It Is What It Is

It is what it is
This world of business
That at the end of each day
Satisfaction is what pays

The Heavens are Close

The heavens are, oh, so close
Via the Holy Ghost
As such- much, through prayer, will impart
If faith burns warm within the heart

For, as we know, God is the Father
And our Savior is Jesus the Christ
Our testimony of all three will gather
Unto strength and courage in this life!

Let the rivers, brooks, and rills
Flow down with gladness, telling us of our King
Let the solid rocks weep to thrill
As the sun, moon, and morning stars, also sing

Midst kingdoms, principalities, and powers in reign
Let all the sons of God be devout
While eternal creations declare His name
And the valleys and mountains cry aloud

How glorious is the voice that we hear
Calling from heaven above
Proclaiming the great day does near
Offering eternal happiness and love

The coming of the Lord is at hand
Who will abide that day prepared?
Those who remain here to stand
Will show the vast records of their dead

Let us go oft unto the temple
There to give the Lord an offering
Let us go as a righteous people
To be purified by His suffering

What will be worthy of all acceptation
But the Book of Life fully completed
With the sons of Levi purged for salvation
As the refiner's fire for glory is heated


D&C 128:23-24

As in Their Hearts They Search

When e'er in their hearts they search
The flag of faith has been flown
By the sisters of the church
In all of the ages known

So often it is the women
Who carry the torch of faith
As a banner for beautiful living
Knowing through trial there's hope to embrace


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Lessons From Liberty Jail
CES Fireside for Young Adults •
September 7, 2008 •
Brigham Young University

Of Our Lord and Savior

Of our Lord and Savior
I know this to be true
He grants to all life favor
And would His works we do

For all His pain and suffering
He has not asked for much
In truth He's only offering
What heaven's made of to touch

I Can Shut the Noise of the World Out

It's a blessing to shut the world's noise out
And speak with Heavenly Father
Such that when others speak His name to shout
A deep sorrow in me gathers

And after hearing of a prophet's plea
That introduced guilt and silence
I have felt a vow grow within me
To say the same from this day on, hence

Please, please that is my Lord's name you revile
He is whom I pray to, love, and adore
And as you speak this way, with your lips defiled
It wounds my heart, where His precious words I store


primary lesson 32
Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail-During the thirteen-day trial the prisoners were kept chained together and at night had to lie on the floor. They had to listen to their guards saying terrible things about them and the other saints. Using filthy language and frequently taken the Lords' name in vain. These things were very painful for the prisoner to hear. Suddenly Joseph Smith stood up and commanded "Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still: I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!" Even though he was in chains and had no weapon, Joseph Smith stood calm and dignified. His words frightened the guards, and they apologized and sat quietly in a corner for the rest of their shift of guard duty.


Of Spencer W. Kimball: "In the hospital one day, I was wheeled out of the operating room by an attendant who stumbled, and there issued from his angry lips vicious cursing with a combination of the names of the Savior. Even half-conscious, I recoiled and implored 'Please!Please! That is my Lord whose names you revile!'
There was deathly silence, then a subdued voice whispered: 'I am sorry'."

revile- verb: spread negative information about
defile- verb: pollute, make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically

Profane Not the Name of Thy God!
Improvement Era
May 1953, 320

We Held My Infant in Our Arms

We held my infant in our arms
And gave him a priesthood blessing
That his name might be known among the church
For record, nurture, and addressing

Those who joined the circle
Are men so noble and true
That on this path eternal
They're examples for me too

Helping me along to be a father
Worthy of this privilege
To represent God and serve with honor
Pray, one day, my son too will join in this pledge

I Bring with Me a Message of Love

I bring with me today
A message from above
Sent from God to say
He has naught for you but love

Anchored to the Book of Mormon

Anchored to the Book of Mormon
I read it through from the very start
Then I knelt to know if it were true
And felt a witness in my heart

President Rassmussen

I’ve Made a Vow

I’ve made a vow I want to keep
Before I kiss my maker’s feet
As a shepherd o’er His fold

I want to save a wandering soul

Stake President Romney

The Book of Mormon is My Anchor

The Book of Mormon is my anchor
That I continually need
For it points me to the Savior
Who is my pillar star, indeed

President Rassmussen

Sudoku Warning

Sudoku warning
Highly addictive
Though it is disarming
To the mind it’s seductive

I Want to do the Job

I want to do the job
I’ve been assigned to do
This call straight from God
Helps me commit myself anew

Because of an Offence

Because of an offence
I was much puffed up in pride
Unto building a tall fence
To see naught the other side

And fumbling in the darkness
I stepped off our good Lord's rock
While ignoring a prick of sharpness
I hit a stumbling block

Then everywhere I turned
I found a deeper place to trip
That I remembered what I'd learned
And fear caused my heart to skip

For though I set off on my own
I'd neither strength nor light
This caused such humility I'd never known
That... I heard a whisper in the night

I crawled through shadows in my shame
Not wanting to fall again
I cried out my Savior's name
And felt His grace descend

Then a bright light shown
On a narrow path to walk
I was not lost or alone!
In the distance was the rock!

There, I broke down the wall I'd built
And held a candle up to the sky
Then in gratitude I humbly knelt
And talked to God till morn was nigh

Come and See- We Found the Christ

Come and see
We found the Christ
And He does lead
Our very lives!

Come and feel
And let Him teach
For He does heal
As to Him we reach

We are known
By Him above
And we're His own *
In spirit, light, and love

*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Elder Pieper

It's a Brilliant Warmth to Witness

It's a brilliant warmth to witness
From the tenderest of pleas
That miracle of forgiveness
I found upon my knees

For I poured my heart to Him
Speaking aloud as tears did flow
And I felt the heaven's open
As a warmth in me did grow

I felt so loved and safe
That I did not want to leave
I had found my haven
Of comfort, mercy, and peace

In a Room Filled with all the Professions

In a room filled with all the professions
We spoke of what our Savior means
And as there were so varied confessions
He means just everything to everyone it seems

For He speaks to the teacher
The physician the lawyer
The carpenter and preacher
The sinner and the toiler...

