The Promised Land

 

America has always been

The greatest country on the earth. 

It was born from those who knew 

That freedom was of greatest worth. 

The signers of that document 

Declared to all “We shall be free”

We will not bow to any king

Except to Christ on bended knee. 

Since the start of this great land

Many have tried to do her in. 

They all shall fail to bring her down

If we repent of all our sin. 

Many thousands gave their lives 

So all could live and all live free. 

All we need to do for them 

Be the standard all can see. 

The flag we honor and salute

Stands for truth and freedom true. 

We must respect her faithfully 

In all we say and all we do. 

The war we fought before our birth 

Continues here, the goal's the same. 

Without our freedom no one wins

We must choose God, to win the game. 

We must be strong and vigilant

To keep our freedom well intact. 

The war we fight will take its toll

We can’t be quiet, we must act. 

We were given this great land

To honor God and do His will. 

Repent and turn from evil ways 

And keep this land, promised still.

Climb Your Mountain

To My Sweet Wife!! 

The journey ahead would be surreal

It had been planned for many years.

I’m sure my joy was premature

This journey would cause many tears.

Thus began our steady ascent

The sky was clear without a cloud.

Excitement filled our happy hearts

Being here we felt so proud.

Hours turned into many days

The joy of climbing turned to pain.

Aches and pains were constant friends

Patience was taught again and again.

Some paths we took led us awry

Life was learned as pain set in.

Second guessing our resolve

It seemed that we would never win.

Clouds and rain impaired our sight

The path became a daunting slope.

Undeterred by raging storms

All pressed on with shining hope

With our hearts securely set

On reaching our eternal goal.

Each step would take us closer still

Inch by inch we would be whole.

This journey’s not for faithless folk

You will be tested that is sure.

Once this journey is complete

You’ll find your heart clean and pure.

Gazing at your new found view

All pain is gone and you are new.

I would do it all again

To have a gift so pure and true.

Crying In The Wilderness

 

John the Baptist paved the way 

For the Messiah of us all. 

He lived on locusts and honey

The work he did was nothing small. 

Preaching God’s word was his whole life 

Day in day out, that’s all he did. 

Born to be a messenger 

His voice and light could not be hid. 

Many leaders John called out

Because their works were of the dark. 

The leaders wanted John removed 

Their plan was evil, brash and stark. 

Herod lived the laws of man

Which rarely equal God’s true law. 

The evil of the day was strong 

John’s life was worth less than burnt straw. 

John left this earth, his life fulfilled 

To be with God in heav’n above.

Now Jesus Christ would now complete

His atonement of pure love. 

"Digs"

Fifty one long years ago

You went on to the other side.

You knew your time to go had come

It was a day that turned the tide.

Dad was by your side that day

He said to you, we’ll be ok.

Your spirit left your body here

And broken hearts began to pray.

Mom’s heart was shattered on that day

Back to heav’n her boy would go.

Eleven other hearts did break

And tears began to ever flow.

But Digs, for you it never stopped

You walked into His open arms.

Wrapped in light and God’s pure love

You kept us safe from earthly harms.

We have kept you on your toes

With how we drive and live our life.

We’re very grateful for that help

It’s given us a lot less strife.

One by one we’ll all return

To see your face and feel your love.

But until then, we all must wait

Until that blessed day above.

Easter Week 2024

Sunday
Palm Sunday
I just finished watching “His Only Son”, the account of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son to follow God’s command, and as we know, he was spared from having to do that.
As Easter approaches this next week I am filled with gratitude that our Heavenly Father did not spare his only begotten Son so that we may be spared from the full suffering of our sins and pains of this life!!  What a miracle our Savior Jesus Christ is and will always be!!
 
Monday
Monday after Palm Sunday about two thousand years ago our Savior went to the temple, His Father’s House and found it being desecrated by all kinds of worldly pleasures. He then proceeded to remove forcibly, with pure righteous indignation, all those who had defiled His Father’s house. 
 
I now ask myself this question this Easter week: Am I willing to remove with righteous indignation all the weaknesses, sins that I have that defile the temple, my body, that Heavenly Father has given me, whether they be spiritual or physical things that defile?
 
Tuesday 
The Tuesday after Christ had cleansed the temple he taught this and other wonderful doctrine in Jerusalem. 
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37)
 
This is the way in which we become converted to Christ. Conversion is not an event but a lifelong process. Just as water is converted to steam by heat being applied constantly to the water. Conversion to steam will stop once we turn off the heat. 
 
