Two years after I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I gained my testimony sure and true that the Savior lives, and loves me personally. I will never forget this sacred experience for it has seen me through the rough times in my life. My friends, I love Him. I know he lives and loves us all. I desire to live for him, repent and overcome, and improve, that I may one day be with him once more.
FROM HIS HANDS
A vessel pure
from clay makers hands
sent to bless others
fell among thieves
filled with impurity
misused, abused
The Savior happened by
cleaned it, restored it
and used it to serve
it fulfilled the reason
for which its clay was formed
and blessed others by and by
(c)1999 Melissa Munn
DIDN'T HE LOVE ME
Hasn't He loved me
Hasn't He touched my soul
Hasn't He granted tender love
When anger I did sow
Hasn't He answered all my prayers
And so much more
Hasn't He filled the needs I've had
Reaching my spirit core
I've pondered this, and know
He really loves me
Hasn't He taught me
Hasn't He helped me learn
Wasn't the knowledge given me
From His hand from which I yearn
Hasn't He given pearls of truth
To quench my thirsty soul
Protecting me from all the lies
That could have hurt my goal
On pondering I've come to know
That He has taught me
Hasn't He helped me
When I 've been down and blue
Hasn't He picked me up
Showing me I could make it through
Hasn't He given all the comfort
That a Father could
Showing me Gethsemanie
Where Jesus stood
Helping me to understand His plan
Yes he has helped me
Father I love Thee
each day my heart grows more
I want to serve thee with my might
I will not close the door
For all the blessings
Thou hast for me in store
I want to live my life for thee
Now and forever more
That my heart song will ever be
Father, I love thee
(c)1999 Melissa Munn
Thy Tender Hands
Thy Tender Hands
have scooped me up
from the mire
and mercifully placed me
on higher ground
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
Thou washed me
in baptisms' water
and the Holy Ghost
has warmed my soul
and I set a higher goal
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
A dove of peace
white with purity
has since guided,
protected, and comforted me
on wings of truth
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
At the knee of the world
I suffered many things
this is how I was to learn
I grew in wisdom
and truths' light
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
By my mistakes
I've come to know
Thy forgiving power
the scriptures have shown me
the way of ways
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
Through much seeking
I have found instruction
in the Holy Temple
and my ears have opened
Thou hast whispered into them
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
My heart was opened
to a greater love
charity turned me
from myself, and I could see
the needs of others
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
I saw my Savior
in their eyes
I filled what I could
of their needs
I gained greater understanding
and Thine eye was upon me
was upon me
And my heart was upon Thee
was upon Thee
I pray it will
forever be
that I will indure to the end
That mine eyes may be upon thee
upon thee, eternally
(c) 1999
Melissa Munn
Angels Got My Groceries Today
Angels got my groceries today
and packed them in for me
they said, "get well, we love you",
and then from me did flee
Sweet angels came into my home
in the guise of human beings
they looked just like friends of mine
but their insight seemed more keen
They brought me yellow daffodils
and told me they would bring
health, joy and peace of mind
and hope of coming spring
But what they brought me was a tear
that the angels care so much
I give thanks for earthly angels
that bless the earth with a heavenly touch
(c) 1999
Melissa Munn
HOW MANY YEARS
How many years of blessings and cursings
of compulsive spontaneity and organized rehearings
of joys and sorrows
of todays and tomorrows
How many years of laughter and tears
of maturing and wisdom and childhood fears
of foolishness and mistake
of forgiveness and retake
How many years of strivings and goals
of sifting and burning through refinery coals
of teachings of lessons
of true life confessions
How many years of learning and living
the Heavenly laws of loving and giving
of following Jesus through all of my days
of enduring and holding to sacred ways
How many years of earnings and labors
of aging, of children, of loving my neighbors
of balancing time, matter, and spirit
of finding the voice, and learning to hear it
How many years of nurturing others
of getting along with sisters and brothers
of gaining confidence and a lot of patience
of a single teenager dashing it to rations
How many years of health and pain
of sanity, tears, and going insane
of rejection, acceptance, weakness and strength
of breadths, depths, widths, and lengths
How many years does it take to o'er come
of striving to become like the Father and Son
repentance, forgiveness, workings and grace
that I will not end my lifes mission in disgrace
How many years is this life for living?
as many as it takes in the allotted time given
only God knows the answer to this
(wether or not you shake your old fist)
So many years and what have I learned ?
