Elaine S. Dalton

Tenderly, I held you
When you came to be
Watching, I was there too
For your name and blessing

You wore a little dress
All lacy and white
And I must confess
You have grown up right

Here, now, sitting
Inside the sealing room
With a chandelier lighting
You are a brilliant bloom

Kneeling at the alter
Making promises
Unto Heavenly Father
Amidst witnesses

In a mirror before, then
With your eternal companion by your side
You both speak of those in heaven
And those awaiting this earth time

Oh, the wondrous beauty of
Each woman found with virtue
Precious spirits wait above
These guardians of the future

Having the Gospel

Having the gospel
Makes all things possible
To then understand
Love holy and grand

A light of beauty
Settles within deep
Stirring one to duty
Through covenants to keep

A seed of life
Can be planted in all
Unto Jesus Christ
And this is our call

When in Fear You Tremble

When in fear you tremble
As a leaf blowing away
Point yourself to the temple
And in faith continually pray

When you shake as a leaf
About to sail away
Hold to your belief
God hears you when you pray

When your heart does tremble
As leaves do in the wind
Put not your faith in people
But your Father in the end

Fear is not of God
Nor has it ever been
When a test does fall
It's for faith in the end

pondering... fear in a sleepless night.

Feeling Pain and Loss

Feeling pain and loss

I began soul searching

For the root or cause

Numb with grief.... reaching



My son was not called home

For the peace and rest

He claimed this for his own

Escaping life's test



I must remember the good

The long years of nurture

Putting my faith in God

I must look to the future



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



The shocking new came

With all the emotions

Can life be the same

After a suicide's motions



Denial, anger, bargaining...depression

A time of questions... if only

Had there been a sign? A plea in expression?

I've feigned resignation, feeling lonely



This is not what I bargained for

How I wish to hide

The past....the memories.. How I mourn

For the future denied



And amidst this all

I wish to pray

And know in some way small

That, with God, my child's ok





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





I have not words to say

That can right the pain

Know for you I pray

And for you I explain



Your son took his life

Having battled depression

His mind caught in strife

Trapped in dark expression



And amidst all their sorrow

Questions, regret, and shock

They, like me, wish you to know

Only of his goodness do we talk



Deep inside there's fear

That this could happen again

To another who is dear

So great the loss of a friend



Deep inside we are each

Looking for life's lesson

That his passing will teach

Faith as minds question


I wrote another poem based on Suicide- Some things we Know and some We do Not click on below label

President Henry B. Eyring

You will feel or hear something
That will move you to a better life
That will cause your heart to sing
Brightened by the Light of Christ

You may even sense the Savior
Saying, "Come and follow me"
Heeding His words to labor
Through new thoughts freely flowing

Come and become more secure
In a testimony that's alive
Find the strength to endure
Then patiently strive

Scriptures are necessary
And we should seek them out
The messages do carry
The love of God throughout

A testimony can wither away
If it is not rooted deep
Continually read and pray
As you covenant and watchkeep

Reflect its light to others
Until the perfect day
Bear testimony to your brothers
That God speaks to us today

thoughts from
President Eyring's message to the young sisters

I Surrender Heavenly Father

I surrender, Heavenly Father
I have wanted all the wrong things
I can't take one step farther
Without what repentance brings

Pride- what is that?
I have lost control
Imprisoned- is where I'm at
I am trapped in a hole

I have fallen prey
To the drug of pleasure
I have lost my way
And given up life's treasure

I want to feel peace,
Joy, and happiness
To have insanity cease
And through Thy Son be blessed

I want to feel wrapped in love
As a submissive child
I want to rise above
Being base and wild

That is why this day
I have turned to Thee
To repent, cry, and pray
And discover the free me

pondering:
O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Ensign, November 2010,

There is hope for the addicted, and this hope comes through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Quietly He Turned His Head

Quietly he turned his head
And knelt away apart
I knew not what he said
But felt comfort in my heart

Spinning in life's commotion
We hadn't known what to do
Till this expression of devotion
Gave us redirection too

