Scriptural Poems and Plays and Powerful Stories of Faith

Copyright © 2011 by Dick Grigg.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011905935

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4628-5765-4

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this book and the contents of it to all those persons who are seeking

a closer relationship with God, His son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

Also to those seeking to know their purpose in life, where they came from,

why they are here and where they will go after this life.

Contents

SECTION I

TITLE PAGE AND BIBLE POEMS

WHAT THE HOLY BIBLE MEANS TO ME

THE CREATION

MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES

BALAAM’S ASS

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

ISAAC AND REBEKAH

JACOB AND RACHEL

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

HANNAH AND SAMUEL

DAVID AND GOLIATH

DANIEL’S PROPHECIES

DAVID AND BATHSHEBA

SAMSON AND DELILAH

RUTH AND BOAZ

ESTHER AND MORDECAI

JOSEPH OF EGYPT

JESUS

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

I AM THE HOLY GHOST

MARRIAGE

THE LORD’S TENTH

PRIESTHOOD

BAPTISM

JOHN THE BAPTIST

MALACHI

ELIJAH

ISAIAH

PAUL

A CHARIOT OF FIRE

JACOB’S LADDER

JACOB WRESTLES WITH AN ANGEL

A WHISPER FROM THE DUST

HOW TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL ATHLETE

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

MILLENNIUM

ACKKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge the great help my wife, Angie M. Grigg has been to me as she is my editor, my eyes and ears and I listen to her. To my daughter Judy Grigg Hansen as she is an english teacher at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho and I listen to her. To my son, Karl Fuhriman Grigg who is our web site manager and computer expert so we go to him for advice constantly and he freely gives it. Thanks very much to all of you. Dick Grigg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lawrence Richard Grigg was known as Dick Grigg during his life and fashioned his life according to LDS church standards. He attended college at BYU, University of Utah, College of Idaho, University of California at Berkeley; served a proselyting mission in California, family history mission in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a World Wide Family History Support Mission Remote at home; and married twice in an LDS Temple. He has kept a daily journal most of his life and has been the family historian for many years. He has served as a family history center director and family history consultant for many years. He has researched and cleared thousands of family names for the temple and conducted family temple excursions to do these names. He and his wife Angie have been family-name extractors and indexers since 1983 for the LDS church. They extracted and cleared the names of Hernando Cortes and the conquistadores who conquered Mexico in 1521. They also identified the Aztec nobility who were conquered and did their temple work for them. Mr. Grigg has written numerous lessons and documents that are published on the LDS church’s Find Answers database in the Help Center of the New FamilySearch program.

SECTION TITLES

SECTION I: TITLE PAGE AND BIBLE POEMS. Each poem expresses gospel principles and ideas pertaining to a character or topic in the Bible.

SECTION II: BOOK OF MORMON POEMS. Each poem expresses gospel principles and ideas pertaining to a character or topic in the Book of Mormon.

SECTION III: MODERN SCRIPTURE POEMS. Each poem expresses gospel principles and ideas pertaining to a character or topic in the Doctrine and Covenants or the Pearl of Great Price.

SECTION IV: HOME AND FAMILY POEMS. Each poem expresses gospel principles and ideas or problems pertaining to a character or topic experienced in our home or local ward.

SECTION V: PLAYS. There are short skits to three-act plays all centered around a gospel theme.

SECTION VI: FAITH-PROMOTING MISSIONARY STORIES. Real stories of how the Lord provides for his faithful servants who fully depend on Him.

SECTION I

TITLE PAGE AND BIBLE POEMS

Each poem expresses gospel principles and ideas

pertaining to a character or topic in the Bible.

WHAT THE HOLY BIBLE MEANS TO ME

November 14, 2004

The Bible is the basic, standard book containing God’s word to man on earth for his earthly welfare and to prepare him for his life after death. I am grateful to all the prophets, apostles, and men of God who kept the records and sacrificed to preserve them and hand them down to us.

The Bible is the standard by which we judge all revelations. The prophet Isaiah put it this way:

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).

The prophet Isaiah was one of Jesus’s favorite prophets. When Jesus appeared to the Nephites on this continent, he quoted some of the prophecies of Isaiah and commanded the people to search his prophecies diligently, for he said, Great are the words of Isaiah. For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of house of Israel (3 Nephi 23:1, BM).

Isaiah referred to the Book of Mormon people in the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah when he said, And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust (Isaiah 29:4).

