Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

 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.

Christ is Coming, Hurray!

 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.

Hope

 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.

Crazy Smoke

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

 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

Watch the Tempest

 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

Dawn Breaks

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