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TODAY'S THEME
I often begin these posts with a picture and a scripture. This time my Today's Theme is typified by the following famous poem by Longfellow.
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The Arrow and The Song
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| --courtesy FreeFoto.com |
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow, still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
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| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
I prefer the first video, but the second video takes an interesting approach to the same great poem. I actually enjoy both of them.
I obtained the above from one of Mormon Soprano's blog posts. I have long enjoyed viewing her posts. This one was particularly special to me because I have long loved this poem by Longfellow. Thank you, Mormon Soprano. Here is her blog's URL in case you don't have it:
http://mormonSoprano.com/
I think the following scripture can be compared to the song that Longfellow describes when he wrote: I breathed a song into the air. . . We should, perhaps change it to: I breathed a sacred scripture into the air. . . (and found it again in the hearts of many friends throughout the world through the internet.)
The Book of Mormon, 1Nephi: 10:2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—
3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.
4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.
5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.After you have read that Song from the Heart of the Lord through the ancient Nephite prophet, Nephi (a Book of Mormon Scripture), you are prepared to read another recent article from the Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah - U.S.A.) which demonstrates to us how the kinds of things which were prophesied in the name of the Lord by the Prophet, Nephi, sometime between 600 and 592 B.C. are taking place right now in July, 2011 in Central America, in Guatemala, some of whose citizens' ancestors date back to the time the Prophet Mormon abridged the records of his people to form the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (I am referring to the final verse of the scripture above, verse 14! These descendants Mormon mention go back through their Mayan ancestors to the several nations found in Central America in Mormon's time,( 400 A.D.) and then back much further to their ancestor Lehi, father of Nephi who, although born in Jerusalem, was led by the Lord to the Western Hemisphere and lived in Central America beginning in about 592 B.C. )
Please click on the following link to read the Deseret News article mentioned above: In it we are told how, with the help of other members of the LDS Church these Guatemalans, many of whom are also members of that church are solving their deforestation problem. (There is a second page to read after you have read the first. Also if you will click on the photo showing the girl carrying wood you will be able to view two other photos, including one of the modern stove which uses less wood to do its job.)
Guatemalan Families Benefit
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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Lamanites of Our Day in Guatemala are being Assisted with their Vital Needs by Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (a continuation) -Post 43d. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).
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Neil Birch
