Hoorah, For Israel

Hoorah, for Israel
Another temple is here
A holy house for God to dwell
Where of what's sacred we can hear

Hoorah, for Israel
Let us go and enter there
To do His work and feel hearts swell
That with His Spirit more might share

Our Task is Now at Hand

Our task is now at hand
To lift and buoy up
That others too may stand
And find the Savior's touch

Thank you Bob Hoem

May We Respond When There is a Need

May we respond when there's a need
And, more- provide for those without
May our love for the Lord to them breed
A desire to search what He is about

Our Savior went out about the people
Unto those who's lives were unbearable
He blessed and loved- pure and simple
Like the Samaritan in His parable

Where ever nature shows its forces
No matter the land or distance
And as long as we have resources
We'll be humanitarians with persistence

And in the back of our minds
We know that we can be next
For in our history one finds
We're between fault lines that vex

How fragile is prosperity
And how important is living well
That among our acts of regularity
Our love and prayers to God should swell

Humanitarian Project number 2
Making tens of thousands of Hygiene kits
Saratoga Stake, CA

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

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

We Can Do Better Than That

Cancer has it's moments of punishment
Yet hope does not stop when one's struck
Additionally some respond when a wish is sent
Like the child allowed a ride in a fireman's truck...

The sirens blared as they toured the town
With the boy in a passenger seat on the side
And when they let him spray the hose all around
It became a memorable, wonderful ride

Weeks passed with a time of remission
And to the family all seemed well
Then from the hospital, came the decision
And a medic called the firemen to tell

Could they pay him one last visit
And perhaps help pass the time with a chat?
But, as men of this profession don't sit
They said, "We can do better than that!"

Calls were placed to hospital authorities
They were to expect some noise from his crew
And with a ladder instead of formalities
In came these men through the curtains they drew

There is not much more I can say
As my tears course anew I find
For these firemen have showed the way
To be heroes of another kind

For they stayed and talked about the Head Chief
Which is Jesus, whom the boy said was holding his hand
Then he closed his eyes one last time in belief
And from this boy "make-a-wish" did grow and expand

When we are asked to give service
Do we give, but- the least amount?
Or do we hold true and promise
And do something that really will count


click on the title to read about the
7-year-old Frank Salazar (his family called him "Bopsy") the first child to be helped by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illness.

A Student Was Assigned

A student was assigned-
"Observe this fish all day"
Was there much to find?
She watched it swim each way

With concentrated focus
She labored much to draw
In her formed a purpose
To recreate what she saw

She used all her senses
As grew in her a need
To pass prior fences
And see where that would lead

As in her gathered, "why's"
She studied more to see
And right before her eyes
Her mind was more set free

And without outside sources
She discovered a new thing
This is how knowledge courses
From questioning and doing

I Knew It, and I Knew That God Knew It
Carolyn Colton,
Assistant General Counsel,
Marriott International, Inc.

BYU Women’s Conference 2005

A Child with a Stick

A child with a stick
Fills with imagination
Then the weapon moves quick
For each retaliation

A child needs but one
To be a super hero
It is a water gun
That battles an inferno

A child left alone
Needs not some great inducement
To embrace what's good and right
And dark evils to lament

It starts very young-
The need for justice and truth
This battle is far flung
And then what happens in their youth?

That very thing they fought
Becomes their constant battle
Who will help them to get caught?
Perhaps the child in them will tattle

The Fog Dropped Along the Shore

The fog dropped
Along the shore
The waves lapped
I walked no more

The sea mist
And the cold wind
Blew and hissed
A chill to send

Far away
A scream was heard
In the gray
Twas but a bird

The lone sound
Seemed more eerie
When a hound
Crossed my clearing

He then howled
Unto the air
And too growled
Something was there

Glowing eyes
Peered out at me
And with cries
Jumped up dancing

Twas a cat
Being playful
And with that
It was a day full!

Our Testimonies Will Not Run Cold

Our testimonies will not run cold
As we prove our love will not fold
Heavenly Father has created a plan
That makes possible all things for man

For every learning we've a common link
That comforts us and helps us think
A GodHead member, the Holy Ghost
Is a constant friend when faith's foremost

A Youth of the Noble Birth Right

A youth of the noble birth right
Has departed from once cherished moorings
And subject to the sophistries of night
Says that peace once felt, now is "boring"

And as she acts with pride as one infirm
She discards a torch once held high with power
Yet we pray for her to return and stand firm
We have faith in God and trust in that hour

For there is a view at the gates of learning
Where any who seek can understand and observe
There we find vision that increases, discerning
That home's a haven of love and peace where we serve

Though the world may ridicule what's sacred
Families are becoming eternal tapestries
Where each member contributes a unique thread
From the birth made and kept from the baptistries

