Two Poems of Mine

I'm taking a creative writing class this semester. Currently, we are covering poetry. I've recently discovered I actually enjoy poetry (some of them). Once, I tried my hand at poetry in high school and decided never again. Yet we keep covering it in all my English classes for some reason. This particular professor gave us some of the reasons why we often do not have a positive experience with poetry and thus avoid the following:

The 7 Deadly Sins of Poetry

1. The Impenetrable Haze Poem - the work as a whole does not suggest a theme that any two people can agree on.
2. Truth-in-a-nutshell - poem tries to define truth, beauty, love or evil in the abstract, it is apt to sound like a little essay in short lines.
3. Oh-Poor-Miserable-Me! - based on unrelenting self pity. Belongs in a psychiatrist's office, not writing class.
4. The Marching Band Poem - heavy-handed rhythms and rhymes drown out subtleties of sophisticated poetry.
5. Hark, The Antique Language! - you are writing for the 21st century.
6. The Wailing-Violin Poem - the reader's emotions are manipulated to evoke tears. The poem is no longer sincere.
7. The Collective-Group Poem - we all resent being included in sweeping generalizations about all women, all men, all students, all Americans, all parents, or all anything.

As an assignment, I was to actually write some poetry. Here are two of my sincere attempts. Ironically, they are both based a little bit on my youngest brother. Tell me what you think!

Crisis in Life

This is the simplified Chinese word for crisis. It's basically a combination of the words "danger" and "crucial point" ("Chinese words for 'crisis'"). Having crises in your life, either for a family or individual, can either strengthen or tear relationships apart. But it depends on the overall experience on whether it adds to the things that tears people apart.

The above is the ABC's of a crisis. In my own family, here's a simple example that helps illustrate this process.

Alma 20

Ammon and King Lamoni both tried to reach Lamoni's father, who is king over all the land. First he was hard hearted and wondered why his son was with an enemy to deliver other enemies from prison. But when he saw the love Ammon had for his son and that Ammon's desires were not to gain land or a kingdom, he was astonished exceedingly and began to be curious about the words they spoke. Meanwhile, Ammon's brethren had met with a more hardened and stiff-necked people that wouldn't listen. They suffered greatly, but with patience. Why should we each try to share the gospel? Even when we are pretty sure they will not accept it and will persecute us as a result? President Henry B. Eyring said:

“Why should I speak to anyone about the gospel who seems content? What danger is there to them or to me if I do or say nothing?“Well, the danger may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us. For instance, at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. And they will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you” ("A Voice of Warning").

Alma 19

"As many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.

"But there were many among them who would not hear his words; therefore they went their way.

". . . Their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil" (31-33).

Hearing is an active thing. You have to be willing to listen. Doing so softens and opens your heart to the Spirit. It allows for conversion to occur. When you are converted and your hearts have been changed, then you have no more desire to do evil. I think we should all aim for such a conversion that you no longer have any desire to do evil. Being converted is something that is to be done constantly. It's something you constantly maintain.

Elder Richard G. Scott quoted Marion G. Romney as saying:

“Converted means to turn from one belief or course of action to another. Conversion is a spiritual and moral change. Converted implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel. A faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one’s understanding of life’s meaning and in his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct. In one who is really wholly converted, desire for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments.” (Full Conversion Brings Happiness).

Alma 18

After Ammon had done the miraculous and kept the flocks of King Lamoni, the king wondered where Ammon was. He learned that Ammon had remembered and was following through on another bit of instruction or command from the king and he was "more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon" (10). When Ammon was told that the king wanted his presence, he immediately asked, "What wilt though that I should do for thee, O king?" (14). Then later Ammon said, "What is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am they servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do" (17).

Ammon shows humility, immediate obedience and a willingness to serve, as long as it was right. Could you imagine if we were to do that? As soon as we finish one task, even if it was done so extremely well, instead of taking as break and celebrating, you immediately continue on to the next task assigned. Coworkers and bosses, friends and family would all be impressed. Especially if such dedication and service was directed towards them. Such service would soften their hearts.