The farmer, the biologist
The servant, the baker
The florist, the geologist
The fisherman, the banker...

He taught from each place He ever stood
With parables of things they knew about
And those with ears to listen understood
As they reviewed His sermon upon the mount

In truth all things point to Christ
As all that is living is born of Him
He the creator and giver of life
Has put his light inside to dwell therein

Then, last of all to speak was me
And I was uncertain of what to say
For I had not yet come to be
And all I could say... is He is the Way

For Reasons Usually Unknown

For reasons usually unknown
Some of the sweetest spirits
Can't operate the bodies they own
And must rely on their parents

With these obvious limitations
Comes the challenge to progress
As through trial and investigation
Their deepest needs are addressed

And all along the way
There's sweet and tender care
As parents hope for a better day
When all they have their child will share

On earth, we're each subject to disease and death
And we're to care for the bodies as a gift that's priceless
As without it we would never know eternal breath
What a blessing it is to function at our highest!

A perfect body is not required
To achieve a divine destiny
What we need is to live as God desires
For he knows what we're meant to be

For when both limb and joint shall be restored
The helpless will know proper frame unto perfection
As the body and spirit reunite in form
They'll receive all God has on that day of resurrection

Who'll not want to be there and see
The joy of parents with these children
For then they'll witness the maturity
Of the spirits they only glimpsed within

"For reasons usually unknown, some people are born with physical limitations. Specific parts of the body may be abnormal. Regulatory systems may be out of balance. And all of our bodies are subject to disease and death. Nevertheless, the gift of a physical body is priceless. Without it, we cannot attain a fullness of joy.

"A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challenges precisely because they are challenged. Such individuals are entitled to all the blessings that God has in store for His faithful and obedient children.

"Eventually the time will come when each 'spirit and . . . body shall be reunited again in . . . perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame.' Then thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can become perfected in Him."

Russell M. Nelson, “We are Children of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 85

click on the title to go to the lds site with wonderful quotes of comfort and hope for the parents of children with disabilities

The Purpose of the Priesthood

The purpose of the priesthood
Is to help others receive
Ordinances if they would
Be worthy and believe

To fifteen men God’s bestowed
All the keys which lock and unlock
They bear a heavy load
As they serve around the clock

For they admonish us unto dedication
And hold the keys of salvation
They provide spiritual edification
And the sealing powers for exaltation

An apostle is released
When in death, he’s called away
And once he is deceased
Another's called up in his place

Those who bear this priesthood
Organize, create, and heal
And their works are ever good
As they preside, conduct, and fulfill

When we’re in troubled waters
That churn and makes our vision pale
We can seek local priesthood in this matter
And heed what the heavens unveil

Those who’ve been given authority
Can speak the will of God
And if our faith’s a high priority
We’ll be saved from sea and fog

In the order of the priesthood there are legions
With assignments, keys, and doors
As there are wards, stakes, and regions
And to the worthy blessings afford

Who has the key to the temple
And how can I get in?
It's available to God's people
Who gain a recommend

First I go to the Bishop
For an interview
Then let naught interrupt
What's been cleansed for temple's view

Then to the Stake President for granting
The signature that completes the witness
That I'm ready for a name and a standing
For entering covenants of the highest

Elder Perry M. Webb
area authority

It's Time to Fortify and Teach our Children

It's time to fortify and teach our children
Of God's salvation and being soulfully driven
For we came to earth prepared and ready
To receive and function with a body

We came to love, learn, and merit blessings
To direct and control all types of passions
Here we are tried as we strive to be productive
Using our systems... from the nervous to the reproductive

As our hormones change, it is wholesome and good
To bridle feelings and be modest as we should
There to be patient and value purity
Grateful for our lives and chastity

Not all will find courtship and this deepest form of love
Thus we must not cheapen this sweetest blessing from above
Grown from planted seeds of virtue and integrity
Love flourishes and is proven in abstinence and fidelity

For he who abuses the soul and key to life
Thinks not of the Atonement and Jesus Christ
He who exploits another also desecrates
The divine design and trust to procreate

Satan would that we experiment and self-gratify
That impulses of pleasure should be satisfied
He without body would we yield to natural instincts
To eat, drink, and be merry; not caring what God thinks

And in his greatest attempts to gain power and control
He knows that pornography is a sensual trap to unfold
He lies and whispers that we are strong enough
To try it for awhile for the enjoyment thereof

Once the mind and body is desensitized to true intimacy
He begins the patterns of addiction at its infancy
For with these actions comes a need to conceal
And his victim becomes isolated in a hold that is real

Oft this escalates to actions that are extreme
But, it's not as hopeless as he'd make it seem
For that self hatred is actually but divine guilt
As our true origins are spiritually built

And in the grip of things that will only get worse
One seeks for rescue with pleas in rehearse
Wanting more than anything to believe in a Savior
To confess and progress and find a life of favor

Then filled with a burning need to avoid sinful exposure
Ever wanting self-esteem at any cost... even self-disclosure
There to find in the cycle of repentance- joy that is bright
For the burden of sin is taken, and darkness is replaced with light

Let us each hope for a love that is united
There to feel complete, happy, and delighted
While being supportive so each can fulfill their dreams
And treat one another with the utmost of esteem

As we are different may each woman find commitment
Financial security, connection, and more... fulfillment
May each find a man that's faithful from the start
There to lead the family as she nurtures from her heart

Let the woman admire the man as he is needed more than ever today
May he be an example and a strength to be obeyed
May he find domestic support and together pursue recreation
There to stay attracted as they enjoy the path of procreation

Let each marriage seek to glorify God in heaven
And learn to define love by what's spiritually given
May we practice compassion and give mercy freely
Strengthened by our Savior and patterning like Him fully

thoughts from President Herr's talk about teaching our family about intimacy at the age of eight and the need to strengthen marriage and define what a woman and a man needs in marriage.

