A collection of my poems based on Elder Wirthlin's talks
I miss him and have felt sad all week that I didn't write a
poem based on the latest conference... please pass this post
on if you like
A voice worth remembering is full of love
And of memories worth hearing again and again
It is full of sharing of the things from above
As it is intimately heard- from friend to a friend
Life's Lessons Learned
If I were to examine my life,
Would I like who I have come to be?
Have I learned life's lessons though there's strife?
Did I listen to those who coached me?
All I have learned has shaped my destiny.
Prayerfully, I'll reflect on my life.
Have I kept the Lord close beside me?
Did I stay strong though there's fear of strife?
Did I say no when things tempted me?
All I have done has shaped my destiny.
I'll set high goals to improve my life.
And create what will inspire me.
Consistently, I will pray through strife.
I will think of those who have taught me,
With my eyes on the things that will shape me.
The Law of the Fast
The day has come at last.
Now, humbly I will fast.
For what purpose, I pray,
Can be strengthened today?
At testimonies feast
I hope faith to increase!
I know spiritual power
Attends the sacred hour.
As testimonies born
Ease burdens heavy worn.
Expressed blessings abound
In grateful hearts they're found.
I love Heavenly Father.
To fast is not a bother.
Although I am hungry,
With prayer it reminds me
Of those who have much less.
To them offerings bless.
This Sunday has Come at Last to Humbly Pray
This Sunday has come at last to humbly pray .
And, now, what purpose will I fast today?
What part of my faith needs fortifying?
Perhaps it's what drains me till I'm crying!
How oft have I let this day slip away?
Without any thought to fast and to pray?
I'll trust and obey it's only for my good-
Thus, loving Heavenly Father, as I should.
I can show my love to my fellow man.
I'll observe this simple plan. Yes, I can.
If I for them do pray, they will notice
The good that comes from this noble practice!
We must lift our heart, our minds, our voices.
A fast will help us make better choices.
With love we'll generously succor the weak.
And lift up hands who in need pray and seek.
The Great Command
They sought to find in Him a flaw.
He would not deride or use a rod.
“Master”, they asked, “What is the great law?”
He replied, “ Thou shalt love thy God.”
Our Savior, they could not defraud.
I will love God, with all my heart,
With all my soul, with all my mind.
I'm known of Him, the Great Thou Art.
And, to self and man, I am kind.
Though men despise, I'll be refined.
When one argues, contentions sway.
We know to be more unified.
This is the more excellent way.
As our Lord exemplified-
With charity all's dignified.
With the love of God, I am filled.
This is the measure of my soul.
With His love, my spirit is thrilled.
And, blessing others is my role.
In service, I will Him extol.
Eternal love lasts forever.
It is patient and forgiving.
To be Christ-like, we endeavor.
He sees beyond what's shortcoming.
We're glorious and becoming.
With Christ's image, we are transformed.
He shares our pain and we soften.
A heart once bitter is reformed.
With perspective, hates forgotten.
And, we feel His love more often.
Obedience is a delight.
Love frees us from the weight of pain.
We are vibrant and carry light.
We want all man to feel the same.
With the Lord we've so much to gain.
Unto the sick, we minister.
To the hungry, we offer food.
And, sacrament's administered
To remember beatitudes.
With these emblems, we are renewed.
Our Savior gives us tools to cope.
He gives water from which we draw.
His Light gives us reason to hope.
His love's for us, and we're in awe.
All things hang upon love's great law.
Our Father in heaven provides
Love infinite, eternal.
With this heart, we improve our lives.
He offers Christ- Love is not final-
Blood sealed- the greatest love of all.
And He offers a gift that guides,
That, when we're righteous it teaches,
Inspires, comforts, and resides.
What behooves us, it beseeches.
From this gift, God's love far reaches.
Come Sunday
When all is suddenly dark
And life seems bleak and stark
I picture a gray Friday
When all seemed to be in vain.
