What Matters Most To God (A Poem)

What matters most to God is not your license or degree
What matters most to Him is not your cash or salary
What matters most to God is not the metrics you achieve
What matters most to Him is how you treat your family

What matters most to God is not the things that you acquire
What matters most to Him is all the people you inspire
What matters most to God is the temptations you’ve withstood
What matters most to Him is that you use your gifts for good

So when you reach your goals
And you’re inclined to boast
Remember His priorities
And think what matters most

The Kafka Trap (a poem)

If she can swim, then burn her
But if she can’t, oh well
Her fate’s to drown, she’s going down
As far as I can tell

When they say jump, say “how high?”
Don’t you dare resist
Signal virtue proudly or they’ll
Put you on their list

The rules are always changing
Exploit past tragedy
Crush dissenting viewpoints
Make people scared to speak

The Kafka trap is toxic
Refuse to play that game
Speak your views with confidence (don’t)
Hang your head in shame

Don’t bow down to the mob
Smile, be bold, and speak
Freedom and forgiveness are the
Antidotes we seek

“Use boldness but not overbearance”-Alma 38:12

The Firefighting Arsonist (a poem)

“We want a break from the chaos but then we just go create more.”
-Christy Wright

The firefighting arsonist observes the blazing land
The chaos that she’s battling all started from her hands
She got all curious, interested, then hell-bent on her goal
The flames took on their own life and they burned all her control

Destruction starts to take a toll, but there’s a devilish catch
Can sit so still for so long, then she’ll strike another match
I’m bored or overburdened and can never seem to win
Disordered back to order then the cycle starts again

“Life exists as an interplay of order and chaos.”
-Jordan Peterson

I Know in Whom I’ve Trusted (a poem)

“Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted”
– 2nd Nephi 4:19

Once you’ve left the garden
Where do you find peace?
Once the scales have fallen
Where is some relief?

Once you’ve tasted bitter fruit (how)
Do you force it down?
Once the seas grow violent
How do you not drown?

Once the wind is blowing (is your)
Candle still aflame?
Once you’ve felt the crushing guilt (how)
Do you shed the shame?

Every day’s a battle
A challenge to be tested
I don’t have all the answers but
I know in whom I’ve trusted

“Whatever the question, the answer is the gospel of Jesus Christ”
-Elder Jeffrey Holland

Invisible Labor (a poem)

See what is invisible
Support given to you
Labor that’s unheralded (that)
Women often do

It’s not exactly glamorous
It’s hardly ever fun
Things that go unnoticed
Unless they go undone

Work that’s done in trenches
For no fanfare or show
Without it, life would fall apart
There’d be nowhere to go

Stewardship can be satisfying
Still’s a sacrifice
There’s no amount of money that could
Compensate the price

Not asking for a paycheck
Don’t want to make a scene
I just hope we can value all the
Labor that’s unseen

Give the Lord Your Best (A Poem)

Give the Lord your best
He’ll make up the rest
The best that you can give
Your flaws, He will forgive
Run your fastest race
But you’ll be saved by grace
Despite your lacking best
He will give you rest

“The Lord loves effort”
-President Russell M Nelson

“It is by grace we are saved after all we can do.”
-2nd Nephi 25:23

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
-Matthew 11:28

The Flame That You’re Holding (A Poem)

“Virtue turns to vice being misapplied”
-The Friar in Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”

The flame that you’re holding
Is a power to discern
A lantern that can guide your path
A fire that can burn

The brick in your hands
Don’t use it too fast
Can build a house of worship or
Destroy a sacred glass

Salvation or seduction
A blessing to a curse
The best part of your qualities
Transform into the worst

O be wise and prudent
What more can I say?
Keep your eyes on Jesus
Don’t be led astray

“O be wise, what can I say more?”
-Jacob 12:6 (in the Book of Mormon)

Line Upon Line (A Poem)

“Line upon line, precept upon precept”
-Isaiah 28:10

Don’t water it down
Don’t sugar coat it
A heart is so tender so
Don’t overload it

Deliver in stages
Line upon line
Accepting a new truth can
Sometimes take time

An excellent question can
Cut to the heart
Cognitive dissonance is
Where it will start

God’s the convictor
We cannot change souls
All you can do is to
Act out your role

“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”-Proverbs 18:17