Stripling Warrior - Poem

Stripling Warrior

Fathers sent sons forth in their stead,

   Their swords, in covenant earth, laid to rest.

Old hatreds purged; their hearts made clean,

   Nobel sacrifice and faith; in Christ redeemed.

Untested youth, chose to follow God's plan,

   Life and freedom defended within foreign land.

Their straight, fearless valor, a sight unseen.

   This was the stripling warrior creed.

Their strict obedience to every command,

   Rallied and inspired other soldiers to stand

On Christ's mighty power, and boldly lean.

   This was the stripling warrior creed.

Not one of two thousand sixty sons perished,

   Teachings of their faithful mothers they cherished.

Strengthened and shielded by angels' unseen

   They witnessed what miracles God did achieve.

True, exact, sober, obedient, upright,

   Pure in heart, faithful, valiant in fight.

Never before witnessed and never since seen,

   This is the stripling warrior creed.

Janice Harten

September 2018

Alma 24:15-19, Alma 53:20-21, Alma 57:25-26

Knockout - Poem

Knockout

Loud, Boisterous

and bloviating Anger

rush from one corner

and crowd into my space

Pushing, jousting, jabbing

out of order

demanding to be heard

shouting "Justice!"

With red-faced lather

and puffed-up blather

shoving Peace aside

causing Pride with Enmity

to colide

While in opposing corner

blissful Hope

patiently chooses

strategic moment

And with deft side-step

followed with repeated

padded Faith

applies leverage

to disable, disorient

subdue opponent

then grasp them in firm hold

and whisper --- let Peace

unfold

Unbalanced

on the ropes and then

collapsed to the mat

exhausted

Ten counts declare

punctured Pride and Anger

knocked out

High Hope

united ringside

with

persistent Peace power

remain the victor

Janice Harten

22 May 2024

Drifts - Poem

Drifts-

Faith’s plow

Moves blowing drifts

Of fear and doubt

That melt away

With warm sun ray

By Janice Harten

Sept 16, 2008

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.
 All rights reserved

Fasting - Portal Into Heaven

Every first Sunday of each month is set apart as a day to fast, pray and give.  Like the Savior, who went into the mountains to pray and draw close to his father for guidance and strength, I am seeking today for blessings for myself and blessings for others who are both near and far from me.

It is early morning and my heart is filled with concern for family members who are battling for their lives in many different ways.  Some are facing life threatening cancers and illness.  Others struggle against addictions and spiritual disease.  Some face financial uncertainty or others depression and loneliness.  Seeing all these things together is quite overwhelming and I ask myself, what can I do to help or can I only look on?

For instance, my husband's niece has a 22 year old daughter with advanced brain cancer.  She has undergone two surgeries and a third was recommended this past week.  A large cyst has filled the cavity where the mass was removed in her last surgery.  Her parents have asked us to pray that this cyst would reduce on its own.  

Sitting here, I asked myself, what is the purpose of these experiences?  And immediately the answer came in the form of another question, "If we did not experience these trials would we feel the need to call on God?"

And so I pray for my own faith to grow and for blessings of health, comfort and relief to come to those I care about.  Perhaps each prayer opens a small portal into heaven where the angels sit to do God's bidding.  And one by one these ministering angels or special guardians deliver power and healing or understanding to our hands and hearts.

Trials - Marking Stones

Some of the most meaningful times of my life are those when I was experiencing times of greatest trial.  My mind returns to those moments again and again to review how I felt and to see how I grew and was blessed to overcome and find my way through.  They are moments when I can see with clarity where I turned for help, or I look in amazement and gratitude on those who came to my rescue.  My personal trials have become marking stones that line my pathway and as someone once said, they are the experiences that have taught me the most about myself and helped me become acquainted with God.

Twenty three years ago, today, I was in the midst of such a trial.  Our youngest child was born three months premature.  He was a tiny 2lb 3oz and spent his first two months in an incubator.  His body was a dark purple when he was born and his undeveloped lungs hushed his first cries.  The first time I touched him through the incubator window, he grew calm, and I knew he knew I was there.  The first time I held him I could see the struggle and determination in his eyes.  I knew he was on earth for a purpose and he would fight to live.  Most of all, I remember the feelings of peace and reassurance that came from God, that he had a plan and he knew each one of us.

