What does it mean to have a “willing mind”? My first thought is that it is somehow about our attitude, how we confront or approach problems. But despite the prevalence of ‘positive mental attitude’ sayings and motivational posters, most people act as if their emotional state is something beyond their control. We act like we believe that outside circumstances determine whether we are happy or sad. But, while we act that way, the scriptures suggest we do something different, because “The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind.” Thinking about it, that seems really difficult.

In addition, for most of us, there is something in attitude that is paradoxical. Positive attitude leads to actions our society doesn’t necessarily associate with success. We are supposed to respond with love to anger or hate. We are taught to have faith even when we can’t see the possible positive result. And we are supposed to forgive when wronged, even when there’s not apology or repentance. I’m sure you can think of other, similar paradoxes.

 

“Forgive one another.”

Forgiveness is one of these paradoxes—because we often see it as about change in the person we are forgiving instead of about change in ourselves. Forgiveness is more about eliminating the rancor inside us, to avoid damaging our souls.

It feels like we already know this poet, perhaps because his name gives us a very specific mental image. If that isn’t enough connection to the 1960s, he was also born in Blackburn, Lancashire, known to Beatles fans for the non-existent holes. Bond’s poetry mostly appears in the Millennial Star during his return to the U.K. for a 5 1/2 year long mission from 1853 to 1859. In this poem he praises what forgiveness does for us, in addition to any benefit to the one forgiven.

 

Forgiveness

by James Bond

How sweet the charm that CHARITY imparts,

And throws around our erring, human hearts;

It dries the evils that man’s breast may tear,

And calms, subdues the passions reigning there.

FORGIVENESS! What a grace to be possessed!

And he that has it may be doubly blessed;

It sheds sweet peace around, dispelling strife,

And stills the troubled sea of earthly life.

FORGIVENESS wields the chain of brotherhood,

And makes mankind approximate to God;

Thus may we gain the attributes of heaven,

And learn how to forgive and be forgiven

1854

 

The Lord asks for my “heart and a willing mind.”

What is the attitude needed to build Zion? How do members learn to have the attitude needed? For the church during the middle of the 20th century this was a common concern. In fact, the message of this poem might seem familiar, maybe similar to the hymn “Carry On,” also by Ruth May Fox, most often remembered today as the 3rd President of the YLMIA, now the Young Women.

Arise, O Youth

by Ruth May Fox

Arise, O Youth, and follow in the steps

Of that devoted band whose call divine

To teach God’s truth and spread His marvelous work

Was answered by a willingness sublime.

O, blessed memory are they! As did

Elijah’s mantle fall upon his friend

With two-fold power, so may their loyalty,

Their faith, upon the Youth of Israel descend.

With such an heritage, O, Zion’s Youth,

With dreams prophetic of a glorious goal,

And God’s transcendent power to guide your steps

You cannot fail the whisperings of your soul.

The coming years are yours, O, valiant Youth,

In which to test your knowledge, strength, and skill,

Regenerate this suffering, sin-torn world

And turn men’s hearts to do the Father’s will.

The crisis of the ages knocks aloud,

Is pleading at your door for help and trust;

For you, O, Youth, to batter down the walls

Of prejudice and selfishness and lust.

Arm yourselves with justice, love, and truth,

You’re sure to win – your Father’s at the wheel;

Arise and shine; your armor waits for you,

And untold glory shall reward your zeal.

To build the towers of Zion is your right

From their resplendent spires your songs shall ring

‘Tis yours to hear the standard of the Lord

And yours to shout the triumph of the King.

1936

 

“The heart and a willing mind”

I think an answer to some of the paradoxes we see is resolved through preparation. If we want to control our attitudes instead of letting our attitudes simply be reactions to circumstances, that takes preparation. Being ready to forgive others requires preparation. If we want to build spirituality, we have to prepare spiritually.

This poem goes beyond “did you think to pray” to “did you think before you prayed,” putting even more emphasis on preparation. I like the idea—while improvising has it’s place, so does taking a thoughtful approach considering not only what are our concerns but also how the Lord might respond to our needs.

 

Is Our Mind Prepared for Prayer

by Andrew S. Hyrup

Do we think before we pray,

Or do we do it in this way,

Just bend down and say the word

And expect all from the Lord.

Or dear brother, sister, friend

When, before the Lord we bend

That our mind is so prepared

And we know the Lord is there

For to give a listening ear,

And our humble prayer to hear.

O what joy and peace is there

When we so engage in prayer,

In the name of Christ, the son,

Who for us salvation won.

Therefore, brother, sister, friend,

Let us think before we bend

For the Lord knows what we say,

Yea, before and while we pray;

Then with wisdom he imparts

What lies nearest to our hearts.