Authority

The young boy wore the costume
Of a policeman with a badge
And he thought others would assume
There was authority that he had

He walked around all day
Waiting for some action
There was naught which came his way
Save the cat which was a distraction

Authority has to be given
Through order, oath, and award
It can't just function self-driven
For it sets one apart as a steward

What does it mean to be baptized
Into the true church by one of authority
That as a new creature we change our lives
By making our covenants a top priority

With this promise we can then go forth
Doing as we're sent out to do
With strength only faith can afford
From weekly recommitting all anew

thoughts from the adult session of our stake conference
green valley stake

Elder Perry M. Webb
area authority
(I really benefitted from this because I will be teaching the 8 year olds)



Definitions of award:


noun: a grant made by a law court
Example: "He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court"
noun: a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Example: "An award for bravery"
noun: something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery
verb: give, especially as a reward
verb: give on the basis of merit
verb: bestow an honor upon

Pronounced Succession

For just a moment that was brief
I'd anxiety there'd be no succession
Such that my whole soul sighed in relief
When President Monson was called at general session

How thankful I am to know
The priesthood is restored to stay
And there's order in continual flow
To bless the lives of the Saints today

May we with newness of life see
The beauty that's all around us
As we weekly seek to be requalified
And led by the guidance of Jesus

May we heed the counsel of our leaders
And sustain those who have been called
May we seek the spirit and be eager
To go forth as too we're called

thoughts from Adult Session of Shadow Canyon Stake Conference
Elder Paul B.Pieper spoke of the moment before the prophet was called and having this passing thought - what would it be like if we never had a prophet again- like in the days of old with apostasy.

To kick against the pricks

Like the Master's ox
Who is stubborn and thick
When we disobey God
We kick against the pricks

If one becomes hostile
When directed to change
That which should have been gentile
Becomes an excuse to estrange...

Hearken o ye people
To our lord who dwells on high
For He hath revealed our secrets
With a prick we can't deny

For our hearts have been penetrated
Like the Master guiding His ox
That we know our sins have been stated
And spoken of upon housetops

Those who've kicked against the pricks
Harm themselves, rebelling unto sorrow
And in pride, their heart constricts
Unto being cut off on the morrow

For there is no escape
From the voice of the Lord
Open your ears and awake
Heed these warnings and move onward

In the days of Jarom long ago
There was exceeding harshness
And without the ability to understand
The wicked walked on paths of darkness

The prophets tried continually
To stop eminent destruction
For as their riches became exceedingly
They were increasingly in need of instruction

Who has ears to hear and eyes to see
Those without stiff and stretched forth necks
For they repent to become meek
To be prepared for what lies ahead

Let the words of God be verified
Unto righteousness, where men do prosper
Shake off your bondage with sins denied
And be partakers of all God does offer

D&C 1
Jarom
Enos 1:22-23

I was uncertain what this phrase was that was
introduced to me in sunday school
I took to pondering this while in the temple...

I Have a Sacred Grove

I have a "sacred grove"
Where I can pray and be alone
Where not a sound is heard
And no intruder does disturb

I kneel near the pulpit where I preside
And ask for the spirit to be my guide
Here I share my thoughts and concerns
Here in the stillness my heart to God turns

-----------------------------------

Let us each set aside
A meditative time
That is consistent every day
To subdue the spirit, kneel, and pray

There to express gratitude for life so sweet
And to drop burdens at His feet
Then ponder and wait for inspiration
While immersing in light for education

In the Book of Mormon or a recent talk
You will find what you need to rise and walk
Spiritual power will flow into your life
To be a better disciple of Jesus Christ

You will feel the love of God cleansing
As with regeneration there's more you're sensing
You will experience such moments of revelation
That in each of your roles you've faith to station

Yoshihiko Kikuchi
Opening the Heavens
Ensign, Aug 2009, 34–38

I Found a Peaceful Grove

I found a nearby grove
And knelt there all alone
It was quiet, still with peace
Save some rustling of the leaves

I'd been pondering a question
And sought out this seclusion
That I might utter aloud a prayer
To know which church was of God and where

But, then darkness overcame me
It was thick and enveloping
And I all but collapsed
As a dark power grasped

My tongue felt as though bound
As I could not make a sound
I exerted all I could to pray
And unto doom I almost gave way

Then just at the moment of utmost alarm
I was preserved and saved from harm
For instead of utter destruction
I saw what defies all description

Above me the Father and the Son!
In brightness beyond that of noon sun...
Giving answer to my questions
While schooling me with directions

Since this day I've never been the same
For I know why I pray to God in Christ's name
And of this truth we each can know:
Prayers are attended to as they flow

For we can be magnified by God's power
As the heavens open up if we don't cower
May we seek to receive answers with care
As we humbly petition aloud and share
thoughts after reading

Opening the Heavens
Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi
Ensign, August 2009, 34

It is Best to be Polite

It is best to be polite
When someone's in the wrong
Rather than picking a fight
And shouting loud and strong

I Have Friends in High Places

I have friends in high places
As to the holy mount they go
And they have such joy upon their faces
That of what they have I want to know

Why am I not there, I ask
Have I not the faith to believe
Is it not the holiest task
Perhaps that's why my soul does grieve

If I help someone who can't go
Because they have small children
Maybe blessings to me might flow
As though dews falling from heaven

Then when the time is right
And, I've a recommend
I too can be endowed with light
And receive the highest in the end

The Great Morning of Forgivenes

Jesus' work was not done
When His body was slain
Nor will it be won
Till each soul has been saved

Every son and daughter
Who has come to this earth
Is a child of the Father
And of infinite worth

That is His mission
And we have one too
May we each gain that vision
Of what we're supposed to do

Ours is not done
Till we have been saved
And, too everyone
That our paths have paved

