D&C 18:10-11 #2

Sonnet 789 D&C 18:10-11 #2

To know the value of most any thing
A guess, a wish, or hope will not suffice
And even an appraisal has a swing
So great it only sets an asking price.

And tougher yet to cost out souls on earth
No catalogue of these is found in play
And so, as with the things, the person's worth
Is only set by how much one will pay.

But here a final price point has been set
A payment that is infinite and firm
Retirement of all of mankind's debt
Atonement made completely and full term.

There is no pain, no loss, no fault or sin
That Christ cannot redeem.  Just come to Him.

D&C 18:10-11

D&C 18:10-11
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

Sonnet 788 D&C 18:10-11

The Scottish poet begs to have the gift
To see ourselves as others see us too
And while that might provide a social lift
Far better to see me as God sees you.

The issue here is clarity of sight
Of recognizing value where it lies
In overcoming tendency to slight
The value seen so clearly by God's eyes.

And even when we see the worth of souls
We later on forget just what we've seen
Confused by all our lesser mortal goals
Forgetting who we are and where we've been.

To help remember, singing's what I do
“I Am a Child of God”. And so are you.

D&C 13:1 #3

Sonnet 787 D&C 13:1 #3

Moroni held the keys to prove the cause
And so he laid the word at Joseph's door
A gift that put an end to the long pause
According to all prophesy before.

And so as Joseph had the proof in hand
The power next conferred upon his head
As angels came as needed to expand
The keys to govern how this work would spread.

These visits from iconic ancient men
Elijah, Moses, Michael, Peter too
And James and Johns and Gabriel and then
Some other angels that we never knew.

So with the word, the power and the keys
The Gospel now restored will spread with ease.

D&C 13:1 #2

Sonnet 786 D&C 13:1 #2

The order and the genius of these rights
That give a place of service to the young
Preparing for the necessary heights
Allowing upward progress rung by rung.

This priesthood is important needed power
And every holder ought to comprehend
Though higher office should begin to flower
He's still a deacon to the very end.

It can't be small to hold the angel's keys
To minister to basic needs of men
To turn them from uncaring to their knees
Ensuring that the sinner's born again.

I hope, for me, these duties never wain
Just cause the sons of Levi come again.

D&C 13:1

D&C 13:1
1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

Sonnet 785: D&C 13:1

Imagine if you will the thrill of this
Of John the Baptist calling you by name
And if, in such a moment of pure bliss
“My fellow servant” did he too exclaim.

My habit, with a similar address
Is to begin with “We your brethren lay
Our hands upon your head”  to lift and bless
And keys, a call or comfort thus convey.

The fellowship of saints is first and last
The unity and love and friendship must
In deed and every word be kindly passed
Acknowledging the order of the just.

And even here between the dispensations
Some words to show the parity of stations.

D&C 10:5 #2

Sonnet 784 D&C 10:5 #2

I testify of music as a prayer
The holiness of melody that's strong
The remedy for darkness or despair
I praise the healing and the gift of song.

I sing of earth and heaven and of life
I cast out fear with lovely lullabies
I charge the battle front with drum and fife
And every song's a prayer, a sign, a prize.

I join the chorus in triumphant airs
Or make a joyful noise within my heart
Delighting in my choice of tuneful prayers
I worship with my voice as blessed art.

And this is how I conquer Satan's force
With happy sacred music as my course.

D&C 10:5

D&C 10:5
 5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

Sonnet 783 D&C 10:5

Those grasping hands of demon devotees
Commanded by a devil without heart
Can be defeated if you make your knees
The place on which your days will end and start.

And praying is a shield and weapon too
Against the evil forces of the day
For nothing has a chance to conquer you
If you will make the time to always pray.

You cannot pray a lie.  As Huck would say
And so the truth will fortify the saint
And set you free as Christ explained the way
That we ought always pray and not to faint.

Since how to conquer is so clearly said
You wonder why the losing's so widespread?

D&C 8:2-3 #3

Sonnet 782 D&C 8:2-3 #3

In every life there's moments of despair
When enemies assail and close the way
When hardship becomes more than you can bear
And all seems lost and hope is in decay.

And backed up to the water of the sea
Was Moses and his people in retreat
And seeing that they could not fight or flee
They agonized and murmured in defeat.

But Moses had this special power to save
The gift of revelation from the Lord
To see a way to pass through any wave
A Word much stronger than the strongest sword.

