139. God Looketh On the Heart
[alt title: "The Deep End of the Pool"]
[For a newly called Relief Society President. Yes, she is one of "These Sisters" we love so much.]
PREFACE:
Although this is, at times, somewhat light-hearted, it nevertheless contains themes and implications of eternal consequence. It is indisputable that, as a practical matter, a crucial calling in the Kingdom at the Ward level is that of the Relief Society President. Here and now, better than any “referee” in any mortal sports contest, our Bishopric “made the right call.” I was prompted to make that point very clear. Building on the solid foundation of her predecessors, this new President is needed to teach, lift, and serve God’s faithful Daughters, and those who would become such. In fulfilling her duties, which are weighty, she is enjoined to not merely “rally the Sisters” but “call on the brethren of the Elders Quorum.”
God Looketh On the Heart
The scene repeats around the world,
The Bishopric had asked to meet
And visit you “sometime you’re free”.
They said, “We love to greet
Our Sisters, Brothers in their homes--
Learn more about their lives and cares,
But only when it’s good for you,
We would not take you unawares.”
And so, you thought “No cause to fret,
Some trifling call could come my way.”
And thus, you felt no deep concern
For what these brethren might say. (1)
You cleaned and dusted all about--
These were the servants of your Lord, (2)
Who’d grace you when they would appear,
To bless your house and share His Word.
And so, at the appointed hour,
They came to chat and “share your day”.
But when you heard the call they brought
It truly “blew your mind away”.
They came as Voice for Higher Powers,
Who had been waiting for this time.
“The Lord has heard His daughters’ cries,
And calls you now to share Christ’s mind. (3)
You were prepared with loving eyes,
To see their ills and know their needs.
In Heaven’s name we testify
The time has come that all the seeds
Of faith and works which you have sown
Shall now bear fruit, the world to see.
And though you doubt you are prepared,
The Lord will fit you in your need--
God looketh on the heart.” (4)
(c) servingjesuspoetry.com
Unlimited non-commercial usage allowed.
NOTES:
CROSS REFERENCES: [Many poems here have advanced similar or related themes.]
#32 Cherished Daughter, Valiant Servant
#33 Daughter, Hear and Heed Your Savior’s Voice
#38 Prayer for a Caring Grandaughter
#60 Until All Are One with Him
#74 Sons and Daughters, Heirs of Promise
#92 Brothers and Sisters, Fulfilled Together
#99 To a Woman of Tempered Steel
#104 Warriors of the Mind and Soul
#107 Zion's Daughter, Leanore
#111 Winter's Mothers, God Holds Most Dear
#116 The Beauty
#122 The Daughters of the Lord
#124 Don't Tell Me That My Time has Come
#133 For Nelda
#137 Sisters of the Covenant
#138 Sisters Share Their Cheerful Hearts
AFTERWARD:
I, for one, see a succession of events here, whereby a sister advances “grace for grace”, learning the Lord’s ways and means through an apprenticeship of sorts, until the time arrives when she receives a calling which, to use her words, “caused her jaw to drop to the floor, where it still remains”. She reports walking about her home muttering, “Really?”
And the Lord’s answer, full of love and tenderness, is heard by our own spirits: “Yes, really. You are My Daughter. You have been both trained and tested throughout your mortal probation so that you are now ready to better ‘fulfill the measure of your creation’ and WE ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU.”
And we “brethren” and sisters, will support her because we know she is worthy in God’s eyes and beloved in our own hearts.
“Yes, REALLY—God looketh on the heart”; He likes what He sees; and so do we. Well begun, Sister-Ours, well begun.
REJOICE, and serve with not only your dedicated counselors and secretaries, but with all the glorious, dedicated, loving Sisters of your Ward until the Great Jehovah declares: “The work is done”. [See, Joseph Smith Jr. “The Standard of Truth”.]
PREFACE:
Although this is, at times, somewhat light-hearted, it nevertheless contains themes and implications of eternal consequence. It is indisputable that, as a practical matter, a crucial calling in the Kingdom at the Ward level is that of the Relief Society President. Here and now, better than any “referee” in any mortal sports contest, our Bishopric “made the right call.” I was prompted to make that point very clear. Building on the solid foundation of her predecessors, this new President is needed to teach, lift, and serve God’s faithful Daughters, and those who would become such. In fulfilling her duties, which are weighty, she is enjoined to not merely “rally the Sisters” but “call on the brethren of the Elders Quorum.”
