{"id":53804,"date":"2026-06-22T06:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=53804"},"modified":"2026-06-19T18:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T00:29:12","slug":"cfm-6-29-7-5-thoughts-and-poetry-for-if-the-lord-be-god-follow-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2026\/06\/cfm-6-29-7-5-thoughts-and-poetry-for-if-the-lord-be-god-follow-him\/","title":{"rendered":"CFM 6\/29-7\/5: Thoughts and Poetry for \u201cIf the Lord Be God, Follow Him\u201d<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Lord be God, follow him\u201d seems obvious, doesn\u2019t it? We assume we have the answers to the questions behind this statement. We assume we know whether the Lord is God or not, and we assume that what we are doing is following the Lord. Yet it\u2019s so easy to be wrong on these counts. Knowing if the Lord is God requires a testimony. And getting a testimony is not necessarily a trivial thing. It requires work. Meanwhile, following the Lord isn\u2019t easy, nor is it supposed to be. If we are to become like our Heavenly Parents, the process can\u2019t be easy. It\u2019s like walking over a rocky path in bare feet.<\/p>\n

So what kind of people do we need to become? What do we need to do to follow Him? Several of the sections of this lesson address elements of what we need to do. And the others talk about the idea of following the Lord.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Christlike leaders serve the people they lead.<\/h2>\n

Service for the benefit of others is certainly an element of what we need to become. While serving others is something we all do, it is the basic nature of Christlike leaders. A call to lead is a call to serve.<\/p>\n

Many of Eliza R. Snow\u2019s poems are long explications of gospel principles, or discourses to a particular audience. In this case, Snow\u2019s instructions are about the duties of the priesthood, especially the relationship of those duties to the gospel plan. Since these teachings are directed to the priesthood, they include how leaders should proceed \u201cTo benefit and bless their fellow race.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Instructions of the Priesthood<\/h3>\n

