THE FLOWERS OF ZION

 

a tiny seed, so innocent to the eye

it sits, alone, lifeless, plain, and benign

but bury it in the depth of the earth

and that which grows is by divine design

 

 

for it’s the giving of its life

that creates what is to begin

its beauty and its power

lies hidden deeply within

 

 

the sacrifice required

of that which stood alone

becomes the gift of life for many

and the promise of a throne

 

 

see the daughters of God’s kingdom

their true beauty unseen by a sinful world

it shines brightest in the eyes of God

and to the world is an ensign unfurled

 

 

they are a light shining in the darkness

in a world full of sin they stand unfazed

they are sisters true to all that is good and pure

and of Christ, they stand all amazed

 

 

derided by the world as foolish and naive

heedless to the jeering cries of those now set in sin

they are indeed the fairest of the God’s chosen heirs

ready to unleash their beauty and might from within

 

 

they willingly lay sacrifice on the altar 

as did the faithful ones who went before

denying themselves of what the world offers

seeking instead, Him who offers so much more

 

 

some denied the blessings they seek most

yet serving others as if they were their own

they set aside their inner ache 

awaiting God’s sure promise of a royal throne

 

 

chosen before they were born to earth

nurtured in God’s embrace while here

now they rise to their promised place

in a more glorious and exalted sphere

 

 

where the gift of life is preeminent 

and the mighty work of families rolls forth

filling the immensity of time and space

where sisters feel fully their eternal worth

 

One of my daughters asked me if I could write a poem for a Relief Society function in her ward.  This poem was in response to that request.  It should be noted that I have made a few revisions since I wrote the original.