Matthew 6:20-21
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

One day as my memory took me away to my childhood, I began to day dream about the days when our family spent a lot of time at Hi-low in the Mountains near Beaver where my Grandparents owned quite a bit of land and three cabins.  My cousin and I spent much time looking for the bear that went over the mountain; the memories I have could fill enough pages to write a novel.  A sadness fell over me that most of that land has been sold and my siblings and I may inherit very little land on the mountain side.  I was sad that most of the inheritance is gone. Later that day as I was driving in my car the words came to me, "Store up your treasures in Heaven."  Peace filled my soul as I pondered on those words. Our true inheritance is our Heavenly home, with our Father in Heaven.



Photo By: Jeri Burt

"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence."
Doctrine and Covenants 107:99

I love the Hymn, Put your shoulder to the wheel.  The tune and the words are full of energy and encouragement to work and not quit.
When I was a young girl, if I complained about my chores or lacked in energy to do them and do them well, my father would sing, "Put your shoulder to the wheel push along.  Do your duty with a heart full of song. We all have work, let no one shirk, put your shoulder to the wheel.  As I led this song in Sacrament Meeting the memory of my dad singing this to me played in my mind, making it hard for me not to smile. Keep climbing, keep pushing.

                           

Luke 9: 23
And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, 
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The Hymn, Come, All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth,  is a hymn of praise and rejoicing. It reminds us of the, "Straight and narrow way we've found." We are reminded in this hymn of the importance of the atonement of Christ; and in the 2nd verse we focus on being grateful, "Shall we ungrateful be?" the third verse is sung with joy and encouragement filling our souls "then let us travel on."  The last verse refers to the worship in song.  "We sing his praise above."
Singing the hymns is such a blessing as we worship our Savior with songs. Let us not sing the hymns half-hearted but with rejoicing. 
Let us travel on, one step at a time, in the footsteps of Christ.

Psalms 69:30

I will praise the name of God with song, 

and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

The hymn, "Raise your voices to the Lord," is a shout of thanksgiving. This hymn is sung at the end of the sacrament meeting in the hopes of encouraging the spirit to be joyful through out the week.  "Until here we meet again/ to renew the glad refrain."

Ether 2:12

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven if they will but serve the god of the land who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

America the Beautiful:
Text:  Katherine Lee Bates
Music: Samuel A. Ward
Tune Name: MATERNA
In the song, America the Beautiful, we sing of the beauty and blessings, our heritage and the authors gratitude, and landscape of history of our Great Nation. In lines three and four of the song is a prayer which seems to be almost a warning.  God promises to protect our land as long as we serve Him.  The tunes name written by Samuel A. Ward, MATERNA, in 1920,  began with the words, "O mother dear, Jerusalem."

Photo By: Jeri Burt