Thus being a savior
Upon Zion's mount
As we unite and labor
To overcome and surmount

The greatest news to be told
Is there's never a time
When the spirit's too old
To seek for peace of mind

All are within
The reach of pardon
To be free of past sins
For the Lord will bar none (exception- those who have committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost)

The Lord's anger kindles much
Against the unrepentant
But that judgment turns to null
In one repentant instant

As such we pray, fast, and ponder
While we plead and implore
For those who now wander
And are in need of favor

Weeping may endure
For a very dark night
But, when we're made pure
We awake to joy and God's light

President Boyd K. Packer
The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness
Ensign, November 1995,18

D&C 61:10 "his anger kindleth against the wicked;they repent, and in a moment it is turned away, and they are in favor, and he giveth them life; therefore, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

There's a Mormon Within Me

There's a Mormon within me
That's been hiding out for years
Seldom coming out to peak
Because of anger founded in fears

I had heard something confusing
That tore away my faith
Beset by thoughts consuming
So uncertain of my fate

Oh, that there would come an angel
To bring to me some light
And replace the brooding evil
With a testimony bright

Despite Indescribable Suffering

Despite indescribable suffering
The Donner party survived
To never forget the first morning
When they knew they had finally arrived

The winter had been to the utmost
A mountain of blinding snowdrifts
And though what they did was ferocious
T'was but their means of staying alive

Unto a single glorious dawn
Where all of their pain was swept away
Midst the signs of Spring in a green lawn
Inviting the birds to greet the new day

How can that brutal dark winter
Be replaced in a single bright day?
Well this is just as the worst sinner
Who repents and the memories soon fade

For then their long winter of guilt
And spiritual starvation is blotted
With a new foundation having been built
Where they're clean no longer to be spotted

For they having hungered as one truly empty
Had felt eternal torment of soul
With a harrowing up to the greatest degree
Till being replaced with joy exceedingly full

And though this may seem to happen over night
It is a rigorous and lonely climb
There to find eternal life's within sight
And the torment has been left behind

The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness
President Boyd K. Packer
Ensign, November 1995,18

You're Never Lost When You Have the Temple

Let me state this
Plain and simple
You are never lost
When you have the temple

Lift your thoughts
And be a light
Offering hope
That's forever bright




Gary E. Stevenson
Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples
Liahona, May 2009, 101–3

"Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple."

Upon the Rock

Upon the rock
We will prevail
For with God
We cannot fail

D&C 128:10

We Need More Spiritual Families

We need more spiritual families
That are honorably strong
Who choose to do what's right
In the face of all that's wrong

It may not be convenient
Or even popular
But they're still obedient
And committedly stellar

Relentless in their pursuits
Of truth and all that's good
They're undaunted in their effort
To lift and love as they should

From Mongolia to Mozambique
From Taiwan to the Tongan isles
Around the world there's examples
Of God's virtuous disciples

As immoral forces increase
So should our faith and values
That we retain dignity and peace
While exemplifying the beatitudes

Shall we look to our government
For the kind of world we need?
Not if we want to represent
The good shepherd who does lead

There are certain things
We should never do
Not even once
In deed or attitude

Shall we lie, cheat, or steal
Or give up to illegal drugs
Shall we pornographically feel
Or abuse others and be thugs

No never
Not even once
For it's our endeavor
To do what our Father wants!

Let us never miss
Our opportunities to do
Whatever offers families promise,
Hope, and prosperity, too



Wendy Watson Nelson: Not Even Once!
By Wendy Watson Nelson, Ph.D.
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009
please click on title to go to LDS Church News

a talk given by Sister Wendy Watson Nelson at the World Congress of Families V in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Aug. 12, 2009.

Heavenly Father Has Given Me

Heavenly Father has given me a mind
To use to explore,seek, and find
That with more than my eyes I can see
What lies behind and before me

He has also given me my hands
That can be trained to understand
That through them I can gain more purpose,
Talents, and opportunities for service

And above all, he's given me a heart
That of His love for me, he can impart
For then I find strength to do each role
As I pray to Him, He reaches my soul

At the End of the Day

At the end of the day
When all is said and done
Who are we accountable to?
But, the Father and the Son...

As I Have Not Yet Been Blessed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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

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

A Man on a Hot Day Stood at the Crossroads

A man on a hot day
Stood at the crossroads
Questioning which way
He should go

The path of safety
He had always known
Where he tread safely
To and fro

But on this day
He was tired and weak
And the shady way
He did seek

He knew of the lion
But did not care
His instincts he'd rely on
To get him there

The first day this was true
For the lion had been full
But by the day after two
He waited with drool

Then it wasn't long
That the man was taught
The lion proved strong
And he was caught

That was the end
Of a man I knew
He'd been a friend
And a smart one too

clip art by John Olson

The Emblems Thou Lord Didst Make

The emblems thou Lord didst make
Ever more than one way break
In my heart I know this truth
Life goes on, this is my proof

When I've sorrow, thou art near
For thou knows of every tear
And of thy love, I can see
As thou mends what's broke in me

Thou broke the bands hell did make
To offer us hands to take
I'm thankful for thy strength in strife
And the hope of eternal life

In Defense of Marriage and the Promotion of Families

In defense of the sanctity of marriage
And for the promotion of virtuous families
I speak of the strength that heightens one's carriage
When the family circle is complete and at peace

Oh, how this must deeply please
Our Heavenly Father above
As He has commanded of us to increase
Multiplied in righteousness and love

When two hearts melt
And become husband and wife
The greatest joys are felt
As they create a new life

There to see a little bit
Of themselves, a cousin, a brother
As characteristics transmit
Through genes bound to another

Such that when a mother dies
The family feels incomplete
And welcomes that new pair of eyes
By some miracle their loved one does meet

Ever the home feels empty
When a name's no longer called
And we've examples plenty
Of how that sorrow does fall

