Alma 32:21

Alma 32:21
 21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

Sonnet 723 Alma 32:21

Some people put their faith in Powerball
Or Lotto 649 or slots or cards
While others can't resist a sirens call
Their virtue sold in hope of cheap rewards.

Still others hope that work will work for them
They toil and they moil and they dig
They hope to find in daily grind their gem
Through bank accounts and houses that are big.

And some require approval of the crowd
Or look for drugs or booze to bring their joys
Or stake their faith and hopes in being proud
Ironically embracing what destroys.

We show our hope and faith by what we do
The trick is to have faith in what is true.

Alma 7:11-13

Sonnet 722 Alma 7:11-13 (#2)

Remember in that board game played with dice
That when in jail you have to roll this way
A seven or eleven or a twice
To move beyond the prison of the day.

So think of that whenever in a bind
The double could be Alma one and two
Then seven and eleven bring to mind
So this citation sticks in mind for you.

Remember. Oh remember as you must
The ways atoning sacrifice can save
Don't ever be forgetful of its thrust
Much more than just redemption and the grave.

Bring all your sickness, sadness and your pains
And Christ will also loose you from those chains.

Alma 7:11-13

Alma 7:11-13
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Sonnet 721 Alma 7:11-13

The things we're powerless alone to win
We classify as deficits this way
First there's the awful awkwardness of sin
Then death and lastly sickness and dismay.

These three the consequences of the fall
Inflicted as afflictions for a cause
To turn us to the Savior of us all
As we embrace His mercy and His laws.

Atoning for the painful path of sin
Arising from the grasping grip of death
And lifting life's extremities therein
The Savior beckons us with every breath.

Our freedom and this absence and our pain
Were all planned out for our eternal gain.

Mosiah 4:30

Mosiah 4:30
But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

Sonnet 495 Reflections on Mosiah 4:30

Some principles have proxies in the writ
Alternative or stand-in words that point
To something more important than the bit
Of meaning that the words themselves anoint.

To show it, here’s a test you ought to try
Replace a word with something else and see
If meanings are unlocked when you apply
The proxy to the passage as a key.

Now where you read “remember” say “repent”
Then think if that expands the verse’s aim
And next, see if it adds to what is meant
If you give “watch yourselves” the same new name.

First principles are rife with proxy friends
The scripture student’s magnifying lens.

Mosiah 3:19

Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and
becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Sonnet 493 Mosiah 3:19

Who wants the artificial anymore?
Promotions of what’s natural are bold
Just look around in any grocery store
It’s natural that cries out to be sold.

And in our “feels good” value sort of way
We laud the basest instincts of the man
No talk of rising up above that fray
We hunker down, accepting any plan.

But God would have us reach a new plateau
Not artificial, but more real by far
Put off the ordinary and the low
And climb above your nature, to a star.

And how to climb is irony supreme
Put on his easy yoke and find your dream.

Mosiah 2:17

Mosiah 2:17
 17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

Sonnet 720 Mosiah 2:17

There is no better tonic for your health
No better medicine or drug or cure
It's better than the benefits of wealth
It's sanctifying strengthening and pure.

There is no smarter way to carry on
No plan of life that beats or matches it
No building up of muscles or of brawn
That gives a fraction of its benefit.

And it's a constant source of love and joy
The happiness and kindness that it brings
The banishment of things that might annoy
Without it nothing smiles, delights or sings.

Through selfless service of  your fellow man
You take an honoured place in heaven's plan.

2 Nephi 32:8-9

2 Nephi 32:8-9
 8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
 9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

Sonnet 719 2 Nephi 32:8-9

The devil doesn't love or even care
He doesn't wish you happiness or well
His misery is all he wants to share
Well, that and all the wretchedness in hell.

But God declares and demonstrates His love
His mission is to give eternal life
To qualify you for a home above.
And lift you up to joy and out of strife.

And all you have to do is make a choice
Expressed perhaps in this the simplest way
By giving an affirmatory voice
In answer to the question - Will you pray?

And if your answer's no, or even faint
You set yourself a course of sure complaint.

2 Nephi 32:3

2 Nephi 32:3
 3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

Sonnet 718 2 Nephi 32:3

You don't need special guidance to be good
The path of gospel living's easy found
There isn't much to be misunderstood
Just do what's right and never mess around.

But you have something greater to become
There's valiant epic missions to be mined
And heights and depths of sacrifice to plumb
Potential that you need to search and find.

