“Not my Will, but Thine be Done”

Even before we came to live on the earth, we lived on a different plane, and a great plan was unrolled before our very eyes—a plan that would help us return to live with God.

I’m not really a poet – that was Russ’ specialty – but about ten days ago a friend who teaches the adult Sunday school class in our branch asked me if I would write a brief poem about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, based on the Savior’s words during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although not quite up to par with Russ’ poems, I think it came out all right. And Beky liked it enough to ask for a copy; I told her I would publish it here, and here it is. I hope you like it:

                                                                                               

“Not my Will, but Thine be Done

 Long ago, before the Earth was born,

A council was called, and we were there.

 

 Our Father chose one to come to Earth

And save mankind,

So that we, if willing, could return.

 “Thy will be done, the glory be thine,”

he said, “not mine.”

 

He came to the Earth

– the same he had made –

And lived a perfect life,

to show us the way.

 

He loved the Earth, its flowers and trees,

Walking and teaching of his Father’s love

to all who in Him believed.

 

And when the time came

for his mission on Earth,

He felt the pull of his mortal birth;

He wished not to go:

“Not my will,” He said,

“but thine be done.”

 

He hung from that wooden cross,

And bore our shame,

So that eternal life we might claim.

 

Now, with our Father and Jesus

We can be one,

If not our will, but His be done.

 

© Mary Purpari July 5, 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Painting by Derek Hegsted 

“I” is for I am a Child of God

“I have said, ye are all gods; and all of you are children of the most high.”¹

One of the most misunderstood doctrines of the LDS Church is that we state that we ARE indeed children of God, with all of his blessings awaiting us as such. We lived with Him before coming to live on this earth which was created for us²; he knew each of us personally,³ and sent us here so that we could learn to be like him.⁴

We read in Genesis that we were created in his own likeness and image.⁵ He loved each of us so much that he was willing to let us come to earth, to learn and have experiences that would help us become more like Him. He knew that it would be difficult and that there would be pitfalls and detours that would tempt us, and he knew that we would lose our way at times; because of this, because of his love, he provided us with instructions that would help us get back on the road that leads back to his presence: the scriptures.

One of my favorite hymns states ^♫I am a child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.Teach me all that I must do, to live with him some day.^♪♪6

 

¹Psalms 82:6

²Job 38:7

³Jeremiah 1:5

⁴Psalms 8:4-9

⁵Genesis 1:26-27

⁶LDS Hymns 301; Naomi W. Randall