For each loved one is missed dearly...
Here let me tell you from my own life
How I have lost a grown child to cancer
And known the loss of my beloved wife

There have been times I've held loved ones close
And wondered who gained the most comfort
Trying to not let pain enclose
While drawing on God for support

I have known and given deep compassion
And seen healing again and again
I have been blessed once more with a companion
As the blessings of heaven extend

What greater joy can life afford
Than to know we'll leave a legacy behind
To be remembered as one adored-
By our children and grandchildren in kind

Any parent would offer their very own life
To provide for their children of what they have known
And would give of themselves and surrender to a knife
If it would erase the pain with which their child does moan

In these days of disintegrating notoriety
Families with children need to be re-enthroned
As the fundamental unit of society
Acclaiming a "quiver full" as the greatest wealth known

And lest we see the worst yet of infamy
We must put the interest of the child first
And reestablish the definition of family
That from the beginning of time has been rehearsed

In the next generation
Who will replace the old?
Let's unite with renewed dedication
And let the family proclamation be told

The traditional family we firmly proclaim
Has been given in trust by our God
Where husband and wife gladly share the same name
Commited to tread gospel sod

For founded on principles of faith
They come to know their sacred duty
And desire their family to grow in names
That their home may grow in love and beauty

Let the father be present and preside
There to do all he can to discern and protect
And may he have sufficient to provide
That the children know not the dangers of neglect

Let the mother have time to give nurture
And raise children filled with her love
That they'll be prepared for the on rushing future
There to be what contributing citizens are made of

May the family ever encircle
And be given to offering prayers
There to prepare for life's eternal cycle
Joined by the faith each one shares

Elder Russell M. Nelson
at the World Congress of Families V
in Amsterdam, Netherlands
August 12, 2009

LDS Living

LDS Living

Shared via AddThis

Let Us Not Feel Apprehensive

Let us not feel apprehensive
As we are privileged to speak of faith
(But, not in a way that's offensive...)
For these words should be spiritually framed

I am confident in my belief
In our beloved Lord and Savior
For He has helped me in trial and grief
And to not share His love, I'd feel a failure

I try to follow His teachings
And pray in His name each day
Humbly to Him I'm now reaching
For He helps me to form words to say

Let us speak spirit to spirit
And feel His love within stir
That as I speak you'll more than hear it
But, feel your heart swell and concur

Now, let me tell you where I go to be strong-
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
It's where I have been led and know I belong
As His countenance to my soul weekly He paints

There we follow Jesus Christ
And try to live as He taught
Continually, He lights my life
And without Him, and His church, I'd be lost

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/705323254/Dont-apologize-for-faith-BYU-grads-are-urged.html

Don't apologize for faith, BYU grads are urged
LDS shouldn't be on the defensive, Elder Ballard says
By Marc Haddock
Deseret News
Published: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 9:39 p.m. MDT
Stop being defensive about your religion.
That's the message Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve delivered to 2,422 BYU graduates at the Marriott Center Thursday during commencement exercises for the Class of June 2009 and August 2009.
Ballard recounted the early struggles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the university, and a resulting sense that church members need to adopt a defensive posture. Things have changed, he said.
"This isn't 1830, and there aren't just six of us anymore," Elder Ballard said. "Constantly anticipating criticisms or objections can lead to an unhealthy self-consciousness and a defensive posture that doesn't resonate well with others. It is inconsistent with where we are today as a church and as a great body of followers of Jesus Christ."
He said the church's rapid growth has given the religion, now the fourth largest in the United States, a higher profile than ever, and that church members would find themselves in more discussions about their beliefs than in the past.
"You need to be honest, open, forthright, engaging, respectful of others' views and completely non-defensive about your own," Elder Ballard said. "If we want to be respected today for who we are, then we need to act confidently — secure in the knowledge of who we are and what we stand for, and not as if we have to apologize for our beliefs.
"That doesn't mean we should be arrogant or overbearing," he said.
Elder Ballard offered two suggestions to remaining non-defensive in conversations.
"Don't let irrelevant issues drown out the more important subjects," he said, mentioning polygamy as a specific example.
"This ended in the church as an official practice in 1890. It's now 2009. Why are we still talking about it?" he asked.
His second suggestion: "Emphasize that Latter-day Saints follow Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches."
"Whenever you are having a conversation about the church, you should try to make this a point. We follow Jesus Christ. We try to live as he taught," Elder Ballard said. "That's the basis of our faith and our lives. This is the strongest non-defensive position you can take."

this brings to mind a poem I wrote earlier this year based on
...
To speak or write of Jesus
Who is the author of good news
Is always timely, for anyone of us
For it's the best message one can choose

Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge
February 10, 2009

Imagine Your Child Encircled in Love

Imagine your child encircled in love
As you gather together with care
There to kneel humbly before Father above
To petition in their behalf in prayer

And as you express deep concern
Imagine the spirit ever warm
Present to teach and confirm
That the words were inspired you formed

That He May Write Upon Our Hearts
President Henry B. Eyring
Liahona, Aug 2009, 2

It is Confirmed- the Bishop's Called

It is confirmed
The Bishop's called
He is conferred
The mantle falls

His authority
Now extends
With singularity
To the fold he tends

And in this ward
Prayers lift and carry
While blessings pour
To each auxiliary

Clothed in the Bonds of Charity

Clothed in the bonds of charity
There is unity and peace
For in the heart there's such purity
That to our minds virtue does increase

And as with a mantle
We are ever changed
We take care to handle
How our thoughts exchange

And as we've been sent
We become of one mind
For love is patient
And forever kind

Shall we boast
Or take offense?
One does not gloat
O'er another man's sins

But delights
In truth and hope
There to endure
And ever cope

Let us judge all
Not by behaviors
But by the unconditional call
Extended by the Savior

Then for strength we'll pull
While we judge the sin
And with charity full
There's a path to begin

