Experience

Not sure if I already sent this to you guys last week, but I don't think I did. Anyway, it is a poem that I wrote that is based off of Doctrine & Covenants 122, which all you all know, is one of my all time favorite passages of scripture. I hope you like it (because I really can't really write stuff like this, but for some reason I keep trying too.)

Joseph in Liberty Jail by Liz Lemon Swindle

Experience

By Elder Jensen

'Twas a hot day in July,
When I reflected on my past.
As I reflected down memory lane,
My question to God was, "Why?"
"Why did the good never last?"
"Why is all I see suffering and pain?"

While I stewed on this walk
I found myself beside a man.
He gave me a smile, and said "How do you do?
I think it is time you and I had a talk
Come, and I will show you a wonderful plan.
I quite like it, and I know you will too."

The man reached out and took my hand,
And suddenly my vision went dark.
All around me was hidden to my eyes.
It felt like I was traveling to some strange land.
I could still feel the mans hand, which was rough like bark.
But I felt like I was headed to my intimate demise.

Suddenly, I was behind bars,
The man no longer by my side.
I had a funny feeling, and I looked around.
Then, with mouth open and eyebrows to Mars
I recognized the place, and cried,
"Why here!", but for an answer, not a sound.

Then I heard voices, speaking of me.
They sounded as if full of hate.
But, how could that be true?
They came around the corner, and what did I see?
Men I knew, whom I even called mate,
But the things they said of me, I could never do.

They looked at me, with faces of scorn,
And said to me, "It is time to meet your fate."
They took me, bound me, and placed me before a judge.
He sneered, "See a sinner, the most vile born!
Let us throw him to the ocean, tied down with weight,
That he may rot amongst the slime and sludge."

Someone from the back shouted, "Please! No!"
I turned to see my wife and my son,
who was only six years of age.
He screamed, "Papa, please don't go!"
They tried to fight, but my captors won,
And they beat them down in a terrible rage.

I was then dragged to a large boat,
And they proceeded to tie me to an anchor.
They then cast out to sea.
They threw me out and I tried to stay afloat,
But the ocean itself seemed filled with rancor
As it dragged me down to where I would cease to be.

Down, down, down I went.
It felt like I was falling down a deep well.
I looked down, and my fear reached its peak.
For below me, I saw a fiery rent,
And I heard the voice of he who rules Hell,
Say, "Ah, here is the soul that I earnestly seek."

Then, with my soul filled with complete despair,
I felt a hand grab me and lift me out.
I looked, and saw that it was the man.
He looked at me, his eyes full of care
But his next words to me made me want to shout,
As he said, "What do you think of my wonderful plan?"

What did I think?
"This plan is for naught!
What you want is for me to fail!
This plan of yours has many a kink,
And to think that I ever thought
That you could help me from this spiritual jail!"

He smiled and replied, "What you say is not true.
I do not want you to fall.
Don't you see?
I have suffered all just for you.
I have descended below them all.
Are you greater than me?"

Recognition suddenly came to my eye
And I fell at the feet of my Savior.
I reached and felt the prints in his hands.
I looked to him, and again asked, "Why?
Have I fallen out of thy favor?
Why am I condemned to these horrible bands?"

Jesus said to me, most profound,
"These shall be for your experience and good.
Your days are known and cannot be numbered less.
And in the end, know that you will be crowned,
Therefore, fear not the things that man could,
For your God is with you, and he will bless."

Elder Jensen