Henry B. Eyring said:

"Never, never underestimate the spiritual value of doing temporal things well for those whom you serve.
". . . Be their servants, and you will love them. And they will feel your love. And more important, they will feel God’s love”" ("The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life").

Alma 17

When you wish to teach something you must first know it. This is the same with the gospel. For all the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for all the member missionaries, we are to know his word in order to teach it. In order to have "waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth" the sons of Mosiah had "searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God" (2).

But this isn't all that should be done. "They had given themselves to much prayer and fasting" and as a result they had the "spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God" (3).

When they fasted and prayed for the Spirit to be with them so they could be an instrument in the hands of God, they were comforted and told to go forth but be patient in long-suffering and afflictions so they can show their good examples, then they would be an instrument in the hands of God (9-11).

This is a lesson all missionaries, all who teach the gospel should know. Whether it be a missionary, a primary teacher, a Relief Society teacher, Visiting Teacher, Home Teacher, etc. 

Alma 16

Prepare the hearts to receive the word (16). How can we nurture a heart so that a testimony can take root? Either our own, or others?


We have to have a heart that loves everyone, even if you don't love their behavior or action. Sometimes this can be hard. However, as we nurture a heart that a testimony can take root in we will be able to love everyone. Nurture your own heart. Nurture the hearts of those around you. H. Burke Peterson gave some steps to help in this process:

1. Look for the good in each person, and mention it in a sincere and consistent way.
2. Create an atmosphere where judging is held in reserve until anger has subsided, until the hurt has dissipated, until all sides of an issue have been explored.
3. Listening is a part of showing love.
4. Love is spoken in prayer (Preparing the Heart).

Nurturing. It has such a role. We have to nurture our hearts so it is soft and fertile for a testimony to take root.

Alma 15

Zeezrom, one who had been antagonistic towards the church, realized his great sins and they weighed upon his mind. Alma 15:3 reads:

"And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat."

I'm majoring in Marriage and Family Studies. Many people who major in this go on to become counselors for families and individuals. We know that there are cases where people should find a physician to help them with their illness, but other times they must find a psychiatrist to help with the illnesses of the mind. But our bishops and stake presidents are to help us with the illness of the spirit.

Boyd K. Packer said:

“There is another part of us, not so tangible, but quite as real as our physical body. This intangible part of us is described as mind, emotion, intellect, temperament, and many other things. Very seldom is it described as spiritual.
“But there is a spirit in man; to ignore it is to ignore reality. There are spiritual disorders, too, and spiritual diseases that can cause intense suffering.
“The body and the spirit of man are bound together. Often, very often, when there are disorders, it is very difficult to tell which is which” ("The Balm of Gilead").

Alma 14

Occasionally, people may wonder why bad things happen to good people. Spencer W. Kimball said:

“If all the sick for whom we pray were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. No man would have to live by faith. 

“If joy and peace and rewards were instantaneously given the doer of good, there could be no evil—all would do good but not because of the rightness of doing good. There would be no test of strength, no development of character, no growth of powers, no free agency, only satanic controls. 

“Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death, and if these were not, there would also be no joy, success, resurrection, nor eternal life and godhood” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1973], 97).

As much as I wish that good people didn't have to experience bad things, we must in order to grow and progress. However, with the help of the Savior we can bear it. We can overcome it and progress and grow.

Alma 13

". . . Cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

"Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest." (Alma 13:27-29)

Don't procrastinate your repentance. If there are things that need fixing in your life, begin changing them now. Be humble before the Lord. Pray and watch continually that you will not be caught unawares and so you can overcome the obstacles and be led by the Spirit. Being led by the Spirit requires more humility, meekness, submissiveness, patience, full of love and long-suffering. You should have faith on the Lord. Have a hope of eternal life. Containing the knowledge of God's love in your hearts for yourself and others. This is what we should be. If we are, we will be lifted up and find rest in God.