There is a story in the Book of Mormon that I love, Nephi and Lehi who are the son's of Helaman remember cousel their father had given them when he said, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." It says when these things happen, It doesn't say they might happen, or they maybe could happen. It says that WHEN THE DEVIL SHALL SEND FORTH THESE THINGS. It gives us a great promise as well though, It that if we build our foundation on Jesus Christ we wont fall. It's impossible. He will not let us fall if we put our trust in him. He can't lie, he is a perfect God. A life built on The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the sure foundation we need to have in these times. With the devil's tools all around beating upon us. Sickness, sin, temptation, television, movies, politics, and families being torn. There is a Prophecy in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 that talks about what the people will be like in the last days that you could look up and read as well. http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/2-tim/3.2?lang=eng#
Now I'd like to move on to a great poem that I have had memorized for some time, and it always gives me hope. It too is about having a firm foundation. It's called "The Mighty Oak" by, Jonny Ray Ryder.
A mighty wind blew night and dayIt stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?
The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway
But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me
Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew
This poem always puts a very clear picture of a big old oak tree that has been beaten and battered. Leaves are gone, branches broken, bark torn away, and yet the tree is still standing. The Gospel can and will do the same thing for us if we accept and live it the best we can. No one is except from trials and the devils awful winds, but with the foundation of Christ we will always remain standing. I hope all of you who read this will memorize this poem as well. It is something that can help you through dark times. I know that if we live what we proclaim to believe that God will bless our lives. Love you all. -Elder Austin Gene Goff
You always do such meaningful posts on here. Thank you lil bro. I want to try to memorize it. I think this post was for me. LOVE YOU!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this poem, which is sad. It is an incredible poem that goes right along with Helaman 5:12 (one of my favorites). When our roots are deep in the foundation of Christ, we will not fail. Working on memorizing the poem now ;)
ReplyDeleteThis poem is amazing, Elder Anderson used to read it all of the time and I never got a copy. Ill have to print one out. Nice blog!
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I love this poem, it is very true!! Yesterday was one of the hardest days I've had this year! so reading this poem today was perfect!! Like everyone said since the day I decided I wanted baptised everything started to fall apart!! I keep getting challenges apon challenges put before me, but I know I can and will stay strong!! This poem was just a little reminder to keep my faith!! Thanks : )
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