On Days when the Sun doesn't seem to rise
all the day is dusk
it is easy to get discouraged
if we lose sight of our hope
when all seems lost
mount one last defense
go out with glory
gird your armor about you
raise your standard
sound your trumpet
Ride out!
And there on the east horizon
like the dawn
The White Rider
with legions of Angels
come to our aid
But first we must ride out
Today for lunch we were meeting with the lady in charge of the Pequot Lakes Food Shelf. She was telling us about how she has interviewed a lot of people about their needs and situations and how each situation is a set of unique and extraordinary circumstances. And then she told this story:
I talked with a homeless woman, her situation just broke my heart and I invited her to come to my house (which I don't do very often because I am not allowed to) and then I was called into the office for some reason and when I came back she was gone.
I worried about her and prayed for her every night. She came back about 6 months later and gave me a big hug. She said because I had shown her kindness, she had decided she could get a job. After searching for a while she found one, and then she started saving money and was finally able to find a place to rent and stop living in her truck.
What an amazing example of what President Monson meant when he counseled us to "Never let a problem to be solved be more important than the person to be loved."
D&C 121
Sorry, I'm writing this with kids literally sitting on my computer, because yelling at them to get off my lap so I can write about the principles of righteousness seems kind of self-defeating.
VS 34-36
35: heart set on the things of the world... honors of men
And I pause and ask myself why do I seek to grow this business?
and my answer is simple: I seek to grow it so I, and the other people in it, will not have to worry about magically finding money for retirement, kid's college, or health care, in many respects it is to secure those dignities for myself and my children that many other countries provide for their people. I do not have my eyes on prizes of riches, no fancy cars or houses, or even East Coast Colleges, but just enough not to have to worry about the budget every time we want to do something.
And another reason to grow it is because it will be an adventure.
Vs 36 though is what caused me to post. The concept that the principles of righteousness control the powers of heaven. Is that like the laws of physics to control m movement in this mortal existence? Then of course what are they? We probably know what they are, but just haven't classified them as such.
My guess would be charity, kindness, long suffering, purity.
let me ponder that a bit more
Will you abide in my covenant, or will you give?
at the slightest pressure?
a bagel on fast Sunday
When teased at school or questioned by a friend
what is religion good for anyways?
When I ask for more than you think you can give
time on a weeknight?
How about nap time on Sundays?
Raise another child?
Transform your home to be a place to teach the gospel? Hold Sacrament? Sew masks?
Maybe request money
All good? You are strong enough?
level up
persecutions
pollutions
Even unto death
Will you abide this covenant?
That is the name of the game
not wealth, not ease, not happiness or peace as the world giveth
by as I give you
Abide with me
in the covenate
Build a new world
The old one is passing away'
So our focus should not be on extending the life of the old, but the ushering in of the new
and that is what we should teach our kids, not how to live in the current world (unless that is what they are navigating, but that's just the adults) but the building of the new.
Shan should do geneology/indexing every day for schoolwork. Along with writing and math.
In D&C 88 there are verses depicting events before and after the second coming, then it details the resurrection. How are those of the first resurrection chosen? I think we will choose ourselves. At the first trump, those who are anxious to serve Christ will rise and show up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready to work in his kingdom, they will be so excited they won't even think about what it means about their rating or eternal salvation. They will do it because Christ called them.
The ones that wait for the second trump need more prodding. They are not as anxious but will do what is right if prodded enough.
Those who wait until the third trump are not anxious in the good way, but the bad, they know they don't want to serve, they know that their results will not be as cool as they could have been.
talking to the kids about how Covid is back to its winter glory, and they were asking "When will it end?"
I replied, according to my study in the D&C and NT this week "Probably not until Christ comes."
5-year-old pipes up "Christ is coming? Hurray!!"
Hurrah indeed, now to make sure we are standing in Holy Places to survive all the fun until then.
All this grey smoke seems quite apocalyptic to one who has never lived through or near a forest fire before. Add to that my knowledge of all the other stuff we humans of earth are putting each other through ... and I thought of apologizing to my son (who is just preparing to go off to college, studying meteorology) for bringing him into the world at this challenging time, some think the end of time, and then I rejected that idea:
He is here to do a job, he is uniquely suited to be what is needed in the world at this time, he will help save people. I am not supposed to feel sorry for the life he will never lead, but to cheer him and prepare him for the life he will lead. The kid has gumption, the kid has talent, and a will that never quits. He knows how to lead, how to build teams, how to study, how to adapt.
