The Bull Ring

How Can I Keep From Singing My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation I hear the sweet though far off hymn That hails a new creation: Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing? What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth; What though the darkness gather round! Songs in the night He giveth: No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth, How can I keep from singing? I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it; And day by day this pathway smoothes Since first I learned to love it: The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, A fountain ever springing: All things are mine since I am His— How can I keep from singing? though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing w...

Mormon 6 11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me. 12 And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni. 13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst. 14 And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Jeneum had fallen with his ten thousand; and Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each. 15 And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty a...

The Lost 116 Pages The family watched as Martin picked up his utensils, as if ready to eat, then dropped them. “I have lost my soul!” he cried, pressing his hands on his temples. “I have lost my soul.” Joseph jumped up. “Martin, have you lost that manuscript?” “Yes,” Martin said. “It is gone, and I know not where.” “Oh, my God, my God,” Joseph groaned, clenching his fists. “All is lost!” He started pacing the floor. He did not know what to do. “Go back,” he ordered Martin. “Search again.” “It is all in vain,” Martin cried. “I have looked every place in the house. I have even ripped open beds and pillows, and I know it is not there.” “Must I return to my wife with such a tale?” Joseph feared the news would kill her. “And how shall I appear before the Lord?” Saints Volume 1 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/05-all-is-lost Several months after Moroni came and took the golden plates away the Lord speaks to Joseph again through revelation.  D&C 3 The works,...

Oliver Cowdery  Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, lead thou me on; the night is dark, and I am far from home; lead thou me on. Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead thou me on. I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, pride ruled my will: remember not past years. So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on, o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone, and with the morn those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. Once Oliver arrived in Harmony, it was as if he had always been there. Joseph talked with him late into the night, listened to his story, and answered his questions. It was obvious Oliver had a good education, and Joseph readily accepted his offer to act as scribe.   Joseph and Oliver started translating. They worked well together, ...

  John The Baptist   “Whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved,” He declared. “They are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Before ascending to heaven, He gave righteous men authority to baptize those who believed in Him.”   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/11 Yaweh look now on me Clouded the sky I see Make my eyes crystal clear Walk with me to the water Tabhair domh do lámh Yaweh You gave me love Cradle this flame above Rest Your hands upon my head Lead me down to the water Tabhair domh do lámh Yaweh make me Your stream Place me inside Your dream Touch my mouth, softly call Take me out to the water   After translating that part of the golden plates Joseph and Oliver wanted to know more about baptism and the authority that was required to perform baptism.   On May 15, 1829, the rains cleared and Joseph and Oliver walked into the woods near the Susquehanna River. Kneeling, they asked God about bapt...

Did The Witnesses Really See What They Claimed?  Why is David Whitmers Testimony so compelling?    The Testimony of Three Witnesses Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come : That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw t...

In early July 1829, with manuscript in hand, Joseph knew the Lord wanted him to publish the Book of Mormon and spread its message far and wide. But the publishing business was unfamiliar to him and his family. He had to keep the manuscript safe, find a printer, and somehow get the book in the hands of people willing to consider the possibility of new scripture. Egbert Grandin, a printer in Palmyra, New York agreed to print and bind 5,000 copies the book for 3,000. That is equal to about $85,000 today.  Martin Harris would mortgage one of his farms to pay for this and he would end up losing the farm. At the end of Martin Harris’s life, in order to get to Salt Lake City, he was so poor the funds came from crowd funding.  Martin didn’t ask for them but the people wanted him there so they raised the money and sent it to him.  he was the only one of the 3 witnesses to ever make it to Salt Lake City, Utah. Martin Haris started off a wealthy land owning farmer, sacrificed everyt...

  On April 6, 1830, Joseph and Oliver met in the Whitmer home to follow the Lord’s commandment and organize His church. To fulfill the requirements of the law, they chose six people to become the first members of the new church. Around forty women and men also crowded into and around the small home to witness the occasion.   In obedience to the Lord’s earlier instructions, Joseph and Oliver asked the congregation to sustain them as leaders in the kingdom of God and indicate if they believed it was right for them to organize as a church. Every member of the congregation consented, and Joseph laid his hands on Oliver’s head and ordained him an elder of the church. Then they traded places, and Oliver ordained Joseph. Afterward, they administered the bread and wine of the sacrament in remembrance of Christ’s Atonement. They then laid hands on those they had baptized, confirming them members of the church and giving them the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Lord’s Spirit was poured...