Latter-day Saint Poetry by Loretta Harbertson: Beauty among the Thorns

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.

Beauty among the Thorns

We have not been successful at raising roses in our garden. Our sandy soil extends at least fifteen feet downward and it is very difficult to keep it moist. Add to that the harsh Michigan winters. But one year we purchased this sweet and delicate rose from Jackson and Perkins. Designed to grow in the north, it is guaranteed to restore itself from the roots if it is subject to winter kill. It has tried admirably to grow for us. It is quite small - about a foot tall and delicate all over. But it is oh, so beautiful when it blooms. We watch anxiously each year for this lovely favorite of ours to arrive and it never disappoints us. Perhaps because we know how hard it struggles to survive, it is the perfect rose to remind us that amid the struggles of life, there is a beauty that we must not miss.