Life's lessons occur every day, which cause my heart to be stretched with compassion for others as I see them also going through difficult experiences.  Most recently, I comforted my daughter after she experienced the loss of a much wanted pregnancy.  After wiping away the tears, I reminded myself that the Lord is in the details of our lives and he feels and knows our innermost tender thoughts and feelings.  And he gently nurtures those feelings within us.

Abraham - Poem

Abraham -

Faith, quickened Abraham

    Grace, granted life within

Hope, born of Sarah’s womb

    Nation, raised from the tomb

 

He staggered not at the promise

    Praised God, ever righteous

Who against all hope, believed

    Seed, eternal life received

Do I stagger, murmur, fall

    Before the Father of us all

Or hope, against all hope unseen

    Eternal life and spirit bring

Janice Harten

Romans 4: 16-25

April 22, 2012

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Vision - Poem

Vision -

With multitudes following, Jesus of Nazareth was heard passing by

   When nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side

And cried, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”

   The nearby crowd rebuked this man of faith, who could not see

Then, he called, more loudly, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”

   Bringing him close, Jesus asked, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?”

“Lord, that I may receive my sight,” was his fervent plea

   Christ commanded, “Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee.”

Being a disciple among growing throngs that continue to follow him

   I wonder how my voice is heard, among many who worship him?

Calling from quiet, hidden places, I plead for the blessings I need

   And feel Him beckon and question, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto Thee?”

Discovering the gift to personal relationship, within closet and private prayer

   When I faithfully call out, he turns about, and looks at my need and despair

My hungering cry, his precious lamb, he listens, directs and feeds

   My vision heals and I behold, his individual love and tender mercy

By Janice Harten

Jul 27, 2007

Luke 18
Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Hannah's Gift - Poem

Hannah’s Gift

With her heart pure and pleading, and seeking God’s blessing

Hannah’s sacred desire, the Lord granted in mercy

From the reaches of Heaven, to her a son came

Dedicated to God’s service, the boy Samuel, she named

While he was yet a small child, Hannah remembered her promise

In the temple she placed him at the feet of the prophet

With gratitude, faith and devotion she went

Her child, returned to the Lord, while still innocent

“Samuel, Samuel,” the Lord called, and searching the boy went

“Listen,” the Prophet Eli counseled, “A voice from Heaven is sent”

Continuous knowledge and instruction came from that time forth

To tutor the young, eager mind, upon the Lord’s course

Prepared to teach, serve and testify, and call to repentance

The children of Israel, and warn of the Lord’s judgements

Did Hannah know the mission and vision to be given her son

When to the temple and prophet, they traveled as one?

Upon a Latter-day journey, travel I and my child

Prepared from infancy to hearken to God’s voice, so mild

Taught and tutored within the sacred walls of home and temple

To prayerfully study and follow, Christ’s loving example

Accepting God’s Priesthood as power in Heaven and Earth

Receiving personal witness of truths taught since birth

Called by a prophet to labor for Gentile and Israelite alike

Inviting all to partake of Christ’s love, truth and light

Oh, Hanna, give us of thy faith and devotion, so pure

That through separation and trials we’ll have strength to endure

And with your gratitude and praise, our hearts be filled

That we joyfully determine to do the Father’s will

By Janice Harten
Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Kona Hawaii Temple - Faith

On the Big Island of Hawaii, lava flows from active volcanoes into the ocean, and the youngest island on this planet continues to be born.  There is evidence everywhere of the birth of this land, as steam continues to seep from underground, and roads, fences, and buildings are built from the jagged volcanic rock.

The Kona temple is no exception.  The fence running behind the temple is constructed of the coarse black lava.  The rest of the grounds are beautifully ornate with tropical orchids and plants.

We visited briefly with a young couple, that attended the same session.  She shared, this trip to the Hawaiian islands was a gift to her and her husband, from some of their friends.  Just recently she discovered she has stage four colon cancer.  So, their friends pulled their money together and gave them tickets and money for this trip.  Her husband was a former police officer in New York, before they moved to Seattle.  They have four children.  When I expressed sympathy for her circumstances, she reassured me and testified of the faith and peace she and her husband felt.  She expressed gratitude for the blessings of the Lord to them.  I was touched by their faith.