For that you have to feast, to fast, to pray
To study and to listen and in fact
To ponder and to hearken and obey
And as you see your way, you need to act.

Imagine how much can be made of you
If Christ has told you all things you should do.

2 Nephi 31:10-20

2 Nephi 31:19-20
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Sonnet 717 2 Nephi 31:10-20

From time to time we feel the Spirit's touch
And get enthused about the holy writ
We read, we ponder, and make notes and such
But other times, I guess, we just forget.

And sometimes we are full of honest hope
We see the light and joyfully submit
We pray, we serve, we have eternal scope
But other times, I guess, we just forget.

And sometimes we have love for God and man
Our hearts with everyone seem firmly knit
We give, we share, we do more than we can
But other times, I guess, we just forget.

We have to make remembering a trend
That's what we call enduring to the end.

2 Nephi 28:7-9

2 Nephi 28:7-9
7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
 8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

Sonnet 716 2 Nephi 28:7-9

Instead of overeating we might fast
Instead of drinking we should turn to prayer
And making merry isn't going to last
Obedience should be our first affair.

Remember we were set apart for more
For higher things than “party all the time”
We need to be a comfort to the poor
And nothing ever justifies a crime.

Don't buy the line that we can mess up now
Just have our fun and later see the light
Sow wild oats and then repent somehow
Such doctrine is the darkest of the night.

The purpose of this life is to prepare
Not party til you're caught in Satan's snare.

2 Nephi 25: 23, 26 (#2)

Sonnet 715 2 Nephi 25: 23, 26 (#2)

Those little listening ears can hear it all

They're learning, leaning, sifting what we say

And even as they're testing out their crawl

Absorbing verbal clues is child's play.

And what do these, our infants, hear from us?

Complaints? Concerns? Corrections? All our cares?

Or prattle, gossip, idle talk and fuss?

Our focus will most likely become theirs.

And what do we record for future eyes

What will our great great grandkids find of use

If they explore our blog or journal tries

Will they find mostly just our daily blues?

But those who often write and speak of Christ

Deliver pearls of wisdom greatly priced.

2 Nephi 25:23,26

2 Nephi 25:23,26
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Sonnet 506  2 Nephi 25: 23, 26

We sometimes play a game of hide and seek
Or scavenge hunt for objects just for fun
Or share the secrets of Nimrod’s technique
In deer camp while we polish up our gun.

Also we tease our children to pursue
Things lost. To learn the joy of what’s found.
And have the faith and confidence anew
To search for truth where counterfeits abound.

But do not be deceived or fail to note
Your child will sometime feel he’s lost… depressed
His sin will bring eternal loss of hope
Unless he knows the source of peace and rest.

So if your children will avoid torment
They must be taught, by you, how to repent.

2 Nephi 9:28-29 (#2)

Sonnet 569 2 Nephi 9:28-29 (#2)

Unless they take a bearing from the sun
Or stars or even far off mounts or trees
Their balance being critically undone
The lost will simply circle in the breeze.

And while the fit and hardy make good time
And cover much more ground than those less trained
If they’re just turning circles on their climb
There’s nothing by this fitness to be gained.

However, much of good is magnified
When fitness and obedience collude
A prospect true but very seldom tried
Since vanity is bred by aptitude.

Remember if you want to stay on track
Keep counsel so you never circle back.

2 Nephi 9:28-29

2 Nephi 9:28-29
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels
of God.

Sonnet 568 2 Nephi 9:28-29

We hear of those who know of just enough
To to themselves and others danger bring
Or put another way, we sometimes bluff
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

But if a little can be bad, it seems
A lot of knowledge may be even worse
As such a learned person in their dreams
Is prone to bring upon themselves a curse.

They tend, in vanity to thus confuse
How wisdom differs from the learning curve
And end up caught up in the age old ruse
That they are smarter than the God they serve.

Thus giving counsel to the God of light
Is certain proof that someone’s not too bright.

2 Nephi 2:27

2 Nephi 2:27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all
things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to
choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men,
or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power
of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto
himself.

Sonnet 534 2 Nephi 2: 27

I take my table at this house of pain
And study such a menu as I can
The choices range from sacred to profane
To tempt the every appetite of man.

It all looks very good, at my first glance
But then I cast my eyes towards the price
Each item’s cost is shown in advance
Precise, clear-cut, exactly and concise.

To those who focus on the end result
The meal is chosen easily that’s best
No need to worry study or consult
Ignore the false descriptions, now undressed.

And so I order up, and catch my breath
I’ve chose between eternal life and death!