For we love our neighbor
And hope they feel likewise
There to help one another
To see through Christ-like eyes

The Bonds of Charity
Carolyn Rasmus
D&C 88:125
Clothe yourselves with the bond of charity

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/gs/c/17?sr=1
The pure love of Christ (Moro. 7: 47); the love that Christ has for the children of men and that the children of men should have for one another (2 Ne. 26: 30; 33: 7-9; Ether 12: 33-34); the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection.
Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies, 1 Cor. 8: 1. Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else, 1 Cor. 13. The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, 1 Tim. 1: 5. Add to brotherly kindness charity, 2 Pet. 1: 7. The Lord has commanded that all men should have charity, 2 Ne. 26: 30 (Moro. 7: 44-47). See that ye have faith, hope, and charity, Alma 7: 24. The love that the Lord has for men is charity, Ether 12: 33-34. Without charity men cannot inherit that place prepared in the Father’s mansions, Ether 12: 34 (Moro. 10: 20-21). Moroni wrote Mormon’s words on faith, hope, and charity, Moro. 7. Charity qualifies men for the Lord’s work, D&C 4: 5-6 (D&C 12: 8). Clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, D&C 88: 125. Let thy bowels be full of charity, D&C 121: 45.

Prayer is a Matter of the Heart

Prayer is ever a matter of the heart
And it's of utmost importance how we start
Thus I address the Father with child like care
Humbly and reverently in the language of prayer

And as we know to profane is not allowed
I utter His sacred name quietly and hallowed
Then, as my heart in prayer is ever full
I express to Him deeply how I am grateful

While acknowledging where I have been blessed
I humbly ask for strengths and, of where I lack, I confess
Then to feel clean before Him, I ask for forgiveness
And for help to not judge others by their weakness

As it is oft that my heart reaches out to others
I also pray in behalf of my sisters and brothers
Of all things, as His child, I am certain I can ask
And receive help and inspiration there to task

For, lest I feel helpless, I surrender to His will
There to find I've purpose and works to fulfill
And as He writes much upon my heart, there to be known
I am ever grateful He warns me and of my sins I am shown

To finish my prayers, I close in the name of the Savior
While speaking His name, with love, for He is not a stranger
This I know, with surety, He has been with me continually
For He has suffered for us and lights each path individually

I want to serve Him and strive be like Him at length
For I know He possesses perfect character of strength
And thus, in truth, this is what I have learned
As in my heart a love for prayer forever now burns


That He May Write Upon Our Hearts
President Henry B. Eyring
Liahona, Aug 2009, 2

A Calling

A man of the high priesthood
Came to extend a calling
And spiritually I understood
For I felt a warmth in me installing

And I was not left alone
To wonder at what to do
As through prayer I was shown
The spirit would help me through

And since then I have felt love
Fill my home and my heart
A special blessing from above
Confirming to me of my part

And I feel to swell
With gratitude
And wish to serve
With exactitude

How thankful I am
For inspiration
There to teach His lambs
With dedication...

I got a calling!

I Saw My Father Kneel Oft in Prayer

I saw my father kneel oft in prayer

And I never doubted God was there

When I was upset from a very bad day

I remember, "Let's pray", he would say

Through him, I felt divine protection

And sometimes a redirection

Such that I knew I too could pray

When I needed assurance things would be okay

The day came for me to leave home

To progress unto worlds unkown

Oft times I prayed about my fears

And felt restored with love warm and dear

I am so thankful for my childhood start

To learn to trust what prayers impart-

A chance to unburden and bear my soul

And be assured I'm loved and have a role

May I be prepared to know His will

There to write it upon my heart and feel

The Lord alone lifts me from the power of sin

As He warms me with what's tender within

And as I mature I learn more and more

Answers are received when faith is formed

As then He opens doors otherwise closed

For how powerful and kind He is, how patient and close!

The He May Write Upon Our Hearts

President Henry B. Eyring

Ensign, August 2009, 5

As Upon a Mount the Savior Discoursed

As upon a mount the Savior discoursed
Light and knowledge to the disciples coursed
And bit by bit they gained understanding
Of who before them, in reality, was standing

And He taught them who they were-
The very salt of the earth
And of what they could become
A light to which people would come

He gave them the beatitudes
Laws to live by with exactitude
That with forethought and assessing
They would be assured of many blessings

They learned He came not to destroy but to fulfill
In deed that His purpose might be instilled
For He taught them from truths He exemplified
That of God's judgments they could be notified

He illustrated what of them was desired
And that more was expected and required
He gave them counsel, invitation and warning
They showed acceptance of the words therein forming

He gave them a parable then to illustrate
That of those not solid their fall would be great
He let them know that life's storms would come
And of those caught unawares it would be fiercesome

As He taught His teachings were befriended
That it is no wonder much was said when He ended
For He taught as one having authority within
Filled with doctrine, they were astonished with Him

The Sermon on the Mount
David H. Yam, Jr
Ensign, Dec 1972, 53

illustration from
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Day, by W. A. Spicer
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Our Day
In the Light of Prophecy
Author: W. A. Spicer
Release Date: June 5, 2006 [EBook #18503]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

I Am But Clay

I am but clay
In the good Lord's hands
Molded each day
As my spirit expands

An Instrument in the Hands of the Lord

I can be an instrument
In the hands of the Lord
And teach the gospel content
So to the heart it strikes a chord

For as we join together
We invite the Spirit in
For virtuous endeavor
And to feel God's love within

One day a young mother
Arrived late and sat alone
Deliberately to smother
Conversations she'd have to own

For she'd naught the words to express
The trouble in her mind
And that she was depressed
She was afraid someone would find

And in the middle of my talk
I felt impressed to stray
And round the room to walk
Lovingly her way

With my hands I did not touch
For I knew that she would melt
But a love from me so rushed
That I knew she too had felt

I never looked her way
For she continually looked down
But, I was given words to say
That I knew for her were bound

For something inside
Let me see what she needed
I am thankful for that guide
That whispered and I heeded

I am thankful I did fast
And pray to humbly submit
That my words might more cast
To strengthen who felt unfit

sorry my poem doesn't exactly follow
but the spirit of the article is there


"Teaching: An Entrance to the Heart,"
Fall 2004 Open House
Bonnie D. Parkin
Relief Society General President
Address given at the Fall 2004 Open House



Rely on the Spirit and Individual Lives Will Be Blessed

I love these words of the great prophet and teacher Alma: “The Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.”14 An inspired teacher is an instrument in the Lord’s hands. Listen to this tender experience shared by one Relief Society sister:

“Years ago when I was a young mother and struggling with serious, prolonged postpartum depression, the Lord answered me through a simple sentence uttered by a Relief Society teacher.

