{"id":50587,"date":"2025-07-06T06:00:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=50587"},"modified":"2025-07-04T19:44:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T01:44:47","slug":"cfm-7-14-7-20-poetry-for-i-will-lead-you-along","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2025\/07\/cfm-7-14-7-20-poetry-for-i-will-lead-you-along\/","title":{"rendered":"CFM 7\/14-7\/20: Poetry for \u201cI Will Lead You Along\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
The introduction of the \u2018United Firm\u2019 in 1832 was, I think, an attempt to provide needed structure to the Church and its members. Any organization provides roles for individuals and ways that those roles interact with each other and the outside world. As a result, the scriptures covered by this week\u2019s Come Follow Me lesson address our roles in society and how we should act to improve the Church and make ourselves more like our Heavenly Parents.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
God gives knowledge to people who seek it.<\/h2>\n
Our roles are based on knowledge\u2014knowledge not only of what we are supposed to do and for who, but also of who we are and what values we should use in our lives. Key elements of this knowledge come from God, and finding and believing in this knowledge is part of what makes us a saint, as early British member Louisa Bradford describes in the following:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’ll be a Saint<\/span><\/h3>\n
by Louisa Bradford<\/p>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint, in Israel’s God believing,<\/dd>\n
Whose power and wisdom fram’d the universe;<\/dd>\n
From whom I’m life, and health, and strength receiving:<\/dd>\n
His matchless praises, Oh! my soul rehearse.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014His Son, my Saviour loving,<\/dd>\n
He my affection’s prime object shall be;<\/dd>\n
And Oh! what care I for the world’s reproving,<\/dd>\n
He loves, and manifests His love to me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014the Holy Ghost beseeching,<\/dd>\n
In this frail tabernacle to abide;<\/dd>\n
I thirst for His divine effectual teaching<\/dd>\n
Into all truth my willing soul to guide.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014the men of God obeying,<\/dd>\n
With heavenly wisdom, light, and knowledge fill’d;<\/dd>\n
No proud self-will, nor stubbornness displaying,<\/dd>\n
To them will I in meek submission yield.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014for that same faith contending,<\/dd>\n
Deliver’d once to Saints of early days;<\/dd>\n
The faith the holy martyrs died defending,<\/dd>\n
E’en in the lighted faggot’s fearful blaze.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014in Jesus’ knowledge growing,<\/dd>\n
Unto salvation, that can make me wise;<\/dd>\n
Not to the flesh, but to the Spirit sowing,<\/dd>\n
That I eternal life may realize.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014with pure and genuine feeling,<\/dd>\n
Loving the people of Jehovah’s choice;<\/dd>\n
To whom He is His purposes revealing,<\/dd>\n
Who knowing, cheerfully obey His voice.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014the glorious Gospel spreading;<\/dd>\n
From house to house the “printed word” I’11 bear.<\/dd>\n
With sisters dear, reproach or scorn not dreading,<\/dd>\n
And warn my neighbours; for the end is near.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014out of great Bab’lon fleeing,<\/dd>\n
To Zion’s land, all other lands above;<\/dd>\n
The mighty God, my lorn condition seeing,<\/dd>\n
Will shortly open up my way in love.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I’ll be a Saint\u2014\u2014and go on to perfection;<\/dd>\n
And, should I sleep before the Lord appears,<\/dd>\n
May I have part in the first resurrection,<\/dd>\n
And live and reign with him a thousand years.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
1852<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What was the United Firm?<\/h2>\n
A line can be drawn from the early efforts of the \u2018United Firm\u2019 to the later efforts to form a \u2018United Order.\u2019 Both efforts involved going beyond the traditional bounds of what a Church was to create structures for society that brought society closer to Zion. And both systems were promoted by the Church, and members were asked to participate in the effort.<\/p>\nHenry Maiben<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
While Henry Maiben, author of the following poem, didn\u2019t find and join the Church in England until 1851, he was one of that group of British poets who had a lasting impact after his move to in Utah. Maiben was also a lyricist, actor and painter, one of the leading actors in the Salt Lake Dramatic Company. His poetry appears in LDS publications from the Millennial Star in England to the Contributor, prior to his death in 1883. The following elegy to the \u201cUnited Order\u201d suggests what is necessary to live in the kind of Zion society that both the Order and the United Firm foresaw.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The United Order<\/span><\/h3>\n
by Henry Maiben<\/p>\n
\n
Hark! the sound goeth forth; \u2018tis the good shepherd\u2019s voice.<\/dd>\n
Ev\u2019ry Saint who is wise will take heed and obey.<\/dd>\n
Let us prove we have wisdom and light, by our choice,<\/dd>\n
