CFM 4/13-4/19: Poetry for “Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord”

Our self-reliance sometimes gets in the way of relying on the Lord, and even inhibits us from trusting in Him—in having faith that He can provide for our salvation. The fleeing Israelites described in Exodus seem to be caught between the armies of Pharaoh and the waters, leaving them to despair. Their salvation didn’t depend on acting to save themselves, but rather on “standing still” and watching the miracle happen. Yes, they had to accept the miracle, and use faith to cross between the waters on dry land, but the miracle itself wasn’t in their control.

In a world where we are taught to rely on ourselves, to solve our own problems, how often do we “stand still” and allow the Lord to “do a great work” in our lives? What does that look like? How do we know when we should act to fix our own problems, and when we should “stand still” and let the Lord do His work?

The Lord can do a “great work” in my life.

Still more confusing is the issue of timing, since sometimes, unlike with the Israelites, the “standing still” happens after we do our part—after we exercise faith and act. For example, Orson Hyde’s mission to the Holy Land in 1842, to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews, didn’t see significant results for decades, most of which was after the lifetime of Hyde and of the Prophet Joseph, who communicated the call to Hyde.

Those results were also after this poem, and the life of the poet, John Lyon, despite his claim that “That mandate’s fulfilled, and long years past and gone / Since that land was restored to old Jacob anon”, likely based on the early colonies of Jews who moved to Palestine in the 19th century. I suspect Lyon would be surprised (and perhaps dismayed) at the subsequent history of the land.

The Prophet

by John Lyon

On a mound where the dark Mississippi rolled past

The Prophet gazed sadly o’er Time’s ruthless blast,

In a vision of thought, to that eastern shore

Where Joshua dwelt in his glory of yore.

He thought of the Mussulman’s tyranny there;

Of the scattered condition, the shame, and despair,

Of Abraham’s seed,—when a voice from on high

Said,—”Joseph; give heed, for their freedom is nigh:

“Prepare, for the brand of their infamy’s gone,

“And the hour of redemption for them rolleth on.

“My name is Jehovah, and who shall withstand,

“The sceptre I sway for my seed in that land.

“Go call forth my servant, e’en Orson my son,

“Anoint him, and send him—my work is begun;

“For the hearts of my people are lifted in prayer,

“And my promise of old is awaiting them there.

“Yes, bless him with power, that the land may partake

“By his word all the blessings I have for their sake;

“That his name, as a branch of the old Olive vine,

“May ingraft them in peace, as dear children of mine;

“That the curse of my vengeance may rest upon those

“Who have laughed at their misery, and scorned all their woes.

“Come Joseph, my son, I will give thee the line

“To measure that land for my blessings divine.

“Through thy voice, by my servant, all hearts I’ll control;

“Though the wicked may rage, and the savage may howl,

“Yet, their curse and their rage will but hasten it on,

“And nations will raise up my people, when known,

“To sit in the courts, where their chiefs legislate;

“That their name may be feared, and their power may be great.

“And the riches of nations will flow unto thee,

“That the land may be bought, and my people made free.

“Let Olivet’s mount be the seat of his blessing,

“For his word shall be law to the ruthless oppressing,

“And the hills shall rejoice, and the valleys be glad,

“And thousands shall sing who in anguish were sad,

“And the streets of Jerus’lem, yet, all thronged shall be;

“With the sound of their young men, and maidens with glee;

“And their old men shall live to the age of a tree.

“Shout, Jerusalem, shout, for thy warfare is o’er,

“And the Pagans who’ve spoiled thee, shall spoil thee no more.”

The voice ceased to speak, while the Prophet amazed,

Saw the clouds gather round where in vision he gazed;

And his eye turn’d again where the deep waters rolled,

While he mused on the message which God did unfold.

Sure it was not the torrent that roared as it passed,

Nor the earthquake, nor scream of the hurricane blast,

Nor the fire, nor the thunder’s loud—rumbling roar,

That he heard, when the Angel intelligence bore.

‘Twas as still as the sound of the Zephyr’s mild breeze,

When the soft breath of morn stirs the leaves on the trees.

“Yes, yes,” he exclaimed, “’twas the voice of the Lord,

“And I go, gladly go, to fulfil ev’ry word.”

That mandate’s fulfilled, and long years past and gone

Since that land was restored to old Jacob anon;

And the spirit now burns in the breast of each Jew

To gather, and purchase, and build it anew;

Till Messiah shall come in the brightness of Heaven,

To clothe them with power, and their sins be forgiven.

1853

The Lord can make bitter things sweet.

The Salvation of the Lord not only comes at surprising, unexpected times, but also in paradoxical ways. In the depths of suffering, we usually don’t see how the suffering can possibly be ‘sweet.’ Even so, the atonement can often make suffering into strength and bitterness into sweetness.

This is what the poet Joel H. Johnson sees ‘inscribed on the cross’—the influence of the atonement in our lives, which makes the bitter sweet and leads us to eternal lives.

I see inscribed upon the cross

by Joel H. Johnson

I see inscribed upon the cross,

In golden letters, “God is love,”

Who sent his Son to save our loss,

And bring salvation from above.

Oh, bear your cross ! the Savior cries,

And follow me of lowly heart;

Be faithful, till you win the prize,

And in my kingdom share a part.

