Poetry

      Words tumble inside my head, each fighting for a chance to be used.  Inspiration flashes and a phrase comes together, eager to be written.  But still, I struggle.  In my heart I know what should be written, but my mind can't grasp the message.  I need to relax.  Connect.  Sitting back, I close my eyes and let the words come.  At first, confusion prevails.  But gradually, softly, my heart whispers a thought my mind can finally understand.  From it sprouts a rhyme, which blossoms into a complete message.  Suddenly the reservoir is broken.  Words and rhymes flow freely, washing over my consciousness and spilling onto the page.  My pencil makes the last mark and I read over it all once more.  Almost perfect.  A few minor edits, and it's finished.  My heart has spoken, and it is beautiful.

Magic

      It was a night full of magic.  The kind that whispers unknown words in your mind and draws icy fingers down your spine.  The stars stared coldly down at the earth wrapped in silver light.  Shadows bent with the passing mists, and all around was a murmuring of distant and otherworldly things.  Before the last light had faded, every back felt the chill.  Every child heard the whisper, and every man and woman locked their doors against the darkness.  None dared turn out the light, for all were wary of the night.
      Except for me.  My soul yearned for the magic.  It filled me with a thrill that I could not resist.  I was meant for the night.  It called to me in the dancing shadows and swaying moonlight; calling me.  Ever calling.
      And I was powerless to refuse.

Flood to Light

I cry mainly for the suffering this world inflicts upon all.  For the pain I do not feel, but will forever be felt in so many hearts.  For the wounds so deeply cut in the bodies and souls of friends and strangers alike.  I cry for the poor choices made by those around me.  I cry for the love that many will never know.  For the beauty that many will never see.  For the music they will never hear, and the laughter they will never feel.  I cry for the struggles of those I love most.  I cry for the struggles of those I do not know.  And I cry, in part, for myself.  For my frustrations and disappointments.  For my weaknesses and mistakes.

But with all my tears, not a drop can make a difference.  My sorrow joins the world’s in a river of misery that floods hearts and lives.  The tears flow swiftly toward the horizon through the night with nothing but a dreary end ahead.

Then, with the dawn, comes hope.  It is a glorious rising of the sun, splitting the darkness and turning all the restless pain into glittering gold.  The weeping becomes a song, and music welcomes an endless day in which pain and sorrow will never have part.

This is Our Duty

The United States of America.  The New World.  The Promised Land.  A land of liberty.  A land of opportunity.  A place where all are free.  Free to live, to love, to choose.  To work for ourselves.  To have a say in government.  To believe in whatever and whomever we desire.  To live peaceably with one another.  To deal honestly.

Now this nation has become a place where we can choose to put ourselves under the influence of any and all addictive substances.  To give in to any and all captivating desires.  To dig as deep a hole of debt as we want.  To make any rash or selfish decision that comes into our minds.  To make evil things right.  To make good things wrong.  To push others down in order to lift ourselves up.  To deceive for personal gain.

What changed?  Suddenly all freedom of choice has become freedom to put ourselves and others in bondage.  How?  Can it be that we have failed our country?  That we have forgotten what is most important?  That something that might seem so small, so simple, so easily overlooked is of the greatest significance in our country’s liberty?

Mary had a little Lamb

His fleece was white as snow

And everywhere that Mary went

The Lamb was sure to go

He followed her to school each day

‘Twasn’t against the rule

It made the children laugh and play

To have the Lamb at school

And then the rules all changed one day

Illegal it became

To bring the Lamb of God to school

Or even speak His Name

Every day got worse and worse

And days turned into years

Instead of hearing children laugh

We heard gunshots and tears

What must we do to stop the crime

That’s in our schools today?

Let’s let the Lamb come back to school

And teach our kids to pray!

Ether chapter 2 verse 12 reads, “...whatsoever nation shall possess [this land] shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, ...if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ…”

“It is imperative that our people be in tune with the supreme leader of freedom, the Lord our God. ...Apart from God we cannot succeed, but as a partner with God, we cannot fail.”  That was from Ezra Taft Benson.  