According to God's plan and notwithstanding
We can make covenants and pray the home endures
Unto peace that surpasses all understanding
With past and future woven in a place that's sure

not withstanding- despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession)
as in Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there
hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he
that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.


infirm:
lacking firmness of will or character or purpose
Example: "Infirm of purpose"
weak and feeble
lacking physical strength or vitality
confined to bed (by illness)

thoughts after reading
Church News of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Draper Utah Temple: 'This, Thy Holy House'
President Monson delivers prayer in each of the 12 dedicatory sessions
Published: Saturday, March 28, 2009

I Knew, Yet I Would Not Know

I knew, yet I would not know
For I was called, but would not hear
But, then an angel did show
And now it is God that I hold dear

I had not been given to the ways of the Lord
And of His mysteries and marvelous powers
Now... as I say this, it strikes a discord
For I can recall being preserved in dark hours

And as much as I knew this …my heart was yet hard
For I was called many times and would not hear
As one rebelling, God was a thought to discard
For as a man of position, what could I fear?

I am a man of no small reputation
Being well born, I’ve become hard working and rich
And, from Mammon has come my best education
As for gold my hands of industry did itch

To see kindred- I went on a journey
For I had many… as well as friends
Then, behold, this angel appeared unto me
And turned me around… this is where my past ends…

I was sent to my home to feed... a prophet!
Who’d fasted many days and was in need
And as I received him, it was I who did profit
For He blessed me and my house and did feed

His name was Alma and in my house he dwelt
And through him, I testify that the Lord liveth
For he testified to my family and a witness was felt
And now I know I must lean to the Lord who giveth

Thank you Shawn for your insight
and suggestion for this poem- with the title as well

Alma 10:6
"knew concerning these things, yet...would not know"

Hugh Nibley
He forsook "all his gold and silver, and his precious things which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God." Alma 15-16
It had to be one or the other. But all was not lost, you might say, he still had his old friends and admirers and loved ones. Please let us not underestimate the power of money. Having lost his fortune, he was promptly "rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred" Alma 15-16 ( The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 562

The Night of the Oil Press

The night of the oil press
Men came with one Judas
With swords and with meanness
To arrest our Lord Jesus

He having just won
The sins of all man
Warned His task was not done
For evil was at hand

Judas stepped forward
With a kiss as the sign
The collusion untoward
Was conspired by design

The wounds of a friend
At the height of deceit
Did the crime more lend
And demise more greet

The temple police force
Soon fell back to the sod
When Jesus discoursed
"I Am", for He was God

Then Jesus was bound
With a rope round his neck
The scapegoat was found
As He was without speck

The hour of darkness
Was filled with hypocrisy
And now this harshness
Culminated the conspiracy

He’d caused an upheaval
To the Sanhedrin prestige
And warned them of evil
As in the night was this siege

In the House of Prayer
Jesus had taught daily
But, they'd not arrest Him there
For the renting and wailing

All that Jesus had spoken
Within the temple and without
Had been out in the open
And left little doubt

With Roman concern
And want for money tables
Sanhedrin's plots soon burned
For witnesses with fables

As their craft deepened
His sedition was called
And, as they darkened
A fair trial was forestalled

While in judicial court
They ignored Mosaic law
In the name of retort
They smote Jesus’ jaw

He opened not His mouth
In defense or hatred
Nor in anger did He shout
Though slaps turned His skin red

From Pilate to Herod
Then to Pilate again
Jesus was queried
But, naught was against

He was found without fault
Yet, Pilate washed his hands
And replaced Him with the false
At the crowd's loud demands

His stripes of the scourge
Dried in the purple cloak
And they crowned Him with thorns
As they spit and they spoke

Then bearing His cross to be
To the place of the skull
Our Lord was nailed to the tree
Between thieves He would school

His place was made sure
And a sign told it all
The King of the Jews endured
And above all He stood tall

And below malefactors railed
While His heart melted like wax
His strength was curtailed
From pain that did wrack

His raiment was parted
And lots cast for His coat
And more laughter started
When Christ was parched in His throat

They watched Him hung and torn
And they shot out the lip
Mocking Him to scorn
With vinegar to sip

He thought but to forgive
And prayed for them too
And that’s how we should live
In all that we do

Love one another
He taught till the end
He thought but of others
Till in spirit He did ascend

Stretched out like a bird
In the darkening sky
His last words were heard
As to God He did cry

Then His spirit did soar
Back to His home above
Until three days more
To further work of love

And thus was fulfilled
What lie in Holy writ
Our Lord’s life was spilled
And the ancients wrote of it

May we reflect deeply and often
On the life of the Son
Towards Him, may we soften
For all that He has won

Scriptural, Historical,
and Legal Evidence
of the Events Surrounding
the Crucifixion of Christ

Andrew C. Skinner
BYU Education Week:
August 18, 2008
Click on the title to listen to this mp3

Psalm 22
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Psalm 69
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Isaiah 53
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Proverbs 27 of Judas' kiss
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Deuteronomy 21 ...of Pilate washing his hands
6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
8 Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.

