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                  The Second Letter...

My father lives in a place far, far away.
       In fact, I haven’t seen him for many a long day.
Even so, he loves me very much. That’s plain and easy to see,
       because of all the wonderful things he continually does for me.
And even though he lives so far away, too far for me to go,
       there have been many times I’ve felt him at my side, I know.
It’s hard for me to put into words the things I am actually feeling.
       Because so often he’s helped me out when my life was totally reeling.
There were times when things I did in my life, were things I thought were right.
       And now those things haunt my memory, keeping me awake at night.
There were times when I was so depressed that all I wanted was escape.
       There were times when the stress and strain of life were more than I could take.
There were times when life was so turbulent that I survived only after great cost.
       And one time I watched my world crumble around me, thinking all was lost.

It’s funny, because it seems he always found someway to help me along.
       Somehow he would come through and help me right what I had done wrong.
My father sent me a letter once, it was very long and in detail.
       It was about the things I should do if I always wanted to prevail.
I read it often and it’s made quite a difference in the way I run my life.
       It’s helped me many times and made life easier with much less strife.
But now I’m confused and I’m not sure how to act or what to do.
       You see, my father sent me another letter and now I have two.
Some of my friends say I shouldn’t read it and that I should just throw it away.
       I’m not sure how I feel and why send me a second letter at this late day?
And why should I read a second letter? Wasn’t the first good enough?
       And what could he say he hasn’t already said? More of the same stuff?
So here’s the question that I must answer and deal with deep inside myself.
       Should I read the second letter from my father ...or just toss it on the shelf?

"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God,
have created all men...and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all
the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?
Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words;
neither ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the
Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel,
which I have led away, and they shall write it: and I shall speak unto all nations of the earth and
they shall write it.

And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites
shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel,
and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And It shall come
to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands
of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one."
2 Nephi 29:7,8,10,12,13, 14 of 29:1–14

       Officer Samuel Jeppsen, #3751, June 1999-b    www.LDSCOPS.com

"I arose from its perusal with a strong conviction on my mind, that it’s pages were graced with the pen of inspiration. I was surprised that so little fault could be found with a book of such magnitude, treating, as it did, of such diversified subjects, through a period of so many generations. It appeared to me that no enemy to truth of godliness would ever take the least interest in publishing the contents of such a book; such appeared to me its godly bearing, sound morality, and harmony with ancient scriptures...and from that time to this, every effort made by its enemies to demolish, has only shown how invincible a fortress defends it...On this subject I only ask the friends of pure religion to read the Book of Mormon with the same unprejudiced, prayerful, and teachable spirit that they would recommend unbelievers in the ancient scriptures to read those sacred records.

The Spirit of God wrought mightily in me, commending the ancient gospel to my conscience. I contemplated it with peaceful serenity and joy in believing. Visions and dreams began to illuminate...but when I allowed my selfish propensities to speak, I cursed "Mormonism" in my heart, and regretted being in possession of as much light and knowledge as had flowed into my mind from that source. When I preached or conversed according to my best convictions, peace reigned in my heart, and truth enlarged my understanding...I counted the cost, to myself and family, of embracing such views...The expense I viewed through unavoidable tears, both in public and private, by night and by day; I said however, the Lord He is God, I can, I will embrace the truth."

                                                                       Orson Spencer, Baptist minister, 1842


 

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