Heavenly Father built up this land for His purposes.  Those who were led here by Him are here for a reason.  Our country is so very important.  Our duty is to keep it on the right path, for any nation will go astray if God is not leading it.

But how do we do that?  How do we make the entire country follow God?  It is so easy for us as individuals to forget Him.  There is no way to make 318.9 million people be truly faithful to Him.

That is true.  But we can be an influence, make a difference, get the ball rolling.  It is our responsibility to make sure we follow God.  Ezra Taft Benson said that “[t]he home is the rock foundation, the cornerstone of civilization.  No nation will ever rise above its homes.”  Our duty to our country is to be the foundation of testimony that will support our nation and keep it focused on God.

The Founding Fathers were righteous, inspired men who created a perfect system of government for this chosen land.  When the Constitution in its correct state is faithfully applied, there is no flaw.  But men have changed it.  Stretched it, cut it.  The original Balance of Powers has been severely and fatally thrown off.  Something must be done about it.  But nothing can be done by ignorant people.  Our duty to our country is to educate ourselves in such matters.  Those in power know.  That is why they are the leaders.  But these conspiring men will lead us far astray if we do not come to know ourselves and right the wrongs that have been brought upon this blessed land.

We believe in the principles that will support a righteous nation, do we not?  But as Ezra Taft Benson said, “[a] man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must also fight for them.”

It is not enough to believe in certain things, or even pray for them.  We must do something.  “Faith without works is dead.”  We cannot say that we believe that God knows what is best and is able to bring about His purposes.  We must act as His hands and do what we know to be right.  We must trust in God, not to do everything Himself, but to lead us to do what He needs us to do.  It is our duty to our country.  Our duty obligates us to do all that is within our power to keep this nation on the right path.  We cannot be truly free if we are not following God.

The world today says that the laws and commandments restrict us.  Bind us down.  The world says that we are not “free” if we are following someone else’s rules.  But the truth is that this life is a maze.  God knows the way through, and if we choose to follow Him, we will make it.  If we choose to go our own way, to go in the direction we want to go, we will eventually find ourselves staring at a blank wall that marks a depressing dead end.

Our country is heading straight for that end.  Sometimes it seems that we are already there, looking at that forbidding wall, and nothing could possibly get worse, but as long as there is good in the world, it can get worse.  And as long as there is good in the world, and there always will be, there is something worth fighting for.  Our duty to our country is to join that fight.  There is something we all can do, no matter our political stance.  Those of us of age to vote can work to put in office those who will promote the right things.  Those of us who are younger can educate ourselves now so that we can be a positive influence in our country in the future.  We know what is right, and we of all ages can help others gain the same knowledge.

Our country is not hopeless as long as God is at the head.  He built up this country.  He will guide it if we will allow Him.  He will show us the way, for He is the way.

Carl the Caterpillar

Carl the Caterpillar

Lives on the ground.

He has fun all day

While he wiggles around.

He has many friends

Who like him a lot,

But Carl’s on happy

With the stuff that he’s got.

There on the ground

Carl has all he needs.

But he thinks what he wants

Is the stuff that he sees.

He watches the others

Who live around him.

They slither, they crawl,

They climb, and they swim.

Those creatures are good,

Even great, in his eyes,

But he thinks that the best

Are those in the skies.

He envies the birds

As they speed through the sky,

But he’s green from the wish

To become a butterfly.

The butterflies fly;

They flutter and flit.

But all Carl can do

Is just watch while he sits.

‘Cause that’s all he can do:

Just sit there alone.

At the end of the day,

He just wiggles back home.

That’s all Carl thinks about.

Just why couldn’t he fly?

If he knew how to do it,

He might give it a try.

So Carl starts working.

He works night and day.

He asks questions. Does research.

He must find a way.

Just wishing helps no one.

Hard work must come, too.

If you persevere

And work hard, you’ll come through.

And so, Carls toils.

He works hard and long.

He says, “I can do it!”

With his confidence strong.

He now has the knowledge.

It’s time for the test.

He’s never done it before,

But he’ll try his best.

He follows advice

That’s been given to him.

He relies on that wisdom

Through thick and through thin.

It’s been 10 long days.

Preparations complete,

Carl emerges

On 6 brand-new feet.

