Showing posts with label book of mormon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book of mormon. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

1 Nephi 17: 2-3

 Having just read 1 Nephi 17:2-3, I realize that even though the Book of Mormon is written from men's perspectives, these verses show Young Women's progress.

The daughters of Ishmael were probably all between the ages of 12 and 25 when they left their cushy home in Jerusalem. I bet they had never camped or journeyed much. They trusted and followed their father into the wilderness. They get married off to a set of brothers, not all of them thoughtful and patient, but young and impertinent as young males tend to be. We do not know how much was love and how much they just did as expected. But then they lose the one male they trusted thoroughly, their father and they "did mourn exceedingly" (v 16:35), now they get to rely on the young man they married for all their support and protection, and maybe their old father-in-law Lehi, who they or may not have much connection with. But they get through their mourning, and the next thing we know, not only are the traveling, but they are doing it well being pregnant and new mothers. 

That transition from murmuring to motherhood, from fragile femininity to strength to care for our children in any circumstance, is one we all must go through in life.  How great this transition is Nephi calls it a blessing (thinking the raw food diet was tough, when it was probably more healthy than they ate in Jerusalem). And then how this diet and daily activity level gave the women strength like the men.

I am sure the women found ways to do all the daily chores in the wilderness while traveling, and that alone helped quiet their murmuring, but so does the magic of holding your baby while he softly sleeps on your chest. That transition to motherhood, called "matrescence", is a powerful thing, involving much bio-psychology and physiology, and has a spiritual dimension that we only began to understand in hindsight.

It is no wonder Nephi doesn't talk much about it, as he couldn't, having not experienced it, and his wife, most likely left uneducated in reading and writing, was too busy taking care of the children and household, couldn't take time to write to us about her experience. Which is too bad, more women's voices are needed in the gospel. 


Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Ode to Strippling Warrior Moms

 Waging Peace

Every Breath a Prayer

faith to weave the armor

but trusting their safety only to God


All your prayers were answered

your young sons saved a nation

all got hurt

but they returned home alive

& practiced in following the prophet


They remembered your faith

But your assurance only came

as you taught them

packed for them

prayed with them

stared into their eyes

& told them the Lord would protect them

& you knew it

Sunday, December 06, 2020

The Love of God

 Look and Behold! What do you see?

A virgin most fair

holding a babe in her arms


Look and Behold the condescension of God

The creator of our world

Born as a babe

chooses to die

that we may live


Look and Behold

the condescension of God

the creator of our world

Born as a babe

Chooses to suffer

that we may be free


Look and Behold

the fruit on that tree

the love of God

sweet above all

who sent His son

that we may live again


Look and Behold

the lights on our tree

reminds us of the sweetest fruit

the sun of God

born as a babe

Hosannah to the Love of God

Hosannah! 

Hosannah!

Saturday, September 19, 2020

nigh at hand

 I am a Nephite- my government destroyed and now it is dark

I wait for the light.

I am weary.

My days have been tough.

Hope of the light sustains me.

I have watch prophecies fullfilled.

The time has to be close.


I am a very pregnant mother

My time is close too

I watch for signs and wonders

I feel the contractions

the beginning pains of a new life.

The world and its purposes fade from my view as the time draws nigh

my hips ache and my feet hurt

is all prepped for baby?

And I wait for the confluence of events


I know there will be quakes and noise and cries of pain

burning and pushing


All I want is a nap

or a hot bath

but I push through another day

with a focus set for a time that is nigh at hand

Sunday, May 12, 2019

1 Ne 18

Curious Workmanship

Balls and boats
our very lives
after the manner shown by God

pray oft
the Lord will
show you great things

workmanship
 exceedingly fine

Humble yourselves
Board the Boat

do not make merry or gloat
or pick on younger others

sore tempests await
untie your brother
or perish in the storm
of your own making

1 Ne 21

He has made my mouth
     a sharp sword
in the shadows of his hand
     He has hid me
made me a polished shaft
in His quiver
     He has hid me

and now
     says the Lord
who formed me from the womb
so I could be his servant

to bring Jacob again to Him
though Isreal be not gathered
I shall help this marvelous work

and I shall be glorious in the
     eyes of the Lord
my God shall be my strength

The size of your faith or the degree
of your knowledge is not the issue
it is the integrity that you demonstrate
towards the faith you do have
the truths you already know

Make bare your arms, Lord
Bless all nations
with the mighty work and wonder
thou has promised us
until thy covenants
shall fill the earth
like a sun when it rises
fills the sky with light

Free us from captivity, Lord
pull us out of darkness
     out of obscurity
gather us into lands
we shall tend

the abominable among the earth
shall fight with themselves
get drunk off their own blood
stumble and burn

Monday, April 29, 2019

Light

First and Third Nephi, Chapters 11

Darkness filled with wails
Everything changed
We can’t even see it

Voice of calm interrupts the cries
Light breaks through the darkness
Everything has changed

We can see now