Priesthood

I've been studying President Packer's talk from the last conference for the last couple weeks. It's called "The Power of the Priesthood" and it's got me thinking a lot. It's an incredible talk and I would encourage you all to read it. I've been impressed with how much the Priesthood is about doing the things that Christ would do and standing in His place. Given my writing kick as of late, I wrote a poem about my thoughts on what it means to hold His Priesthood:

To do the things that He would do;

To be aware of the silent few;

To use my hands in His behalf

To bless the wheat and tare and chaff;

To use my strength and heart and time

To aid His children on their climb;

To lift the weary, wandering soul

Closer to Him, that is my role.

To say the things that He would say

Both in my prayers and throughout the day;

To choose my words most carefully

So those who hear know whose I be;

To seek His guidance every day

At work, at school, or at play;

To praise His name, but even more

Let my deeds reflect whom I adore.

To be the places He would be;

To serve His children cheerfully;

If ever I'm inclined to sin

I pray my better part will win;

I promise to devote my days

to build His kingdom in simple ways;

Bearing His priesthood isn't free

And this is what it means to me.

My Pledge

So, I've been thinking a lot lately and been on a bit of a writing kick. Here's the latest:

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me
Still work and hope for victory.To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I'm alone
As when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or sham,
Exactly what men think I am.To leave some simple mark behind,
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show,
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.

I always want to become better than I am. The effort will always be there. :)