A six year old boy

Tweet

When I think of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s life, I am overcome. There are so many instances and events that were filled of so much emotion. One such event is in D & C 122:6, where we learn of Joseph’s 6 year old boy clinging to his father before he was taken to Carthage.

“and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you?”

I have thought a lot about the little 6 year old boy and what he was thinking and feeling. This poem is written from his perspective. Please try to feel the emotion of this poem.

I’m probably just too young
That’s why I can’t understand
Why some people say that
My daddy’s a bad man.

He hugs me and he holds me
He takes Mom by the hand
It hurts inside when people say
That he’s an evil man.

My daddy is kind and loving
He gives away clothes and food for free
He’s offered strangers his own bed
And gives up time he could spend with me.

He tells me bed time stories
When we’re sick, he has power to heal
My Mommy sure does love him
He cleans and even cooks meals.

Most folks call him Brother Joseph
A modern day prophet they say
He even knows the Bible real well
Grandpa read it to him every day.

My daddy had a vision
He saw God and Jesus Christ
I thought that was a nice thing
But he’s been hated all his life.

Some men came to my home
They took my daddy away
I hugged him really tight and asked
“Daddy, why can’t you stay?”

He looked me in the eyes saying
“Son, God has a plan”
He waved goodbye and then he said
“I’m going like a lamb”.

“Mommy, where will they take him?”
“To Carthage he will go”
I hope they bring my daddy back soon
I need him; I’m only six years old.

I’m trying not to be scared
Mommy says we must be strong
I just want to tell those men
That my daddy’s done nothing wrong.

We asked God for help
I know Daddy will be okay
When he comes home he’ll be so proud
When I tell him how much I prayed.

----------------------------


It’s a few days later
I’ve done nothing but cry
I’m not sure what this means
But my daddy died.

Some bad men rode through town today
Laughing, “The prophet Joseph is dead”
I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight
Daddy always tucked me into bed.

I saw him, asleep in a wagon he laid
It was moving slowly through the streets
I asked my Mom when he would wake
She’d just shake her head and weep.

I guess I’m too young to understand
Why some people see what they see
But all that really matters is
That daddy was loved by me.

Ben Arkell
October 2007

Joseph Smith

Tweet

I have thought a lot about Joseph Smith and the impact that his entering the grove had on his life and the world. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" could be applied here as well. I have this image in my mind of the boy Joseph waiting to enter the Sacred Grove, a little scared, a little timid, a little excited. He couldn't have imagined how magnificent the outcome would be as he took that first step into the grove. Hours later, as he left the grove, the course of history was changed. I hope this poem reflects to you these thoughts I have had.

"One Step in the Grove"
An innocent youth, an unlearned boy
Seeking wisdom from on high
A course of life forever changed
With one step in the Grove

A boy’s first prayer was uttered there
The seeds of faith were sown
God descended his mighty throne
With one step in the Grove

A calling issued, a mantle given
The gospel to restore
A loving Father revealed his hand
With one step in the Grove

A dispensation now rolled forth
Glorious truths to be revealed
Cumorah’s Hill would soon be known
With one step in the Grove

With wondering awe and gratitude
All thanks and praises be
To the man who communed with Jehovah
With one step in the Grove

His name be had for good and ill
Prophet Joseph the world would know
He sealed his fate to a martyr’s end
With one step in the Grove

Ben Arkell
October 2007

Poem on Christ

Tweet

I got frustrated a while back because of a situation where a person had taken offense (not from something I had done but dealing with another person) and stopped coming to church. It got me thinking about how great we are at living the gospel until a trial comes, or a temptation, or someone offends us, or things just don't go our way. We forget that principles like repentance, forgiveness, love, compassion, faith, endurance, and patience are to help us through these hard times. It made me think of Jesus Christ and how He endured. As we go through trials, and apply the principles of the gospel, we too can progress just as Christ did. This poem was inspired by the aforementioned situation.

"Jesus The Christ"

What made Jesus our "Shepherd"?
Was it leading the ninety and nine?
Or leaving these alone for the one to search and find.

And how was Jesus "Exemplar"?
By His smile when smiled at?
Or by patiently submitting when evil men upon Him spat.

What made Jesus "Savior"?
Was it happiness without loss?
Or was it being nailed upon the cold and wooden cross.

And how was Jesus "Anointed"?
By trumpet and song all day?
Or by three humble wise men as He sleep on manger hay.

How became Jesus "Messiah"?
Was it kindness he was shown?
Or was it bearing pain and grief from sins not of His own.

I call Jesus "Redeemer"
Why call him such a thing?
Because He earned the title by descending below all things.

The good of life, the ease and joy
Did not Him the label bring
Of Jesus the "Anointed One", "Messiah", "Savior","King"

But suffering the pain of men
Bearing persecution all His life
Spilling blood and sweat and many tears
This made Him "Jesus The Christ".

Ben Arkell
October 2007

Strength for Youth Song

Tweet

The following is an excerpt from a friend's blog:

CALLING ALL SONGWRITERS
Here's the dealio: I have to write a song based on a familiar and simple church song that Erik can play on the guitar (so not too many fast chord changes) about avoiding "bad movies." (When I say "bad movies" I mean adhering to the guidelines in the For the Strength of Youth booklet.) So far, the only valid suggestion I've received is to write it to the tune of "Pioneer Children" and say at the end something like, "And walk, and walk, and walk, and walk away." I have to write this by tomorrow morning! It can be painfully bad, as long as it is funny and gets the point across... any ideas?

I decided to help her out. Here is what I posted under the alias of "Sara":

Nephi's Courage #120

The Lord commands his children to remember who we are
Be above the filthy, and try to raise the bar
Movies and media can teach us how to sin
We must be courageous and not let Satan win.

Chorus:

To that show, I won't go
Even if friends want me to
I know the Spirit won't remain
If bad things I should view

I can be clean and pure
Bad movies I won't endure
I'll be who God wants me to be
and I'll always watch just "G"

Verse 2

The world has given us movies
to relax and entertain
If we are not careful then they can fry our brain
We start to think that what's bad is really good
And we fall in traps of not doing what we should

Chorus Repeated.

This was her response to my post:

While I got a lot of ideas... Sara's wins!! Who are you?? An angel? An answer to my prayers?!?!? Seriously, I don't care how much people make fun of blogging, in this situation, it has pulled through. Sara - GREAT JOB! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Erik and I practiced it a bunch last night, and with a few minor changes, it works perfectly!