When A Great Man Passes On

When  A Great Man Passes On

When a great man passes on
There's grief, but ponderous thought
'Bout what the good Lord had in mind
To do the things He's wrought.

For here's a soul with talent
Who's done the world much good,
And how we need the likes of him
To accomplish what we should.

For wisdom from experience
And courage to do right
(Those traits he's displayed all these years.
To counter Satan's might)

Seem to be in short supply--
We'll wonder ever more
Why God took him, unless it is
He's needed there even more.

God could have healed him, kept him here,
To comfort, bless his wife,
But time was right to precede her
Toward eternal life.

--Jay M Richardson

Paradise

My dad went to another house to live the other day.
It's a place called "Paradise, " where lots of folks stay.

I hoped that he'd come back to us, but now I know that he

is waiting there 'til we can come, soon, in eternity

I really miss my friend, my dad-- wish he hadn't gone;
But, then I s'pose we all must go, when God said, You! Come on!

And so I've learned that death can be wonderful, glorious,
For it's the door to the new house that's waiting there for us.

And though that portal we are freed from pain and sin and strife;
And it's one further step we take toward eternal lIfe.

Oh, what a grand reunion there will be in years to come,
When I can go through that blest door, and say to him, "Hi, daddy!"

-Jay M. Richardson

He Lives

                                       HE LIVES

He lived, and died and lived again,
As was foretold by prophets’ pen,
For at meridian of time,
The Christ was born and lived to prime;

He came to John and was baptized,
Then called the twelve and organized
His kingdom on the earth, and said
To seek it first, not wealth instead.

His enemies prevailed at last—
Thought Jesus’ influence was past.
His body, slain, was laid to rest;
But on the third day was the test—

For Christ arose, up from the dead,
Full flesh and bones, for as he said,
“Please come handle me and see—
A spirit’s not as ye see me.”

He lived, and died, and lived again,
As witnessed gospel writers’ pen,
And since he lives, we too shall see
The resurrection’s blessings free—

He paid the price for all mankind,
And we shall leave that grave behind.
Moreover, with repentant mind,
Enduring to the end, we’ll find

That spiritual death may be o’ercome,
And we may dwell in His kingdom.
He lived, and died, and lived again,
And set the pattern for all men—

Hopefully we’ll all be there,
Celestial blessings with Him share,
Through Him salvation’s for all men—
We live, we’ll die, and live again.

                                 -- Jay M. Richardson

Ten Lepers

       TEN LEPERS

Ten lepers, standing off afar,

Their desperate hopes revealed-

To Jesus called, “Have mercy, Lord,

Oh please, can we be healed?”

And Jesus said, “Go show yourselves

Unto the priests,” and then,

As those poor lepers went their way,

They were all cleansed, all ten.

But one, a poor Samaritan,-

He stopped, and left their ranks,

Returned, and fell at Jesus feet,

Praised God, and gave Him thanks.

Said Christ, “Where are the other nine?

Art thou the only one

To render glory unto God?

Were there not ten, my son?”

“Thy faith hath made thee whole this day—

Thine attributes include,

Thou art a stranger here,

The gift of gratitude.”

Dear brethren, sisters, aren’t we all

Like lepers, all unclean?

Have not all sinned and fallen short?

Cannot our faults be seen?

 

Yet God forgives and bless us,

Atones for all we do—

Repentance is the only fee

He asks of me and you.

Against none is His wrath kindled,

Saith He, the King of Kings,

Save those who fail to acknowledge

His hand work in all things.

And how we ought to thank Him, not

Just with mere platitude,

But by the way we live express

Sincere, deep gratitude.

Ah, may we be the one’s who’ll praise

Our God in ways so fine,

But ne’er of those of whom He asks

“Where are the other nine?”

--Jay M. Richardson

What Shall I Do With Jesus?

                 WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?

“What shall I do with Jesus?” mighty Pontius Pilate said,

“I find no fault in him, but it’s the people that I dread!

“I cannot set him free, and yet, I cannot have him die.

I’ll wash my hands of him, I guess,” said Pilate, with a sigh.

“What shall I do with Jesus?” King Agrippa thought, when Paul

Explained the Gospel, though in chains in Caesarea’s hall.

“Almost I am persuaded to be a Christian now.

(But what would people think if I accepted Christ somehow?)”

What shall I do with Jesus?  There’s a question for us all!

Do we follow Him completely, as did Apostle Paul?

Or do we wash our hands of Him when we’re among the crowd,

Like Pilate or Agrippa, the powerful and proud?

Said Christ, “I would thou wert all hot or cold, but not lukewarm.

Come follow me, wholeheartedly—I’ll see you through the storm!”

What shall we do with Jesus? We must answer our own way—

Eternity depends on what we do with Christ today!

--Jay M. Richardson

To Our Missionary

TO OUR MISSIONARY

“Our son the missionary”—

That phrase just sounds so good.