Leave nothing unopened , leave nothing unturned
So many years and what have I gained
faith, hope, and love, in Christ unfeigned
(c)1999 Melissa Munn
The Sacrament
Jesus stands before me
with wounded hands
He brakes bread and blesses it
"This is my flesh" He says to me
eat and remember that I am
with twelve year old hands
He serves me a symbol
I partake worthily,searching my soul
as I sit on the wooden bench
a thought filters through
I am now His, flesh of His flesh
I will study His life in the scriptures
I will follow in His footsteps
I will pray to my Father in His name
I will strive to better serve others
teaching , lifting the weary,
helping where I can, sacrificing
Jesus then takes pure red wine
and turns it into water
with boyish heart He blesses
"Remember my sacrifice and live"
He says from a young mans mouth
A symbol served on a silver tray
I partake symbolic blood
His love shines through a boys face
I am rebaptized, washed clean again
My mistakes forgiven, forgotten
Gethsemane clear in my mind
My heart expands with love
for I am His, blood of his blood
partaker of His atonement
The peace of His spirit illuminating me
as I sit in His church, praying
that my eye be single to His Glory
That I put this moment into daily practice
To partake of the Sacrament each week
Is my symbol to God , of my love and devotion.
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
My Savior
He is the great Jehovah
foreordained
in grand councils
the only one
first born son
Appointed Messiah
Born of a virgin
come from God
the only one
King and deliverer
Prince of peace
stable born
Lord of Lords
The only one
who lived a sinless life
A Savior
everlasting messenger
redeemer, creator
the only one
Lord of our salvation
Emmanuel
dwelt on earth
took on flesh
son of the Most High
the only one
who can forgive me
They named him Jesus
come from God
atoned for sin
the only one
who burst chains of death
The chosen Christ
anointed one
who will return
the only one
to overcome the world
From humble birth
to king of kings
all power and glory
the only one
mediator
Only Begotten
Alpha and Omega
beginning and end
the only one
the great I Am
Lord of righteousness
teacher, counselor
peacemaker, hope giver
the only one
who loves me unconditionally
(c)1999
Melissa Munn
FIND RELIEF IN ME
"Let your troubled heart find relief in me
For your mansion is in preparation
it is written, and you shall see
I go to prepare a place for thee"
For the trying
the weary
feet on the narrow
knee on the bent,
For the charitable
the giving
hand on the rod
eye on the print,
For the seeking few
the suffering
heart upon me
those who repent,
For the loving souls
the tired
the sick
All whom I have sent.
"For I have the key
I will bridge the open gap
'tween heaven and thee
believe in me"
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
The Parallax
Conceived by a virgin
nurtured in love
cradled in the bosom of God
He grew
Conceived by the worldly
nurtured in confusion
cradled with twin at my side
I grew
He learned as He grew, the lessons of life
I learned as I grew, contention and strife
He trained for His calling as Savior divine
I learned to survive at the hand of mankind
His purpose, to redeem all those who would
my purpose was family, to help all I could
He was fulfilled in all of His works
I am fulfilled in spite of my quirks
Somehow He reached me and taught me His truth
He sent me a teacher, I followed like Ruth
He gave me the tools to overcome sin
I gave Him my tattered soul to mend
He opened my eyes to all that He is
I basked in His light, and I became His
He blessed and forgave me and held up my soul
I want to be with Him, for this is my goal
An observers viewpoints can change drastically
when he changes positions and looks heavenly
a man can be changed when he turns to his God
he'll see from a new point, and hold to the rod
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
To Think Before Acting
I thought before I acted today
I felt that God was pleased in every way
I tried to be aware and honest too
I asked myself often, "What would Jesus do"?