As we turn in good faith from our idols away.<\/dd>\n
Consecrating ourselves and our strength to the Lord,<\/dd>\n
With our means, and in fact, all that\u2019s under our care,<\/dd>\n
And uniting together with joyful accord<\/dd>\n
In the Order of Zion, so charming and fair.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u201cThy kingdom come\u201d should be our prayer,<\/dd>\n
\u201cThe will be done\u201d our constant care.<\/dd>\n
That we may all in chorus sing,<\/dd>\n
\u201cWe hail thee, Jesus Christ, our King.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Let us love one another, and strive to be one<\/dd>\n
In our efforts to build up the Kingdom of God;<\/dd>\n
That His will may on earth and in heaven be done,<\/dd>\n
Then we\u2019ll live without fear of the chastening rod.<\/dd>\n
We will beautify Zion, our homes we\u2019ll adorn,<\/dd>\n
And we\u2019ll cultivate freely choice flowers and fruits;<\/dd>\n
We\u2019ll not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn,<\/dd>\n
But with kindness control human beings and brutes.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u201cThy kingdom come\u201d should be our prayer,<\/dd>\n
\u201cThe will be done\u201d our constant care.<\/dd>\n
That we may all in chorus sing,<\/dd>\n
\u201cWe hail thee, Jesus Christ, our King.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Oh! how pleasant \u2018twill be, when we\u2019re joined heart and hand,<\/dd>\n
In our earnest endeavors for mutual good;<\/dd>\n
For then love, joy and peace will prevail o\u2019er the land,<\/dd>\n
And the way to be happy be well understood.<\/dd>\n
and whenever we meet on occasions like this,<\/dd>\n
to give vent to our feelings, to God we\u2019ll sing songs;<\/dd>\n
Realizing that he is the source of our bliss,<\/dd>\n
And our heartfelt thanksgiving unto Him belongs.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u201cThy kingdom come\u201d should be our prayer,<\/dd>\n
\u201cThe will be done\u201d our constant care.<\/dd>\n
That we may all in chorus sing,<\/dd>\n
\u201cWe hail thee, Jesus Christ, our King.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
1875<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I can help \u201cadvance the cause\u201d of Christ and His Church.<\/h2>\n
A familiar issue in any organization is the tension between the obligation of each individual to the organization and the individual\u2019s needs for himself and his family. Of course, there isn\u2019t a final answer for this tension, except that each individual should probably support both the organization and himself. This is also true of the Church and of the \u2018cause of Christ\u2019, at least as far as that cause requires organization. So we are all involved in building and advancing these Church\u2014making it more capable of serving others.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure that the poet in this poem is talking only of the Church. It reads to me like he is saying that the acorn is himself\u2014an individual. But I can also see reading this poem as referring to the Church, an acorn growing to fill the earth. Although Edward S. Shaw\u2019s poetry appeared occasionally in LDS publications, I haven\u2019t been able to find out much about him.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Acorn<\/span><\/h3>\n
By Edward S. Shaw<\/p>\n
\n
Dear friends, behold this tiny fruit:<\/dd>\n
It seems a wondrous thing,<\/dd>\n
That, wrapt up in an acorn\u2019s shell,<\/dd>\n
Should live a forest king.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
But plant it in a genial soil,<\/dd>\n
And as the year rolls round,<\/dd>\n
Then may you see a hardy plant<\/dd>\n
Appear above the ground.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Observe its growth: it rises high;<\/dd>\n
Its limbs stretch far and wide;<\/dd>\n
The acorn has become a tree;<\/dd>\n
The tree, the woodland\u2019s pride.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
And though a boy, I am a Saint,<\/dd>\n
And hope to be a man,<\/dd>\n
To grow in grace and understand<\/dd>\n
The gospel\u2019s mighty plan, \u2013<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
To build up temples to the Lord, \u2013<\/dd>\n
To spread his truths abroad;<\/dd>\n
And on Mountain Zion, when redeemed,<\/dd>\n
To stand \u2014 a son of God.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
1860<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Lord will lead me along.<\/h2>\n
Hannah Last Cornaby<\/small><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
In addition to knowledge, we often need direction to help us in our roles in the Church and similar organizations. If nothing else, we need to be led to a starting point. Then, revelation is needed because our knowledge doesn\u2019t cover all possible situations, and because the environment and our understanding changes over time. So part of following the Lord is learning to follow his lead.<\/p>\n
Utah Poet Laureate Hannah Last Cornaby discusses this need in the following poem. Cornaby was a native of England who joined the Church with her husband in 1852 and immigrated to Utah the following year. Best known for her hymn \u201cWho\u2019s on the Lord\u2019s Side?\u201d (Hymns #260), she also published a book, Autobiography and Poems<\/i>, in 1881.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lead Me To the Rock<\/span><\/h3>\n
