Then With Joy Each Heart will Swell

Come ye children of the Lord, Let us sing with one accord.
Let us raise a joyful strain To our Lord who soon will reign
On this earth when it shall be Leansed from all iniquity,
When all men from sin will cease And will live in love and peace.

Oh, how joyful it will be When our Savior we shall see!
When in splendor he'll descend, Then all wickedness will end.
Oh, what songs we then will sing  To our Savior, Lord, and King!
Oh, what love will then bear sway  When our fears shall flee away!

All arrayed in spotless white, We will dwell mid truth and light.
We will sing the songs of praise; We will shout in joyous lays.
Earth shall then be cleansed from sin.  Every living thing there-in
Shall in love and beautry dwell, Then with Joy each heart will swell.

--James H Wallis

This was our intermediate congregational hymn today in Sacrament Meeting.  It was an awesome meeting with two wonderful ladies from our ward speaking on how they had prepared themselves to attend the temple for the first time to recieve their endowments.  I'm thinking that this hymn was chosen as it talks of being arrayed in spotless white, as we are in the temple, and it speaks of that wonderful peace and love that we can feel in the temple, the house of the Lord.   I love these thoughts, but I also I love these words for the of our hope and anticipation of the second coming of our Savior.    "Oh how joyful it will be When our Savior we shall see!"  Can you imagine the Joy that will swell the hearts of those who will be privileged to be here at that time?  Can you imagine the Joy that will sell our hearts when we are privileged to return home to His presense?

Heaven is Here

I just finished reading an amazing book:  Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson.  Her story, her faith, and her courage are amazing.  If you are looking for an inspirational read, look no farther. You should also check out her blog:  http://nieniedialogues.com/

Siblings

Here we are in all of our glory . . . my siblings and I.  For almost 50 years we have been family . . . (some have been around for a year or two longer than that) . . . with a 13 year spread between oldest and youngest.  There have been good times and trying times, work and play and laughter and yes, squabbles too.  At times we have been scattered from east to west, even from England to the Philippine Islands, but yesterday we were blessed to all
be together for a dear nephew's wedding.  I'm grateful for my siblings.  I love and look up to each one of them and are grateful for all they do for me and for my family. 

And here are the two that started it all almost 63 years ago:  (Along with one of the many great-grandchildren) 

Yes, I am certainly blessed to be a part of this family!

Help us, Lord, to win the Fight

Thought for the day:

O Thou Rock of Our Salvation
LDS Hymnns  258

We a war 'gainst sin are waging
We're contending for the right
Ev'ry day the battle's raging
Help us, Lord, to win the fight.

Gather round the standard bearer
Gather round in strength of youth.
Every day the prospect's fairer
While we're battling for the truth.

--Joseph L. Townsend
   1849 - 1942



"Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. . . . yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation."

2 Nephi 4: 28, 30