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.

Dark Places

Depression is a terrible, irrational thing.  I don't even like to look back and remember the long days and nights when I felt this bad.  Fortunately for me, it was a fleeting time.  My depression was not a clinical case - just a period of life when there was so much wrong that I could not break out of the gloom and darkness that surrounded me.  Healing took place as I began to understand and apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ to my life and committed to following Him in all things. I had a favorite song that helped and I would sit and listen to it everyday.  I believed that Michael McLean must have written it for me - somehow he knew there was a "me" out there that needed the message of the song.

The message of this moment is so clear;
And as certain as the rising of the sun.
If your world is filled with darkness doubt and fear,
Just hold on, Hold on; the light will come.
Ev'ryone who's ever tried and failed
Stands much taller when the victory's won.
And those who've been in darkness for a while
Kneel much longer when the light has come.

It's a lesson ev'ry one of us must learn;
That the answers never come without a fight.
And when it seems you've struggled far too long,
Just hold on, hold on; there will be light.

Hold on. Hold on. The light will come.

When you feel trapped inside a never-ending night.
If you've forgotten how it feels to feel the light,
If you're half crazy thinking you're the only one
Who's afraid the light will never really come

Just hold on. Hold on! The light will come.

The message of this moment is so clear;
And as certain as the rising of the sun.
If your world is filled with darkness doubt and fear.
Just hold on, hold on, the light will come

The Light did come.  In John 8:12 the Savior said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  I testify that He will bring light into our lives as we turn to him in sincere prayer and seek His help.  It did not come quickly for me, but in a very personal answer to prayer He guided me to know it would come as I followed Him so I trusted and moved ahead through what became a time of intense spiritual growth.  I wish I could always feel as close to Him as I did then for He was with me on what I can now call a beautiful journey.

The poem reflects my state of mind at the beginning.  If you have ever felt this way or do so now I wish to give you hope - hold on, the light will come.


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