Isaiah refers to the Book of Mormon as a marvelous work and a wonder when the learned people reject it.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13).

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid (Isaiah 29:14).

Jesus explained to the Nephite people that they were the other sheep that he had referred to in Jerusalem. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd (John 10:16).

The prophet Ezekiel prophecied that in the last days the stick of Judah (the Bible) and the stick of Joseph (the Book of Mormon) will be brought together and become one stick in our hands.

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his companions (Ezekiel 37:16).

And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand (Ezekiel 37:17).

And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou [meanest] by these? (Ezekiel 37:18).

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which [is] in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, [even] with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand (Ezekiel 37:19d).

You may request a free copy of the King James Version of the Holy Bible from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints online. Just click on the following link: http://mormon.org/free-bible/

THE CREATION

There was a time when

The creation of worlds and men

In the Garden of Eden began

Where fish, fowl, and beasts swam and ran.

Adam and Eve were the first

To enjoy the garden but durst

Not take of the fruit

Or they would get the boot.

Mortality brought death and sin

So a new life they did begin

With choices of good and bad

Work and sweat they had.

An angel appeared to them

And sacrifice to Jesus began

The plan of happiness explained

And righteousness maintained.

Wickedness and murder began

With Abel’s murder by Cain

The patriarchal order was given

Enoch’s city taken to heaven.

Noah preached to crowds in vain

The skies overcast with a heavy rain

The ark was built to save a few

They went aboard two by two.

A new Gospel dispensation

Revealed to every nation

Till Abraham’s covenant with God taken

And the children of Israel awakened.

(Genesis 1-9)

MOSES IN THE BULRUSHES

In Egypt a decree was sworn

Where Israel’s people were slaves

To drown male babies when born

And curtail population’s growing days.

Moses was born and hid away

For in the bulrushes he did lay

In a little basket of straw and hay

Till Pharaoh’s daughter found him one day.

Moses’s sister stood looking on

And wanted a nurse for her brother

Pharaoh’s daughter took the baby as her own

So the sister got the baby’s mother.

Moses killed an Egyptian man

For abusing an Israelite

And hid him in the sand

Pharaoh was looking for Moses all right.

Moses fled to Midian

And took Zipporah to wife

The daughter of Jethro man

He stayed here part of his life.

Here he saw the burning bush like a fiery sage

The Lord called him to command

And lead Israel out of bondage

Back to the Promised Land.

(Exodus 2)

BALAAM’S ASS

Balaam the prophet rode his ass

To help the Moabite princes

An angel with sword stood in the pass

And caught the ass’s glances.

Three times Balaam was stopped

As the ass saw the angel

With Balaam he dropped

Hopping mad you could tell.

Why have you smitten me?

The ass to Balaam cried

I have served you faithfully

With no requests denied.

Now! Balaam saw the angel

With sword in hand raised

He bowed his head and fell

On his face all amazed.

God made the ass to talk and see

Things that Balaam thought

Could not ever be

As important lessons were taught.

(Numbers 22)

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

Abraham was a hundred years old

When Isaac was born

Sarah by an angel was told

But laughed and doubted with scorn.

When Isaac was just a lad

The Lord told Abraham

To sacrifice this son he had

To prove his faith in Him.

He took Isaac, the fire, and the wood

And built an altar there

With knife in hand he stood

An angel said don’t dare.

"Your faith is now proven to me

You shall be blessed beyond compare

With a great posterity

Which all nations of the earth shall share."

(Genesis 21-22)

ISAAC AND REBEKAH

Abraham gave his servant full rights

To find a wife for Isaac

But not among the Canaanites

A woman of God you must bring back.

He prayed for a way to know

A certain girl would think

And react just so

When asking her for a drink.

She drew water right away

For he and his camels to drink

Just as he had prayed that day

Rebekah played her part without a blink.

Isaac received the same promise

Given to Abraham and his seed

They would become as numerous

As the sands of the sea.

Jesus said they were part of His plan

Because of His direct line

Back to when genealogy began

Believe and repent and you are mine.

(Genesis 24-25)

JACOB AND RACHEL

Jacob kissed Rachel on sight

As she brought her sheep to water

It was the custom all right

’Cause she was his uncle’s daughter.

He worked for Laban seven years

For Rachel he would wed

But woke up that morning in tears

To find Leah in his bed.

With Laban he was mad

The oldest must go first

Laban told the lad

Work seven more years he must.

Twelve sons were born to excel

From wives and concubines

God changed his name to Israel

As known in latter times.