If we are at the end game, we will need different, creative, thinkers and doers to take over. The old game is over.
it's all vanity
pretending to work
when your struggling to breathe
thick fog smoke
sore throat
why struggle so capitalistic monopolies can continue?
they that caused the world to burn?
didn't care
every penny they could squuze from us
and now our very air
the water which thinned our blood so it could flow
dried out
we dig in river beds to find remnants of the wetness
we send missives out in social media requesting relief
but all who care are also struggling
but we will sodden on, wet but dry
in the paths we will continue
we know not else to do
we know not else to do
Now the World Burns
Smoke
burnt popcorn
campfire
Waters the eyes
clogs the throat
covers the plants
It was easier when it was just the west, just Australia
but now it is here
we were warned
prophets, scientists
little girls in braids
it breaks upon you
feel the spray hit your face
stand sodden but solid
storm ragges around you
be ye yet unmoved
watch the green shoot
bud on the trees
then smell the smoke
the blood vapors of summer
The gathered shall watch
awaiting the day of the Lord
while doing His work
in storms, fire, summer
& yet stand unmoved
His Face is before us
walked slowly to the grave
heavy with ointments
sun breaks silver
purple across the whole horizon
she went to attend the dead
but instead
was attended by the living
cleaning up from the haze
a great destruction
a shaft of light breaks
a voice is heard
He descends
I feel His wounds
Hosannah to the Lamb
Easter weekend in the temple
prayers of dedication
He comes
brilliant white with a voice
of rushing waters
My darkest hour
He brings His light
my fingers trace the holes in
His hands as He holds me
My dawn breaks
Feb 5th
let yourself be gathered
by softening your heart
Life water is free
please drink freely
and stand upon the rock
ye shall withstand
water & rock
withstands winds
water & rock
living water
rock of revelation
upon these we stand
will withstand
D&C 11
wisdom is greater than riches
the means of doing good
point all you meet unto me
walk in my spirit- that your mind becomes full of light
and understanding
your heart full of joy
you shall know all things you desire
hold my doctrine- manifestations of my love and light
when your heart and mind are ready
I shall loose your tongue
power of mine to teach men
to show them my love
learn my voice- listen to its quiet promises and wisdom
this rock of revelation shall show you all things
which ye are to do, to know, and in my wisdom, to act
When your mind and heart are quiet you can hear it
Celestial Music
calm and joy
learn to hear it when the world is in tumult around you
when anger rages at you
tune into the celestial symphony
D&C 12-16
What would the Lord have me do?
a question for the rightous in every age
The psychic dream scape is noisey
rest is no longer rest
dreams drown us further
day and night become one
non stop
where is the quiet
the escape
the flight?
how do I connect in the midst of all this noise?
D&C 3
Persuasion of men
instead of God
thou hast transgressed them often
crossed the path- worry about how you appear in men's eyes
stay on my side
my eyes are kind
my judgments just
D&C 3:11
God used becoming as other men as a threat/consequence of disobeying him. Reminds me of the Nephites becoming weak as the Lamanites because the Spirit of God ceased to dwell with them.
It's your choice
to become like other men
weak, misguided
but boasting of your own wisdom
I think its folly
and hoping you will find
your need to rely on God
Become more than you are
or than men, alone, may be
D&C4
How does vs 5&6 relate to each other? listed in both verses are faith and charity
D&C5
Declared from Heaven
Truth of a book
Truth about God
our Father
Truth about His son
about how nations hold together
how individuals hold together
bound by their love of God and Liberty
working best in Equity
D&C6:6
I answered every time you asked
in your mind
your heart
an idea
an understanding
only I know the thoughts
the intents of your heart
be faithful
keep asking
you were sent for this time
D&C 7
what desirest thou?
a question for our day
Search out your deep desires
Deep desires
dig them out
beyond time
beyond season
before flesh
beyond death
what desirest thou?
Family, My desire is to be with my Family Forever
Earth was to be family made flesh, forever -together-
D&C 8
seeing beyond time & reason
only what God intends
bit here
bit there
only what God intends
line
upon
line
only what God intends
as we
are ready
to understand
two stones in my hands
their weight heft
them use
only as God intends
my gift- only a single purpose
Focused as God intends
single purpose of marvelous work
Gifts and Talents take work to make them shine
I give you raw material
the you may learn to craft, to become a creator
D&C 10
The devil seeks to destroy
to disarm you
He doesn't see in your quiet time
strength- rod of steel- building inside you
10:43
I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto the that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil.