I Have Faith Filled Evidence That the Book of Mormon's True

I have faith filled evidence
That the Book of Mormon is true
I say this without hesitance
And you can know this too

Faith is and always will be
Needed to know God
His word ever teaches me
Yet to a fact seeker this is odd

Experiment on His word
Feel a witness burn within
To an unbeliever this is absurd
But, God's love's in the words written

I don't need a scholar
To tell me what is truth
I just need Heavenly Father
What I feel is my proof

Ever- questions are good
And when we struggle to the core
Let us turn in prayer to God
And lay it at His feet to know more

The Prelude

He taught good tidings unto the meek
As one anointed by God to preach
Healing all those down hearted and weak
He reached each soul, purely to teach

But His mortal life was only a prelude
To when the dead He would free
The atonement, He alone could do
Raising us from captivity

The life of a Jew is but a prelude
To understanding what lies before
As each custom does further allude
To the Savior's role forever more

He is Not Here, but is Risen
President Thomas S. Monson
Ensign, April 2011, 4

This has been a special day. I went out to the playground while my class was in the cafeteria. I sat on the beautiful green grass so rare in Las Vegas and read the Ensign. The answer to many months of pondering came in the First Presidency Message and the finish of my book- Jesus His Life as a Jew. He came as a Jew- to those who had been prepared. Everything they knew pointed to Him. By studying the Jewish custom, we can come nearer to Christ. Let us honor them, love them, and be among them as did the Savior.

Positively

We are a classroom united as one
Through mutual respect, each challenge is fun
Supporting each other our goal is to try
To share what we learn when we ask who, what, how, and why

With one voice at a time- each prepares for a turn
To practice, apply, build, and relate
Each concept connects to another to learn
Positively, it's questions that makes learning great!

No Amount of Good Works

No amount of good works
Can purify our lives
Save we make covenants first
As Saints for Jesus Christ

He the perfect giver
Knows our every need
He our deliverer
Does cleanse as well as lead

Come let us follow Him
And feel His light upon us
Gathering oil then
Let us serve Him with purpose

Even Once

Things you cannot do
Even once
To be a hero
For instance:

Shooting up drugs
From a shared needle
Having sex with thugs
Or infected people

Once in the body
It cannot be washed
Viruses are ugly
And oportunity's lost

Pondering the questions asked when you give blood...When you give you will hear several times, "thanks for being a hero!" I don't think of it this way. Half the time you get something really cool like tickets to Penn and Teller or a t-shirt.
This is a picture of me with Demara my step daughter at the Penn and Teller show. She is going to be a doctor in a few months!

Preparing for Eternity

Preparing for Eternity.

The weight of inactivity
Had begun to burden me
Cycling in and out of activity
Had become my way to be

Having lived out my days
As only I saw fit
I’d have to change my ways
To truly benefit

Again and again
I had known what was right
But each time in the end
I had side-stepped the light

Now, at last, awakened
To my awful guilt
I’ve sought to stand unshakened
And with armor built

Satan- I have told
To "Get thee hence!"
For I have to be bold
To get off the fence

Now I pray, serve others
And pay a full tithing
Desiring what God offers
I am daily trying

The temple is my goal
To be sealed unto my wife
To bear the priesthood role
And bless those who touch my life

Kyiv Ukraine Temple - Youth Cultural Celebration

What can you do to take part
In a temple dedication
Let joy swell within your heart
And join in the celebration

Soon, with the Savior nearby
Covenants will be entered
Sealed together, dearly
To become wholey centered

Pondering Japan's 8.9

Pondering Japan
And all that's transpired
I see the Lord's hand
Though lives have expired

Who knows how bad
This quake could have been
For each life I am glad
Again and again

As Members- The Healer's Art

As members of
The church of our Lord
We ought to show love
As life can afford

No matter the skin
The shape or the size
The Lord looks within
To what we do with our lives

I was burdened with hatred
Long felt since the war
He replaced this with sacred
Feelings grown warm