2 Nephi 2:25

2 Nephi 2:25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might
have joy.

Sonnet 532 2 Nephi 2:25

When Adam fell the devil danced with joy
His mission, so he thought, was on its way
And more than just to bother and annoy
He guessed he’d put all heaven in delay.

Yes he supposed he’d pile his misery
Unfettered upon Adam’s hapless sons
And watch them lose their hard won liberty
Like all his first estate devoted ones.

He should have understood, as others did,
That falling opened up the way for man
To come to earth and make a precious bid
To put in practice heaven’s happy plan.

So his was not a joy to last at all
Twas rather ours to be from Adam’s fall.

1 Nephi 3:7 (#2)

Sonnet 498 1 Nephi 3:7 (#2)

It can’t be fun to do as Nephi did
Oh sure we envy faith like his a lot
But we don’t line up for his type of bid
What he is selling isn’t often bought.

We buy instead the line that other’s sell
The one that says we have to think ahead
And only do what common sense will tell
Be safe, be sure, plan every step you tread.

All Nephi had to work with was his trust
Not knowing in advance the how or when
That God upon declaring what he must
Had done the preparation for his win.

Yeah, that can’t be much fun. And stressful too!
I’ll stick with doing things the way I do.

1 Nephi 3:7

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 3:7
 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Sonnet 357 1 Nephi 3:7

We speak of testimony from the start
Expressions of belief are shared in love
And simple faith from deep within the heart
Is poured out like the sunshine from above.

And then when pure belief is on display
I ask a simple question with a smile
"Will you accept a call?" is all I say
And quick there comes the answer without guile.

So many Nephis in the church today!
Who never think to murmur or protest
Who think of nothing else but to obey.
And answer "Yes!" before they hear the test.

I hope that I'm the sort, when called, who stands
And goes and does whatever God commands.

Malachi 4:5-6

Malachi 4:5-6
5 ¶Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Sonnet 714 Malachi 4:5-6

I did some temple work just yesterday
For people born four thousand years ago
And in my heart a moment of dismay
For why this work can be so very slow.

And later on I watched a fresh recruit
Her eyes filled up with kind and happy tears
Kneel silently and gather in the fruit
Of hearts now joined from independent spheres.

And then I thought of couples who that day
As proxies for the dead renewed their vows
There eyes and hearts and hands a grand display
Of blessings only such a place allows.

The temple is that turning point for me
Where my heart turns to where it ought to be.

Malachi 3:8-10 (#2)

Sonnet 713 Malachi 3:8-10 (#2)

It can't be wise to steal from God above
And punishment for such an awful thing
Though ministered in fairness and in love
Would have to be a fire and brimstone thing.

So I would sooner focus on the good
The promise to the payer of his tithes
Make sure I've well and fully understood
What God has said will be the payers prize.

So here's a little list of things I've heard
Insurance against  all the fires of hell
And blessings both abundant and preferred
Protection, peace and confidence as well.

And if God's window's open, well that's when
There is a better chance you might see in.

Malachi 3:8-10

Malachi 3:8-10
8 ¶Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Sonnet 712 Malachi 3:8-10

In law the punishment is extra strong
And earns another measure of disgust
If someone's theft or hurt or harm or wrong
Is classified in crimes as “breach of trust”.

That's when we  have the care and keeping of
Something for someone else in our affairs
And we betray their confidence and love
By taking for ourselves what's really theirs.

And most of us would understand this end
And never want to be among the cursed
Who cheat or hurt their very trusting friend
Those sorts we number as the very worst.

Yet everything we have is as a trust
And God asks only that we share a crust.

Amos 3:7

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Sonnet 515 Reflections on Amos 3:7

Who doesn’t love to learn of secret things
Like truthful treasures, valuable and rare
That’s why they market those decoder rings
To those who want both secrets and to share.

And peeping wizards too and magic men
Will make a claim to special powers of sight
By checking out your tea leaves now and then
Or gazing into certain stars by night.

Yet even if these sorceries were true
No value to the information found
Has ever been confirmed upon review
Such secrets being patently unsound.

But God reveals his secrets one by one
To prophets before anything is done.

Ezekiel 37:15-17

Ezekiel 37:15-17
 15 ¶The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

Sonnet 711 Ezekiel 37:15-17

A “quad” is pretty heavy, really thick
But you can lift and hold it with one hand
A modern version of Ezekiel's stick
Exactly as the Lord had said He planned.