The parents will prevail- they know your games- you may think you win for a season- but thier wisdom is greater and will prevail- thier desires made manifest and good will grow
Growth of Good
beautiful
through struggle
we will see
beautiful
waiting for me
because of His
beautiful
grace
His love for me
I will enjoy its embrace
Beautiful Savoir
Bare up burdens with ease
what you need will be provided at the very hour you need it
flying on Eagle's wings-
promises of the Lord, for all those who do His work, preach His gospel
vs 18
God creating male and female, after His likeness, would suggest a dual likeness.
We suggest in the same vein that Heavenly Father would imply a Heavenly Mother and if they listened to the marriage advice that 2 shall become 1- then Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are 1 god- working unified as God, but yet as two are able to work, or focus on multiple things at a time and as a result have 2 vantage points to see situations from.
One could argue a male and female god is bi-gendered and non-binary, but so is the required relationship for reproduction to occur. So I would suggest that perhaps dropping the concept of a single male God, and maybe, use concepts suggested in the Pearl of Great Price- The Gods went down, The Gods created the world, of plural Gods. Or perhaps find a middle ground and refer to heavenly parents.
Of course, women are used to working through and in their husband's name so Heavenly Mother probably isn't phased(1) by the image of God being a single, all-knowing male- so it is not for her that we would refer to her- it is for us, so we can learn to understand the nature of unity and eternal marriage and the true nature of God, so we can more easily see the path to become one(2) someday.
The very belief that we can become Gods ourselves (3), especially as we become unified breaks down barriers of race, color, religion in our life, we can see others as part of us- as part of our joy or our sadness- to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. Our actions should treat others as if they are unified in our heart, causing us to lift and heal and help them grow. We need to be exalted with all of our human family, and yet, Ironically, as we work to exalt others, we save ourselves.
footnotes
(1) I really can't fathom that any experienced mother with a boatload of kids could get phased by much anymore.
(2) interesting idea: becoming one or you are not mone- unity and godhood are connected again. IS the Buddhist concept of becoming "one with everything" a concept of unity? - of unity of godhood?
(3) this thought is in comparison to the classic concept of God as King, instead of God as Father. When God is seen as a single, white, male of unknown origin, but reigns supreme and is fundamentally different from us, you set up a belief system that sustains monarchs and white slaveholders over black slaves. And God becomes unreachable except through proper channels and there is no chance of becoming like Him, so worship becomes an idol thing: it is not designed to help you achieve exhalation, it is designed to keep you in your place, being nothing more than a good slave or servant of the master.
As God(s) as our parents, it is natural to plead with them as Shannon has pleaded for bunnies. It is natural for them to teach us and give in when it becomes good for us. It becomes natural to become like them and desire to be with them. It becomes natural for us to defend our siblings and do things that lift the whole human family.
Looking at Emma
I see a lady who had to keep it together
repeatedly
as things came crashing down
over
and over
the one who holds firm
which allows the rebuilding to occur
always giving to someone else what she could live without
23 years married
lifetimes ago
just yesterday
it seems
our hands locked
intertwined in marriage
veil lifted and a *hug*
with you forever and since
just yesterday and today
whatever wild ride love brings
my seatbelt fastened in prayer
in a perspective only eternity brings
to trust the processes, be patient, breathe
birthing a new life
a new me
every day
Gathered like chicks
Do we hear our mother cluck?
She calls us
to come back to her
She sees the danger
we are blissfully unaware
scratching and pecking away
she calls to us
come and be gathered danger is seen
A Shepard counting her sheep
Are all saftley in the fold?
counted before I can sleep
99 are here, but I must find the one,
the stubborn one that will not come when I call
the one that is hurt and scared, one that must be carried back upon my shoulders
A lost coin of infinite worth
I will turn the world upside down to find it
rejoice with me when its found
All is saftley gathered in
home to the Father
home for the Holy day
Love, safety, and warmth
in the bosom of our Father
Thank you big brother for calling us
allowing us to be clean enough to be here
Thank you for helping me find my lost sheep
for loving my stubborn ones
for feeding the hungry ones
for never giving up on the ones I put in your charge
How could I? I love them too
D&C 29
vs 9
Humbling the haughty
impoverishing the rich
making strong the weak
the stiff to rebound
The Lord will stretch you
vs12
I hope the crowns are emblematic and not real
I need no gold upon my brow to bow mw down
but of light, of love, singing songs of mercy and sweetness
Crown of righteousness, responsibility, of knowledge, teaching, loving and administering to my neighbors