by Eliza R. Snow<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
The sun was set, and twilight\u2019s shady mood<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Spread a brown halo, ting\u2019d with solitude.<\/p>\n
\n
As day\u2019s last glimmer flitted down the west<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Life\u2019s stirring scenes demurely sunk to rest\u2014<\/dd>\n
Soft silence lent its contemplative charm,<\/dd>\n
And all conspir\u2019d the mental pulse to warm\u2014<\/dd>\n
From world to world imagination wander\u2019d<\/dd>\n
While thought, the present, past, and future ponder\u2019d.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
As I was musing with desire intense<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
That some kind guardian angel might dispense<\/dd>\n
Instruction: lo! a seraph form appear\u2019d\u2014<\/dd>\n
His look\u2014his voice my anxious spirit cheer\u2019d.<\/p>\n
\n
It was the Priesthood\u2014that which held the key<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
T\u2019 unlock the portals of eternity:<\/dd>\n
And with o\u2019erflowing heart I took my seat<\/dd>\n
An enter\u2019d student at th\u2019 Instructor\u2019s feet.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u201cWhat wouldst thou me?\u201d the seraph gently said:<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
\u201cTell me\u2014and wherefore hast thou sought my aid?\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
I then replied, long, long I\u2019ve wished to know<\/dd>\n
What is the cause of suff\u2019ring here below\u2014<\/dd>\n
What the result of human life will be\u2014<\/dd>\n
Its ultimatum in eternity.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
With firm, attentive mind\u2014with list\u2019ning ear<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
I watch\u2019d and waited ev\u2019ry word to hear,<\/dd>\n
As thus he said: \u201cTis not for you to pry<\/dd>\n
Into the secrets of the worlds on high\u2014<\/dd>\n
To understand the first, the moving cause\u2014<\/dd>\n
Councils, decrees, organizations, laws,<\/dd>\n
Form\u2019d by the Gods pertaining to this earth<\/dd>\n
Ere your great Father from their courts came forth,<\/dd>\n
The routine of his ancestors to tread\u2014<\/dd>\n
Of this new world to stand the royal head.<\/p>\n
\n
But then the more immediate cause of this<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
World\u2019s degradation, and its wretchedness,<\/dd>\n
Is disobedience<\/i>: sorrow, toil and pain,<\/dd>\n
With their associates follow in its train.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
This life\u2019s an ordeal, and design\u2019d to prove<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Fraternal kindness and parental love.<\/p>\n
\n
This earth\u2019s your Father\u2019s workshop: what is done\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
All that\u2019s attain\u2019d, and what achievements won<\/dd>\n
Is for the parents\u2014all things are their own\u2014<\/dd>\n
The children now hold nothing but by loan.<\/dd>\n
Whatever some may claim in proud pretence;<\/dd>\n
No one has yet obtain\u2019d inheritance\u2014<\/dd>\n
E\u2019en Abraham has no possession gained<\/dd>\n
Of what, in promise, he thro\u2019 faith obtain\u2019d;<\/dd>\n
And all that greedy hands accumulate<\/dd>\n
Is yet the Father\u2019s, not the child\u2019s estate.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
Then shame, O shame on all the strife you see<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Here, in the cradle of life\u2019s nursery\u2014<\/dd>\n
The green-eyed jealousies\u2014the frosty hate<\/dd>\n
Which carnal, avaricious thoughts create!<\/dd>\n
How vain that phantom of mortality\u2014<\/dd>\n
Th\u2019 untimely form of human dignity!<\/dd>\n
\u2019Tis soon enough for infant lips to talk<\/dd>\n
Of pow\u2019r and greatness, when they\u2019ve strength to walk\u2014<\/dd>\n
\u2019Tis soon enough for children to be great,<\/dd>\n
When they can boast of self-possess\u2019d estate.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
It will not matter whatsoever\u2019s gain\u2019d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Or what on earth, may seem to be obtain\u2019d;<\/dd>\n
But \u2019tis important that each one prepare<\/dd>\n
To be with Christ a joint\u2014an equal heir:<\/dd>\n
Faith and obedience and integrity<\/dd>\n
Will the grand test of future heirship be.<\/dd>\n
It matters not what station here, you fill,<\/dd>\n
If true and faithful to the Father\u2019s will:<\/dd>\n
As you prepare yourself on earth, will be<\/dd>\n
Your place\u2014your portion in eternity.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
As disobedience fill\u2019d the world with pain,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Obedience will restore it back again.<\/dd>\n
The base perversions of my pow\u2019rs produce<\/dd>\n
All the strong engines, satan has in use,<\/dd>\n
And qualify the sons of men to dwell<\/dd>\n
With his dark majesty, the prince of hell.<\/dd>\n
All that obey the pow\u2019rs of darkness, go<\/dd>\n
With those they follow, to the world below.<\/p>\n
\n
Then list to me\u2014my precepts all obey;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
The Gods have sent me in this latter day<\/dd>\n
Fully commission\u2019d upward all to lead<\/dd>\n
Who will my counsels and instructions heed\u2014<\/dd>\n
Who seek in ev\u2019ry circumstance and place<\/dd>\n
To benefit and bless their fellow race\u2014<\/dd>\n
Who seek their Father\u2019s interests to enhance;<\/dd>\n
His glorious cause upon the earth advance:<\/dd>\n
Whether below, they much or little claim;<\/dd>\n
If they exalt and magnify His name,<\/dd>\n
And in His service labor faithfully,<\/dd>\n
They\u2019ll have a fulness of his legacy.<\/p>\n
\n
Each faithful saint is an acknowledg\u2019d heir,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
And as his diligence, will be his share<\/dd>\n
When God, a patrimony shall bestow<\/dd>\n
Upon his sons and daughters here below.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
Adam, your God, like you on earth has been<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Subject to sorrow in a world of sin:<\/dd>\n
Thro\u2019 long gradation he arose to be<\/dd>\n
Cloth\u2019d with the Godhead\u2019s might and majesty.<\/dd>\n
And what to him in his probative sphere,<\/dd>\n
Whether a bishop, deacon, priest, or seer?<\/dd>\n
Whether his offices and callings were,<\/dd>\n
He magnified them with assiduous care;<\/dd>\n
And by obedience he obtain\u2019d the place<\/dd>\n
Of God and father of this human race.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
Obedience will the same bright garland weave<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
As it has done for your great mother, Eve,<\/dd>\n
For all her daughters on the earth, who will<\/dd>\n
All my requirements sacredly fulfil.<\/p>\n
\n
And what to Eve, tho\u2019 in her mortal life<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
She\u2019d been the first, the tenth, or fiftieth wife?<\/dd>\n
What did she care when in her lowest state,<\/dd>\n
Whether by fools, consider\u2019d small or great?<\/dd>\n
\u2019Twas all the same to her\u2014she prov\u2019d her worth\u2014<\/dd>\n
She\u2019s now the Goddess and the queen of earth.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
Life\u2019s ultimatum unto those that live<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
As saints of God, and all my pow\u2019rs receive,<\/dd>\n
Is still the onward, upward course to tread\u2014<\/dd>\n
To stand as Adam and as Eve, the head<\/dd>\n
Of an inheritance, a new-formed earth,<\/dd>\n
And to a spirit race give mortal birth\u2014<\/dd>\n
Give them experience in a world like this,<\/dd>\n
Then lead them forth to everlasting bliss,<\/dd>\n
Cloth\u2019d with salvation and eternal joy,<\/dd>\n
Where high perfection dwells without alloy.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
Thus said the seraph:\u2014Sacred in my heart<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
I cherish all his precious words impart;<\/dd>\n
And humbly pray I ever may, as now,<\/dd>\n
With holy def\u2019rence in his presence bow.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
The field of thought, he open\u2019d to my view,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
My wonder rous\u2019d and admiration too:<\/dd>\n
I marvel\u2019d at the silly childishness<\/dd>\n
Of saints, the heirs of everlasting bliss\u2014<\/dd>\n
The candidates for Godheads and for worlds<\/dd>\n
As time on time eternities unfurls.<\/dd>\n
I felt my littleness, and thought, henceforth<\/dd>\n
I\u2019ll be, myself, the humblest saint on earth;<\/dd>\n
And all that God shall to my care assign<\/dd>\n
I\u2019ll recognize and use as his, not mine,<\/dd>\n
Wherever he assigns to me a place<\/dd>\n
That will I seek with diligence to grace;<\/dd>\n
And for my parents, wheresoe\u2019er my lot,<\/dd>\n
To work with all my might, and murmur not,<\/dd>\n
I\u2019ll seek their highest int\u2019rest, till they come<\/dd>\n
And as a faithful daughter, take me home.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\n
\n
As thus I mused, the lovely queen of night<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
\u2019Neath heav\u2019n\u2019s blue canopy, diffus\u2019d her light;<\/dd>\n
Still brighter beams o\u2019er earth\u2019s horizon play\u2014<\/dd>\n
A cheering prelude to approaching day,<\/dd>\n
When truth\u2019s full glory will o\u2019erspread the skies<\/dd>\n
And the bright \u201cSun of Righteousness arise.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1856<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An invitation to sacrifice is an opportunity to exercise my faith in Jesus Christ.<\/h2>\n

