scene went blank
I was falling
And my heart sank
I stopped calling

Surely, Id die
When I landed
For the trip down
Id been stranded

Instead- a jerk
I was in bed
My eyes did perk
I was not dead!

For thirty years
Id not seen Jim...
Gone were my fears
Id forget Him

And now each night
Amidst my tears
That knock so light
I pray to hear

Come We Now

Come we now here to partake
And remember and forsake
We've the sacramental bread
To memoralize Christ's not dead

As, too we drink from our Lord's cup
Can our reverence be enough?
For, for us His blood did pour
And, now He awaits once more

He is there when we've a need
And in us a hope does breed
Charity and joyfilled song
Thankful that the gospel's strong

Through the commandments that we keep
We can help those who now do weep
May they see the Light in us
May we lead them to Jesus

What More Could We Ask For?

What more could we ask for?
Than to be forgiven of our sins
And have the Holy Ghost our comforter
As through baptism, new life begins

What a dream
To be forgiven
And be found clean
By God in heaven

Weekly, and with fervor in one's soul
We gather for forgiveness
And ponder the emblems of the Son
Unto newness and remembrance

Each mind is found changed
Each heart is made pure
And thoughts rearrange
That we might more endure

And with our gift as our guide
We've the scriptures for increase
They calm the rising tide
Of temptations, till they appease

There's peace in doing as we should
What more could anyone ask for?
For though, alone, we might be good
To be sanctified is so much more

When Shall Sorrow and Sighing Flee Away?

When shall sorrow and sighing flee away
And everlasting joy fall upon our heads?
When the ransomed of the Lord shall return
And Zion exists in us and our kindred dead

Then, with the angels we'll be found singing
And humbling kneeling to praise our Lord -here- standing
As with His legions our voices will ring
For the triumphant reign of our Savior and king

Isaiah 35:10
And the ransomed of the lord shall return,
and come to Zion with songs
and everlasting joy upon their heads:
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Here- We're Ever Grasping for What's Everlasting

Here- we're ever grasping
For what's everlasting
As we partake of
The emblems of His love

Here- we are becoming
Christ-like and loving
To become like Him, with His name
As He's taken all our shame

Here- we're clean and pure
Although trials may endure
There is strength in who we are
As we have our pillar star

Here- we seek to feel His peace
And are gently put to ease
As we slow down from our haste
For the goodness here we taste

Here- we have His Spirit
Though we cannot steer it
As we must pray to know God's will
And for His strength then to fulfill

And as we seek to understand
Whom He is that extends His hand
We'll want to live and do our best
To have His Spirit, in us, dwell and rest

The Nourishing Power of Hymns

A hymn impresses and invites the Spirit
As it's an inspiring sermon to those who hear it
A hymn is filled with the Spirit of conversion
And when the Devil tempts, it strengthens for dispersion

A hymns creates a feeling of reverence
Especially when played without utterance
Before we meet and again at the end
May we be without speech to feel what descends

The Savior and His power, heals us of pain
As with the sacramental hymn our voices refrain
A hymn is a prayer of itself that we send
What better way to prepare us for amen?

We can memorize and ponder them, recite and sing
Oh the Spirit of beauty, peace, and love it will bring
Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God
And is a way that blessings upon heads are then brought

Jay E. Jensen
The Nourishing Power of Hymns
Ensign, May 2007, 11

Isa. 24: 16
16 ¶ From the uttermost part of the earth
have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous.
But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!
the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously;
yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

D&C 25: 12
12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;
yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me,
and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

D&C 45: 71
71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous
shall be gathered out from among all nations,
and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.

D&C 109: 39
39 And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter,
and the people of that city receive their testimony,
let thy peace and thy salvation be upon that city;
that they may gather out of that city the righteous,
that they may come forth to bZion, or to her stakes,
the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy;

Children

There is in what we believe and teach
We counsel, command and even warn
That unto children our love should reach
To protect, care for, and also inform

In the Andes Mountains of Peru
During a sacrament meeting
A small boy, for food, came to peruse
But was shood away without a greeting

Yet, hopeful, the boy crept along the wall
Looking at me and then at the bread
Then he ran to my arms to sit still and small
In the speakers chair that stood at the head

What could he need more than bread crumbs?
A feeling of belonging and home?
And of something familiar as the spirit comes
There to know that all along, he'd not been alone?

For, though here sat an orphan, but a child
He had been created of God, with royal birth
And deserved an entrance through the main aisle
To be welcomed by arms that saw his great worth

And from that experience, I have gained
A place in my heart for that ragged boy
I see him oft in the faces of those who're pained
Whose eyes question "why?" and who know nought of joy

Oh, how great is the need to show God's love
And treat each child as though they're the best
Why would you want to abuse, neglect or shove
Our future leaders in whom we should invest?

Shall we not give them milk and then meat
And more- how to be nourished on their own?
Shall we not save for them, next to us a seat
And give them what they need the most until they are grown?


