THE FRIEND

Let me
Be the hearth
Where you sit
To work your clay.
I'll not say
"Shape it like this,
Or like that",
I promise.

Let me watch
As you
In absolute agency
Mold your
Mortal dream.

Only -
Sit close
And let me give
A little light,
A little warmth.
Yes -
Warmth especially.

Cold clay yields
To no form.
Let me
Be your hearth.
Sit close -
Be warm.

-  Carol Lynn Pearson

THE POWER BEHIND US

"When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the fulfillment of righteous responsibilities, we should remember that when we are involved in the work of the Lord, the obstacles before us are never as great as the power behind us. We should reach out and climb. Handholds will only be found by hands that are outstretched. Footholds are only for feet that are on the move."

- Dallin H. Oaks, Reach Out And Climb, New Era Aug 1985

ON NEST BUILDING

Mud is not bad for nest building.
Mud and sticks
And a fallen feather or two will do
And require no reaching.
I could rest there, with my tiny ones,
Sound for the season, at least.

But -
If I may fly awhile -
If I may cut through a sunset going out
And a rainbow coming back,
Color upon color sealed in my eyes -
If I may have the unboundaried skies
For my study,
Clouds, cities, rivers for my rooms -
If I may search the centuries
For melody and meaning -
If I may try for the sun -

I shall come back
Bearing such beauties
Gleaned from God's and man's very best.
I shall come filled.

And then -
Oh, the nest that I can build!

- Carol Lynn Pearson

A BROKEN HEART

"The real act of personal sacrifice is not now nor ever has been placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal that is in us upon the altar - then willingly watching it be consumed. Such is the 'sacrifice unto the Lord of a broken heart and a contrite spirit'."

- Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Meek and Lowly, p. 94

ON BENDED KNEE

"And, if you sense that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, why not do so now? For in the coming of that collective confession, it will mean much less to kneel down when it is no longer possible to stand up."

-  Neal A. Maxwell, Why Not Now?, Ensign April 1975

HOLY GROUND

"We bear grave responsibility for the purity of our motives when some trusting heart has offered us entrance. Anyone who stands on that threshold stands on holy ground......"

- Bruce C. Hafen

COMING HOME

"When we return to our real home, it will be with the 'mutual approbation' of those who reign in the 'royal courts on high'. There we will find beauty such as mortal 'eye hath not seen'; we will hear sounds of surpassing music which mortal 'ear hath not heard'. Could such a regal home coming be possible without the anticipatory arrangements of a Heavenly Mother? Meanwhile, there are no separate paths back to home. Just one straight and narrow way, at the end of which, though we arrive trailing tears, we shall at once be 'drenched in joy'".

- Neal A Maxwell, The Women of God,  Ensign May 1978