Week 77 (4/13/220) Holy Week

It was not until Friday that the speaker for our daily devotional reminded me that it was Holy Week, but it is relevant for some of what happened, so we will get to that. 

Speaking of our daily devotional, we had a nice couple that the Hewlett's know address us on Tuesday. He had previously been a Mission President, so we figured that was why he had been asked to speak...up until she ‘fessed up to being President Nelson's daughter! They talked about conference, with the insights that come from what is apparently a Nelson family tradition of meeting all together (all 300 of them, or however many there ate) to discuss it with President Nelson afterwards. Of course, they had to do their family meeting over zoom this time.  But it was a cool insight into the life of our Prophet. 

Also Tuesday, I finished the Old Testament, a project I started a little under 7 months ago. Of course, at the time, I had intended to be done with all of the standard works by now, but still, reaching Matthew felt like a big milestone. I took a day off on my chronological reading, and then started Matthew on Thursday. Like I said, I was reminded Friday morning that it was Good Friday and that Easter Sunday was nigh...well, the thought came to me that I was reading the life of the Savior, what better time for it? So, being only a few chapters into Matthew, I made the rash decision to read all four gospels by Sunday. 

Friday I finished Matthew, both Mark and Luke passed before my eyes on Saturday, and Sunday concluded the task by reading John. As I read the final words and closed the book, I called my companion and together we partook of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. What could be a more special experience! As I read, it was not that anything was new, I am familiar with the stories. But my heart burned within me. 

I know that the Savior lives. Jesus walked the earth, was tempted, overcame, healed, taught, was betrayed, crucified, and laid into a tomb. And He rose again to become the first-fruits of them that slept. He lives and reigns today as the Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father. 

What a privilege to have recorded for us these precious insights into Jesus' life and ministry. And how superficial they really are! As John says, had they written all that Jesus did and said, the whole world wouldn't be able to contain the books. 

The feelings of awe I felt from reading of my Savior made me wax a little poetic, so here, for your viewing pleasure, are "The Beatitudes" and "The Place of a Skull". 

The BeatitudesBy Elder Adam DeFord

 Blessed" said He, in Galilee

To those who gathered 'round

"Are spirits poor, and hearts that mourn,

Their comfort shall be found

"Blessed the meek, who mercy seek,

Cast bread upon the sea (1)

Blessed the pure, who peace implore

Their Father they shall see"

Hunger blessed, and thirst addressed,

By Living Water's draught (2)

The crowd amazed, upon Him gazed,

Not like the scribes He taught (3)

"Blessed are ye, midst calumny

When evil doth defame (4)

Who shine your flame (5), be not ashamed,

To wait upon my name" (6)

Matthew 5:1-12

1. Ecclesiastes 11:1

2. John 4:10 (10-14)

3. Matthew 7:28-29

4. Teachings:Joseph Smith, 444

5. Matthew 5:14-16

6. Isaiah 49:23

The Place of a Skull
by Elder Adam DeFord

Creation's dawn brought tumult, change,

As Word hewed rock and hill and fen

Like a living symphony

Nature flowed from Creator's pen

One hill masterfully was carved

With a solemn stony gaze

Hewn craters, the earth's lenses rough,

A skull's witness all its days

Rocky eyes watched father climb

His son behind, 'neath wood was bowed

But despite his empty hands

The father bore the heavier load

The wood was laid, as was this

Son of promise, hope fulfilled.

Alter and now funeral pyre

Sacrifice upon the hill

The hill was first to see the ram

And pleaded in its earthen heart

The angel said what stone could not

The scapegoat, then, played the son's part

Ages past before the scene

Played again before its eyes

A witness to atonement made

None could stop Golgotha's cries

"If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out"

"Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost...and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent"

(Luke 19:40; Matthew 27:50-51)

 I find that when no words can express how I feel, poetry makes a pretty good approximation of capturing my emotion, at least for myself. The complete works of Elder DeFord will be available for purchase as soon as I find an Editor who doesn't mind a rich harvest of ego and a famine of talent. 

The work is still relatively slow, but we were able to drop off a copy of the Book of Mormon to someone, and to teach a couple of others. At the same time, we have been able to bring comfort to some, who, while not being interested in our message, have really been struggling during this trying time. We all have the opportunity, when the world grows dark, to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify God. That is how we may be missionaries! Few indeed may wear the nametag, but His name is carved in the fleshy tables of all of our hearts. 

It was probably a unique Easter for many in the world: mine was definitely different from any previous Easter, although I did boil an egg and drop it in some Kool-Aid to dye. A member family came by and dropped off food for our Easter meal, so we felt loved and taken care of. But an absence of all the traditions gave more time to consider the Savior, which I enjoyed. And I needed the time to finish John, so all was well! 

Remember, He is risen, as He said!

Elder DeFord