Lev. 16: 8, 10, 26
8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
• • •
10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

A Man Was Praised the Other Day

A man was praised the other day
For having died doing all he wanted
Undeniably, there’s another way
By living God's plan undaunted

From Bishop Dale Clark's talk
at ward conference
undaunted=
unshaken in purpose
resolutely courageous

Come With Me on a Journey

Come with me on a journey
You've a short time to prepare
But, know you'll mostly need
Food supplies to get you there

As we've no plans to return
You must say your goodbyes
Though feelings in you may churn
You must sever all worldly ties

We will pass all the highways
To make a path in the dirt
Watch how heavy your load weighs
We'll cross the great desert

If you bring someone with you
They must promise not to cry
They must walk and listen, too
And not murmur and ask why...

See the challenge of Lehi?
Who, once warned in a dream
Took his family along the Sinai
Like Moses, it would seem

How oft they forgot this rule:
That they must be obedient
Then a lack of food would school
For God gave them each ingredient

With a liahona and the scriptures
He gave them daily directions
For food and the path that assures
They must pass righteousness inspections

They wandered for many years
In the wilderness of sand
Then to a beach- there were cheers
But, it was not the promised land

Beyond the great ocean
Lay their hopes of a future
And through faithful submission
They journeyed on to adventure

But, days into the voyage
There was an uprising
And those on the sinful edge
Soon, saw the sea a rising

They must pray to stay alive
And, thus they did relent
And from this, we too derive
It's important to repent

From Lehi's life we're aware
Of our dependence on God
How we're in need of His care
To lead us near and abroad

Thoughts from Elder Joseph Eliason's talk
Saratoga Stake High Council
March 22, 2009

He Calms my Troubled Heart

He calms my troubled heart
And restores me unto faith
Through Him, the best does start
He is the Master of my fate

When the mighty waves arose
He rebuked the raging sea
When I face tempests, He knows
For He is aware of me!

Peace be still, my soul
And give ear to His call
He who has given me a role
Will help me when I fall

Let the growing storms beat down
And the swelling waves rush on
I will keep my eyes on what's known-
Unto Christ... with faith made strong

Mark 4:39
And he arose, and rebuked the wind,
and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.
And the wind ceased, and there was
a great calm.

The Family- A Sanctuary From the World

When Jesus walked the dusty pathways
Near towns, villages, and Galilee
He spoke in parables ever and always
That we might understand and live happily

When we are tired, ill, or discouraged
There's comfort in being homeward bound
For there we are blessed and encouraged
As supportive family circles around

Nothing can take the place of our dear loved ones
When the atmosphere of peace and love prevails
Thus, when, to the superficial world, one succumbs
It's family that threatens to crumble and fail

May those who wander, not journey far
And soon miss that sense of belonging
It's through the home, we learn who we are
And sense love and an eternal longing

What can we do to bring heaven to our homes?
But, put Christ at the center of our learning
It's through a pattern of prayer that protection flows
And we find the legacy of love for which we are yearning

A Sanctuary from the World

Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Building Up a Righteous Posterity
February 9, 2008

President Thomas S. Monson
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints



Margaret Thatcher, when she was prime minister of Great Britain, expressed this profound philosophy: “The family is the building block of society. It is a nursery, a school, a hospital, a leisure centre, a place of refuge and a place of rest. It encompasses the whole of the society. It fashions our beliefs; it is the preparation for the rest of our life.” In Nicholas Wood, “Thatcher Champions the Family,” The Times, May 26, 1988, 24.

The family is the building block of society
It is as a school to learn propriety
It is as a hospital, a leisure center
And, a place of refuge and rest for those who enter

He Left a Fame and a Name

He left a fame and a name
In but a twenty year span
He lived great and died great
Before the eyes of God and man

He sent the fullness of the gospel
Unto the four corners of the earth
And, too, he prepared his people
To go to the temples they did birth

He has done more for us
Save only our Savior
We should study his life, thus
That we might live in favor

We've the Book of Mormon to read from
As through Joseph, holy writ came
He, then, joined the ancients of martyrdom
Leaving words that cannot be slain

He was calm as the summer's morning
And like a lamb, he went to be slaughtered
He was void of offense, yet came scorning
And in cold blood he was murdered

The nation framed for religious freedom
Would not protect an innocent man
Yet this further builds up God's kingdom
As this touches the hearts of honest men


Doctrine and Covenants 135
1 To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.
2 John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe.
3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
4 When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I SHALL DIE INNOCENT, AND IT SHALL YET BE SAID OF ME—HE WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:
5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I . . . bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.
6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.
7 They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

Joseph Smith figure, North Visitors' Center, Temple Square, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Ricardo630

Mormon Messages: Why Mormons Build Temples

The temple is the House of God.