Our conversion must be the same.  We must constantly apply the “fire” of the gospel of Jesus Christ each hour of every day of our lives so our conversion may continue. That can include many things such as prayer, scripture study, serving others, temple worship, being compassionate to all that we meet.
 
Then the day will come when our conversion will be complete, many, many eons from now, and we will be changed to be like our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ through their mercy and grace. My favorite week of the year.
 
Wednesday
Wednesday before Jesus began His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane he took time again to teach and perform miracles. “The Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing” [Mormon 9:21]. Do the spiritual work to seek miracles.” -Pres. Russell M Nelson
 
We have been asked to seek out Miracles, which implicitly means that they are already there for us to find. Miracles are all around us and our Savior Jesus Christ has performed them for each of us and will continue to do so as we exercise faith in Him. I have seen many miracles in my life, and in the lives of my family members. I know that there are many I have not seen. 
Just as the Savior raised Lazarus from the dead, He can raise us up from our deepest despair and darkness if we turn to Him. 
“Moroni assured us that “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.” Every book of scripture demonstrates how willing the Lord is to intervene in the lives of those who believe in Him.” -Pres Russell M Nelson
 
Thursday 
Thursday almost 2000 years ago Judas Iscariot, for reasons we can only assume goes to the Jewish leaders and agrees to the sum of 30 silver pieces (coincidentally the cost of a slave at the time) to betray His Lord, Messiah and Savior. 
Only a few years earlier he left everything to follow Jesus. 
 
I wonder about my life and how many times I have “betrayed” my Savior Jesus Christ by choosing to follow the adversary time and time again. I made covenants and chose to follow Jesus just as Judas did. I have seen miracles upon miracles in my life just as Judas did and I still sometimes choose to follow the adversary. 
Did Judas truly understand what he did? I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t think any of us truly understand what we are doing when we choose to not follow Jesus Christ. All I do know is that He loves me unconditionally and always will. I have so much more joy and happiness when I do choose to follow Him and misery, despair and sadness when I do not follow Him!!
It really is quite simple as the Savior teaches us: “I am the way, the truth and the life of the world, no man cometh unto the Father but by me”, and “Love one another as I have loved you.”
That is my heart’s desire, to come unto the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and feel of their love!  I choose Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!
Blessed Easter everyone!!
 
Thursday night almost 2000 years ago our Savior Jesus Christ met with His disciples for the “Last Supper” he would have with them before His death. It was there that He told Judas “That thou doest, do quickly”
 
Jesus next went to the Garden of Gethsemane, while His chief apostles rested and eventually fell asleep multiple times. It was there that He suffered immeasurable pain, suffering and grief for each of God’s children taking upon Himself all of our sins and pains we will ever endure so He would be able to succor all of God’s children and provide us a way to repent of our sins and be comforted as we navigate this life. 
He suffered the complete wrath of God as if he had committed every sin imaginable to man and then infinitely more, yet he committed no sin ever, the only perfect person to walk the earth, thus it is the greatest contradiction ever. Satan unleashed all he had against our Savior at this time and even though He asked His Father three times, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” And as we know He followed His Father’s will. 
Judas shows up a little later leading Roman soldiers and He points out the Savior by betraying Him with a kiss. He is then taken to the Jewish leadership where an illegitimate trial takes place with Caiaphas presiding and then handed over to the Roman authorities early Friday morning since the Jewish leadership had no authority to carry out any punishment.
 
