By: Andrew Bernsdorff

A Celestial Morning

Sunshine peeks above the hills,

Shining light across the plains,

The morning seems to come alive,

As we begin this joyous day.

Birds are singing lullabies,

Seated high among the trees,

Branches swaying to and fro,

Amidst the gentle breeze.

Holy feelings emanate,

And are felt for miles around,

Two hearts and souls will be united,

In a simple Utah town.

Within the home of the Most High,

Shining radiant and bright,

Sits a woman, soft and fair,

Adorned in brilliant white.

Anticipation fills her soul,

She is overcome with bliss,

For someone soon will give to her,

His love and happiness.

A righteous man of God is he,

Walking down a goodly path,

And honoring his priesthood,

Doing all his Father asks.

His mind and soul are overcome,

As he soon will do his part,

To lead and guide his family,

With a true and caring heart.

With hands, and hearts, entwined they walk,

And joined by those they love,

They enter the sealing room,

To pledge with God above.

Then once inside this sacred place,

We find that they can see,

The mirrors show them side by side,

For all eternity.

They’re kneeling at the altar,

To be bound for all of time,

To be partakers of God’s promise,

And to feel His love sublime.

The Sealer speaks prophetic words,

Of blessing and advice,

And then the two are joined forever,

In the house of Jesus Christ.

Walking from the Temple,

Thinking of nothing other,

Than the gift they have been given,

As they start their lives together.

Joseph Smith

A great new day was prophesied,

By righteous men of old,

And like the birth of Jesus Christ,

Its coming long foretold.

For far too long did man reside,

In religious doubt and myth,

Until, at last, the Lord brought forth,

His servant Joseph Smith.

A simple boy of just fourteen,

In the middle of his youth,

Began a search from church to church,

That he may know the truth.

His quest had brought forth no results,

No church could fit the mold,

Not one, for all their words and show,

Was the church of Christ of old.

So Joseph knelt before his Lord,

To know which one was right,

Then God and Jesus Christ, His son,

Appeared in brilliant light,

Christ told him to join none of them,

Their works and creeds were wrong,

They’ve wandered off the path, and so,

Christ’s name did not belong.

Instead He told young Joseph Smith,

Of a greater work to do,

And how he would again rebuild,

The church of Christ anew.

So, Joseph did as God had said,

As he grew from boy to man,

With all his might to do the work,

To bring to pass God’s plan.

We all know that Joseph Smith,

Endured the greatest strife,

And to do the will of God above,

He placed aside his life.

Now, we can wonder to ourselves,

Of how our fate would lie,

Had Joseph Smith not persevered,

But stood there, idly by.

Would Satan’s hold increase in strength,

Upon the hearts of men?

How long would Heaven’s doors be shut,

Before God tried again?

How many souls would not be touched,

But left there in the dark?

How many missions overseas,

Would no one have embarked?

So much that we are basking in,

The progress that we’ve made,

May not have ever come to pass,

Had Joseph’s hand been stayed.

As Joseph overcame all things,

Then so should you and I,

Our tests, in ways, are much the same,

As long as we all try.

We have so much to be thankful for,

Of which is Joseph Smith,

For all he did to free us from,

This haze of doubt and myth.

I thank the Lord that all is thus,

As it has taken place,

For all God’s children that enjoy,

The warmth of His embrace.

And all of those about to hear,

Good news and shouts of joy,

Of a book from God, and then about,

This fourteen-year old boy.

We thank the Lord for those before

Who paid the greatest price,

To build again for all mankind,

This church of Jesus Christ.

Woman

There sat a father with his son,

To spend some time alone,

Away from all the cares and noise,

And tumult of their home.

The scene was calm but for the waves,

That their tiny raft provoked,

Then this young man, now twelve years old,

Turned to his dad and spoke.

“Why did God put Woman here?

“Why not let Adam be?

“He could run and play all by himself,

“He’d be happier. Don’t you see?”

Then thought the father to himself,

How could he teach his son,

That Man would ever more be lost,

Were it not for Woman?

“I’ll tell you, son,” the father said,

“How Woman came to be,

“And why she has a greater role,

“Than to raise a family.”

“When Adam had been placed on earth,

“Those many years ago,

“One thing that Adam had to do,

“Was learn to love, and grow.”

“But Adam was no humble man,

“His love of self unfeigned,

“He dwelt in Eden all alone,

“And in selfishness he reigned.”

“God saw the way that things turned out,

“And He wondered what to do,

“Then God said, ‘I’ll make someone,

“‘Who will set him straight and true.’”

“So God sat down to think about,

“How to make this perfect being,

“What would she need to truely shine,

“As his angel and his queen?”

“The first thing that God had to do,

“Was give an ample heart,

“So she could love this calloused man,

“And charity impart.”

“God gave to her a gentle touch,

“And a soft and caring voice,

“Tools to use to teach this man,

“To make the righteous choice.”

“Finally, she was given beauty,

“Matched only by her soul,

“And placed in Eden so she could,

“Fulfill her special role.”

“All things went as God had hoped,

“According to design,

“And Man from then on grew to love,

“And reach for the divine.”

“Now that is why,” the father said,

“That God put Woman here,

“And why Men will always see in her,

“The sacred, and revere.”

When Tomorrow Comes

When tomorrow comes, you’ll find the one,

With whom none can compete,

In whose arms you may reside,

Who will make you feel complete.

When tomorrow comes, you will be joined,

To them for all of time,

To be partakers of God’s promise,

And to feel His love divine.

When tomorrow comes, you’ll have a child,

That will grow up righteously,

With both their parents at their side,

Loving them undauntedly.

When tomorrow comes, you’ll look around,

At grandchildren many fold,

Seeing the way their lives have brought you,

Such happiness untold.

When tomorrow comes, you’ll see the Lord,

And with glory you’ll be shown,

All the wonders of eternity,

As you are placed atop your throne.

Choices lay before you now,

So, make them all with care,

Please know that to the Lord you are,

Something precious, something rare.