Holding in eager breath,

Carl tries out his wings.

They’re perfect! Amazing!

Of all beautiful things!

Carl is happy.

He’s up flying free.

His hard work paid off;

He’s the best he can be.

There’s much to be learned

From this story I’ve told.

Some thought and hard work

Are worth much more than gold!

Don’t sit around moping.

Envy won’t pay.

Get up! Help yourself!

Then you’ll find a way.

Always remember--

Hard work is the key.

The work we put in

Is what makes you and me.

Handprints in Concrete

This was posted on Inspiration Lamp Post on Monday.  I hope you take a look at the website!  They have some great programs that you can look at by clicking the link at the top of the page.

It was hot, the boys were sweaty, but it was done.  We now had a new door leading to the basement.  Right in front of it, they had just set a flat slab of wet concrete in preparation for the steps we would soon put in.  We proudly lined up, all 11 of us, to make a handprint and write our name next to it.  Then laughing, we ran to the hose to wash off the wet cement before it dried.

That was the summer of 2014.  Now, if we were to go and look, we would still be able to clearly see the prints we put there two years ago.  And as long as the concrete stays there, our marks will always be there.

A little over 200 years ago, in 1809, a little boy was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky.  As the boy grew up just like any other little boy would, there didn’t seem to be anything particularly special about him.  And yet, after years of hard work on his part, he became the 16th president of the United States and one of the most famous.  Abe Lincoln’s mark on history will never be forgotten.

Growing up, Abraham Lincoln loved books.  He read them all the time, even while performing other tasks.  Education was top on his priority list, and that’s what he spent his time on.  As he got older, he began working hard.  He threw his heart and soul into everything he did, and he made sure what he was doing was the best thing.  Though his family was not wealthy and couldn’t provide major opportunities for him, Lincoln worked on building his own mind and body.  By the time he was elected President in 1860, he was full of experience, wisdom, and knowledge.  He was the right man to lead our country through one of the hardest times in its history, not because of fortunate upbringing or “fate”, but because he had chosen to immerse himself in the best things he could.  He didn’t waste his time on things that didn’t benefit him.  The effort he put in made who he was, and he was great.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a man’s influence swept across British India and inspired the world.  But Mahatma Gandhi had not always been the powerful, peaceful man he is known to be.  It took years of painful trial, mistakes, and great challenges before he decided to change, but that change altered the world.  The great effect he brought on many people has never faded, and men and women alike will continue to look to his example forever.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a shy child, afraid of everything.  He didn’t do well in school.  He was married at age thirteen, barely graduated from high school not long after that, and failed in college.  His marriage was rough, and he seemed to have no hope for a bright future.  He didn’t succeed at becoming a lawyer in London, but it was there that he found himself.  Nothing made him change: he exerted his power of choice and took a step back.  He admitted what he was doing wrong.  He recognized the examples and sacrifices of others.  He decided to change.  What a change that was!  Some would say his nature was altered, but I believe he simply discovered his true nature.  But whatever happened, it had a great impact.  His life was never the same, and it changed the lives of countless others.  And it was all because he took control and made a choice.

What do Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, and handprints in concrete have in common?  None of them will ever fade.

Let’s say I’m walking along the side of the road and come across a muddy spot.  If I press my hand into the mud, will the mark last?  No.  Even if it dried untouched, it would eventually fade or become wet again, and probably wouldn’t be there a week or two later.

Now let’s say I’m walking down the road and I come to where they’re laying a new sidewalk.  If I press my hand into this, will the print stay?  Yes, and it will be there until the sidewalk no longer exists.  

Likewise, when you’re travelling the road of life, you have two options: spending your time on things that won’t last, or making a mark that will permanently change the world.

When you’re on this great Road of Life, you may be looking at the aforesaid two options and not even know it.  I’m sure all of us have made plenty of handprints in mud.  There might be a few of us who have made some prints in concrete already, who knows?  Some of us may have passed over the wet concrete, deliberately or without knowing.  Still more of us may feel forced to make a handprint against our will.  Whatever the circumstance, one thing will never change.  That thing is your own power to choose.