Our Lord was upon a cross.
And, for mankind, all seemed lost.
The earth shook and darkness grew.
What were the Saints then to do?
And, too, the temple was rent.
Where holy prayers could be sent.
The Son of Heav'nly Father
No more to walk on water.
He tortured and killed, what grave sorrow.
Gone was their hope in bright tomorrow.
That Friday was the darkest
In hist'ry, by the farthest.
Devastating sorrow gnawed.
As deep in their souls it clawed.
Their beloved Savior had died.
But, soon hope came, their tears dried.
The worst doom could not endure.
Eternal Life was now assured!
The glorious Lord was now raised.
They cried and upon Him gazed.
Though dark days come. We've Fridays.
Bright days await. We've Sundays.
For us in Heaven there is a place.
There is a Lord and He gives us grace.
And how we each long to see his face!
Band of Brothers
In the fires of shared experience
Come some of the closest friendships
They form bonds based on love and trust
Where otherwise emotions crush
From a shared grief or happiness
Comes an amplified tenderness
When we struggle, we must gather
To share what really does matter
To preach the gospel, To change lives
To leave home comforts, To baptize
To serve God and build His kingdom
And humbly seek out for wisdom
United by a common goal
To usher in another soul
As we link our arms together
We soon journey towards forever
Never forget the value of
A great cause and of selfless love
Captain Moroni rent his coat
And to his countrymen, he wrote
In memory of our religion,
freedom, peace, wives and our children
Once united, he could lead them
To transcend their lives to his vision
Threatened by familiar neighbors
The two- thousand stripling warriors
Were needed to fight in the war
They prepared for what was in store
With armory, swords, and knives
They trusted God would save their lives
And they knew why they too must fight
To help their fathers keep their plight
They learned of faith from their mothers
To fear's a thick fog which smothers
When we are loyal and faithful
The impossible is possible
Each night we can write down new goals
For each labor and varied roles
So each day we'll learn, as we grow
Keeping bonds, for Christ our hero
Living Water to Quench Spiritual Thirst
To journey from Judea to Galilee
The Savior journeyed to Sychar
T'was a shorter route, for His ministry
He stopped at Jacob's well, though without a jar
Though Jews and Samaritans never mixed
Jesus requested some fresh water
And the woman was all the more perplexed
To hear He was the gift of Heavenly Father
Of living water she was intrigued
How could one drink and never thirst again?
The thought physically appealed indeed
With fancies of magic, which are of men
Throughout history men have sought for youth
A fountain that springs everlasting life
Yet, the fountain is Jesus Christ in truth
It is vain to think of avoiding age and strife
Only the faithful can tap the well
Where we quench our thirst for happiness
Without keeping commandments, we fail
He told her she currently slept in this
He told the things that she ever did
Astonished, she left her lone water pot
Her amazement just could not be hid
She told others to believe it or not
A crowd arrived to see and hear Him
To gain knowledge, they asked and they delved
They besought that He'd tarry with them
They knew they heard the Messiah himself
He refreshed them and quenched their yearning
In our day many spiritually thirst
For meaning and direction they're searching
May we run and tell them where the well bursts
A cool satisfying drink of insights
Is for those who crave knowledge and are parched
Whose spirits cry out for what sustains life
There to enliven their withering hearts
Many have been deceived by craftiness
For truth- they know not where to find it
The gospel's a cup of happiness
Bubbling forth from our living prophet
If we hold a cistern that is broken
We will be parched and suffer from drought
The water shares mysteries of God spoken
Which dries up when good works are not about
May we be refreshed continually
And be anointed- for our Lord endows
May we find His spring habitually
And drink deeply in His Holy House
If I were to examine my life,
Would I like who I have come to be?
Have I learned life's lessons though there's strife?
Did I listen to those who coached me?
All I have learned has shaped my destiny.
Prayerfully, I'll reflect on my life.
