King Benjamen

For the last words their king should speak,
They looked up to the tower's peak.
He spoke of God, who lends us breath,
To whom we are so much in debt.
Of what he taught during his reign,
He'd asked himself to do the same:
From holy temple sacrifice
To giving service without price.
This king showed much humility.
Speaking strong in frailty.

Aged and bent his frame was trembling.
Yet, he'd called all for assembling.
What did he want them most to do?
Serve the One True King and man, too.
What are we that we should boast?
For that withdraws the Holy Ghost.
Of the dust, we are created
And remain ever indebted.
His words rid his garments of their blood,
So angels' choirs may round him flood.

[Verse 1] For the last words their king would speak, They raised their eyes to the tower's peak. He spoke of God, who lends us breath, To whom we owe our life and death. [Verse 2] Of all he taught throughout his reign, He asked his heart to do the same: From temple smoke and offering, To serving those with nothing to bring. [Chorus] This king wore low humility, His strength made plain in frailty. Lift up the One True King above, Then serve both God and neighbor with love. [Verse 3] Aged and bent, his frame was trembling, Still he called the people, assembling. “What would I have you choose today? Serve the Lord and serve humankind’s way.” [Verse 4] What are we that we should boast? Pride can drive the Holy Ghost. From dust our borrowed lives were made, And every breath is debt repaid. [Bridge] Let no proud robe conceal the stain, Let mercy wash the heart again. The humble soul, released from blood, May join the angels’ rising flood. [Chorus] This king wore low humility, His strength made plain in frailty. Lift up the One True King above, Then serve both God and neighbor with love. [Outro] From dust we rise, to dust return, Yet grace remains where candles burn. Serve the One who gives us breath, And meet the dawn beyond our death.

• King Benjamin: “I at this time have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might be found blameless, and that your blood should not come upon me, when I shall stand to be judged of God of the things whereof he hath commanded me concerning you.
  “I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together that I might rid my garments of your blood, at this period of time when I am about to go down to my grave, that I might go down in peace” (Mosiah 2:27-28).

Climb the Wall- a lesson in mindset

Take a chance at something new

Change what you say, what you do

Gain a mindset and just try

It may be hard but don't be shy

Think of what you do real well

You can do this! Yes, time will tell!

In the mirror, stand up tall

And tell yourself, "I'll climb this wall"

[Verse 1] Take a chance at something new Change what you say, change what you do Gain a mindset, just try It may be hard, but don't be shy [Pre-Chorus] One small step can start the climb Give yourself a little time [Chorus] Think of what you do real well You can do this, time will tell In the mirror, stand up tall Tell yourself, "I'll climb this wall" I'll climb this wall [Verse 2] When the first attempt goes wrong Take a breath and carry on You don't need to know it all Just keep moving when you fall [Pre-Chorus] One small step can start the climb Give yourself a little time [Chorus] Think of what you do real well You can do this, time will tell In the mirror, stand up tall Tell yourself, "I'll climb this wall" I'll climb this wall [Bridge] Look at the work your hands have made Every skill was once afraid Raise your eyes and choose to see There's more ahead than used to be [Final Chorus] Think of what you do real well You can do this, time will tell In the mirror, stand up tall Tell yourself, "I'll climb this wall"

Think of what you do real well You can do this, time will tell Take a chance on something new The next brave step belongs to you [Outro] I'll climb this wall The next brave step belongs to you

The Next Time

The next time you feel sorrow,
Pain, or rejection.
Look to the Lord and borrow
Love for reflection.

Desire becomes belief
As strength, He sends
The hurt soul feels relief
And the heart mends

  [Verse 1]

The next time you feel sorrow, Pain, or rejection, Look to the Lord and borrow Love for reflection. [Chorus] Desire becomes belief As strength, He sends The hurt soul feels relief And the heart mends. [Verse 2] When every answer trembles And hope feels thin, His quiet mercy gathers The scattered heart within. [Chorus] Desire becomes belief As strength, He sends The hurt soul feels relief And the heart mends. [Bridge] Turn your face toward kindness, Lay your burden down; What was broken in the waiting Finds its healing ground. [Final Chorus] Desire becomes belief As strength, He sends The hurt soul feels relief And the heart mends. [Outro] Look to the Lord and borrow Love for reflection.

The Eleventh of September

The eleventh of September

We will always remember

As the day the ugly face of hatred

Left our hearts and country scarred and wounded

Darkness fell upon our nation

Such terror, death and destruction

Thousands of innocent perished

Still the heroic efforts we cherish

For shining through the overcast of fear

As a nation we turned towards the Prince of Peace

And prayed for the families suffering in loss

We vowed to remain a land of freedom, no matter the cost

May the peace of the Redeemer rest upon us

May His healing power mend broken hearts

May our beloved nation be restored, thus

To be a place of peace, as in God we trust

On Sept. 11, 2001, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, then known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, was scheduled to give a concert for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Underwriters.

But following the tragic terrorist attacks on the East Coast, the concert was changed to a memorial service, at which President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke:

"Today has been a day that will be remembered always in the annals of our beloved nation,” he said. “It has been a day when the ugly face of hatred has shown itself with terror, death and destruction. It has been a day when uncounted numbers of the innocent have perished and their loved ones have been left to sorrow. Many have been wounded, and this, our nation, has been seriously injured and insulted.

Despite the darkness of the hour, President Hinckley said, “there is shining through the heavy overcast of fear and anger the solemn and wonderful image of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Exemplar of universal love, and it is to Him that we look in these circumstances.

Our hearts are broken, our spirits subdued,” President Hinckley said. “We bow before the Almighty in reverence and reach out to those who have lost their lives, to their families and to those who were wounded in the attacks made against our beloved nation.