A beautiful thing happens

Inside of the temple

As glorious peace descends

Upon the Lord's people

A beautiful thing happens inside the temple
As peace descends upon all who assemble
Unto holiness- like heaven has come to earth
For light and knowledge gathers to new worth

Eternal covenants lift us and point us upwards
As what occurs exalts and ennobles us forward
This place of tranquility, kindness, love, and light
Aims us towards a glorious Celestial sight

The temple stands as a beacon for all to see
It connects us to what was known anciently
In God's holy house we feel that He is near
For here we're taught and our vision becomes clear

Let's come and take part of the acts that extend
And bless those who've departed as eternity blends
On earth, what bigger works could we ever show
Than to extend God's love that they too might know


Inspired from the utube message posted after this poem
which begins with the words of
Krister Stenahl- deceased - Dean of Divinity, Emeritus, Harvard University
" a beautiful thing...!"

ryhmezone-definitions
ennobles- give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility
verb: confer dignity or honor upon

exalts-
raise in rank, character, or status
Example: "Exalted the humble shoemaker to the rank of King's adviser"
verb: praise, glorify, or honor
verb: fill with sublime emotion; tickle pink (exhilarate is obsolete in this usage)
verb: heighten or intensify

A Beautiful Thing Happens Inside the Temple

A beautiful thing happens inside the temple
As peace descends upon all who assemble
Unto holiness- like heaven has come to earth
For light and knowledge gathers unto new worth

Eternal covenants lift us and point us upwards
As what occurs exalts and ennobles us forward
This place of tranquility, kindness, love, and light
Aims us towards a glorious Celestial sight

The temple stands as a beacon for all to see
It connects us to what was known anciently
In God's holy house we feel that He is near
For here we're taught and our vision becomes clear

Let's come and take part of the acts that extend
And bless those who've departed as eternity blends
On earth, what bigger works could we ever show
Than to extend God's love that they too might know


Inspired from the utube message posted after this poem
which begins with the words of
Krister Stenahl- deceased - Dean of Divinity, Emeritus, Harvard University
" a beautiful thing...!"

ryhmezone-definitions
ennobles- give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility
verb: confer dignity or honor upon

exalts-
raise in rank, character, or status
Example: "Exalted the humble shoemaker to the rank of King's adviser"
verb: praise, glorify, or honor
verb: fill with sublime emotion; tickle pink (exhilarate is obsolete in this usage)
verb: heighten or intensify

What Shall I Ponder Today

What shall I ponder today?
To fill my mind with light
I know if I read and pray
I will gain the best insight

Every minute, every hour
Can be filled with learning
God's blessings then do shower
As to Him, in thought, we are turning

Why Ever Should I Fear?

Why ever should I fear
With the Savior by my side?
For whenever He is near
Satan must leave and hide

Poor judgment brings in clouds
That darken and confuse
If I do what's not allowed
It's my covenants I abuse

This, I must remember
And hold Christ's light close to me
Giving thanks I'm a member
With ears to hear and eyes to see

His light is never far
It's ever above the storm
And, He's my pillar star
To lead me safe from harm

Moroni's Latter-Day Saints Page

Moroni's Latter-Day Saints Page
Is a place to spread God's word- as did this man
That we might more unite in this age
And not be foreigners across the land


I just discovered a great site to read from Latter-Day prophet's first and last talks.
You can click on the title to get there

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

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?"

The Language of the heart

The language of the heart
Cannot always be written
But, to the humble who start
There's a flow of words within

More, when something's sacred
It is felt deep in the soul
And in us no words can be bred
To describe the experience in whole

3 Ne. 28: 14
And it was forbidden them that they should utter;
neither was it given unto them power that they could utter
the things which they saw and heard;

There are 6,800 known languages spoken in the 200 countries of the world. 2,261 have writing systems (the others are only spoken) and about 300 are represented by on-line dictionaries as of May 11, 2004. Below are the ones we currently list. New languages and dictionaries are constantly being added to YourDictionary.com; as a result, we have the widest and deepest set of dictionaries, grammars, and other language resources on the web.