Have I kept the Lord close beside me?
Did I stay strong though there's fear of strife?
Did I say no when things tempted me?
All I have done has shaped my destiny.
I'll set high goals to improve my life.
And create what will inspire me.
Consistently, I will pray through strife.
I will think of those who have taught me,
With my eyes on the things that will shape me.
The Law of the Fast
The day has come at last.
Now, humbly I will fast.
For what purpose, I pray,
Can be strengthened today?
At testimonies feast
I hope faith to increase!
I know spiritual power
Attends the sacred hour.
As testimonies born
Ease burdens heavy worn.
Expressed blessings abound
In grateful hearts they're found.
I love Heavenly Father.
To fast is not a bother.
Although I am hungry,
With prayer it reminds me
Of those who have much less.
To them offerings bless.
This Sunday has Come at Last to Humbly Pray
This Sunday has come at last to humbly pray .
And, now, what purpose will I fast today?
What part of my faith needs fortifying?
Perhaps it's what drains me till I'm crying!
How oft have I let this day slip away?
Without any thought to fast and to pray?
I'll trust and obey it's only for my good-
Thus, loving Heavenly Father, as I should.
I can show my love to my fellow man.
I'll observe this simple plan. Yes, I can.
If I for them do pray, they will notice
The good that comes from this noble practice!
We must lift our heart, our minds, our voices.
A fast will help us make better choices.
With love we'll generously succor the weak.
And lift up hands who in need pray and seek.
The Great Command
They sought to find in Him a flaw.
He would not deride or use a rod.
“Master”, they asked, “What is the great law?”
He replied, “ Thou shalt love thy God.”
Our Savior, they could not defraud.
I will love God, with all my heart,
With all my soul, with all my mind.
I'm known of Him, the Great Thou Art.
And, to self and man, I am kind.
Though men despise, I'll be refined.
When one argues, contentions sway.
We know to be more unified.
This is the more excellent way.
As our Lord exemplified-
With charity all's dignified.
With the love of God, I am filled.
This is the measure of my soul.
With His love, my spirit is thrilled.
And, blessing others is my role.
In service, I will Him extol.
Eternal love lasts forever.
It is patient and forgiving.
To be Christ-like, we endeavor.
He sees beyond what's shortcoming.
We're glorious and becoming.
With Christ's image, we are transformed.
He shares our pain and we soften.
A heart once bitter is reformed.
With perspective, hates forgotten.
And, we feel His love more often.
Obedience is a delight.
Love frees us from the weight of pain.
We are vibrant and carry light.
We want all man to feel the same.
With the Lord we've so much to gain.
Unto the sick, we minister.
To the hungry, we offer food.
And, sacrament's administered
To remember beatitudes.
With these emblems, we are renewed.
Our Savior gives us tools to cope.
He gives water from which we draw.
His Light gives us reason to hope.
His love's for us, and we're in awe.
All things hang upon love's great law.
Our Father in heaven provides
Love infinite, eternal.
With this heart, we improve our lives.
He offers Christ- Love is not final-
Blood sealed- the greatest love of all.
And He offers a gift that guides,
That, when we're righteous it teaches,
Inspires, comforts, and resides.
What behooves us, it beseeches.
From this gift, God's love far reaches.
Come Sunday
When all is suddenly dark
And life seems bleak and stark
I picture a gray Friday
When all seemed to be in vain.
Our Lord was upon a cross.
And, for mankind, all seemed lost.
The earth shook and darkness grew.
What were the Saints then to do?
And, too, the temple was rent.
Where holy prayers could be sent.
The Son of Heav'nly Father
No more to walk on water.
He tortured and killed, what grave sorrow.
Gone was their hope in bright tomorrow.
That Friday was the darkest
In hist'ry, by the farthest.
Devastating sorrow gnawed.
As deep in their souls it clawed.
Their beloved Savior had died.
But, soon hope came, their tears dried.
