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.

The Legacy

I have often thought it strange when we used to celebrate Pioneer Day even way out here in Michigan.   It is really a Utah thing - more a coming to the valley than an actual connection to the gospel itself.  But as I have studied the early history of the church, I have come to realize the great legacy left to us.

We often think of a legacy as something concrete that is left behind by one generation to the next.  So the Salt Lake Temple is a legacy as is the Tabernacle and it's great choir.  I find the less tangible legacies to hold even more meaning for me - they are more universal.  You don't have to live in the Salt Lake Valley to appreciate them.  It was during a challenge of mine own that I realized that the pioneer stories had a message for me - a legacy of courage and hope.


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