The Sky is Full of Promise

The sky is full of promise
The sign is the rainbow
That God will not destroy us
By flood- this much we know

The arch is full of beauty
With the colors found in light
It hints of warmth and duty
In which we sense and delight

Like arms that reach with love
It's spreads hope, there to feel
Reminding us to look up
And know that God is real

Hiking to the Top of Ensign Peak

Hiking to the top of Ensign Peak
Three women unfurled a gold banner-
A shawl, in this color they did seek-
To symbolize virtue in manner

This element, when refined, shows it's worth
As does a young woman developing moral purity
For as she proves strong in behavior and thought
She glows with high standards and chastity

Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Sister Mary N. Cook, Sister Ann M. Dibb
New Young Women Value: Virtue
First Presidency announces new attribute to Young Women theme
By Sarah Jane Weaver
Church News staff writer
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008

Click the title to see the article

Shall We Walk on Our Lower Lip?

Shall we walk on our lower lip
Full of despair and doom?
No, to our faith we shall grip
And, for the Savior, make more room

The sweet and bitter side by side
Are but opposites
The perspective from truths, we decide
All depends on which way one sits

We should rejoice a little more
And despair a little less
Doing the things we're here for
Giving much thanks, thereto bless

The Lord has power over his Saints
And will always prepare places of peace
Shall we fear and let our hearts grow faint?
No, with Him, there is only increase

Clearing our mind of whatever jumbles
Surely refines and tempers us
Through every experience that teaches and humbles,
And finally prepares us for Jesus



Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.


From a talk given at ward conference by President Brooksby
quoting-
Howard W. Hunter,
“Why Try?,” New Era, Jan 1994, 4

What If You Collected Conversation Starters

What if you collected conversation starters
And at the dinner table put them in a jar?
What if you discussed one every day dear daughters
Oh, how you would learn to discuss and define who you are

What would you do if someone were following you?
What if everyone stopped using cursive writing?
What if there were no more red heads?
What would you do if you found someones journal?
What is something you do well?
What is your favorite room in your home and why?
What is a good neighbor?
What should you do if you can't get something out of your head?
What if you had to take medicine that made you stink?
What if you had one day to relive?
What is the worst thing a parent can do to their child?
What if you could pick one bad habit to erase... which would it be?
What is the best advice you ever received?
What is your favorite holiday?
What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted?
What if all the freeways were rivers?
What would if you could talk to animals?
What would you do if you could be invisible?
What would be your best day?
What would happen if you threw trash on the ground?
What if you could walk up walls and across ceilings?
What would you do if you found a wild animal in your backyard?
What is your favorite song?
What is the best birthday present you ever received?
What is something that makes you feel sad?
What is your favorite book and why?
What is something that really bugs you?
What is something that really makes you angry?
How many days do you think you could survive on just canned food?

What would you do if
a bully bothered you on your way home?
a friend borrows things from you but never returns them?
Your friend was sad? How would you cheer him up?
you ordered an ice cream cone and you forgot to bring money?
someone got in front of you in line?
your ice cream bowl fell upside down on the floor?
you found a wallet?
two of your friends did things without inviting you?
the surprise party was for you but you weren't surprised?
you got a present you didn't like?
you were at home and your homework was at school?
you dropped the cookie jar and it broke?
you were invited to two parties on the same day?
someone said you did something wrong and you didn't?
someone told you a joke that you don't think is funny?
a friend comes to your house and his/her mom doesn't know?
you found a magic wand?
you wanted to be friends with someone who didn't know English?
someone told you it was all right to steal?
you saw a friend cheating?

If you could
have been someone in history, who would you have been?
take one person on a trip, who would you take?
give any gift, what would you give and to whom?
live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
talk to the President, what would you say?

If you received a lot of money what would you do with it?
If you could do whatever you wanted to right now, what would you do?
If you are five years older you will...
If you were lost in the woods and it got dark, what would you do?
What do you think of someone who has bad manners?
What do you think about people who take advantage of others?
What do you think about when you can't fall asleep?
What do you think courage means?
If there were no rules, what do you think would happen?
If you owned a store, what would you do to discourage stealing?
If you could participate in an Olympic event, what would you choose?
If you could break the Guinness Book of Records it would be for?
What would you do if your friend wants to run away from home?
What do you think the world will be like when you are a grown up?
What if you were not allowed to have a bed?
What do you think makes a good friend?
What do you think makes a happy family?
What things do you think are beautiful?
What do you like most about yourself?
What do you like to do in your free time?
What kind of animal would you like to be and why?
What kind of trophy would you like to win?
What are you afraid of? Why?
What are some nutritious foods that you like?
What are some rules you have to follow at home?
What is most important -loyalty, generosity, or honesty?
What makes a best friend?
What makes you feel safe?
What makes you laugh?
What would you invent to make life better?
In what way are you the most organized?
What can you do for entertainment without spending any money?
What effects does watching violence have on people?
What effects do cigarette and alcohol advertising have?
What advice would you give a new student?
What advice would you give to someone who stole?
What talents do you have?
What four things are most important in your life?
What color makes you think of happiness?
What has been the most fun activity at school so far?

