Misty Morning - Poem

Misty Morning

Shroud-wrapped majesty

rests patiently

as hovering dew

gathers into glistening

droplets

that trickle soft

into thirsty

 open caverns--

delicate

t

h

r

e

a

d

s

of life.

Janice Harten

1 Apr 2026

Leap Frog - Poem

 

Leap Frog

 

Said one frog to another

   Let’s travel cross this field together

Croak, leap past rock, then hold

   Does not matter fast or slow        

 

Again the first said to the other     

   Now crouch down then I’ll leap over

Said the second to the first

   Then I’ll jump while you’re at rest

 

Bounding past each obstacle

   Fitful journey, loose control

Tail to head and head to toe

   Over, under, through they go

 

Eventually field’s grass edge they find

   O’er gravel, now pond on lily wind

Each companion to the other

   Joyful leaping life together

 

 

Janice Harten

Value - Poem

Value -

Value of one life?

Christ’s sacrifice

By Janice Harten

8/20/2008

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten

 All rights reserved

Heart Transplant - Poem

Heart Transplant

Heart transplant

mine but not mine

Gifted life

for a second time

Grandchild - testament

of love divine

Janice Harten

June 14, 2010

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Zip-Line

A swirl of activity pulls me from sitting beside my father's hospital bed, to witnessing the naming and blessing of a granddaughter.  The thread of life touches one generation to the next.  Like riding a zip-line, I slide from one area of the tree-topped canopy to the other.  It takes my breath away.

Life - Poem

Life

One son kneels to bless broken bread and tiny cups of water
Walking toward me, another son, the sacred food he offers
I gratefully drink and slowly partake of the emblems and remember

The Savior’s life, given, that I might live and thirst again, never

Delivering life's saving ordinance into my waiting hands
The Lord entrusts imperfect youth, who do not fully understand
The meaning of these symbols and the power that they hold

In saving my rebellious, stubborn spirit, and ever repentant soul

Life of my Spirit enabled, through Christ’s priesthood ordinance

Performed by my own sons, become young men at my next glance

Each of us giving life for life, as the Lord’s called and humble stewards

Through me they came from Heaven’s throne, and through them we travel homeward

Janice Harten

January 20, 2002
Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Jordan River Utah Temple - Never Thirst

I believe the Jordan River temple is named for an actual river that flows through the Salt Lake Valley.  And I also believe, that river is named after the Jordan River which flows between the Sea of Galilea and the Dead Sea.

Water is the life blood of the earth.  Just like the blood that courses through our veins, rivers and lakes enable life to exist on this planet.  And as I listen to news accounts about space exploration, it seems scientists are intent on finding evidence that water did or does exist on any one of the planets around or beyond us.  As humans, we are hoping to find evidence that there is life somewhere, in addition to earth.

Christ once sat beside a well in Samaria, and asked for a drink of water.  Responding to his request, a Samaritan woman learned one of his most profound teachings.

"Jesus...said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."  John 4: 13,14

It is no wonder that Christ uses the metaphor of water to remind and invite us to partake of his gift.


Spiritual revelation flows like water.  One of the privileges I seek by attending the temple, is revelation or knowledge from the Lord.  I go with a prayer in my heart and mind, and am asking to learn.  My husband described his experience in the Jordan River Temple as a flow of ideas, as though a water faucet had turned on in his mind.  I would describe mine as drop by drop or a tiny trickle, but small streams are also beautiful.

It was different stepping back into a large temple, after having visited so many smaller ones. 

Quiet Dawn - Poem

Quiet Dawn -

Quiet dawn contemplation

Whispering shadow of inspiration

Dream transition to

Life's decision

Janice Harten

Sept 4, 2010