Friday 
Friday morning nearly two thousand years ago Jesus Christ is taken to the Roman leader Pontius Pilate. Pilate found no cause to keep, let alone punish Jesus. The Jews even chose to release a hardened criminal, Barabbas, which interestingly enough, Barabbas translated means “Son of the Father”. 
Next Pilate sent Jesus to be scourged by Roman soldiers. Scourging was done with a weapon fashioned out of leather strips, anywhere between 3 and 9, with pieces of bone, and metal embedded into them. Jesus was struck “40 times save one” with the scourging whip, since they believed that a full forty stripes would kill a man, and many did die from this horrible act. Jesus persevered and was taken back to Pilate where he summarily “washed His hands of Jesus’ fate. The Jews repeatedly cried out to Pilate, crucify him, crucify him. 
Pilate relented and Jesus was forced to carry His own wooden beam to Golgotha where he was lain on the beam and large nails were driven through His hands, wrists and feet piercing delicate nerves in the process creating excruciating pain. He was then lifted up and His cross dropped into a hole.  Crucifixion was known to be one of the most cruel forms of inflicting death on a person. While on the cross He suffered all the pains and suffering of Gethsemane again, but this time all alone. He, at one point, cries out “Eli Eli lama sabbachtani” which is to say “Father Father why hast thou forsaken me”.  Shortly after this he cried out to His Father “It is finished into the hands I commend my spirit”. The Savior of the world was dead!  Storms raged as the earth mourned its creator. 
I can only imagine as a Father how painful and heartbreaking it was for our Heavenly Father to watch His only begotten Son suffer as He did, and having the foresight and mercy to not reach out and save him so that all of his other children would have the opportunity to repent and return to His presence. The greatest act ever to have been done in the universe, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, was in process, and would be complete in a few days. 
His friends took Him and dressed His body and laid Him in a borrowed tomb!  
Hearts were broken, shattered as many had just watched their Messiah killed by evil men. 
But remember…Sunday is coming, and will come for all of us!  That is a promise to all of us from a Loving, merciful, benevolent God.
 
Saturday
Saturday nearly two thousand years ago life for the 11 apostles left, since their Rabbi, teacher, friend and Messiah was brutally crucified, was in great disarray. Everything they had known, everything they were taught by the greatest teacher the universe had ever known seemed to be for naught. How could the Messiah be dead. Wasn’t he supposed to be the King of the Jews that would overthrow the Romans? Wasn’t he God’s son in the flesh? I am sure they had so many questions.  
 
So many times in my life terrible things have happened to me or loved ones. Life seems so dark and lacking all hope, how can anything good come of this? How can I move forward in the midst of so much pain, so much suffering?  The answer, my friends, is the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! Nothing in the eternities before or after this infinite, miraculous act of unconditional love and mercy can ever come close in comparison because there is no comparison!
 
But as the world is in turmoil and those that loved Jesus Christ were mourning His death… in another realm, the spirit world, the Savior Jesus Christ has made His grand entrance there.  What an amazing experience for those who have been waiting for eons of time to hear His gospel message, the message of salvation and hope. He worked in earnest to establish a plan to ensure all those who had been waiting to hear his message could now receive it, because Sunday is coming quickly for Him and the rest of the world, which at this time has no idea what is about to happen…the culmination of the greatest act of love, mercy and grace the world has ever known…the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ.
 
Sunday
Easter Sunday, Sunday Has Come!!
Our Savior Jesus Christ leaves the spirit world and with the power of a God that he possesses takes up His body again and during that process of resurrection His body is made immortal and perfect!  Nothing like this had ever happened before and with His resurrection others soon followed as many graves were opened and many righteous saints were resurrected following the Savior’s resurrection. What a beautiful sight that would have been to witness! Mary Magdalene was the first to see her Master after His resurrection and was told to go and tell the others that he is risen! Many of the apostles ran to the tomb to see for themselves and upon arrival at the tomb they found it empty with the linens used to wrap the Savior neatly folded, which means to the Jewish people, “I will return again”. Just as He rose from the grave, resurrected with an immortal and perfect body, so it will happen with each one of us one day as well. No more pain, no more suffering, no more sickness and for all of us on that day we will exclaim, Sunday Has Come, Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed be the name of the most high God!!  Happy Easter to you all!  May you find peace, hope and joy on this day when we celebrate the Greatest person to ever walk upon the earth, even Jesus Christ the son of the living God, the Savior of all mankind!!

Stay With Him!

At first it seems an easy path

To follow Jesus every day.

We feel his love and awesome strength

Sustain us as we make our way.

This bliss and happy state will fade

As storms come to our mortal life.

It’s seems as though we’re left behind

Alone in life to deal with strife.

He is always there for us

To lift and succor every child.

He gently calls, come follow me

His heart is tender and so mild.

Troubled times will never cease

Because this life is our big test.

If we choose to stay with Him

We’ll surely get God’s very best.

His hands are always stretched out still

Waiting for a sweet embrace.

The love He has for each of us

Comes from His sweet eternal grace.

Someday all pain will have an end

And joy will fill our mended hearts.

The only thing that we must do

Is stay with Him, He’s done his part.