So when in seas of trouble you seem drowned
The Spirit's there to help you find dry ground.

D&C 8:2-3 #2

Sonnet 781 D&C 8:2-3 #2

There is a battle royal in your chest
Of forces which would dwell within your heart
And that which you would want to nourish best
Will have the chance to occupy that part.

You furnish and equip that dwelling spot
According as your choices have matured
By your profane or by your holy thought
The comfort of your tenant is assured.

So think about your life in just this way -
What sort of guest does my heart best accord
Is what I think and say and do each day
Inviting to the devil – or the Lord?

And is it time to renovate your suite
And build a much more spiritual retreat?

D&C 8:2-3

D&C 8:2-3
 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

Sonnet 780 D&C 8:2-3

If you can Skype a cousin in L.A.
Or phone or Facetime someone further still
If you can click and speed along its way
A message of intention or good will.

If you can play on-line what's all the rage
Or tweet your every move throughout the day
And make and keep a friendly Facebook page
Or buy and play a song the iTunes way.

If you can feel the music of a Bach
Or ponder on the life of Socrates
Or sculpt a figure from a marble block
Or taste the miracle that comes from bees.

All this without much knowing on your part
Then why can't God speak to your mind and heart?

D&C 6:36 #3

Sonnet 779 D&C 6:36 #3

You may protest that such a bold command
As that to tell you not to fear or doubt
Defies the normal way we understand
That feelings such as these can turn about.

We tend to think we're powerless to change
The course of unbelief or faith or love
That fate or circumstances will arrange
And we the victims more or less thereof.

But if the Lord commands us to believe
And tells us not to fear or faint or doubt
Then clearly that's a thread that we can weave
An outcome in our pow'r to bring about.

And in this verse the pattern is explained
Control your thoughts and faith will be sustained.

D&C 6:36 #2

Sonnet 778 D&C 6:36 #2

Some people train a horse with seeming ease
Or show old dogs the workings of new tricks
A few can even teach a cat to please
Or make a circus out of fleas and ticks.

And others, well they like to train their hair
Or build their bodies into muscle shows
They do it with astounding time and care
And why they do it no one really knows.

But did you ever think to train your thoughts
To make them servant to your needs and wants
Not letting them run loose or tie in knots
Or settle in their own unhealthy haunts?

We're told to look to God in every thought
I think about that challenge quite a lot.

D&C 6:36

D&C 6:36
 36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Sonnet 777 D&C 6:36

I'm not sure how this works if one is blind
But for the sighted, something one should know
The looker, in the end, is sure to find
That where he looks is where he tends to go.

Of course this can be good or bad for him
Depending on the focus of his sight
An evil seeker's future will be grim
A righteous looker's prospects will be bright.

And there is much distraction out there too
Carcinogens dress up to look benign
The competition for your point of view
Began as soon as earth was in design.

So watch the things you watch my sighted friend
Remember, where you look is where you'll end.

D&C 1:37-38 #3

Sonnet 776 D&C 1:37-38 #3

The precious word of God. Eternal! True!
Restoring all the ways ordained at first
Outlasting earth and heaven, and yet new
An everlasting covenant now versed.

Declaring boldly that the prophets' tongue
Is equal and a proxy for His own
The unison of God and prophet sung
Identical in meaning and in tone.

If you would keep the first and great command
To love your God with all your heart and might
You must apply your mind to understand
His Word and make its practice your delight.

And never without casting out the King
Can you discount the words His servants bring.

D&C 1:37-38 #2

Sonnet 776 D&C 1:37-38 #2

Oh yes, the hunt is on. The search for truth
For wisdom of the open public kind
And mysteries demanding more the sleuth
The plain and precious and the hard to find.

And here's the promised place to win that search
A guarantee of finding all your needs
The scripture that designed the Savior's Church
A guiding light for anyone that reads.

So hardly could you find a better place
In which to search for clues for living right
This latter-day description of His grace
The modern Way of Truth and Life and Light.

These true and faithful covenants for you
And doctrine, promises, commandments too.

D&C 1:37-38

Doctrine and Covenants

D&C 1:37-38
37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

Sonnet 775 D&C 1:37-38

I give my cheers of gratitude and love
A grand Hurrah! And happy hoot Hooray!
Then Hallelujah! To my God above
Hosanna! For this restoration day.

My shout is meant to come from deep within
And spread, I hope, across the universe
The message of respite from death and sin
Commandments overcoming Satan's curse.