How do you feel when
you do something wrong?
you do something good?
you have a fight?
you can't remember something really important?
you can't find something?
you are in bed with the lights out?
you want something and can't have it?
you sleep at some one's house?

How do you feel during a thunderstorm?
How do you feel on the first day of school?
How do you feel when your parents are upset with you?
What are you thankful for?
How do you feel when something scares you?
How would you change the world to make it better?
How do you think eating junk food affects you?
How do you have the most fun--alone, with family, or with friends?
I wish I could be like... This person is special because...
I wish to be a ________ when I grow up. Then I will...
I wish there were a law that said...
I wish I didn't need sleep, I would...
I wish I could learn how to...
Who or what has had a strong influence in your life?
Why do you think some people encourage others to smoke/drink?
Why do you think the rules you must follow are good or bad?
I wish I didn't have to eat... I don't like this food because...
I wish everyone would learn to ... Then everyone would...
I wish I never...
I wish I had one more chance to... Then I would...
I wish I had enough money to...
If all my wishes came true, I would...
Describe a time when you felt vengeful.
Describe your favorite toy. Why do you like it best?
Describe the best teacher you ever had.
When you are angry, how do you look?
When are you happiest?
When have you felt lonely?
When do you feel proud?
When was the last time you cried and why?
When a friend was in an embarrassing situation, what did you do?
When it might hurt their feelings, how do you tell the truth?
When might it be bad to be honest?
When someone picks on someone else, what do you do?
Once, when you were very frightened, what happened?
Once, when you were embarrassed, what happened?
Once, when your feelings were hurt, what happened?
Which quality do you dislike most about yourself?
Who do you talk to when you have a problem?
Why would it be good to be honest?
Why do you think some people take advantage of others?
Does it bother you to be around someone who has bad manners?
Families are important because...
What would you like to be famous for?
How would you feel if no one ate the dinner you cooked?

Wordstrips to Cut, Glue, and Roll Up With Ribbon and Put in a Vase at the Table

These wordstrips we've cut, glued and rolled up
Will help us learn the gospel while we sup
It will make it easier to share
For as we form words, the spirit is there

Are Mormon’s Christians?



Why do we pray?



What is a testimony?
How can we obtain it?
How can it be lost?
What should we do?



What happens when we die?



What is a temple?



Why do we take the sacrament?



Why do we keep the Sabbath Day Holy?
What is the Fall?



Why do we need the Atonement?



Why do we celebrate Easter?



What is baptism?



Why is gratitude important?



What can we do to help someone that is lonely?



Why do we pray?



How does the Sacrament renew my baptismal covenant?



How would you teach someone to remain faithful?



What did Joseph Smith pray for when he had the First Vision?



Discuss a time that you knew Heavenly Father answered your prayer…



Read Joseph Smith History 1:1-20 How does God answer sincere prayers?



What can you do to follow the prophet?



How can prayer protect us and help us feel close to Heavenly Father?



Can you think of a Book of Mormon story that helps us learn about faith?



What is the word of wisdom? D&C89



Why do we need to do a Family Pedigree Chart?


What is Agency? And how do we make good choices? Sing a song about choosing the right


What is the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Luke 10:30-37



What qualities would you like to develop? List qualities you like in a person and discuss how you can develop them..



How can you show a small child that you care about them?



What are good manners?



What does it mean to be a good citizen?



How can your actions affect someone else



Why is it important to save money?



Why is it important to pay tithing?



Why is it important to get a good education?



How can you improve you study habits? D&C 88:118

Shall I Complain When a Loved One is Gone?

Shall I complain when a loved one is gone?
For a week, a month, or a year?
No, for I know it's truly not long
When modern technology's near

I can hear that sweet voice speak to me
And transmit messages back and forth
We can still share in all that we're doing
While we find a price easier to afford

Thank you dear webcam for your support
Without you life would be tragical
You make it so easy for daily consort
As you help love remain magical

me in SanJose
rick in LasVegas
it's months till June......
I hope it comes soon

The Rising Generation

The rising generation
Is full of exuberance
With virtue and veneration
Reflecting their ebullience

The spirit is so wonderful
As they gather to conference
That one's words must be masterful
To help make a strong difference

They've so much they'll accomplish
That it's a bit intimidating
But gifts of faith and prayer do bless
That all are found appreciating