The worst doom could not endure.
Eternal Life was now assured!
The glorious Lord was now raised.
They cried and upon Him gazed.
Though dark days come. We've Fridays.
Bright days await. We've Sundays.
For us in Heaven there is a place.
There is a Lord and He gives us grace.
And how we each long to see his face!
Band of Brothers
In the fires of shared experience
Come some of the closest friendships
They form bonds based on love and trust
Where otherwise emotions crush
From a shared grief or happiness
Comes an amplified tenderness
When we struggle, we must gather
To share what really does matter
To preach the gospel, To change lives
To leave home comforts, To baptize
To serve God and build His kingdom
And humbly seek out for wisdom
United by a common goal
To usher in another soul
As we link our arms together
We soon journey towards forever
Never forget the value of
A great cause and of selfless love
Captain Moroni rent his coat
And to his countrymen, he wrote
In memory of our religion,
freedom, peace, wives and our children
Once united, he could lead them
To transcend their lives to his vision
Threatened by familiar neighbors
The two- thousand stripling warriors
Were needed to fight in the war
They prepared for what was in store
With armory, swords, and knives
They trusted God would save their lives
And they knew why they too must fight
To help their fathers keep their plight
They learned of faith from their mothers
To fear's a thick fog which smothers
When we are loyal and faithful
The impossible is possible
Each night we can write down new goals
For each labor and varied roles
So each day we'll learn, as we grow
Keeping bonds, for Christ our hero
Living Water to Quench Spiritual Thirst
To journey from Judea to Galilee
The Savior journeyed to Sychar
T'was a shorter route, for His ministry
He stopped at Jacob's well, though without a jar
Though Jews and Samaritans never mixed
Jesus requested some fresh water
And the woman was all the more perplexed
To hear He was the gift of Heavenly Father
Of living water she was intrigued
How could one drink and never thirst again?
The thought physically appealed indeed
With fancies of magic, which are of men
Throughout history men have sought for youth
A fountain that springs everlasting life
Yet, the fountain is Jesus Christ in truth
It is vain to think of avoiding age and strife
Only the faithful can tap the well
Where we quench our thirst for happiness
Without keeping commandments, we fail
He told her she currently slept in this
He told the things that she ever did
Astonished, she left her lone water pot
Her amazement just could not be hid
She told others to believe it or not
A crowd arrived to see and hear Him
To gain knowledge, they asked and they delved
They besought that He'd tarry with them
They knew they heard the Messiah himself
He refreshed them and quenched their yearning
In our day many spiritually thirst
For meaning and direction they're searching
May we run and tell them where the well bursts
A cool satisfying drink of insights
Is for those who crave knowledge and are parched
Whose spirits cry out for what sustains life
There to enliven their withering hearts
Many have been deceived by craftiness
For truth- they know not where to find it
The gospel's a cup of happiness
Bubbling forth from our living prophet
If we hold a cistern that is broken
We will be parched and suffer from drought
The water shares mysteries of God spoken
Which dries up when good works are not about
May we be refreshed continually
And be anointed- for our Lord endows
May we find His spring habitually
And drink deeply in His Holy House
Live in Thanksgiving Daily
In a day of Thanksgiving,
What should be abundant?
Gratitude for just living
Marks a soul triumphant!
I'll do your chores, you do mine
Thankful for what each does.
We will contribute in kind.
In service, without fuss.
There's lots of things we don't have.
Are we then unhappy?
On God focus, and not cave
We will then feel happy.
It takes a little talent
To exercise each day
Three things yield powers immense.
With goals along the way.
First, we must open our eyes.
And see what's bountiful.
The brilliance of the skies.
Makes earth so beautiful.
Next, we must open our hearts.
And fill our souls with good.
Repent, rejoice- there is fresh starts
In living as one should.
Last, we must open our arms.
And serve our fellow man.
With our love to those in alarm-
We're God's help, and we're His hands.