Like Abraham Lincoln, we can choose to spend our time on the things that will truly benefit us.  We can focus our willpower on building our minds and bodies in order to better perform our mission.  Like Gandhi, we don’t have to let our circumstances or our past decide who we will become.  We can take hold of our lives and choose to make a difference.

The names of Lincoln and Gandhi were not well known when they were younger.  Most other famous, historic people were not born that way.  Their choices are what made them great.

Making a handprint in concrete doesn’t have to mean changing the entire world or spreading your name across the globe.  It could be making a profound impact on someone’s life.  Being a good example for someone else can change their life forever, and they will never forget you.  You are capable of making a permanent mark on this world, no matter the size.  It may not be your lot to be famous.  But then again, that could be your mission on Earth.

No matter your purpose, you are meant to make a difference in some way.  When you work to focus solely on the best things, the things that build and teach you, you will be led to fulfill your mission.

Somewhere out there, a square of wet concrete is waiting for you.  You may even be able to see it.  Do all you can to work toward it.  Someday someone will look back with gratitude and admiration on your handprint in the concrete.

Don't Ever Forget

      Here in this life on this earth, we have a veil.  There are so many spiritual and eternal things that we can't see or understand.  It's so easy to forget.
     
      I forgot.  I looked away from my eternal goal.  Because I wasn't focused on God, my path no longer pointed toward Him.  I strayed, and found myself stuck and alone.  The things that had taken me away from God had turned on me, and I was constantly being tortured by regrets, bad feelings, and lies.  Darkness had crept up.  And all I could think was that I had failed.  That I wasn't good enough.  That I wasn't living up to what was expected of me.  And there was no point in trying to get back.
      I started doing things I had promised myself I would never do.  I gave in to things I never thought I would be tempted to give in to.  I almost turned into someone completely different.  I've always been a happy person, but rarely was there a smile on my face.  And if there was, it faded all too quickly.  People noticed that something was wrong, and stopped enjoying my company.  If someone asked if I was okay, I would just shrug it off and leave.  I wanted to stop feeling like I did, but I wasn't willing to accept help or do what it took to get out of this hole I had stepped into.
      It got really bad.  I couldn't bring myself to go anywhere.  I cried all the time and was angry and irritated constantly.  I insulted my family and verbally hurt my mom, who is my greatest hero.  There was one day when I couldn't eat, couldn't stop crying.  I skipped voice lessons and left my house.  I walked to a nearby park, and walk around and back and forth, sobbing, for three hours.  I wasn't planning on going home anytime soon.  Then suddenly it all went away.  I stopped hurting.  I wasn't happy, but I wasn't hopeless either.  I walked home right away.
      The next day, I went to to the temple.  I hadn't been in so long, and the familiarity and love of the place was a great relief and comfort.  Near the end of my time there, a great clarity was brought to my mind.  I suddenly knew.  It was as if someone had been speaking in a different language, but had changed to the language I understood.  "You're not looking in the right place.  You're focused on the wrong things."  Then I remembered.  I remembered the times when I had felt the love of Heavenly Father so strongly I couldn't contain it.  I remembered when I had been healed by His power.  I remembered how strong my relationship with Jesus Christ was.  I couldn't imagine how I had been persuaded to stray from those things.  The things that mattered and affected me most.
       I'm not going to tell you that everything was rainbows and sunshine from there, because it wasn't.  It didn't get better right away.  And you know what?  Sometimes it gets really hard to believe that it will ever get better.  But I'm starting to come back to life.

      There was one time, a couple of years ago, when I was very sick.  There was nothing any doctor could do.  No explanation or solution.  But one day I prayed harder than ever I had before, and suddenly my pain was gone.  But not all trials end that way.  We won't always be instantly healed.  But God will always heal us when we are willing to let Him.  He is always there, even when we can't see Him.  Jesus Christ loves us more than we can possibly imagine.  We are capable of feeling so much love, and yet we can't even fathom the amount of love that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father have for us.  And it is always there.
      Don't forget.  Don't ever forget.  Because God is there, and always will be.  He will guide us in every step of our journey.  His hand is always available for us to hold on to.  Don't you ever forget.