{"id":50835,"date":"2025-08-04T06:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T12:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=50835"},"modified":"2025-08-03T17:15:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:15:43","slug":"cfm-8-11-8-17-poetry-for-establish-a-house-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2025\/08\/cfm-8-11-8-17-poetry-for-establish-a-house-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"CFM 8\/11-8\/17: Poetry for \u201cEstablish \u2026 a House of God\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
This makes me think of the end of \u2018Fahrenheit 451\u2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps the most memorable verse in D&C 88 is 119, which establishes the \u2018School of the Prophets\u2019 and encourages our cultural orientation towards education: \u201cOrganize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.\u201d Kirtland\u2019s \u2018School of the Prophets\u2019 was just the first of many efforts by the Church and by church members toward faithful education and education for faith.[1]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While education is certainly central here, the point of the verse is not just education, but instead establishing a \u2018house of God\u2019\u2014a place where we find peace and learn how to become like our Heavenly Parents. D&C 88 includes many teachings that lead to our learning and faith.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jesus Christ offers me peace.<\/h2>\n

Learning is simply easier when we have peace. While that might mean quiet for most people, peace is more often simply a lack of worry and distraction. For our education it is the feeling that all is well, so that we don\u2019t need to focus on feeding and housing ourselves and our families and we can instead focus on learning. In a real sense it comes from faith; i.e, trust that we don\u2019t face a raging tempest; trust that everything is ok.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been able to identify the author of this poem\u2014no one quite fits. But the peace the poet, Mat. Thomas, describes is what we need\u2014peace while Jesus speaks to us, teaching us \u201cright from wrong\u201d. And Thomas is certainly right that we often \u2018borrow trouble\u2019, we sometimes \u201crepine \/ In [our] trials.\u201d But sometimes the difficulty is determining when we are repining in our trials, and when our trials come from outside and need relief.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Peace, Be Still<\/span><\/h3>\n

by Mat. Thomas<\/p>\n

\n
Jesus spake unto the throng\u2014<\/dd>\n
Teaching them the right from wrong,<\/dd>\n
Of the duties that belong<\/dd>\n
To mankind.<\/dd>\n
He the words of life did tell,<\/dd>\n
As the shades of evening fell<\/dd>\n
O’er that land where Jewry dwell<\/dd>\n
By the sea.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
“Let us to the other side,<\/dd>\n
There awhile we will abide,”\u2014<\/dd>\n
Said the Lord. Then o’er the tide<\/dd>\n
The Chosen sailed.<\/dd>\n
Christ awearied, fell asleep,<\/dd>\n
In the boat upon the deep;<\/dd>\n
He was in his Father’s keep-<\/dd>\n
Naught he feared.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Soon the waves were lashed to spray,<\/dd>\n
Like the clouds ere break of day,<\/dd>\n
Driven on in fiercest play<\/dd>\n
By the wind.<\/dd>\n
Then the Twelve with fear awake;<\/dd>\n
In their trembling tones they spake<\/dd>\n
To the Lord, as o’er him break<\/dd>\n
Angry seas:\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
“Master, wake or we shall die<\/dd>\n
Whilst thy soul in sleep doth lie;<\/dd>\n
Tempest-tossed, the boat runs high\u2014<\/dd>\n
Save us, Lord.”<\/dd>\n
Jesus raised his Godlike hand,<\/dd>\n
As it were a magic wand,<\/dd>\n
Spake the words\u2014divine command\u2014<\/dd>\n
“PEACE, BE STILL!”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Quiet reigned, in might supreme,<\/dd>\n
Christ indeed a king did seem,<\/dd>\n
From his face shone love’s bright beam<\/dd>\n
On the Twelve.<\/dd>\n
“Exercise a living faith.<\/dd>\n
God ye worship, not a wraith.”<\/dd>\n
“He will answer,”\u2014yet he saith\u2014<\/dd>\n
“Yield belief.”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0* * *<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Troubled soul, do not repine,<\/dd>\n
In thy trials, light shall shine;<\/dd>\n
Christ’s command is ever thine,<\/dd>\n
Meant for thee.<\/dd>\n
When the tempest of thy woes,<\/dd>\n
And the agonizing throes<\/dd>\n
Of thy ills around thee close,<\/dd>\n
Nigh to death,\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Leave all thoughts of earth behind:<\/dd>\n
Look unto the Lord, so kind,<\/dd>\n
And his words bear oft in mind:<\/dd>\n
“PEACE, BE STILL!”<\/dd>\n
Think how calm was Christ that night.<\/dd>\n
How he changed the dark to light;<\/dd>\n
Now as then faith wins the fight:\u2014<\/dd>\n
PEACE, BE STILL!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1898<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Light and law come from Jesus Christ.<\/h2>\n

The ultimate source of the \u2018light and law\u2019 we need to become like God is Jesus Christ. While we do learn a lot from the examples and teachings of others, the environment of light and the laws we should follow for learning come from Him. As with the idea of peace in the previous poem, this environment is important for helping us to learn. The following poem explores the environment we should seek.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There is a light requires the mind<\/span><\/h3>\n

by ??<\/p>\n

\n
There is a light requires the mind,<\/p>\n
\n
To God’s dear children given;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
And those who walk therein may find<\/p>\n
\n
It points the way to heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
All those who walk within this light,<\/p>\n
\n
They are from darkness driven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
It breaks the shades of deepest night,<\/p>\n
\n
And leads the soul to heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Come all who now the light behold,<\/p>\n
\n
Seek grace, your souls to enliven;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Depend, the spirit will unfold,<\/p>\n
\n
The blessed way to heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Poor stubborn sinners never quite,<\/p>\n
\n
Behold the way so even,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Who disregard the joyful light,<\/p>\n
\n
That points the way to heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
It is because they darkness choose,<\/p>\n
\n
And still persist in evil,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
The Gospel light they still refuse,<\/p>\n
\n
That points the way to heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Sinner obey, receive within,<\/p>\n
\n
Free grace, compared to leaven;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Extenuating every sin,<\/p>\n
\n
Prepares the soul for heaven.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1845<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDraw near unto me.\u201d<\/h2>\n