Every day's a new canvas
For this we are grateful.
And with thanks for all that's vast.
We feel joy that's delightful.
Jesus Concern for the One
How oft did He find time for solitude?
When the needs of the lost were not done.
While surrounded by the multitudes
He always had concern for the one
We've been commissioned to do likewise.
May we see others through Christ-like eyes.
Today some are weary and have strayed
When we've ninety-nine who should we seek?
One who may be different? Or heavy lade?
Of the way they look, act, think and speak
Do they think that they're not befitting?
And from the flock find themselves slipping?
But, the Lord who has peopled the earth
Placed us as a vibrant orchestra
Each of us as fine instruments of worth
That adds to complex beauty and spectra.
In every single personality
Lies a depth rich with ability
The miscellanea of creation
Is a testament of self-esteem
We are like God in variation
Black and white, male and female, bond and free
One flesh is not above another
For, in fact, spiritually we are brothers
Whenever a Saint trips, slips or falls
Who is the best to help one back up ?
He's the Master, and for each He calls
He who submitted and bore the cup.
Let's lend encouragement and support
For we are all imperfect and fall short.
It's at the Lord's Church we find doctrine
That's redemptive- full of charity
Where we can lose ourselves and begin
To give service with variety
For this we'll consecrate talents and skills
According to as the Father wills
For the entire membership of the Church
General Conference is an inspiring time of the year
As we're instructed and edified
We learn how to act upon the laws we hold dear
Great things are happening in God's kingdom
We are moving forward as never before
The great mountain will fill the whole earth
And if we are righteous, we'll see so much more
We Can All Benefit by Looking Deep Inside
We can all benefit by looking deep inside
During reverent moments of worship
To be proved true, there's nothing we will hide
As we journey in our membership
Each Sunday's a spiritual checkup
That helps navigate life's highways and byways
During sacrament meetings while we sup
We can get our bearings and see the right ways
To stay on the narrow path of faith
With the Bishop, we've worthiness interviews
Have we pursued what's foolish or vain?
It's easy to get diverted from what is true
Truth provides virtues unto our lives
Steadfast, loyal, honest, and just are but a few
In our career paths, as one strives
We must not serve two masters, but always be true
With full faith in their every footstep
The pioneers forged and tempered their souls
Without the Lord, they would be inept
May we too be true, in all of our roles
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 in 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
For there's help He alone can give
For us, He's 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
Come What May
Come what may
The Lord is but our peace
Come what may
In Him we have a place
May our hearts
Find Him continually
Though life charts
A course that's challenging
Come what may
We will profit
We will say
It's for our benefit
Come be wise
In the face of disaster
Though fear tries
Light shines that we're after
Come endure
The darkest of deep shadows
Love's the cure
There's brighter tomorrows
The rainbow
Each color that we see
Sets aglow
Hope for the family
Though we moan
On the path bound for Zion
We're God's own
And we shall soon triumph
At strife's peaks
Our sad hearts grow quite heavy
Yet God speaks
And brings strength from heaven
Come what may
We will profit
We will say
How we did benefit!
Let us sing
Come now, give heed, come hasten
Christ's offring
Hope to all who will listen
When we're caught
And seized by rocky trials
It's but ought
How experience compiles
For all men
Christ paid the price
In the end
But pure love could suffice
Know each tear
That clouds up here, today
Soon will clear
Unto a joyous day
Come let's seek
A life that is eternal
To the meek
There's peace that's supernal
For each loss
He'll compensate
We will cross
Beyond what comes of late
God does see
Beyond grief, may this impress
May He be
Your strength through life's distress
We're made strong
When we know from whence we came
We belong
God knows us all by name
Come what may
We will profit
We will say
Life. We- lo-ve it
Elder Wirthlin
Come What May, And Love It
Ensign, November 2008, 26
The words came to me
after choir practice
with Once In Royal David's City
still playing in my mind
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