To the Top

To the top,
to the top,
to the top,
we must ascend.

To the top,
to the top,
to the top,
we must climb.

To the top,
we must climb
to see the
other side.

We must overcome
the mountains of our lives
so we still climb
to the top!

Over bolder and rocks,
through snow and ice.
We must endure
to the top.

We must lift
as we climb
to help others
to the top.

We will overcome.
We will endure.
We will lift.
We will serve.

We will see
the other side.
We will rejoice
and be free.


Ben Roy
(12/8/2019)

Christ My Savior

Christ my Savior
always is near
throughout my pain
troubles and fear

Christ my brother
ready to hear
my needy prayer
and dry my tear

Thy atonement
brings me to thee
as I struggle
thou come to me

Christ give me strength
beyond my own
to help others
to be with thee

by Benjamin

(some was written 9/29/2019, the last one was written 10/20/2019, and some organizing may have happened then, too)

My Psalm

Oh Lord, my God,
The Savior of my soul.
My heart has broken.
Can Thou make me whole?

I want to return to Thee
But I have fallen yet again.
Lord, I believe Thou can help me,
Strengthen me, against my sin.

I want to love Thee
And keep Thy holy word,
But my flesh is strong
And my spirit has been weak.

Oh Lord, I pray to Thee.
Thy will I'll follow.
Thy word shall guide me
To be perfect through Thee.

Heavenly Father, I thank Thee
For the gift of Thy Son.
Christ, through Thy grace
I shall be whole.


by Benjamin

(Written in seminary 2/13/2020)

My Dog

I once had a dog
who sat on a log
and smelled like fog.
Sometimes he ate frogs.
Sometimes he sat on dogs.
Sometimes he is fair
and grows some hair.

by Harmonie

Help Me

 Help me to feel, help me to see
     help me to do, help me to be.
This is the prayer I say each day
     when I rise up and go on my way.

It takes effort and great discipline
     to change my weakness and my sin.
But that to me, God can't impart - 
     the change must be inside my heart.

So, help me to feel, help me to see
     help me to do, help me to be.
This is the prayer I say each day
     when I rise up and go my way.

Text: Janice Renee Payne (1942-2019)
Arranged: Liisa Monson Payne (2019) - Liisa shared this song with us at the Payne Family Reunion as part of our Memorial Reunion to remember and enjoy memories of Grammy.

From her poem:

Help Me

"Help me to feel, Help me to see
Help me to do, Help me to be"

This is the prayer I say each day
Then I rise from my knees and go on my way

Throughout the day, do I really care
Do I even remember my morning prayer

Having the desire to change is good
But it's not enough to become what I should

Habits are formed in myriad ways
repeatedly fortified through countless days

To now undo what time has done
Is difficult at best, and never fun

Effort is essential, and great discipline
To replace my weaknesses and my sin

To feel and see, To do and be
Will require a new and different me

Perhaps a new heart as Saul received
Would help me goal to be achieved

But that to me God cannot impart
If I'm not prepared to receive a new heart

So the change must be inside of me
Or I'll never become what I pray to be

Grammy

An eagle perched in her tree,

her golden eyes surveying the land,
her home had grown to be,
an empty place, dull and bland.

Behind her lay the glittering sea,
with a world, no one knew yet.
Soon she would travel to see,
what lay beyond the sunset.

The eagle flew into the sky,
above the world where she was free.
Behind her did her problems lie,
and her small family.

She flew away to a heavenly home,
although she missed her family.
What she would find, wasn’t yet known,
past the deep blue sea.

She might have looked back to see,
the family she called her own.
She flew away so she could be free,
from the pain of the body she had known.

She reached a place with her other family
Who before she had missed quite dearly
She now will wait quite patiently
For her earthly family

Soon we all will be together,
the wait won't be long.
Because families are forever,
We will be together if we are strong.

You are a daughter of Zion

You are a child of God
You are a woman of righteousness
and have fulfilled your promise to God.

You have lived your mortal life
you have married and have children
they have brought joy and strife
but their love isn't hidden.

We all love you
this is true
we won't be blue,
but happy for you!

by Xiomara

A Tribute to Grammy

The strong but aging tree stands tall
Watching her leaves begin to fall
Reflecting on the years she lived
The good she saw, the things she did
Each yellowed leaf now hits the ground
But what she sees are blessings found
Those years, though hard, have been first-rate
Her children strong, grandkids and great!

One by one, those leaves still fell
But she knew she'd lived life well
Lessons learned, and blessings gained
Full of joy and sometimes pain
She knew the summer wouldn't last
And rest will come once she has passed
Her final leaves soon too will go
And then, at last, the bitter snow

Her family then, still looking on
Will watch their mother pass along
They'll know they still have much to learn
Rough paths to cross, new leaves to turn
Then with eternity in view
They'll keep their testimonies true
And then with joy continue on
For separation isn't long

by Emily Roy

5/17/2019