President Boyd K. Packer
Children
Liahona, July 2002, 7

D&C 19:22
For they cannot bear meat now,
but milk they must receive;
wherefore, they must not know these things,
lest they perish.

D&C 50:40.
Behold, ye are little children
and ye cannot bear all things now;
ye must grow in grace
and in the knowledge of the truth.


nought
Synonyms:
0, cipher, cypher, zero

Four Steps to Learning

There are four steps to learning
(For knowledge comes through earning)
First, have a desiring mind
That's of an inquiring kind
Then, one must study out
What needs to come about?
And, with daily practice
The application's noticed
Then, while engaged in prayer
Ask that wisdom be made bare

For the discovering of goals
Choose models with good roles
Also, nourish your faith
And seek what scriptures sayeth
Learning can be misused
If not spiritually enthused
As there's a divine decree
To obtain that high degree
The way to revelation
Comes by way of invitation

Learn the law of the kingdom
Of your own activity
Then utilize the scriptures
To measure each thought and deed

There's divine direction
To see another way
Step by step t'wards perfection
There's truths to embrace each day

Russell M. Nelson
Four Steps to Learning
Tambuli, Sept 1989, 39

A Special Experience

A heartfelt special experience
Adds to a spiritual treasury
For enlightened exuberance
That grows to become quite savory

So too, challenges and trials
Test as well as teach us how to cope
And, empathy comes after awhile
To help those in need to find new hope

And as the good and bad more combine
Building blocks of convictions stack
And testimonies grow up in time
That of, otherwise, we would lack

And these events are like embers
To feel the spirit of God burning
That us, His weak and the simple members
May know His love is there for our learning


Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Special Experiences
Ensign, May 2008, 11

Never Give Up, Never

Never give up, never
Persevere to the end
Why would you risk or want to sever
The hope of fullness with our Lord, our friend

The course is the easy way
When the goal stays within sight
Even when there comes a trial of faith
And there's sorrow, temptation and blight

This opposition helps us
So that we'll not be passive
But ever following Jesus
There is help He alone can give

For us, He has paved the course
Through His suffering and death
He knows our every sorrow and remorse
And each pitfall to the very depth

He will endow us with gifts
If we but remain true and sure
Having His Spirit in us uplifts
And strengthens us so that we'll endure

May we more learn to be like Him
And seek to know the Father's will
When there's lost sheep, may we tend them
For we've each a course to fulfill

Joseph B. Wirthlin
Never Give Up
Ensign, Nov 1987, 8

Why Have We Our Lord's Teachers?

Why have we our Lord's teachers?
But, that we might attain
A measure from the stature
Of our Lord who ever reigns

A teacher of the world would
Teach us to know something
But, it's more for our final good
To grow and become something

In death, all of our works and deeds
And, the desires of our heart's will
Be used to determine what needs be
For whate'er we are now, we will be still

If we were filthy- we will be filthy
If we were righteous- we will be righteous
Whatever we were, we will still be
As we're judged by all that's in us

The selfish and disobedient
May be found tremendously smart
But, to God, they've been inconsistent
As, He was not oft found inside their heart

Every thought, and each spoken word
And, everything that we did do
Will be seen as well as heard
And, we will need to be spotless, too

For, if we're not- we'll not dare
To look upon God face to face
As everything about us is made bare
And we feel the shame of disgrace!

"The fullness of the Father" promises
An inheritance of eternal life
And to achieve this, our greatest test is
Growing in conversion, though there is strife

For when we've a testimony of God
It's been revealed by our Father in heaven
That, as new creatures we might develop
Trust and humility seventy times seven

The repentant once baptized are born again
And become spotless to know a perfect state
That as from the commandments they humbly extend
They give from all they have and are and consecrate


Elder Dallin H. Oaks
The Challenge to Become
LDS Devotion

Knowledge

Knowledge is power in the world today
Or so that is what most people say
So why play about and waste all your time
You've a long way up and you must climb

A Wealthy Father Knew

A wealthy father knew
What his child really needed
First, wisdom and stature, too
Must be taught and must be heeded

In good standing among men
This father had wealth and position
But, what of his son? What would cause him
To go through this process of conversion?

The father challenged the son
To learn all the things he had learned
And do all the things he had done
That, he'd see and know what he must earn

At last, came the day of measuring
What had the son done and become?
What he'd been taught, was he treasuring?
Well, he'd mastered the challenge. He'd won!

All the father's life work
Would not be lost or wasted
As from labor the boy did not shirk
And on his servants, he waited

Humble and willing
Persistent and giving
The son fought off greed
And served beyond his needs

The father in delight
Could now retire
For now all was right
With his hearts desire

The sum total of good and evil acts
Shows best of what we've become
It's not based on knowledge or facts
Whether we're fit for a royal kingdom

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
The Challenge to Becom
LDS Devotional