I consider my own faith to have been realized, on this island, even before I was born.  The Big Island of Hawaii is where my father served an LDS mission many years ago.  His story is interesting, and is a reflection of the faith he had.  Upon graduating from high school, he joined the Air Force.  World War II was in full swing, and all the young men enlisted.  He served for several years, until the war ended.  Soon after returning home, he proposed to my mother, and they were married in the Manti Temple.  Soon they had a son, and with the assistance of the GI bill, my father began his studies at a university. 

A few years later, his father approached him and asked if he would consider submitting papers to go on a mission for the church.  Because of the war, many young men missed opportunities to serve missions.  His father was serving as a bishop at the time and knew that if his son would accept a calling, then perhaps others would as well.

Dad and Mom discussed and agreed they were willing to serve.  As my father puts it,  he had always wanted to serve a mission, and mother said she wanted to marry a returned missionary.  So, my father was called to serve in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) Mission for the next 2 years, while my mother lived with her in-laws , worked a few hours a week, and raised their son.  During the last month of his mission, my father received special permission for mother to join him in Hawaii, and participate in a 100 year celebration of the church on the island.  My father played the trumpet in a band, and they toured each of the islands to play for programs and dances, and meet with the saints.  These memories lingered with them throughout their lifetime together.

There is an interesting epilog to this story.  My father planned to receive a doctorate degree in the field he was studying.  Upon his return from Hawaii, he decided to apply directly for the doctorate program at a prestigious school on the East coast.  It was unheard of, for someone to be accepted into the doctorate program without a master’s degree.  However, my father persisted, and he was accepted. 

He considered this a direct blessing from the Lord.  In the time that would have normally taken someone to get their bachelor, master and doctorate degrees, he received his bachelor, mission and doctorate degrees.

This act of missionary service, by my parents, set the stage for the rest of their lives, and I was fortunate to become a direct beneficiary of their faith.

Dream A Little

The journey my husband and I have been on this year has been most amazing.  I realize we would not have traveled and experienced all we have, without first allowing ourselves to dream a little and then develop a plan to accomplish it.  In the beginning I didn't know how we would find a way to visit so many different places with our busy schedules, plus pay for accommodations for each trip.  I did not know, at the time, that my husband's work would take him on so many trips across the nation.  We have watched for and taken advantage of every opportunity.

Paying for my expenses was a question I took to the Lord.  The idea came to ask my husband's small business, to pay for my expenses when I am with him on his business trips.  Through the years, I have helped our growing company by doing the bookkeeping, without compensation.  It's been both challenging and rewarding, to experience together the financial ups and downs.   Now, I felt there was a way provided for me to enjoy our travel.

I have discovered, the power of faith provides a way forward.  If I dare to dream and plan, a way will be found to accomplish that dream.  No doubt, I am following the Lord's example in this.  In the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 3: 4-7 we learn, first the Lord developed a plan for creating the world, then he set about building it.  First there was a spiritual creation and then a physical one.  It makes perfect sense.

4 And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were ^acreated, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the ^bheaven and the earth,

 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God,^acreated all things, of which I have spoken, ^bspiritually, before they were ^cnaturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had ^dcreated all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ^eground; for in ^fheaven ^gcreated I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;

 6 But I, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a ^amist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

 7 And I, the Lord God, formed man from the ^adust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the ^bbreath of life; and ^cman became a living ^dsoul, the ^efirst flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word.

The same principle of faith is necessary when choosing to marry or have children.  Some argue that they can't afford to have a family, or they are frightened by the thought of bringing innocent children into this evil world.  But, like in the movie "Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade", the pathway is often not seen by us, until we take the first step.  But, those who are afraid to step, will never find what lies ahead and experience the miracles available to them.

The way and the means become available along the journey.  To our mortal eyes, not everything is seen in the beginning.  We take a step and walk by faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 reads,

(For we walk by ^afaith, not by ^bsight:)