Daddy’s Day

Daddy came in from the fields
With tired legs and dirty hands. 
He's been up since the crack of dawn
Showing how to be a man. 

He spent his days out at the shop
Fixing up the things that broke. 
That is where he found his niche
He did his work and rarely spoke. 

He taught his children how to work
Sometimes he was a little rough. 
He did the best with what he knew
Which made his children really tough. 

Daddy loved his family dear
All that he did, he did for them. 
His love of God took center stage 
He taught us of the Savior’s hem. 

Someday soon we’ll reunite 
In heaven’s golden fields of wheat. 
To never be apart again
And worship at The Savior’s feet. 

Best Friends

Long before this life began 

We stood together hand in hand.

You came first to prepare the way, 

I had to wait, so we'd meet someday.

The life you had before we met, 

Prepared you for the best life yet.

You weathered storms with awesome charm, 

So someday we'd be arm in arm.

You like to call me your shining knight 

Tis you who brought the glorious light.

It blesses all who you have met, 

Including both your loving pets.

You have made my life complete, 

Filled with joy you make it sweet.

I do not wish it ever end, 

Together we'll forever spend.

The love you show our children dear, 

Teaches them that God is near.

Your blessed name they'll not forget, 

For they're forever in your debt.

You have been my greatest friend, 

And that, my love, will never end.

That's the beauty of His plan, 

Our families to forever span.

The day will come that you'll be crowned, 

Free from trial no longer bound.

You and I again will stand, 

With our children, hand in hand.

Love you always, Marion 

Angel From Heaven

An angel came down from Heav'n above, 

Full of joy and God's pure love.

The day she came was four-sixteen, 

The month of April, pure and clean.

The oldest of her siblings three, 

Paving their way to be free.

Making it through trials every day, 

You learned to kneel and clearly pray.

Your love of Jesus, to you would bring, 

The gospel that would make you sing.

You knew it was a new found life, 

Full of truth and sometimes strife.

To California you would go, 

Following a path that God did show.

You taught His children of his son, 

And even had some time for fun.

She met her prince on day twenty-two, 

Of April eighty-six, and skies of blue.

Knotts Berry Farm took center stage, 

While angels wrote it on their page.

Two years later to the day, 

This angel joined her prince to stay.

Chicago was the place to be, 

The day this angel was set free.

You have been my greatest gift, 

You love and love and always lift.

A savior of many you have become, 

Eternity with God is your outcome.

I am blessed to call you mine, 

Forever with you for all time.

Your posterity will call you blessed., 

For you are the very best.

Merry Christmas my angel sweet, 

I love you with a heart replete.

Never from your side will I depart, 

For what we have is just a start.

-Love You Always, Rico

Beautiful Birthday Girl

Some would say, I don't agree 

That getting old is not for me.

I'm so glad this day is here

It means you've lasted all these years.

Time has been so kind to you

You look as though you're twenty-two.

You're beautiful and you're all mine 

Inside and out, your beauty shines.

Remember all the years gone by 

At times life made you laugh and cry.

Good and bad have come your way

You chose God's path and there you'll stay.

You have become my closest friend 

That's how I feel and that won't end.

I cherish all these years we've shared 

You've always loved and always cared.

Look ahead with grace and charm 

We'll be together arm in arm.

I love you more now than before 

With you I hope for fifty more.

25th Anniversary

April twenty second came, 

The year was nineteen eighty eight.

Our lives would never be the same. 

Our covenants made would keep us straight.

Sealed with holy priesthood power, 

Our eternal family had begun.

Life was sweet and some times sour. 

We trusted God's beloved son.

Children came to bless our home. 

One then two, soon there were seven.

Within our walls they all would roam. 

Turning home into heaven.

Through our trials we have learned, 

God our Father's always near.

Our humble hearts to God have turned. 

The path to him becomes so clear.

Missions came to our three sons. 

They left as boys, returned as men.

Selfless service taught them tons. 

Lives were changed again and again.

Marriage came to the oldest two. 

Blessed to marry their best friend.

Baby feet in a baby shoe, 

Grandchildren are the greatest send.

You're my best friend and greatest love. 

At my side you have always stayed.

My precious gift from heaven above, 

You were the one for whom i prayed.

I pray for twenty five more years. 

They came and went so very fast.

I want to have more laughs and tears. 

'Cause life with you has been a blast.