I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I joined back in 1964 after a long struggle with faith. I had loved the Savior ever since I could remember, but the church of my youth deserted me as it moved into the intellect movement of the 60's. Without spiritual guidance, I fell away. The Lord distinguished between the words of my mouth and the longing of my heart. He knew that I wanted to believe and so he sent a young woman who told me the story of the Restored Gospel. She bore her testimony of Jesus Christ and promised me that I could know for myself and have my own testimony.

Now forty-six years later I can only thank her from the bottom of my heart for introducing me to the church. Indeed I do have my own testimony. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called to restore Christ's church to the earth. We have a prophet today who leads and guides us. I am so grateful for Latter-day scriptures that bear testimony of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It stands as another witness of the Savior and it's truths have touched my life in very personal ways.

I hope that my poetry reflects the growth of my testimony and my love for Jesus Christ.

Emptiness - Losing a Baby

We lost Keith when he was born early - at just twenty weeks.  I had been ill the whole 
pregnancy and it appeared my body just couldn't handle the pregnancy any longer 
and I went into labor. He was alive when we went into the delivery room, but the cord 
wrapped around his neck and he was stillborn.   We had the honor of burying him ourselves.  
We built a little wooden box and wrapped him in a baby blanket that had been mine.  
It was a gift of love from me to him.  He lies northeast of Topeka in a little cemetery 
called Muddy Creek.   It was a lonely time.  Nothing filled the hole.  It just took time 
and a lot of prayer to find peace.  I have learned through my life's experiences that when 
the rough times come, there is a peace that is available when we are ready.  The Lord has
promised that to each of us.  As He spoke to the seas, He also speaks to us, "Peace, be still."  
But I was not ready - not for a long while.  I just needed to feel the emptiness I think and to grieve.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)