The cross will take your guilt away,

And buoy your fainting spirits up;

‘Twill gild with hope each cloudy day,

And sweeten ev’ry bitter cup.

It gives you life , and heals your woe,

And fills your heart with joy and love;

A glorious guide while here below,

To lead you to the worlds above.

Oh, then be faithful! bear the cross,

And never, yielding, lay it down;

Like Paul, count all things worthless dross,

That you at last may wear the crown.

1882

The Lord offers me daily spiritual nourishment.

The mana the Lord provided to the Israelites in the wilderness is often seen as a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment that we need in life. Many of the practices of spiritual nourishment we are commanded to use — scripture study, listening to sermons and classes, pondering what we have been told — all can be called ‘education’, whether as part of a formal, institutional system or as an independent personal practice. Spiritual education is spiritual nourishment.

In this poem, Richard Haag praises the Schools of Zion as important sources of spiritual nourishment.

The Schools of Zion

by Richard Haag

Come thou, rejoice, inspired, immortal soul,

Free and poetic in thy noble thought;

Sing of the wond’rous grand and glorious work

Which God, Jehovah, in our time hath wrought.

Of all its features—for the field is wide,

The work embraces all that God hath made—

The cause of education stands supreme,

Deep and in richest soil its roots are laid.

Preparing, through the teacher’s patient toil,

The youthful, pure, the eager-learning heart,

To enter in the Holy House of God

Where further light the spirit may impart.

What greater purpose can an object serve,

Than thus to teach each pupil heaven’s call,

That mission-labor wherein each one may

Accomplish in this life most good to all?

And this in youth, the happy spring of life,

When love and faith and brightest hopes abound,

The seed-time, then, when all the souls on earth

The best prepared, most innocent are found.

Then praising Israel’s God in joyous songs,

In strains of deep emotions raise thy voice,

While striving much the talents to improve,

In education evermore rejoice.

For treasured in this cause above all else,

Above the beauties and the charms of youth,

Is that bright pearl of greatest price, that gem

Eternal and divine—the precious truth.

Now let thy vision open to a spot,

A perfect joy, a true a real scene,

Where, what a glory to the latter days,

The prosp’ring schools of Zion may be seen.

Behold the system, as it now unfolds,

Established firmly here through Jesus’ name,

By Him from whom its powers, its growing strength,

Its happy life, and its existence came.

Though in the combat that is being waged

Between the powers of darkness and of light,

The cause is now involved—it also stands

To help in gaining vict’ry for the right.

And while engaged in this great, noble work,

While struggling with the foe in trials severe,

The band of valiant workers still maintain

The holy laws of God without a fear.

Those very difficulties, tests and trials,

Conditions set to injure and destroy,

Have caused it still more vig’rously to grow,

And in its growth have everlasting joy.

Thus is the picture even more sublime,

Attractive, here in this much favored land

Among the Saints of God, the king of heaven,

Protected by His care and mighty hand.

Here on this land of Joseph in the west,

The paradise of mother earth to-day,

The glory of the gods in future time,

When righteousness shall hold unbounded sway.

And now to see the sons of God employed

In many schools of prophets yet to be,

Where Zion’s fairest daughters also meet

So pure and chaste, intelligent and free:

To search, to learn from science and from arts,

To glean from fields of truth on ev’ry side,

How happy, when to all in this pursuit

God’s glory is their greatest joy and pride,

But only this, and not the spirit’s work

Can ever be described by poet’s pen,

And while all is essential pure and grand,

This spirit makes true women and true men.

It is the strength, sweet influence, the life

Of Zion’s schools, while with the burning love,

The peace, the wholesome nourishment it brings,

It reaches in its loveliness above.

The student is thus filled with heavenly zeal,

He finds his school a most inviting place,

There to acquire all useful knowledge taught,

Preparing him for his Redeemer’s praise.

The teacher sees there for himself a school,

To learn the whisperings of the spirit’s voice;

He is inspir’d, and hence through wisdom’s words,

He can in truth’s simplicity rejoice.

To both humility is taught while there,

The Gospel’s love serenely mild is felt,

Which penetrates their hearts, as they in prayer

Before their Father often thus have knelt:

* * * *

O God, Creator, Prince of Life and Peace,

Who in Thy mercy ever liv’st to bless,

May heaven’s light in these our schools increase

To lead us on to purest happiness.

O let Thy spirit with its gentle power

Encourage, strengthen those whom we revere

As leaders of this cause, and ev’ry hour

Uphold and keep us in Thy love and fear.

Rulers and kings shall honor thee our Lord,

The learned with worldly wisdom yet shall be

Confounded by the weak, who through they word

Shall in their efforts be made strong in Thee.

Grant us a crown, though not the world’s applause;

But a reward of choice and highest worth;

Assure us of the triumph of the cause

So marvelously bursting forth on earth.

1890

Jesus Christ is my spiritual rock and living water.

Another kind of spiritual nourishment lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ, often called the “rock of our salvation.” Through our relationship with Christ, we can receive the living water that the scriptures describe.

Here, the poet Hannah Last Cornaby describes how to depend on the “rock of our salvation,” a “rock that is higher than I.”

Lead Me To the Rock

by Hannah Last Cornaby

When my spirit with sorrow is overwhelmed,

Then, from out of the depths comes the cry,

As my earthly friends leave me, lead me I pray,