“I was living far away from any family members. I felt so alone; I was afraid. I felt I was falling apart emotionally but was too embarrassed and proud to ask for assistance—and yet, I knew I needed help desperately! I felt strongly that if I attended Relief Society, help would be provided. I entered the Relief Society room late enough not to have to speak to anyone. My emotions were close to the surface; I knew I would burst into tears if anyone spoke to me. I sat in the last row, trying to look inconspicuous as I listened for an answer to my petitions to the Lord. As the teacher, Sister Bonnie Giddings, ended her lesson—I can’t even remember what the lesson topic was—one sentence stood out. It was my answer. She said, ‘You can never give up!’ That was the Lord’s message to me. As difficult and overwhelming as my personal struggles seemed at the moment, I could not give up!

“I wept openly. I knew Heavenly Father was aware of my plight. I knew He loved me. He had prompted Sister Giddings to provide me with the encouragement I needed to keep going. I knew I was not alone.”

Sisters, the story doesn’t end there! She continues:

“About 16 years later, now serving as a stake Relief Society president, I was preparing for a leadership meeting on effective teaching. All ward Relief Society teachers were invited to attend. I prayed earnestly to know what the Lord would have me say. What important message did He have for these women who had such an awesome responsibility?

“As a part of this meeting, we wanted to present each teacher with a list of positive comments from sisters in her ward regarding her efforts as a teacher. In the process of calling sisters in my own ward to get comments, I talked to a new sister in our ward. Her remarks astounded me.

“She said, ‘Something Bonnie Giddings said, just one sentence, made a big difference in my life. I can’t even remember what the lesson was about. It was a time when I was really unhappy in my marriage. She said, “A lot of what we need in life, we need to get for ourselves.” That one sentence stood out for me and changed my perspective.’ ”

Was it mere coincidence that one teacher giving lessons 16 years apart uttered the needed sentences which dramatically changed two lives? As I read this letter, I couldn’t help but think of the sons of Mosiah who “fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God.”15 As teachers, in our preparation and presentation, when we rely on and are guided by the Spirit, we will be “instruments,” answering the silent prayers of individual sisters. Isn’t it wonderful that Heavenly Father can trust us enough to answer another’s prayers?

It's Back to School Time...

It is almost back to school time
Can you account for each young adult?
Have you let them know they're on your mind
That they're more than a statistical report

Have you invited the graduates
Into Relief Society?
Have you enriched their favorites
To let them know they're a priority

And if their school takes them far away
Who will write to them and keep in touch?
A letter from home will make their day
And they're in need of this ever so much


Bonnie D. Parkin
Relief Society General President
Address given at the Fall 2004 Open House
Incomings


click title to go to site

(All I can say is hooray for Facebook
Where all of my young friend's pictures hook
For there they can be found right before my eyes
And I can enjoy what they share of their lives)

Relief Society- Simple Acts Have Meant the World to Me

Simple acts have meant the world to me
Someone to sit next to when I'm lonely
A lesson that expands my mind and teaches
While unto my spirit it brightens and reaches

Here where the sweet music fills my ears
I oft feel peace increase unto tears
This is my time of refuge from the storm
A time that I don't have to work or perform

Together we expound, we learn, and we grow
As through prayer's invitation charity flows
Here I find the strength for daily life
And the tools I need to overcome strife


Bonnie D. Parkin
Relief Society General President
Address given at the Fall 2004 Open House

click on the title to read the article about Teaching An Entrance to the Heart

A frenzied Soul

A frenzied soul
In unspeakable grief
Lost reason and control
Unto our disbelief

He having blamed God
For the death of a child
Did what we can't fathom
To the innocent and mild

We can only guess
The anguish he felt
And have no access
To the "why" of what he dealt

For he stormed a room
And released all the males
Then in a hot fume
The bullets hailed

Then with each girl hit
He took his own life...
If only he had let
Himself be taught in strife

For no apparent
Rhyme or reason
This loving parent
Committed treason

He left behind
Children of his own
They knew not his mind
Just the love he'd blown

But to their surprise
Knocking on their door
Were many pairs of eyes
Offering love and more

It was the families
Of those who had been shot
Who despite their agonies
Came to help the distraught

A lesson of forgiveness
A generation late
But so grand to witness
How it healed all the hate

More potential pain
Was stopped in its tracks
And sins torrential reign
Was taken from their backs

James E. Faust
The Healing Power of Forgiveness- second poem
Ensign, May 2007, 67

Ex. 34: 7
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the eguilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Num. 14: 18
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

As One Pursued the Master's Ways

As one pursued the Master's ways
He loved life and saw good days
For from evil his tongue refrained
To be without guile it was trained

And from his lips, what came out?
Words of devotion without a doubt
With purity of heart, of mind, and soul
He was sent forth unto an assigned role

But as the fiery furnace tested his strength
The heat of the trial proved a lack of faith
Thus many are called but few are chosen
For in his heart he remained not golden

Who will live in righteousness and harmony?
Those who maintain a pure testimony
That when the fiery darts come about
Faith burns brighter with good works about

How I would have loved to have been this man
In that single moment when he knew God's hand
As he heard the lord speak to him so directly
To be like him I will ever try to be

And that he fell away what can I say?
That is reserved for the judgment day
But, I do know Heavenly Father gave him so much!
He gave him love, praise, free agency, and trust

D&C 124:20
My servant George Miller is without guile; he may be trusted because of the integrity of his heart; and for the love which he has to my testimony I, the Lord, love him.'
1 Pet. 3:10
he that will love life, and see good days,
let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile.