So thankful I am
For His atonement
That through Him I can
Find peace heaven sent

It is with His stripes
That I am made clean
No matter how life tries
To Him I now cling

Pondering
The Healer's Art
by Eldr Yoshihiko Kikuchi
March 2011, Ensign, 44

What I Struggle Over

What I struggle over,
At night I pray about
Then, oft, a dream uncovers
What I need to figure out

Perhaps, this is a way
Of coming unto Christ
As we surrender up the day
His light carries us through the night

Code of Honor

You are part of something great
Where high standards are required
Stay within the gospel's gate,
Feel God's love, and be inspired

A code of honor is in place
For those attending BYU
Each rule's a blessing to embrace
That you might be the best you

Without laws there is disorder
And distractions from learning
Within these these laws there is a border
Of safety for discerning

When one is found not keeping laws
It's not a matter of being kicked out
But of suspension...a time to pause
To restore what you're about

If you struggle in any way
There's a process you must take
Change may not happen in a day
To permanently forsake

Those who rebel don't belong
As unity is lost
Faith is forever strong
And integrity's the cost


The BYU honor code governs not only academic behavior, but morality, and dress and grooming standards of students and faculty, with the aim of providing an atmosphere consistent with LDS principles. The Honor Code requires:

Abstinence from illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea (substances forbidden by the LDS Word of Wisdom)
Honesty
Encouraging others in their commitment to keep the Honor Code
Living a chaste and virtuous life:
Appropriate gender-specific behavior (no sexual harassment)
No involvement with pornographic or indecent material
No inappropriate sexual activity (no sexual relationships outside of marriage)
No homosexual behavior
Obedience to the law
Active participation in Church services (according to whatever religion of which one is a member)
Respect for others
Clean language
Following the "Residential Living Standards" (visiting hours for members of the opposite sex)
Dress and Grooming Standards. Abiding by the guidelines for dress, grooming, and housing. Skirts and shorts must reach to the knee and shirts may not be sleeveless. Form fitting, strapless and revealing clothing is not appropriate. Male students may not wear beards or goatees without permission; such permission is usually granted only to men with skin conditions aggravated by shaving, men whose religious beliefs require them to wear beards, or theatrical performances requiring beards.
Students are prohibited from having guns on campus.[13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham_Young_University_Honor_Code

http://www.economist.com/node/18284013

http://www.economist.com/node/18284013

An honest appraisal is all that we ask
Based on the ability to rise to the task
When words are civil, there's searching for good
And possibilities comes, just like they should

What can You Claim?

What can you claim
For your own?
Each family name
Forever known

You can serve to labor
For one after another
And bring each to the Savior
Every sister or brother

Like unto the pioneers
You can do what's not been done
Each name that then appears
Soon links to another one

Then...the prize to discover
Names you do not have to seal
Except that forgotten brother
I can't tell you the joy I feel!

It was nearly midnight
And I should have been in bed
But, I was filled with light
As the spirit of Elijah led

The Free Gift unto Joy

The free gift
Given from above
Is to uplift
And shower you with love

If you find yourself merry
Praise the Lord long with song
And, if but sorrow you carry
Call on the Lord who is strong

Ever through prayer
We can find joy
Recognizing care
Ours to enjoy

D&C 136:27-29
Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.

If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful.

Strengthen the Foundation

Strengthen the foundation
Of Christianity today
Be the generation
That reminds the world to pray

Ever the highest blessing
Must be sought out through prayer
As to God we're expressing
The need of His highest care

Prayer is a form of work
Of which we must not overlook
While sharing of God's word
Written within each holy book

Be a righteous example
Day by day, hour by hour
Be a light precious to sample
As evidence of God's power

Real happiness and peace
Comes through faithful living
Let charity increase
Through kind acts you are giving


pondering:
'Be the greatest,' Elder L. Tom Perry urges
Sunday, March 6, 2011
By Marianne Holman, LDS Church News

http://bit.ly/iaFL5I

Draw a Line in the Sand

Draw a line in the sand
And step away from sin
On a higher place then stand
As a new life you begin

The path of conversion
Has covenants to obey
Become your best version
As one who trusts in God always

Leave what's passed alone
And enter the narrow gate
Through Him who did atone
Great promise does await

The Spirit is a Still Small Voice

The Spirit is a still small voice
That is felt rather than heard
Words come to the mind without outward noise
And warmth stirs us to rejoice

Be still and know that I am God
Psalms 46:10

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque- Which Kind are You?