We all know that sacrifice is required of us \u2014 not for the sake of sacrifice itself, but to actually help others. It\u2019s not pleasant, of course\u2014if you enjoy it, it\u2019s probably not sacrifice. And, it\u2019s also not always clear that the sacrifice will actually improve things\u2014we need faith in Christ to believe that our sacrifice will actually be for the better.<\/p>\n

I like this poem, which plays on the hymn we know so well to show how our everyday can be sacrifice. I like the statement that \u201clove was sweet and lightened the load.\u201d May we find that love.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go<\/h3>\n

by Hazel S. Washburn<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
“It may not be on the mountain’s height,<\/dd>\n
Nor over the stormy sea,”<\/dd>\n
But oh, ’twas’ a woman that sang it now<\/dd>\n
With many babes at her knee.<\/dd>\n
And the manifold burdens of mother and wife<\/dd>\n
Were bringing the lines of care;<\/dd>\n
And the way seemed longer, the day less bright,<\/dd>\n
And the cross was harder to bear.<\/dd>\n
But love was sweet and lightened the load,<\/dd>\n
Though the flower of sacrifice bloomed by the road,<\/dd>\n
So still she sang, “Though the way be hard,<\/dd>\n
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord.”<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1960<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Lord be God, follow him.\u201d<\/h2>\n