by Hannah Last Cornaby<\/p>\n
\n
When my spirit with sorrow is overwhelmed,<\/dd>\n
Then, from out of the depths comes the cry,<\/dd>\n
As my earthly friends leave me, lead me I pray,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
As my children, by death, are called from my arms,<\/dd>\n
To their Father and Mother on High;<\/dd>\n
Then, all lonely and weak, I pray to be led,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
In affliction\u2019s dark hour, when heart and flesh fail,<\/dd>\n
And temptations my faith sorely try,<\/dd>\n
Then, more earnest I cling, for strength and defense,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
If prosperity sheds its light on my path,<\/dd>\n
And kind friends, to encourage, are nigh,<\/dd>\n
In thanksgiving and praise, I ever am led,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
When I seek at earth\u2019s cisterns, my thirst to assuage,<\/dd>\n
And find them all broken and dry,<\/dd>\n
Then lead me I pray, for the life giving draught,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Or, when persecution and trouble assail,<\/dd>\n
And their arrows are swift hurling by,<\/dd>\n
I fear not the shafts; while for shelter I\u2019m led<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
E\u2019en death, the last enemy cannot destroy,<\/dd>\n
While upon a strong arm I rely;<\/dd>\n
The Priesthood eternal is leading me on,<\/dd>\n
\u201cTo the rock that is higher than I.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
1881<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I can receive all things with thankfulness.<\/h2>\n
Working within any organization requires working well with others, and recognizing the value of their work and roles. This not only includes our co-workers in the gospel, but also the blessings we receive from God. A practice of thankfulness is vital to our lives.<\/p>\n
Zion\u2019s poetess, Eliza R. Snow, weighs in with this response to friends across Utah who paid for her nine month-long tour of Europe and the Middle East in 1872.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Responsive to My Magnanimous Friends<\/span><\/h3>\n
by Eliza R. Snow<\/p>\n
\n
Impress\u2019d with kindness which exhales<\/p>\n
\n
Beneficence unsought;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
I fain would speak, but language fails<\/p>\n
\n
To grasp the swelling thought.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
E\u2019en gratitude, deep cherish\u2019d word,<\/p>\n
\n
Unable to express<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
The feelings in my bosom stirr\u2019d,<\/p>\n
\n
Dissolves in thankfulness.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
I go with humble, grateful heart<\/p>\n
\n
For every kindness shown:<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
May Heav\u2019n its richer gifts impart<\/p>\n
\n
To each and every one.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
I go depending on the care<\/p>\n
\n
Of God, our Father God;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
For which, I ask your faith and prayers,<\/p>\n
\n
While I remain abroad.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
The call to serve God matters more than where I serve.<\/h2>\n
A very human problem with any organization is the focus we often have on our place in the hierarchy. Too often we apply the hierarchy to the value of the work done, and giving more credit to those higher in the hierarchy, despite the frequent, clear teaching in the scriptures against this.<\/p>\n
Here, Eliza R. Snow recognizes the hierarchy, specifically Queen Victoria, who was the most powerful woman in the world when this poem was written. But Snow points out that the Queen has been presented with something of far greater worth, and urges her to use her influence to promote it further.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Stanzas on the Presentation of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria<\/span><\/h3>\n
by Eliza R. Snow<\/p>\n
\n
Of all the monarchs of the earth<\/p>\n
\n
That wear the robes of royalty\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
She has inherited by birth<\/p>\n
\n
The broadest wreath of majesty.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
From her wide territorial wing<\/p>\n
\n
The sun does not withdraw its light;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
While earth’s diurnal motions bring<\/p>\n
\n
To other nations day and night.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
All earthly thrones are tottering things,<\/p>\n
\n
Where lights and shadows intervene;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
And regal honour often brings<\/p>\n
\n
The scaffold or the guillotine.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
But still her sceptre is approv’d:<\/p>\n
\n
All nations deck the wreath she wears;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Yet, like the youth whom Jesus lov’d,<\/p>\n
\n
One thing is lacking, even there.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
But lo! a prize possessing more<\/p>\n
\n
Of worth, than gems with honour rife\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
A herald of salvation bore<\/p>\n
\n
To her the words of endless life.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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