Though, still, a work in progress
As they learn how to contribute
They're surely marked for success
For they show Christ-like attributes

With love of God and fellowman
They've compassion and example
And their obedience to God's plan
Is devotion as a sample

And to feel and do what is right
They listen to the still small voice
Thus, they've polish and a bright light
That their bosom burns to make each choice

Shall they fear or take counsel from their fears?
Too busy, they've no time for discouragment or doubt
And as each uncertainty and shortcoming appears
They find more to be grateful for and excited about

And in their enthusiam they can never stand still
As this is the manner of women and men that they are
For they've ambitions and goals and much to fulfill
On the Lord's errands, while angels are near and afar

Bishop H. Burton
What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be
(I took his counsel of not giving into
fear and not getting discouraged
and made it a vision of the exemplary)
CES Fireside for Young Adults
November 2, 2008

D&C 84:88
And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

D&C 9:8
But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

1 Nephi 22:22
And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded.


rhymezone
veneration
religious zeal; willingness to serve God
a profound emotion inspired by a deity
ebullience
overflowing with enthusiasm
exuberance
overflowing with enthusiasm
joyful enthusiasm

Come to the Temple on Angel's Wings

Come to the temple on angel's wings
A sweet prayer will send you on your way
Let your heart prepare for what there brings
Let it be the highlight of your day

Come to the mountain and be on high ground
Come and lift your family of their cares
Here we have safety and peace abounds
Feel what the serene temple shares

Unity

Unity is strength
Unity is power
With more of it at length
It's pleasant in that hour

Cultivate this tool
Share it as a gift
And as bad feelings cool
The spirit does uplift

God's kingdom has a border
That ever is maintained
By holy priesthood order
Which functions best sustained

A Consecrated Temple

A consecrated temple
Lies within our midst
Holy to all people
To our eyes it must be fixed

Can you hear the long clamoring
Of those who are now dead?
They with thoughts adoring
Await their celestial wed

Can you hear the rejoicing
Upon the other side?
"Thanks" to you, they are voicing
As loved ones no longer hide

Can you hear the pioneers
Praising God for our aid?
As each footstep nears
To the temple path they laid

Can you hear the Savior
Call out "Come Unto Me"?
He will ease the labor
Of those seeking to be meek

A House of Prayer

A house of prayer
A house of praise
Here we give and care
In Holiest ways

A house of worship
A house of beauty
Strength and stewardship
Resolve and duty

A place of rest
A place of peace
It stirs to the breast
A spiritual feast

The Temple Itself is a Symbol

The temple itself is a symbol
As it is such an impressive sight
That as the world becomes more dismal
The House of the Lord is more bathed in light

In a private dressing space
The street clothes are exchanged for white
And as all things in a locker are placed
Daily concerns are also locked away tight

The quiet and serene takes over
And distractions seem to settle out
The fog and the haze lift their cover
That clear thoughts and solutions come about

No work is more of a protection
As labor in the temple covers us with a shield
No work is more spiritually refining
So come and claim the blessings it does yield

Elder Boyd K. Packer

The Holy Temple, 6
Temples The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Holiness to the Lord

Holiness to the Lord
Is written above the door
Of a dedicated temple
That's serves all of God's people

A sacred ceremony
Washes, annoints, endows, and seals
To warm a testimony
Of the sacredness there one feels

For this day one must prepare
Beginning with confirmation
Then as a guest one's welcomed there
To lengthen out dedication

The Lord's ordained servant
Issues each recommend
Through worthiness and resolve
A new way of life is opened

Every soul in this life or the next
Will have an opportunity
To have the gospel close to inspect
To reject or accept sacred unity

Elder Boyd K. Packer
Temples, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The Holy Temple, 6

Why These Temples?

Time cannot destroy
And death cannot disrupt
Eternal sealing joy
Which temples do conduct

They who in white robes
Have left the world behind
That when before God's throne
Peace and blessings they do find

There is no compulsion
Only opportunity
A temple excursion
Blesses our posterity

But, what of our forebears?
And their relationships?
They're our ancestral heirs
And their work's our stewardship

Thus, love goes beyond the grave
Unto the family of God
That what's sacred does save
A linking of names growing broad

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
President Gordon B. Hinckley
Why These Temples, 2

The Words of Them Which Have Slumbered- I Find Just the Words I Am Needing

The words of them which have slumbered
Is within our midst today
Translated pages are numbered
To help us along the way

The footnotes and topical guides
Headings and cross references
Help us all the more to find
Chapters, verses, and preferences

But, sometimes I just open the book
And set my eyes to reading
Then in a place for which I'd not looked
I find just the words I am needing

Good Things Last

Good things last the longest
Thus, families are forever
With them we're the strongest
For love and for endeavor...