And ordinances and the promised law
And prophesies and blessings and the word
Chastisement mixed with wisdom without flaw
The doctrine by its covenants conferred.

Hosanna! For this book of prophesy
And Hallelujah from a bended knee!

Revelation 20:12

Revelation 20:12
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Sonnet 774 Revelation 20:12

What's with this opened book of life I see
The one for works both well or poorly done
How can it miss the most and best of me
My list of good intentions one by one.

So many good things that I meant to do
Should count for something on the judgment day
My heart was pure, my thinking oh so true
My wants and wishes ever on display.

And I was always generous to a fault
In noticing the pressing needs of men
I should not be denied my place exalt
Because I could not make some time for them.

I do not think a judgment is ideal
That seems to favour those whose works are real.

1 Peter 4:6

1 Peter 4:6
 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Sonnet 773 1 Peter 4:6

Each year the teaching pool among the dead
Is raised by 50 million more or so
The volume of the task, it must be said
Ensures the work will be there when you go.

And even down on earth the count goes up
As birthing beats the dying day by day
And so that work too overflows its cup
You're needed in a missionary way.

So preaching to the living and the dead
Amounts to quite a job, I have to say
And clearly we won't ever get ahead
Until that bright millennial array.

And since there's so much of this work to do
How wonderful it's joyful, through and through.

James 2:17-18

James 2:17-18
 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Sonnet 772 James 2:17-18

The argument continues even now
On one side,  “born again” and “saved by grace”
And on the other “work” and  “hand to plough”
And each will find some writ to make their case.

It's true, of course, that Christ has done it all
That no one earns salvation on his own
And nothing else releases from the fall
That each must bow, in faith, before His throne.

And yet the sheep and goats are sorted plain
By what they do for others and their Lord
And sermons and His parables explain
That one must give of all he can afford.

Without both faith and works, your faith is dead.
That should have put the argument to bed.

James 1:5-6

James 1:5-6
 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Sonnet 771 James 1:5-6

The answers are no problem. They come fine
For giving wisdom liberally's the task
That marks the mission of the great Divine
But what we have to do, in faith, is ask.

And every honest convert knows the drill
To offer earnest prayer as Joseph did
And finds when “nothing wavering” the thrill
That warm embracing answer to his bid.

And children raised where Joseph's story's taught
May be believing all throughout their youth
But such a faithful childhood comes to nought
Unless they make their own request for truth.

If you still lack the wisdom that you need
Go ask in faith. An answer's guaranteed.

Hebrews 12:9

Hebrews 12:9
 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Sonnet 770 Hebrews 12:9

If reverence is hard for you to take
And being subject makes you ill at ease
Or if correction of a clear mistake
Is worse to you than any dread disease.

If you're with those who say they'd rather die
Than be subjected to parental will
Well that's a rule to which you will comply
As such a death-wish does the law fulfill.

Obedience means life or death to man
You choose to live when choosing to obey
And sadly in the vast eternal plan
The disobedient don't go that way.

It's up to you, but this advice I give
Be subject to the Father's will... and live.

2 Timothy 3:15-17

2 Timothy 3:15-17
 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Sonnet 769 2 Timothy 3:15-17

If Twitterland and Instant Messageville
Is where you live each minute of the day
With brevity, the all consuming skill
Is that enough to help you on your way?

Or maybe you have earbuds locked in place
With lists of songs you simply have to play
So melody and rhythm fill your space
Is that enough to help you on your way?

But if you make a quiet time for God
A time to read from scripture every day
To be corrected, taught and even awed
Is that enough to help you on your way?

The wisdom of your Maker, I would say
Can't be discovered any better way.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Sonnet 759 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

The prophet Paul saw better far ahead
Than most of men today see looking back
He understood the weaving of the thread
That signals heaven's angle of attack.

There is a detailed plan of all these days
The seasons and the centuries defined
The dispensations, ages and delays
All organized, predicted and aligned.

And so of course the time we call our own
This final restoration of all things
These latter-days were wisely, kindly shown
In prophesies declared on angel's wings.

And so we see foretold, revealed and planned
The day of Christ's return is close at hand.

Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13
 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Sonnet 758 Philippians 4:13

For better or for worse, in thick or thin
In good times or in bad, or sink or swim
Like Sister Wirthlin, Paul says with a grin
That “Come what may and love it” works for him.

And this is not a boast of Paul's own strength
But rather an expression of delight
That he could take life's blows to any length
Through Christ who saves at any depth or height.