We’re really glad to know

You plan to do the thing you should:

Our prophet dear has told us

A mission is His plan—

It’s the thing that is expected

From each young and worthy man.

Dear “mission mormonary”,

We’ll support you all we can

The Lord will surely bless you—

You’ll become a greater man!

Now may we give some hints. Oh, please,

Those mission rules obey—

They’re for your own best good, son,

Though it may not seem that way.

“Our son, the missionary”—

Be sure to set high goals,

Then plan and strive to reach them

As you serve in various roles.

Especially learn the doctrine—

Be sure to live the truth,

So you can teach with power,

With all your strength of youth.

“Our son, the Mormon elder,”

Soon you’ll be (no joke)

A savior on Mt. Zion

To many grateful folk.

Whate’er your call, where’er you serve,

Just do your very best—

Then talk with God in humble prayer,

And He will do the rest.

While you are on your mission,

Be sure our family

Gets a letter weekly—

Show them your love and see.

How great and marvelous blessings

Upon your home will come,

Because of that sweet spirit

From as missionary son.

Above all, know we love you

And we’re for you all the way

Till mission’s end for you, son,

And you’re home safe to stay.

                           --Jay M. Richardson

At Grandpa's Farm

                               AT GRANDPA’S FARM

When I go up to Grandpa’s farm, I know that there will be

A loving Granddad’s welcoming—a special smile for me.

A pickup truck, a tractor, and a friendly horse to ride:

Some cows and hogs, some cats and dogs, I’ll feed, at Granddad’s side.

Though years have gone and time has fled, no sight of age I see

In my dear red-haired Grampa’s eyes—he’s young at heart to me.

When I go up to Grandma’s house, I know that there will me

Good things to eat, a house so neat, and sweet serenity.

My grandmother has lots to do but when I visit her,

There’s always time for games and fun with just a granddaughter.

Now they’ve been married fifty years and when this party’s o-er,

Each one of us will join with you to wish them fifty more.

     

             --Jay M. Richardson

He Prayed, Really

HE PRAYED, REALLY

He came down to breakfast,

This gentleman of old,

A man with whited hair, and eyes

That searched one’s very soul

Kind, in every way, and one

You’d know would be a friend—

T’was good to have him there

And feel his spirit with ours blend.

We knelt around the table

‘Ere this meal, before the day,

And we were pleased as our new friend

Was called upon to pray.

He said, “Thank you”, and then began

To pray most reverently,

Saying, “Heavenly Father,

May we now speak with thee?”

And as he prayed it tempted us

To look up during that prayer,

To see if Heavenly Father

Was indeed standing right there.

Dear Lord, help me to learn to pray

Sincerely, genuinely,

So when I say my prayers I’ll really

Truly “speak with thee.”

                            -- Jay M. Richardson

The Atonement

THE ATONEMENT  

The courtroom was in silence as the Judge came in the door.

The debtor hung his head, expecting mercy never more;

But as the sentence was pronounced upon the guilty man,

A friend stepped forward to the bar and said, "I have a plan.

I love this man; I'll pay the debt, If you will set him free,

And if he will repent and be responsible to me."

And so the debt was paid, the debtor ransomed, went his way,

Repentant, freed from suffering by the friend in court that day.  

The heavens stood in silence, as our Father entered in--

We bowed our heads in reverence, knowing we'd soon fall and sin;

But as salvation's plan was shown us, there stood up the Son of Man.

He said, "Fear not to go to earth--have faith, for I've a plan;

You'll fall, become unclean and be unworthy to come here;

But I'll go there and redeem you, for I love you--be of good cheer."

So as earth's history unfolded, Jesus came and paid the debt,

Freeing us from death and suffering by his sacrifice; and yet--  

Our part remains; faith unto repentance, work, enduring to the end,

Will complete the great atonement by our Lord, the Christ, our friend.        

                                                                        --Jay M. Richardson  

Marry Well

     TO MY DAUGHTERS

MARRY WELL

The time has come, in life’s short span, that it seems appropriate

For your old Dad, imperfect still, to tell you, “what is what.”

Now this I know, that much advice is cheap—and lightly taken,

But may I beg of you just once—let not this be forsaken.

For heeding this may mean for you a life like in heaven--not hell—

Both here, and in eternity!  So hear this:   “Marry Well”.

Now I don’t mean that “he” must be all handsome, rich, and smart—

But, please, just choose a man who loves the Lord with all his heart!

Be sure to know “him” long enough to see how he will be

When things don’t go just his way—will he act angrily?

How will he treat his mom and dad? And will he keep his word?

Will he honor his priesthood calls—his covenants with the Lord?

Dear girls, till now you’ve lived good lives—there’s lots of credit due!

Decisions you have made thus far have made us proud of you!

But hear this—of all the choices in this world that tongue can tell—

The greatest in eternity is this—to Marry Well.                        

                                                                       --Jay M. Richardson