Considered the preface to the D&C, the first section, subject of the second Come Follow Me lesson, argues for the importance of revelation in the restoration, and for recognizing that the Lord reveals his word through “the weak and simple.” Just like with the restoration itself, the call for our attention to revelation is a frequent topic in LDS poetry—indeed revelation of new scripture is a significant element that set the church apart from traditional religious groups.

 

 

 

Hearken, O Ye People

This call for our attention is often likened to the call to those in battle, where the attention of each one is critical to success. As with many hymns in our hymnal, the military metaphor is used in the following poem to suggest urgency and unity, not violence and destruction, while employing the rhythmic beat from military music to influence hearers to participate. D&C 1 likewise seeks not just attention, but participation.

 

Zion’s Standard Is Unfurled

by E. Davis

Brothers, while the battle rages,

Do not shun the fight;

Stand erect and face the danger—

Strike with all your might.

CHORUS.

          Strike for home, for wives and children,

          Shout these words to all the world,

          Every tribe, and tongue, and nation:

          “Zion’s standard is unfurled.”

While the enemy is angry,

Let your arm be strong,

Better die amid the battle

Than to yield to wrong.

Chorus.

Who so base as now to falter,

‘Fraid to meet the foe,

When the enemy advances

Dare not strike a blow?

Chorus.

Wait not till the foe is vanquished,

And the hard work’s done;

Help your comrades in the conflict—

Spare the laurels won.

Chorus.

Lift your voice up like a trumpet,

Truth will yet shine clear;

All true men will then applaud us—

What have we to fear?

Chorus.

‘Tis not selfish motives prompt us,

Nor a fleeting prize,

In God’s kingdom we’ve enlisted,

Harken and be wise.

Chorus.

Soon our King will come to aid us

With a heavenly band;

Brave men only will with Jesus

On Mount Zion, stand.

Chorus.

1886

 

The Lord speaks through His servants, including latter-day prophets.

This poem should be familiar. Regardless, it’s a good match for this section of the lesson, since it argues that listening to the words of prophets leads to blessings, deliverance and eternal perfection. You might take this as an opportunity to read the poem closely, instead of simply singing it as we regularly do.

This poem is also an example of the very productive group of English poets who heavily influenced our literature from the 1840s to the 1870s, in part because the US-based venues for publishing LDS materials were largely silenced during the first years of the exodus to Utah.

 

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

by William Fowler

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet

To guide us in these latter days.

We thank thee for sending the gospel

To lighten our minds with its rays.

We thank thee for every blessing

Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.

We feel it a pleasure to serve thee

And love to obey thy command.

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us

And threaten our peace to destroy,

There is hope smiling brightly before us,

And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.

We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.

We’ve proved him in days that are past.

The wicked who fight against Zion

Will surely be smitten at last.

We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.

We’ll praise him by day and by night,

Rejoice in his glorious gospel,

And bask in its life-giving light.

Thus on to eternal perfection

The honest and faithful will go,

While they who reject this glad message

Shall never such happiness know.

1863

 

The Restoration helps me face the challenges of the latter days.

This sonnet is one of my favorites —  Muller brilliantly makes the restoration personal while also tracing its influence through Church history to us today. Like this section suggests, Mulder provides us a continuing restoration, like that which comes each spring, that inspires us to be truly Christian.

 

Restoration

by William Mulder

Perhaps I’ll never see the Father face to face,

But I have bowed my head where Joseph knelt

And, moving lips in silent prayer, have felt

The quiet rapture of that sacred place.

The trees in their familiar whisperings

Bore witness, and the very atmosphere

Confirmed what I dared only hope before:

I felt the truth the inward vision brings.

The glory of the grove still lights my way

As it once lighted Carthage, Liberty,

Nauvoo, the westward march – and constantly

The vision shines upon the church today.

The Restoration comes each spring again

To bring me close to God and to my fellow men.

1941

 

The Lord uses “the weak and the simple” to accomplish His work.

The idea that the Lord uses the weak and simple to advance His work is not new to the restoration, since it appears in the Bible. But identifying Joseph Smith as one of those “weak and simple” clothes the idea in flesh, and makes it personal for us. John Jacques, another of the mid-19th century English poets who heavily influenced LDS literature, found the same thing in this hommage to Joseph Smith (another sonnet, FWIW), who, he says, in weakness eclipses mightiest fame.

 

Joseph Smith

by John Jacques

All earth was dark, the lights were fitful, dim;

They made thick “darkness visible,” no more;

Reveal’d to none the safety path, nor o’er

The pure heart shed one gleams to comfort him;

Till Joseph came, not with diviner’s wand

Nor “Presto” marvels, but the Priesthood true,

And rent the vail, that men again might view

The truths, the glories which exalt beyond.

O how he strove and toll’d to bless mankind,

Mapped out the good old road all Saints have trod.

The world, inhospitable, savage, blind,

All fiercely thrust his spirit back to God.

God honor’d Joseph Smith, a common name,

And this proud age acknowledges with shame

That weakness there eclipses mightiest fame.

1859