God Looketh On the Heart
The scene repeats around the world,
The Bishopric had asked to meet
And visit you “sometime you’re free”.
They said, “We love to greet
Our Sisters, Brothers in their homes--
Learn more about their lives and cares,
But only when it’s good for you,
We would not take you unawares.”
And so, you thought “No cause to fret,
Some trifling call could come my way.”
And thus, you felt no deep concern
For what these brethren might say. (1)
You cleaned and dusted all about--
These were the servants of your Lord, (2)
Who’d grace you when they would appear,
To bless your house and share His Word.
And so, at the appointed hour,
They came to chat and “share your day”.
But when you heard the call they brought
It truly “blew your mind away”.
They came as Voice for Higher Powers,
Who had been waiting for this time.
“The Lord has heard His daughters’ cries,
And calls you now to share Christ’s mind. (3)
You were prepared with loving eyes,
To see their ills and know their needs.
In Heaven’s name we testify
The time has come that all the seeds
Of faith and works which you have sown
Shall now bear fruit, the world to see.
And though you doubt you are prepared,
The Lord will fit you in your need--
God looketh on the heart.” (4)
(c) servingjesuspoetry.com
Unlimited non-commercial usage allowed.
NOTES:
- In the Restored Church we have “Big B Brethren” (think, “Salt Lake City” and “General Authorities”) and “Little b brethren” (and we “brethren” are eternally grateful we are not called on to bear the Brethren’s burdens. What we often fail to appreciate is that, in our own modest callings and labors, we “brethren” (little “b”) [and sisters] can be invested by the Lord with all the rights, powers, and gifts we require to fulfill our “less visible/public” duties for the Kingdom. This scripture comes readily to mind: Doctrine and Covenants 88:1-5—"And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.” [Our Bishopric extended a calling from the Lord.]
- See Doctrine and Covenants 84:36-38, which although sent, at the time, to Priesthood Brethren, advances a celestial principal of eternal dimensions: “For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.” [Compare, for a far more general application of this Heavenly rule, Matthew 10:40-41: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” [Thus, I respectfully submit that I have not engaged in hyperbole.]
- 1 Cor. 2:12-16—"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7—"But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’”
CROSS REFERENCES: [Many poems here have advanced similar or related themes.]
#32 Cherished Daughter, Valiant Servant
#33 Daughter, Hear and Heed Your Savior’s Voice
#38 Prayer for a Caring Grandaughter
#60 Until All Are One with Him
#74 Sons and Daughters, Heirs of Promise
#92 Brothers and Sisters, Fulfilled Together
#99 To a Woman of Tempered Steel
#104 Warriors of the Mind and Soul
#107 Zion's Daughter, Leanore
#111 Winter's Mothers, God Holds Most Dear
#116 The Beauty
#122 The Daughters of the Lord
#124 Don't Tell Me That My Time has Come
#133 For Nelda
#137 Sisters of the Covenant
#138 Sisters Share Their Cheerful Hearts
AFTERWARD:
I, for one, see a succession of events here, whereby a sister advances “grace for grace”, learning the Lord’s ways and means through an apprenticeship of sorts, until the time arrives when she receives a calling which, to use her words, “caused her jaw to drop to the floor, where it still remains”. She reports walking about her home muttering, “Really?”
And the Lord’s answer, full of love and tenderness, is heard by our own spirits: “Yes, really. You are My Daughter. You have been both trained and tested throughout your mortal probation so that you are now ready to better ‘fulfill the measure of your creation’ and WE ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU.”
And we “brethren” and sisters, will support her because we know she is worthy in God’s eyes and beloved in our own hearts.
“Yes, REALLY—God looketh on the heart”; He likes what He sees; and so do we. Well begun, Sister-Ours, well begun.
REJOICE, and serve with not only your dedicated counselors and secretaries, but with all the glorious, dedicated, loving Sisters of your Ward until the Great Jehovah declares: “The work is done”. [See, Joseph Smith Jr. “The Standard of Truth”.]