May the peace of the Redeemer rest upon us, May His healing power mend the broken hearts and give strength to the wounded bodies and minds of all who have paid so great a price because of the evil acts of those who have injured us and betrayed the entire civilized world.

May the sure hand of Providence guide the destinies of our nation, that it may remain a land of freedom, peace, goodwill, and yet a nation of power and strength.

Our Heavenly Father will hasten the day when men everywhere across this broad earth will ‘beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more’” (Isaiah 2:4).

( The Church News )

Everlasting Covenant

God's temple was wonderfully renovated

We opened its doors for all to see

Gloriously completed, we celebrated

And rededicated it as His holy home

Here, we are reminded of our greatest blessings

The plan of redemption and happiness

Constituted for His son's and daughter's progression

Through the new and everlasting covenant, thus

Above all, our hearts fill with gratitude for His Son

For His Atonement, to redeem us from sin and death

His infinite sacrifice, the ultimate expression of love

That we might seek the path to return unto God's presence

Through the everlasting covenant

In this great and last dispensation

His sealing keys of His holy priesthood

Bind beyond the veil families for generations

[Verse 1] God's temple was wonderfully renovated We opened its doors for all to see Gloriously completed, we celebrated And rededicated it as His holy home [Verse 2] Here, we are reminded of our greatest blessings The plan of redemption and happiness Constituted for His son's and daughter's progression Through the new and everlasting covenant, thus [Chorus] Above all, our hearts fill with gratitude for His Son For His Atonement, to redeem us from sin and death His infinite sacrifice, the ultimate expression of love That we might seek the path to return unto God's presence [Bridge] Through the everlasting covenant In this great and last dispensation His sealing keys of His holy priesthood Bind beyond the veil families for generations [Chorus] Above all, our hearts fill with gratitude for His Son For His Atonement, to redeem us from sin and death His infinite sacrifice, the ultimate expression of love That we might seek the path to return unto God's presence [Outro] Through the everlasting covenant We seek the path to return unto God's presence

San Diego temple had upwards 600,000 people visit during its open house and rededication.  Wow!  Families who had been sealed there years ago came and walked through its beauty and were reminded....

“We thank Thee for the plan of redemption and happiness that Thou hast constituted for the eternal progression of Thy sons and daughters. We are grateful that Thou hast established once again Thy new and everlasting covenant in this great and last dispensation. Above all, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the Atonement wrought by Thy divine Son, Jesus, knowing that His infinite sacrifice to redeem us from sin and death is essential to Thy eternal plan. We acknowledge this ultimate expression of His love and of Thy love for us — than which love there is none greater. Unitedly in this moment, we express to Thee and to Him our unending love and gratitude. We thank Thee for having restored to the earth the Holy Priesthood after the Order of Thy Son that offers to Thy children of all generations the foreordained ordinances and covenants necessary for exaltation in Thy presence. We thank Thee for this temple and all temples that have been and will yet be built to Thy name wherein the holiest of these ordinances and covenants may be realized. We thank Thee for the keys of the holy priesthood, including and especially the keys of sealing to bind beyond the veil that which is bound on earth.”

Dedicatory Prayer San Diego Temple D. Todd Christofferson August 2026

Heroes and Angels

It takes a hero
To put another first
And let all fears go
Regardless of the worst

But, perhaps there is more
Than strength, in the end
Through faith upon the Lord
Unseen hands attend

But, the story goes on
One gunman turned himself in
It did not take him long
For his conscience burned within

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 10-Year-Old Hero Shot Protecting Mom From Gunmen “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13 Masked gunmen broke into 10-year-old Cameron’s house and proceeded to point a gun directly in his mother’s face. Cameron, without hesitation, tackled one of the men, at which point the gun was fired, ripping through the 10-year-old’s forearm. Leaving him and his mother, the gunmen fled the scene, seemingly aware of the reality of what they had just done. Fortunately Cameron will be fine, his wound was fairly minor and he doesn’t regret a moment of his bravery. He says he knows that God was protecting him and his mother that day, and it certainly would seem that way. Read more at http://hopefaithlove.com/10-year-old-hero-shot-protecting-mom-from-gunmen/#WEheXSwQjxjGkc29.99

We Must Ascertain

We must ascertain
What is for our higher good?
What we now obtain
Starts with could, would, and should

There is knowledge we will gain
from each new role that we fill
As we give and, too, restrain
We use our will, feel and instill

We know achievement
Or feel bereavement
But, did we do our best?
That is the true test

We must ascertain
What's for our higher good?
If we rise up with exertion
We are doing as we should

As we advance in what we know
Our scope of influence does grow
From a shared thought, seeds are planted
Soon, progress sprouts and fruits are granted

Then, we must be insistent
That we remain persistent
For life demands that we compete
And there's objectives that we must meet

[Verse 1] We must ascertain What is for our higher good? What we now obtain Starts with could, would, and should There is knowledge we will gain From each new role that we fill As we give and, too, restrain We use our will, feel and instill [Chorus] We know achievement Or feel bereavement But did we do our best? That is the true test [Verse 2] We must ascertain What's for our higher good? If we rise up with exertion We are doing as we should As we advance in what we know Our scope of influence does grow From a shared thought, seeds are planted Soon, progress sprouts and fruits are granted [Bridge] Then we must be insistent That we remain persistent For life demands that we compete And there's objectives that we must meet [Chorus] We know achievement Or feel bereavement But did we do our best? That is the true test [Outro] We must ascertain What is for our higher good? Step by step, we make the choice To become all that we could