With these practices, we can figure out how to follow the Lord. And by putting them in practice, we can develop a testimony of the Lord, and His role in our lives. While its not easy to get a testimony of Christ, it is possible by simply following what the Lord teaches.<\/p>\n

In this poem we find a testimony of Christ, one that has come from a lifetime of experience.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

I Would Follow Thee<\/h3>\n

by Mildred Wentworth<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Jesus Christ, Redeemer, too,<\/dd>\n
I would leave all and follow you.<\/dd>\n
Thou art the light upon the hill;<\/dd>\n
A beacon guiding me until<\/dd>\n
My time upon this earth is past.<\/dd>\n
And, kneeling at thy feet at last,<\/dd>\n
I hear thy sweet commanding voice<\/dd>\n
Say, \u201cCome to me. Rejoice, rejoice.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1962<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Lord often speaks in quiet, simple ways.<\/h2>\n

Hearing the Lord is always an issue for his children here on earth. If we are going to follow Him, need to be able to hear him, to listen to what he teaches us. Hearing him is crucial to following Him.<\/p>\n

In the following poem, Annie Palmer gives us a program for what to do as we hear the Lord and seek to follow Him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant Heareth<\/h3>\n

by Annie D. Palmer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth,<\/p>\n
\n
And heareth but to obey\u2014<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Be this the prayer that shall rule my life<\/p>\n
\n
Till I rest for the judgment day.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Lord, speak through thy chosen prophet<\/p>\n
\n
The message I wait to hear,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Or speak by thy Spirit’s prompting<\/p>\n
\n
And make thy purpose clear.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth,<\/p>\n
\n
And dark though the way may be,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
And all unknown the journey<\/p>\n
\n
Thy wisdom has planned for me;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Though often my feet grow weary,<\/p>\n
\n
Though sometimes my strength be spent,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Yet speak to me, gracious Master,<\/p>\n
\n
Unfolding thy wise intent.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth,<\/p>\n
\n
And of my earthly store<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Would render to thee thy measure<\/p>\n
\n
Pressed full and running o’er;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Whatever of mine, kind Master,<\/p>\n
\n
May be thy kingdom’s need,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
It is thine if thou speak, for surely<\/p>\n
\n
Should my faith have outgrown my greed.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth,<\/p>\n
\n
And what thou would have me do<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
If it need the power of my busy brain,<\/p>\n
\n
Or the labors my hands pursue;<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Be my calling the work of a lifetime,<\/p>\n
\n
Or the task of a passing day,<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n
Yet speak, for thy servant heareth,<\/p>\n
\n
And heareth but to obey.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

1915<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIf the Lord be God, follow him\u201d seems obvious, doesn\u2019t it? We assume we have the answers to the questions behind this statement. We assume we know whether the Lord is God or not, and we assume that what we are doing is following the Lord. Yet it\u2019s so easy to be wrong on these counts. Knowing if the Lord is God requires a testimony. And getting a testimony is not necessarily a trivial thing. It requires work. Meanwhile, following the Lord isn\u2019t easy, nor is it supposed to be. If we are to become like our Heavenly Parents, the process can\u2019t be easy. It\u2019s like walking over a rocky path in bare feet. So what kind of people do we need to become? What do we need to do to follow Him? Several of the sections of this lesson address elements of what we need to do. And the others talk about the idea of following the Lord.   Christlike leaders serve the people they lead. Service for the benefit of others is certainly an element of what we need to become. While serving others is something we all do, it is the basic nature of Christlike leaders. A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":53856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latter-day-saint-thought"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3790.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53804","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=53804"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53862,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53804\/revisions\/53862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}