I guess both of the previous sections about the environment come down to the idea of \u201cdrawing near unto me.\u201d Finding how to get close to the Savior allows us to be in an environment that helps us learn. In the following poem, English immigrant Hannah Tapfield King (who wrote the first complete LDS epic poem), describes how drawing close to the Savior shows the \u2018counterfeit\u2019 of this world and how becoming close to the Savior \u201cdraws us up to crowns on high.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, my Savior, I am thine<\/span><\/h3>\n

by Hannah Tapfield King<\/p>\n

\n
Yes, my Savior, I am Thine!<\/dd>\n
To follow Thee, I left my home,<\/dd>\n
To fill this yearning soul of mine,<\/dd>\n
Whose spirit voice says; “come, Lord, come.”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Yet hush my soul that secret voice,<\/dd>\n
Wait passive thy Redeemer’s time,<\/dd>\n
Then shall His Saints indeed rejoice,<\/dd>\n
And through eternal ages shine.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
The grandeur of this mundane sphere,<\/dd>\n
Though dazzling to the mortal eye,<\/dd>\n
But shows the counterfeit is here,<\/dd>\n
To draw us up to crowns on high.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1883<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I can become clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.<\/h2>\n

An important element of learning is being willing to admit when you are wrong and change your way of thinking. While some think of the atonement as involved with punishment for sin, a vital part of the atonement is this change of mind and spirit, to no longer want to think or do what doesn\u2019t fit the truth. In this sense, the Atonement is a vital part of our education here on earth.<\/p>\n

Susa Young Gates, daughter of Brigham Young and the editor of the Relief Society Magazine penned the following hymn for the sacrament, showing a kind of humility about how much we have managed to change: \u201cO, who can tell? \/\u00a0Only the angels know that well.\u201d I suspect that this kind of humility about how well we\u2019re able to change is an important part of learning. Perhaps you are different, but I think my own progress comes in fits and starts, learning a little at first, and then after struggling more, learning better in the same subject. How well am I doing? \u201cOnly the angels know that well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sacramental Hymn<\/span><\/h3>\n

by Susa Young Gates<\/p>\n

\n
Clean are the hands with which I take<\/dd>\n
This broken bread and wine.<\/dd>\n
No stain of earth\u2019s unceasing toil<\/dd>\n
Pollute these hands of mine.<\/dd>\n
Yet, are they clean? O, who can tell?<\/dd>\n
Only the angels know that well.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Pure is the heart with which I plead,<\/dd>\n
As I these emblems share,<\/dd>\n
That Jesus will my sins remit<\/dd>\n
And hear my fervent prayer.<\/dd>\n
Yet, am I pure? Ah, who can tell?<\/dd>\n
Only the angels know that well.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1919<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSeek learning, even by study and also by faith.\u201d<\/h2>\n

The LDS culture emphasizes education, in part because of scriptures like this. The School of the Prophets that began with D&C 88 was followed by schools everywhere the LDS people went\u2014a University in Nauvoo, the University of Deseret, BYU, a network of colleges in many of the places settled in Utah and the intermountain west, and a long string of less formal educational organizations, such as the 1855 Polysophical Society started by Lorenzo Snow.<\/p>\n

At the core of all of these organizations are the teachers who have sought learning, by study and by faith, to help educate others. The following poem praises these teachers who \u201cplace high value on the human soul\u201d and use their efforts to raise others to a \u201chigher plane.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To a Teacher<\/span><\/h3>\n

by Alta J. Vance<\/p>\n

\n
She lived above the world<\/dd>\n
And caught up many to her higher plane.<\/dd>\n
Between her and those who walk in clay<\/dd>\n
There was a bond<\/dd>\n
If they but wished to grow.<\/dd>\n
She placed high value on the human soul<\/dd>\n
And recognized its limitless possibilities.<\/dd>\n
For a dozen years she taught me;<\/dd>\n
For a life time I shall recall her teachings;<\/dd>\n
And I shall hope my heaven<\/dd>\n
Will give me further learning<\/dd>\n
At her feet \u2013<\/dd>\n
To hear her voice and know again<\/dd>\n
Her majesty of soul.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1952<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1] I feel like I should point out that this is one of the places where the current U.S. administration is so against the gospel. The administration\u2019s attack on education is evil.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Perhaps the most memorable verse in D&C 88 is 119, which establishes the \u2018School of the Prophets\u2019 and encourages our cultural orientation towards education: \u201cOrganize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.\u201d Kirtland\u2019s \u2018School of the Prophets\u2019 was just the first of many efforts by the Church and by church members toward faithful education and education for faith.[1]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":50885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2895,2904,53,2462,50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-come-follow-me-currculum","category-doctrine-and-covenants","category-latter-day-saint-thought","category-poetry-arts","category-sunday-school-lesson-doctrine-and-covenants"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2660-e1754256100458.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50835"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50894,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50835\/revisions\/50894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}