At the April 1988 general conference, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of several scriptural references to people who lived without guile.

click on the the title to go to Church News to read the story

When E're My Troubles Pile

When e're my troubles pile
I should think on Heavenly grace
For He brings to me a smile
That brightens up my face

Oft times I need to rise
In my thoughts before I pray
As ever Satan tries
To keep me sad all day

If I look beyond the present
I might see what's best to do
For oft as I dream of what is pleasant
I feel the spirit inviting too

There I ponder blessing, of grace to overcome
And of all that makes my heart rejoice
I think of love ever so delightsome
That in thanks- a prayer I want to voice

I am thankful He knows my needs
As new burdens press each day
Oft I'm driven to fall upon my knees
There to be assured- all will be okay

I started writing this on the back of a random piece of paper in my scriptures and ran out of room and found the other side was a quote I had been asked to read at some point in Relief Society or Sunday school. It says:
"I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens. Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven o my knees by adversity and affliction" Elder Marion G. Romney in Conference Report, Oct. 1969, 60; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1969, 69.

I think of how touching it is to feel the spirit while watching someone else. What if we recorded our own testimony- as an account to draw from for strength in times we are down and also to deposit more to as we grow in the gospel. Not just a written- but to actually look into your own eyes...

I get too excited and don't let a poem "rest"
so in a day or two this good will be its best

Excuse Me

Excuse me, pardon me for interrupting
There is something I must impart
When profanity is erupting
It saddens me deep in the heart

Do you know this very morning
I uttered a prayer and felt God's love
Such that now I am in mourning
That you think so lowly of Him above

Whether His name's shouted to express shock
Or is loudly exclaimed in joy or anger
It is still a tool that does mock
And hits me here (my heart) like a dagger

Next time you mention our Father
Who dwells in beauty and cleanliness
May you remember He is the author
And finisher of our happiness

Changes Come at Us Suddenly

Changes come at us suddenly
As even the air we breathe we borrow
And never is there any certainty
Where our lives will be tomorrow

Oft those who struggle in one way
Find another way to be strong
As through He who lights each day
We find that the detour's where we belong

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Is a phrase that stills my heart
For I was apart from my husband for ages
While he went to Sin City for a career path to start

But... each night I would look into his eyes
As through a computer he looked at me
And I was assured there were no lies
Only goodness was there to see

Thank you dear web cam once more
For reaching two lonely hearts
While the sins of the world do roar
A witness of virtue still imparts

It Was a Day Like All Days

It was a day like all days
When my family friend died
One minute he was okay
Then the news came- I thought they lied

For his voice- I could still hear
Echoing in my mind
He'd been so familiar and dear
His words so helpful to find
******************************

"And that's the way it is"
There is 'no rest of the story' at breast
Those old profound messages I'll miss
For he was so much better than the rest


Roger H. Aylworth
Mormon Times
It Was a Day Like All Days
Speaking of Walter Cronkite
click above title to read the article

picture from story balloon press
************
So my dad may have looked like Walter Cronkite
But I am thinking of Paul Harvey in the last stanza
both had great eyebrows and were so well known
oops

For they were so much better than the rest

What Would That Man Who Leads Us Be Without His Supportive Wife?

What would that man who leads us
Be without his supportive wife?
As his call has been placed in trust
To support us towards unity in life -- (my new Bishop)
To support us for all of his life -- (Elder Perry)
To support us through all our strife
Please add to how this could end
I suspect it is endless

Thank you dear sisters in each ward
For this is not easy as you serve also
As we are all on a path ever moving forward
That necessitates we help each other as we go

I wrote this during the sacrament after
reading that L. Tom Perry wrote it.
I was so touched with the interview
Sherry Dew had with Elder and Sister
Perry. Imagine a prophet informing
an Apostle that he thought you were
better for service when you were a
married man and hinting that it was
time to consider remarrying. And he
married the most compassionate woman-
and he took on her commitment to her
elders- and carrying for aging family
members. If no one will take them into
there home for their last years- I will!
I just think their marriage so romantic-
a love to last forever!

So- I changed the last line for my
new bishop put in on Sunday- and the comments
he made. It was going to be towards
eternal life

Knowing So Many Ways to Trip and Fall

Knowing so many ways to trip and fall
Shall we moderate all our efforts?
No, The Lord sustains whom He does call
And we’ve been blessed but with gifts He affords

Thus, He who is our ultimate strength
Would that we not be “lukewarm”
But, serve Him with what we have at length
And with humility to sense what does us harm…

The proud could only hear the clamor
Of the crowd goading for more
And the still small voice in the background
Was obscured by all who did surround

Thus their haughty and stiff necks
Did not turn around to see
Satan using them to stretch
His powers there to glee

In contrast one man so humble
Heard and quickly fell to His knees
Proving to be teachable
He asked that the hand of God would lead

And from His example
Some in shame saw their plight
And joined in with prayers ample
To petition for safety and light

Then without a glance backwards
They drew nigh to that voice
And were given armor and sword
So to thwart Satan's quest to exploit

Dallin H. Oaks
Our strengths Can Become Our Downfall-
Preventing Strengths from Becoming our Downfall
Ensign, October 1994, 11

Our Lord's at His Table Offering

Our Lord's at His table offering
Precious emblems of sacrifice
Bitter sweet symbols of His suffering
Of which we know not the high price

For He felt all of our sorrow
He bled as His compassion poured
That we might have light to borrow
There to lead us richly adorned