Nine months till a child's born
The near chaos this can stir
As the siblings are forlorn
And are feeling insecure

Each must come to know their place
And anticipate great change
But, when to the child they face
There's a bond that does exchange

No longer are they helpless
As in them stirs a need
To nurture and to bless
And too a chance to feed

Soon this precious infant will find
The passing on and on of hands
And with many "mothers" to mind
It's toothless smile lights up grand

Awake and Arise

Awake and arise
Wipe the sleep from your eyes
It's time to stand tall
Can you hear the lord's call?

As the morning breaks
Seminary awaits
Fill your mind with light
Learn of things that delight

Smile bright and press on
Warm your hearts unto song
Brighten your countenance
Lift up your thoughts and stance

Stand upon high ground
And with the Lord be found
He awaits you there
And He has much to share

Where Does Lie the Higher Ground?

Where does lie the higher ground
Where the Spirit can be found?
For therein we can receive
Light and wisdom to achieve

On a high mount set apart
Is where God's light does impart
Where prophets once were informed
And our Savior was transformed

Here high laws were etched and made
Hand cut by God and displayed
Clear words to us were given
For pure laws to love with in

As for our day - we've temples
To become good examples
It's our fortress of safety
To live our lives out safely

Here we rise above the world
Where oft prideful mocks are hurled
If we listen when they come
There's temptation to succumb

But with the Lord we'll prevail
He's our strength to endure well
It's important to be true
And help others rise up too

There we build an atmosphere
Where it's easier to hear
Let us raise our voices high
And upon God's light rely

Here to take upon Christ's name
To trust and be without shame
If we step down we're unclean
Quick repent for more's forseen

There's no need for prolongment
Choose ye well your involvement
Learn from others decisions
Where it's high there's clear visions

On the straight and narrow path
We don't waste all that we have
This applies to temporal
As it does to spiritual

Providence is the best rule
And temptations we must school
If we have need we must plan
And with help meets we must stand

We must stay within our means
For high interest drains one's dreams
With the Lord we've sufficient
For He's ever beneficent

On high ground, He leads the way
It's through Him to God we pray
He will bless us with reserve
For therein we've more to serve

beneficent
from rhymezone
doing or producing good
Example: "The most beneficent regime in history"
generous in assistance to the poor
doing or producing good




Robert D. Hales
BYU PROVO
CES Fireside
March 1, 2009


I had come ye children of the Lord
in my head while I wrote this....

The Hope Of All Mankind

The hope of all mankind
Is ever Jesus Christ
For redemption, we find
Only His love does suffice

Does Jesus Christ Exist?

Does Jesus Christ exist?
Someone asked of me
He does, I did insist
And He can help us see

He lights all the earth
So, there one might first look
As through Him all gives birth
Like water from a brook

In all the good one finds
A lesson points to Him, hence
For He brightens our minds
And gives us our conscience

He's in the love we feel
He makes our hearts grow warm
He is ever just as real
As us, but... in perfect form

For some this is to know
With perfect knowledge, true
Unto the seeker, He does show
And that someone can be you

Oh, How We've Benefitted From Brother Joseph Smith

Oh, how we've benefitted
From our Brother Joseph Smith
For through him we've been gifted
With God's light that does transmit

We've a truer understanding
Of Heavenly Father and His plan
We've a book for our handling
And a deeper love for man

We've holy temples for binding
Upon four corners of the earth
We've latter-day words for finding
Our own spiritual rebirth

By the universal power
Given of the Holy Ghost
Knowledge of God's truth does shower
To teach what's needed the most

There to warm within the heart
A witness filled with strength
As to the mind light imparts
A testimony gained at length

Then how bright we are with truth
To love our families and neighbors
Passing hope in Christ to our youth
As were serving Him in our labors

Precious Fruits of the First Vision
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Ensign February, 2009, 4

Come Unto Him in Prayer and Faith

We live in troubling times
That tax all our resources
Perhaps these be the signs
We need God for our courses?

He who directs our paths
Would we look to Him in faith
Giving thanks for all we have
As we do that which He sayeth

A man never stands taller
Than when He kneels in prayer
He, in the role of Father
Leads His family strongly there

As a family kneels to pray
O'er each other's matters
Obedience finds its way
As love and unity gathers

Faith and doubt cannot exist
Together in our minds
When to prayer we more persist
God's light comes to us and binds

Let us ask nothing wavering
For God's protective care
Lest what the winds and waves bring
Comes a rushing on to scare

Our faith requires action
We can't sit by and wish
It's a law of attraction
And with God, our lives are rich


Come Unto Him in Prayer and Faith
President Thomas S. Monson
Ensign, March 2009, 5