Man Shall Not Smite

Man shall not smite
Nor should he judge
Man shall not fight
Nor should he grudge

The soul cankers
When we feel hate
It's an anchor
Of heavy weight

We're kept at bay
And can't progress
All that we say
Sounds one address

Who will rescue
To journey on?
With thoughts askew
One's often wrong

Trade that anchor
For a new one
Leave your anger
Call to the Son

He'll carry the load
Set you a drift
Direct your boat
And make it swift

When a storm comes
You'll still go far
As God becomes
Your guiding star

From shore to shore
And sea to sea
You're going towards
All you should be

There Was a Young Mother

There was a young mother
Who saw she was invisible
As to another
She made her day divisible

Sometimes she was a clock
That was expected to respond
Her only chance to talk
Was to tell him what lay beyond

Her words fell on deaf ears
When she asked for a favor
And when she cooked, I fear
He pecked it and did not savor

Patiently, she listened
And smiled through his demands
And for him, love glistened
While with hands on hips, he stands

Who sees her sacrifice
Her unwashed hair and ponytail?
Her clock speeds up to twice
To be seen as dependable

Then, one day in a book
She saw what to all man enthralls
The pains unnamed hands took
To selflessly build cathedrals

In corners, everywhere
One may see each delicate carving
Though hands and arms did wear
For the credit, were they starving?

For God and not duty
They gave their all, in their prime time
They simply made beauty
That would not be done in their lifetime

Her dozen warm cupcakes
Her sleepless nights with a sick child
All the errands she makes
Will this raise a child that is mild?

If she's doing things right
The world will marvel at what she has built?
For now it's in God's sight
With Him, her efforts will not wilt

thoughts from Invisible Woman
author unknown

To my Love- In the Sunset of Our Years

To my love, in the sunset of our years
May I remain to wipe away your tears
But, I'll soon depart, I greatly fear
As, what's beyond the veil does call me near

What words can express the love I have for you
You've made my life complete in all you do
And before my journey here is called through
I want to say I love you all anew

To hear your voice and your playful sighs
To pray with you to kiss and say goodnight
To watch you laugh is such a delight
To be apart pains me with such fright

Let's make an oath that we'll not be sad
Let's be grateful for each day we've had
There's not much written on this notepad
For, in my heart, there is much more to add

Our Journey Is Now

Our journey is now
And there's much to do
There's service- and how
We're not done till we're through

All that we suffer
All that we endure
Helps us be tougher
And helps us be pure

Our character grows
And expands our souls
As new patience flows
From expanded roles

If we take the time
To reflect this day
We'll feel fortified
As we give thanks and pray

We'll keep high morals
Though others disparage
We'll solve old quarrels
With words that encourage

Once a woman bought
A fancy new dress
She forever thought
To save it to impress

And so there it stayed
Deep in her closet
While she grew and grayed
Its tags stayed upon it

Awake and journey
Stand up and arise
There is much to be
It's right before our eyes

Thoughts from President Monson's
Comments from BYU Women's Conference
Wish I could have been there

Do Your Duty- That is Best

"Do your duty that is best
Leave unto the Lord the rest "
There is much for you to share
From your heart, thus prepare
Then, in each call or meeting
Testify while speaking
There is much that you will learn
From the Holy Ghost, in turn

Do your part among men
Be an example, quite often
In activities and quorums
Honor and serve those who govern
Become a good home teacher
Show care and be a leader
In example and in truth
This will bless you through your youth

As you develop more and grow
The body too, will show
As you engage in sports made fun
You will find achievements won
There to track your best progress
And clear your mind from what does stress
As you find, you are more in shape
You are kinder as moods moderate

Awake, you have a duty
To learn all that you should be
As you trek that sacred walk
Stand tall, prepared to talk
This program's sent across the globe
For your future path to probe
Better sons, brothers, and friends
Your new mission call extends

Do not underestimate
All that for you does await
Live the motto every day
Let it help you walk in faith
It will sustain you throughout your life
And be a strength through all strife
You will be prepared to be a man
To respond to duty in God's plan

Thomas S. Monson,
“Do Your Duty—That Is Best,”
Liahona, Nov 2005, 56–59

*Do your duty that is best
Leave unto the Lord the rest
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
“The Legend Beautiful,”
in The Complete Poetical Works
of Longfellow (1893), 258

The Mainspring and Soul of Our Being Here

The mainspring and soul of our being here
Devolves upon each mother and sister
When there's a need of influence, it's clear
What their powerful sympathies will stir

The design of their creation's followed
When they have the privilege of studying
They develop powers and are endowed
For mankind's benefit, they're answering

Brigham Young
"She Shall Be Praised"
Latter-day Prophets Speak to Women

Our Mother

Our mother has charity
She's full of benevolence
As she patterns purity
And cherishes innocence

She serves selflessly, unfeigned
For peace, she negotiates
Angels cannot be restrained
They're as her associates

And when there is but pittance
With faith and with networking
Her arms extend the distance
And puts to place faith working

Our mother's good heart supplies
Tenderness and beauty
And when to her ears one cries
She knows what is her duty

On Mother's Day can she rest?
That depends on who helps her
Perhaps we can do our best
On this day, to be Mother

.....
Come the day, when she is gone
What will we feel everywhere?
Her love went to everyone
As she extended her kind care
....
The day's here, Mother is gone
No longer to telephone
Part of her stays- life goes on
I hear her voice in my own