(Genesis 25-32)

THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

Who are they now?

All of Jacob’s descendants?

But more than this somehow

Involving their premortal existence.

Jesus called them his sheep

Because they can hear him

He is the shepherd indeed

Because they obey him.

The blessing of Abraham will fall

On those who repent and are baptized

And live worthy of it all

That’s how it is realized.

In latter days they’ll be gathered

From places far and near

Everywhere they have wandered

Will acknowledge Jesus and revere.

Jacob will no more be ashamed

When he sees the work of God’s hand

With his children being saved

On their inherited land.

(Genesis 12:2, 17:3)

HANNAH AND SAMUEL

Samuel born in answer to prayer

To Hannah who gave her word

She would lend him back in care

Of Eli the priest of the Lord.

Samuel was raised by Eli

Who lived in the temple

God’s voice he could not identify

Eli’s voice it did resemble.

Eli lost favor with God

His sons he did not remand

Samuel became prophet instead

And was known throughout the land.

Hannah kept her word

And had more family

Greatly blessed by the Lord

It will continue eternally.

(1 Samuel 1-4)

DAVID AND GOLIATH

Goliath was a giant man

A champion of the Philistines

Most feared him and ran

But David hears the boasting and designs

David said, I will show him as never before.

Saul said, "You must be mad.

He is a man of war

And you are just a lad."

David said, "I have killed a lion and a bear.

With hands of my own

I don’t need sword or spear.

Just a sling and a stone."

Goliath cursed David by his gods

He would feed his flesh to beasts and birds

He was insulted by such odds

But David disregards his words.

Selects a stone for his sling

And quickly lets it fly

While everyone is watching

It hits Goliath above the eye.

Goliath falls to the ground as dead

David pulls out Goliath’s sword

And cuts off his head

The Philistines run as cowards would.

(1 Samuel 17)

DANIEL’S PROPHECIES

Daniel, Shadrach, Mishach, and Abed-nego stood

At King Nebuchadnezzar’s feet

They looked so very good

After not taking his wine and meat.

Their wisdom was ten times greater

Than all of his magic men

Much help from their creator

Escaping furnace and lion’s den.

Daniel told the king

All about his dream

The image and everything

And what it did mean.

The image parts are nations

Gold, silver, iron, clay, and brass

Differing in strengths and durations

Till all come to pass.

In the days of these kings

The God of Heaven

Will set up His Kingdom

Never to others given.

But will break in pieces and consume

All of these kingdoms and more

The earth clean as with a broom

The dream and interpretation are sure.

(Daniel 1-5)

DAVID AND BATHSHEBA

David saw Bathsheba’s beauty

As she sunbathed in the nude

His mind wandered from pleasure to duty

While changing his attitude.

So he put Uriah at the battlefront

To pave his weary way

When Uriah’s death was imminent

Then he would have full sway.

But Nathan the prophet came by

The little ewe lamb parable he told

David said, that man shall die

And restore the sheep fourfold.

Nathan said, you are the one

You took Uriah’s only wife

While you had dozens of your own

Your life will be one of bitter strife.

David broke commandments three

Covetousness, murder, and adultery

His salvation he put in jeopardy

Now he will never be free.

(2 Samuel 11)

SAMSON AND DELILAH

Samson’s mother in her old age

Would have a son the angel said

To help free Israel from bondage

If no razor should come on his head.

A lion he killed with his bare hands

And 3,000 men with a jawbone of an ass

He could not be held with any bands

His great strength no one could surpass.

He loved Delilah a Philistine doll

She was paid to solve his riddle

In his sleep he told her all

Shave his head down the middle.

He was blinded and bound

As he held to the building’s pillars

New strength was found

As the building crashed to smithers.

He died with the Philistine enemy

Their lords and many others

He played out his destiny

To free his Israelite followers.

(Judges 16)

RUTH AND BOAZ

Naomi was an Israelite

Her daughter-in-law Ruth

Was a converted Moabite

And loved Naomi in truth.

Going back to Bethlehem

Naomi wanted Ruth to stay

With her husband’s kinsman

In Moab that day.

Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee

Your people are my people

Your God, my God you see

Let us stay a family.

Ruth gleans in Boaz’s field

And winnoweth his barley

Boaz leaves her a generous yield

So Naomi and Ruth were happy.

Boaz and Ruth happen to meet

On the threshing floor of grain

Ruth against his bare feet

Till morning they did remain.