And all the weak and weary can abound
And all the high and mighty be abased
Through Christ they all can happily be found
United in a strength by heaven graced.

Whatever is your circumstance or test
When you endure through Christ you'll come out best.

Ephesians 4:11-14

Ephesians 4:11-14
 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Sonnet 757 Ephesians 4:11-14

The officers are there to steer you right
To brace you from those winds that push and pull
They keep you from the cunning and the sleight
Protecting you from wolves in clothes of wool.

Your bishop and your president of stake
The prophet and the other brethren there
Will mark the safest path without mistake
Give them your faith and confidence and prayer.

The member who will love his leaders well
Is grateful for the the things that they advise
And will not criticize God's personnel
Is safest from deceit and crafty lies.

Perfecting of the saints is the design
And that can't happen when they're out of line.

Galations 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Sonnet 756 Galations 5:22-23

The harvest of the Spirit in your days
Is love and joy and peace and patience too
And gentleness and goodness in your ways
To make a faithful, meek and temperate you.

While yielding to the flesh throughout your life
Will drive away the Spirit and replace
All love and joy with wickedness and strife
Long suffering and meekness with disgrace.

There is a constant battle for your soul
Between the Spirit and the lusts of man
And fruits of goodness ought to be your goal
So here's a wise and certain harvest plan.

Whatever kind of fruit you want to grow
Is governed by the seeds you choose to sow.

1 Cprinthians 15:40-42

1 Corinthians 15:40-42
 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Sonnet 755 1 Corinthians 15:40-42

It's snowing as I read this verse today
The sun, the moon, the stars..., seem out of reach
And glory seems so very far away
I'm asking, “What does stormy weather teach?”

These clouds will test my faith, it seems to me
And fog will clog the memory of light
And even wind distracts so I don't see
The heavens as they are, though still in sight.

The thing is that I must, on cloudy days
Remind myself of what I really know
The sun, the moon, the stars..., those glory ways
Are waiting there for me beyond the snow.

And when I keep my faith through stormy days
My resurrected glory's bound to raise.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

1 Corinthians 15:20-22
 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Sonnet 754 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

The logic of the resurrection plan
Is flawless as it weaves between the roles
Of God and Christ and Adam and of man
But logic doesn't capture hearts and souls.

It's Handel wrote the music to this song
And legions sing and listen to its airs
It's time, my friend, for you to sing along
To testify to what the writ declares.

For “Since by Man Came Death” is what it's called
“MESSIAH” Forty Six in Handel's book
A piece by which you will be so enthralled
I beg, I urge, I promise, “Have a look!”

And learn to feel, to shout, to sing, to cry
“In Christ shall all be made alive!” that die.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 #2

Sonnet 753 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 #2

And then there is that “body beautiful”
The worshipping of tans or abs or hair
The tender care of every cuticle
And so much of ado with “what to wear”.

And some will body-build or run for hours
Or cleanse and fast or gorge and purge and such
They focus all their time and all their powers
On sculpting or renewing over much.

Some other out of balance some will choose
Neglect, abuse, or sloven carelessness
Or mutilating piercings or tattoos
A bad attempt at metamorphosis.

Your body is a temple, fair or plain
But temple worship's something else again.

Malachi 4:5-6 #3

Sonnet 752 Malachi 4:5-6 #3

Elijah came to Kirtland with the keys
And things began to change across the earth
Societies for genealogies
At last and first were wisely given birth.

Elijah came to Kirtland with the keys
And angels of assistance were unleashed
And spirits in a sort of long deep freeze
Could hope and know they now could be released.

Elijah came to Kirtland with the keys
And you still have the choice. “What to do?”
But if you choose to turn your heart to these
Your Fathers' will, in turn, be turned to you.

Elijah came to Kirtland with keys
And brought a curse of darkness to its knees.

Malachi 4:5-6 #2

Sonnet 750 Malachi 4:5-6 #2

Could simple curiosity explain
This yearning to complete my family tree
To fill in all the links that make the chain
Of life that led, at last, to little me?

These mysteries and challenges pertain
To wrack me with this awful need to know
What is it that I hope to find or gain
Why is it that I work this puzzle so?

There's more than just the finding, I declare
There's something so exquisite with this pain
It's how my heart has softened through this care
A gift of love I almost can't contain.

For as I search and widen out my scope
Somehow my loss is overcome by hope.