Straight and steady is the soul of she who walks in trust
Of that God with whom her heart, yea, knows is kind and just.
Infinite His goodness gives, and prospers all who turn
From their pride of falsehoods now, and towards His feet to learn.
But we see the heart is fickle, changing with the ease of gifts
Given from a God who's giving. From our lowly lives He lifts.
Gold and silver, every kind of gilded art and precious piece,
Fields and flocks and herds of plenty doth to us the Lord increase,
Sparing lives, delivering, and softening the savage heart
Of the men who would do war, and fight to tear our world apart.
All of this is done in love. But do we hastily repay this debt?
Nay! Instead's the time that hearts congeal and quick the Lord forget
Quashing 'neath their brazen feet like reeds beneath the blazen sun,
Ease of wealth doth wither souls to trample down the Holy One.
Thus we see except the Lord doth choose to chasteneth and chide
With afflictions, even death His people bloat swell more with pride
They'll remember not their God and turn away towards sinful ways
O, how foolish, vain, and quick, these harken to the devil's praise
Wisdom's paths are far removed they trust just in their own device.
Proudly boasting in their sins and slow to heed the Lord's advice.
"No one rules my life!" they cry unto their Lord who formed their soul
With distain and frenzied minds they thrash away from God's control.
False is this belief, dear child, and foul's the beast from which supplied
Feeding endlessly this wretch upon our envies and our pride
More it wants and more it takes till in the darkness we are lost.
Fooled to think we've mastered life and destiny, but at what cost?
Pride's your master, O deceived, and steers your course to reef and waves
Tears asunder, sinks your ship, then drags you down to lonely graves.
O how great the nothingness, ye children from the dust you're made
By God's Word your dust was formed, and by His Word your course was laid.
Stray not from His mighty voice, for 'tis the same commandeth all.
Hills and mountains cannot stand, against His voice they break and fall.
Brought down low made smooth as sand, and with one word raised up again,
Yea, commanding heavens and the earth. Then can He do the same for man?
Can He raise you up to be a saint who's better than this dust?
Can He take away pride's curse and help you live a life of trust?
Blessed are they who heed God's voice, repenting of iniquity
Grace for grace are they restored, and saved from grips of pride, set free.
But we read, despite this truth, men's hearts are fickled still in doubt.
Come the great and final day, there's some who'll choose to be cast out.
Misery shall be their choice, a cursed and evil endless fate
But to they who worketh good, a blessed and everlasting state.
Thus it is in days of old, and thus will be as prophesied,
Blessed is she who walks in trust whose soul with God is freed from pride.
This poem is inspired by the 12th chapter of Helaman. Mormon places a conjecture following the ministry of Nephi, and preceeding the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite. It is a very powerful chapter. It reminded me of today, and the atmosphere I am seeing.