This scripture is prophetic evidence
Of forethought and compassion and of love
A testimony of benevolence
That blesses down below from up above.

The Bible and Book of Mormon thus
In harmony and love and power too
Unite to offer this eternal plus
That God planned all of this for me and you.

But none of this will help or bless a lick
Unless you take the time to read the stick.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Sonnet 710 Jeremiah 1:4-5

When God calls anyone to do his best
At almost anything we do in church
That one is set apart and fully blessed
As he embarks upon his holy search.

And ancient prophets were, or so we're told
Ordained before they even came to earth
Thus called and their positions well foretold
In blessings given long before their birth.

And don't you think when your time came as well
When you were you but not yet born of man
But ready for a time on earth to dwell
That you were also ordained to a plan?

And that your greatest challenge is to find
And follow what your God thereby assigned.

Isaiah 58:13-14

Isaiah 58:13-14
 13 ¶If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Sonnet 709 Isaiah 58:13-14

What are the odds of winning Powerball
Or taking Bingo or Blackjack by storm?
What is the chance of being born real tall
Or being strong much more than just the norm?

Are you the lucky one who wins at cards
Or hits a homerun ball with simple ease?
Do you write sonnets better than the Bard's
Or can your charm bring scoffers to their knees?

It's things like this that happen to a few
Not everyone is blessed with luck like that
And almost never will it work for you
But there's a sure thing no one could lose at.

Just keep the sabbath holy through and through
And God will bless you more than luck could do.

Isaiah 58:6-7

Isaiah 58:6-7
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Sonnet 708 Isaiah 58:6-7

The root of all discipleship is this
To bridle all your passions with restraint
To discipline yourself and to dismiss
The urges that disqualify a saint.

And so to navigate from deadly sins
Like gluttony and greed and lust and wrath
And envy, sloth and pride a saint begins
By fasting as a tool to find the path.

And as you use this offering to share
Some bread, some shelter and some clothing too
This simple key unlocks the vault of prayer
And pours out heaven's blessings upon you.

This fasting is a win win thing for sure
You build yourself and also bless the poor.

Isaiah 53:3-5

Isaiah 53:3-5
 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 4 ¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Sonnet 513 Isaiah 53:3-5

Some words are deep and heavy, wise and strong
With meanings that add feelings to insight
That lift from common prose to lovely song
And generate a special truth and light.

“Grief” and “sorrow”, are such weighty terms
And “sticken”, “smitten” and “afflicted” too
And “bruised” and “wounded”, in a word, confirms
The sacrifice that was atonement’s due.

And for us words of equal weight and strength
As we are offered “peace” by what he did
And added to our peace we’re “healed” at length
Through his “chastisement” in this awful bid.

It’s a good deal for us, by any test
He bears our transgressions and we get blessed.

Isaiah 29:13-14

Isaiah 29:13-14
 13 ¶Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Sonnet 707 Isaiah 29:13-14

I would not dwell upon the reasons why
Or vanity of lips and mouths of men
Or darkness even of the noonday sky
To those whose hearts have lost what should have been.

Instead I marvel at what is restored
What wisdom, work and wonderment is come
This great and awesome undeserved reward
Of infinite from out a finite sum.

I revel in the revelations won
I marvel in the miracles attained
I tremble in the temples of the Son
I preach of prophets prayerfully sustained.

All this will end the wisdom of the wise
As Israel gathers to receive its Prize.

Isaiah 5:20

Isaiah 5:20

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Sonnet 706 Isaiah 5:20

Like toddlers out in traffic we cavort

In constant mortal danger unobserved
Our safety measures always falling short
Unless we take direction gladly served.

There's two great dangers blind us on the road
The first, that devil monster blowing smoke
Befuddlement his navigation mode
He wants to blind, to bind, and even choke.

But even worse, perhaps, is self defeat
The wilful blindness of the proud and vain
The child who thinks he's smart about the street
And holds all wise correction in disdain.

But God provides a wise and prudent way
For everyone who chooses to obey.

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Sonnet 705 Isaiah 1:18

The beauty and the poetry of this

The red and white and crimson and the wool

Togetherness as kind as any kiss

The scarlet and the reasoning with snow.

A message of eternal love and hope

An invitation reconciling sin

Atonement in its meaning and its scope

A melody to cancel all chagrin.

Come now, come now, come now. The plea

The parent pleading, promising and mild

Come now, don't wait, come now and be-

Come pure and clean, and mine, beloved child.

The sweetest kindest invitation yet

An everlasting life without regret.