Transparent you can see right through
Translucent is a blurry view
Opaque might as well be a wall
For through it, you can't see at all

Now what can be said of you?
Are you sheerly a beautiful view?
Or thick with the shadiest of colors?
Or,even worse, a wall to all of your brothers?

"I don't care," was your response
Not giving in to pretense
I am complex.  There's a time for all
It is up to me.  It is my call

Regardless, what others may see
The Lord knows what lies within
He knows who we are meant to be
And would to help us be with Him

I am not in this world to live - Thinkexist Quotations

thinkexist.com/.../i_am_not_in_this_world_to_live_up_to.../10820.ht...Cached - Similar

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

Fritz Perls I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.

As a Class we Arose

As a class, we arose
And became a compass rose
_ stood to the north
_ stood to the East
_ stood to the South
And _ went West, but was not the least
For we were not finished at all!
We made north east,
North, and south west
We made south east
But still did not rest
For others were needed to point and call!

I Had Eleven Cousins

I had eleven cousins
And one more came to be
Now I’ve an even dozen
For a bigger family
There are 6 on my moms side and 6 on my dads
And, with my neighbors up and down we’re a half a dozen more
That’s a dozen and a half- not counting all the labs
For, with them, we're but six more running in and out the door!

There is Beauty in the Strength of Youth

There is beauty
In the strength in youth
Faith and duty
Lights the lamp of truth

Aglow in doing
What is good and right
The youth are moving
On Christ's path of light

A Lamp that's Lit- Though Dim

A lamp that's lit
No matter though dim
Is for profit
Sharing what's within

Another can see
The promise of more
Hidden beauty
Come of what lay in store

Once, refined and schooled
Though, now, there is much less
Each lamp can be refueled
And share Christ's light to bless


Pondering the less active
and the goodness there
Which is attractive
Though dim to share

The Greatest Good We Can Do

The greatest good we can do
In helping others become
Is to free them unto
The living Savior, the Son

The greatest good framed in law
Is when it allows each man
To pursue God, here, below
And witness His guiding hand

We should seek for divine guidance
Before passing any kind of bill
So that in each and every instance
Man is free to reach his potential

thoughts from
Law Allows Us to Reach Our Potential, Says Elder Christofferson
click on the above post title to go directly to lds.org
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If You Use Your Faith Wisely

If you use your faith wisely
You've help to solve your problems
If you ponder and listen carefully
What was hard, often softens

Seek to Enlarge God's Circle of Love

Seek to enlarge
God's circle of love
Of Him we are
And known from above

He'll help us try
To establish peace
If, humbly, more cry
In prayer, wars will cease

I Just Want

I just want to stand
Upon holy ground
Holding the Master's hand
Feeling homeward bound

Reaching Beyond this Mortal Life

Reaching beyond this mortal life
We feel the touch of the Master's hand
And in newness we come alive
Witnessing a change that is grand

Ever relying on the atonement
Being cleansed by the Holy Ghost
We make and keep sacred covenants
Unto God whom we need the most

Our ultimate desire
Is to return to Him someday
Of Him covenants are required
And we've help along the way

The path to Him is found
Through the Holy Spirit
In one eternal round
You have to seek to hear it

Heavenly Father has promised
If we read the Book of Mormon
We'll know peace and happiness
From the new thoughts we are forming

Through daily prayer and scripture reading
We taste the fruits of the tree of life
And find divine counsel we are needing
To resist temptation and strife

There in finding guidance
And the strength to endure
Knowing our reliance
On our Savior ever pure