I turned to God in silent prayer
and He was there, He was there
I showed him all I desired to do
And what I couldn't, He took me through
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
The Gift
This gift is not mine to give , but is there for the taking
hidden treasures that bring great joy to all who partake
This is a gift that's simple in looks
and can only be reached with a key
The key dwells within each soul
all one needs to do is seek
but only the humble will find
This is the key that opens the door
to the weary the humble repentant and poor
its given to those who truly seek
The truth the light the mountain peak
It will not bring money nor worldly pleasure
it will bring joy and spiritual treasure
it will bring peace and forgiveness of sin
it will increase knowledge and the heart within
It will not end tribulation or trial
but give you strength to endure it awhile
for it leads you to Christ to dwell in his presence
to feel of His love, behold it's His present
for His is the gift that within our hearts bind
each day that we pray , this peace we can find
(c) 1996 Melissa Munn
f I Follow Thee
Savior if I follow thee
will I see a mighty change
for my imperfections plague me
and keep me just out of range
The path that thou did walk
is steep and all alone
sometimes I grow weary
and feel I'm on my own
I walk afraid and faithless
I murmur out and moan
Savior if I follow thee
will thou forgive my weakness
and bless me when I falter
and help me in my meekness?
The ground ahead looks shaky
veils of darkness lay ahead
there are many grades of steepness
thorns infest the flower bed
great snakes and beasts lay sleeping
and the path is all stained red
My daughter I am with thee
and will help thee all the way
let not your heart be troubled
and do the things I say
walk tall and be not weary
for beyond the mighty bend
is a place for you to rest
and a hand of peace to lend
all who've gone before you
will strengthen you 'til the end
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
These two poems belong together one is a Question and the other is the answer.
The Question
Why me I ask, the burden overwhelming
Oh lord, the task, seems more than I can bear
And now at last, The trying seems so useless
The prayer, the fast, Why these have thou forsaken
I've lived the law, yet void seems the reward
The truth I saw , has now its meaning fading
I'm sore and raw, from all the blows I've taken
It is a flaw, Have I not served thee well?
The Answer
Is there not joy in righteousness?
Is not my peace reward?
Is serving not a blessing
Is obedience but a sword
Has pain not given insight
Is truth a sounding board
Have I not passed through all these things
Am i not the Lord?
There is purpose in each trial endured
I can not take away
For with each trial an opportunity
For wisdom to find a way
For faith to grow, endurance too
that understanding may
Increase the love within your heart
and your desire to pray
I am the watcher,
I placed you here
To see how you will do
I know you fear
and feel your sorrow,
I'll wipe away your tear
and grant you courage for tomorrow
and endurance for the coming years
I will give you insight and open your ears to hear
I will give inspiring words, from your prophet and sear
When you're feeling frightened my spirit will draw near
Your eyes will now be open, your understanding clear
For I am the watcher and I placed you here.
(c)1998 Melissa Munn
A Seed Was Planted
A seed was planted
30 years ago
within my heart
a new idea
stirred my desire
to know God
they told me to pray
I went warily
to my knees
in my quiet space
for a first
real conversation
with almighty
not knowing for sure
if he had the time
to let me know
but I did go
a warmth began
to fill my breast
somehow He reached
through veils
I could not deny
the power there
nor the light and warmth
which opened my soul
to be scoured
I was baptized
I remembered
from a former time
from a former place
I was promised
when I heard
I would remember
I tried the narrow path
It took my footsteps
through a harder way
I grew, and the seed
became greater faith
as each principle tried
became evidence,
swelling my soul
toward it's maker
Melissa Munn
(c) 1998