1911

 

Zion shall be “an ensign unto the people.”

I suppose following “an ensign unto the people” across a few thousand kilometers requires a different kind of willingness and mental preparation. In addition, one-time acts, while significant, are different from the life-long changes that followed the pioneer’s months-long feat of endurance.

Zion’s poetess, Eliza R. Snow, praises this endurance and the attitude required to compete the trek.

 

For the Pioneers

by Eliza R. Snow

Hail, ye mighty, noble chieftains!

Hail, ye faithful pioneers!

Pow’rs unseen your footsteps guided,

‘Twas Jehovah led you here!

CHORUS.

Zion’s banner-—Freedom’s ensign,

Broad and gloriously unfurl’d,

Waves amid the Rocky Mountains,

Heav’nly beacon to the world.

From our birthplace, home and country,

Lo! a people brave and free,

Driv’n by men—-by Gods directed

Here, in search of liberty.

In the hiding place of Israel—-

In the chambers of the west—-

Crown’d with nature’s rich abundance,

In the vallies we are blest.

Justice here directs the sceptre—-

Truth, and love, and friendship meet;

Smiling peace her downy carpet

Proffers to the stranger’s feet.

Here let virtue be respected—-

Industry and useful toil:

Youth and innocence protected,

Like the plants of heav’nly soil.

Brigham Young, the Lord’s anointed,

Lov’d of heav’n, and fear’d of hell;

Like Elijah’s on Elislia,

Joseph’s mantle on him fell.

Mighty men compose his councils—-

Inspiration makes them wise;

None can circumscribe the measures

Zion’s counsellors devise.

Here the hosts of Israel gather—-

Abram’s seed from ev’ry land;

Thro’ the Priesthood’s light preparing

With the Lord of Hosts to stand.

God will come to bless his people–

Jesus Christ and Joseph too;

Come to introduce a scenery

Great and glorious, grand and new.

1851

 

The kingdom of God on earth prepares the world for the Savior’s return.

As long as the trek was, the endurance of this life and, for that matter, the eternities make the difficulties of the journey from Nauvoo to Nibley seem trivial. So if the trek required preparation, how much more is required for the Kingdom of God?

One of our lesser-known early poets, Mary Page looks at the difficulties to be endured for the Kingdom in this poem.

 

The kingdom is the Lord’s

by Mary Page

The kingdom is the Lord’s

He’s governor on earth

We shall obey his word

Rejoicing in the truth,

For Jesus’ glory shall shine forth,

And make us kings and priests on earth.

Behold the earth doth morn,

For sin infests her plains,

Beneath her load she groans,

How long shall sinners reign,

Come O, thou glorious son of God

And push thy victories far abroad.

Confusion o’er the face

Of all the land is spread,

By God’s redeeming grace

From sin it shall be freed,

Then let thy glorious gospel shine,

Through every land in every clime.

See Israel far from home,

In foreign lands they roam

Behold them weep and mourn,

O when shall they return;

Hasten the time O Lord when they

As anciently shall blessed be.

The Lord will bring them home

Rejoicing in his love,

For Israel shall return,

No more from God to rove;

For they shall know his holy word

And view the glory of their Lord

1841

 

The Lord knows the thoughts of my heart.

Which comes first? Does our attitude control our thoughts? Or are our attitudes influenced by our thoughts? More likely, in my view, our attitudes and thoughts influence each other, along with outside influences, many of which are also outside of our control. Of course God knows all this and, I think, gives us grace for that we can’t control, and that we don’t understand we should control, and often for that we do and later regret.

One of the most tragic of LDS poets, Sarah Carmichael, explores these regrets in the following poem, interlacing the ‘book of hours’ as if it were a book of our lives with the events of our lives and our very hearts and minds. Carmichael’s poetry flashed brilliantly in the late 1850s and 1860s, but by the end of the latter decade she succumbed to a mental illness and stopped writing, although she lived for another 30 years.

 

Twilight Thoughts

by Sarah E. Carmichael

Slowly turn the silver hinges

Of the gold-lined book of hours,

Closing down its sable cover,

Thickly wrought with silver flowers;

Awed, and humbled, thought it kneeling

Where the earnest hearted stay;

Breathing out its purest feeling

On the last white leaf of day.

Slowly turn the silver hinges—

I regret there is no line

Half so bright as the sun gilding

In this tiny book of mine.

Blotted words and lines uneven

Clasped within its fold must stay;

I regret them, I regret them!

On the last white leaf of day.

Slowly turn the silver hinges;

And I deem the angels look

With a sad and earnest pity

On my poor, thought-pencilled book.

They have gazed on records brighter,

And, my soul can only say,

May they bless each worthier writer,

On the last white leaf of day.

1864