A Voice from Bountiful

 

A Voice from Bountiful

Prophetic storms, and tempests came,
In that first month, on that fourth day¹,
To shake, divide, with lightning fire,
Fulfilled the warnings of God’s ire².

The cities of the wicked burned³,
or sunk, beneath the earth o’erturned,
This righteous land- now sin depraved,
Lay drowned in seas of frothing waves⁴.

The face of all the earth was changed⁵,
The mountains flattened into plains,
Where traveled highways stood in place,
Now lay as churned and shattered wastes⁶.

Continued mighty acts of power,
Displayed for three chaotic hours⁷,
Burning, sinking, rending stones,
Destroying all, the land o’erthrown.

The groaning earth sent deafening sounds,
From cracking, splitting, solid ground,
To fill the air and ears of all
survivors, to their knees did fall.

Then blinding mists of thickened haze,
Would smother light for three full days⁸,
While wailing, weeping, hopeless cries,
Were sent to God thru blackened skies.

Then, thru vapor thick and dark,
A Voice!⁹ A Voice! A piercing spark!
A hope began to swell! Arise!
A light again before their eyes!

The Father’s voice then filled the land¹⁰,
all open ears did understand¹¹,
The introduction of His Son,
The Risen Christ, the Holy One!

Descending now from Heaven’s cloud,
His light began to part the shroud,
of darkness, sorrow, and despair,
and shine upon those gathered there!

With arms outstretched to all below¹²,
exposing hand and wrist to show,
The marks, that proved that it was He,
The Crucified, of Gallilee.

He spake with loving voice, “Behold!”
“I am Jesus Christ, The Lord,
Of whom the prophets have foretold,
Would come again into the world¹³”

“Come feel my hands, and feet, and side¹⁴,
I, for thee, was crucified,
I am the light, and life for all,
I drank the bitter cup of gall¹⁵.”

“And I have come to gather in,
Reedeem the world from death and sin,
Atoned, and suffered for thy sake,
It is my off’ring, Come! Partake!”

And all the gathered bent their knees,
And worshiped him with faith filled pleas,
And cried aloud with hope and awe,
Hosannah! Bless the name of God¹⁶!

The prophecy fulfilled at last,
The darkness from the land outcast,
Replaced by light, from Jesus Christ,
Who’d suffered all, and paid the price.

Our Savior now! He lives and reigns!
His mighty pow’r unbinds our chains!
He strengthens us, when light is dim,
If we look up, and turn to Him!

1. 3 Nephi 8:5
2. Helaman 13:5
3. 3 Nephi 8:8
4. 3 Nephi 8:9
5. 3 Nephi 8:12
6. 3 Nephi 8:13
7. 3 Nephi 8:19
8. 3 Nephi 8:23
9. 3 Nephi 9:1
10. 3 Nephi 11:3
11. 3 Nephi 11:6
12. 3 Nephi 11:9
13. 3 Nephi 11:10
14. 3 Nephi 11:14
15. 3 Nephi 11:11
16. 3 Nephi 11:17