Boaz took Ruth to wife

After clearing next-of-kin tradition

Obed born the joy of life

In royal line relation.

(Ruth)

ESTHER AND MORDECAI

India to Ethiopia was ruled by Ahasuerus

And Queen Vashti refused to obey

So he chose Esther more desirous

That fitted his style every way.

Mordecai was Esther’s guardian

As he watched the palace activity

But refused obeisance to Prince Haman

Who knew they were Jews from captivity.

Haman devised a kingdom decree

To destroy every Jew in sight

Including Mordecai his enemy

So he built a gallows just right.

The gallows was used all right

And Haman was the one

Mordecai honored for his insight

And all he had done.

But Esther pleased the king a special way

He promised her most anything

She asked her people to fast and pray

Their lives be spared by the king.

The Jewish people were saved again

Because Esther risked her life indeed

Seems that everyone is after them

But God remembers His chosen seed.

(Esther 1-6)

JOSEPH OF EGYPT

Joseph was a favored one

Being Rachel’s firstborn son

His coat of many colors

Caused jealousy of his brothers.

While herding sheep at Dothan

Joseph came a looking

The brothers said let’s kill him,

But Reuben said let’s sell him.

They threw Joseph in a pit

While they tried to decide it,

Some travelers brought him up

And sold him into Egypt.

Joseph became Potiphar’s servant

But was soon made superintendent

Potiphar’s wife demanded

Joseph, break the moral commandment.

But Joseph ran like a deer

We’ll have none of that here,

But left his cloak in her hand

Was made guilty by her command.

Joseph was put in a dungeon

But still his testimony hung on.

The Pharaoh had some dreams

But his Wise Men were blank it seems.

So Joseph was called to translate

A famine is in Egypt’s future fate

Joseph was in charge of Food and Ware

To store and barter with people everywhere.

Then who should suddenly at Egypt appear?

Joseph’s ten brothers with hunger and fear.

Joseph kept his identity intact

Until they agreed to bring Benjamin back.

When Joseph revealed himself to them

They all wept with past deeds forgiven,

Goshen was given to Jacob’s family

Here the Israelite nation grew mightily.

The Lord works in a mysterious way

With wonders performed each day

Joseph was a special prophet and seer

Chosen to set the example here.

(Genesis 37-50)

JESUS

Jesus’s mission started before this earth began

For He was chosen as the Savior in the premortal plan,

He was the firstborn of spirits, our Elder Brother too,

Satan rebelled and with many others withdrew.

Jesus was obedient to His Father’s directions

He formed this earth among many creations,

He is the son because he obeys,

He is our Father if we follow his ways.

Sin and death came from Adam’s transgression

The Savior’s sacrifice became a ransom,

And the atonement overcame death by the resurrection,

And forgiveness of sin by humble confession.

Three in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

The Father, Eloheim, the Son Jehovah for most,

The Holy Ghost, a messenger of truth and merit,

He can inspire or enter us as a personage of spirit.

The Father has a body of flesh and bones, we know

As tangible as man’s, the Son also,

Every person who dies shall live once again,

Body and spirit united in the resurrection.

Christ was the first fruits, then all will come after,

The righteous first, the wicked much later,

The way to be heirs of the Kingdom and promise,

Repent and be baptized and keep the commandments.

The Lord is all powerful, raise the dead and heal the sick,

For worlds without number did He create,

The Lord is all-knowing, even the thoughts of your heart,

Every spirit is discerned from his pre-earth start.

The Lord’s Second Coming is waited by the world,

Many events predicted are beginning to unfold,

False Christs and false prophets, many shall appear.

Believe them not, but know His coming is near.

He shall reign Lord of Lords and King of Kings

His presence as a melting fire when he doest terrible things

And every knee shall bow and tongue confess

That Jesus is the Christ, His judgments are just.

(Isaiah 7:14, Luke 2, Colossians 1:15, Bible; 3 Nephi 11-26,

BM; D&C 18:11, 19:16, 18; Moses 6:52, 57, PGP)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

You are off to a good start

When you love the Lord thy God

With all of your heart

And no graven images instead.

Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name

To undermine His fame

By using it in vain

Duty and honor the same.

Remember the Sabbath day

Six days for work

The seventh worship and obey

Your observance never shirk.

Honor father and mother

That thy days may be long

On this land and no other

This is where you belong.

Thou shalt not kill

Self-defense excluded

Or military duty fulfill

But murder included.

Thou shalt not commit adultery

Or acts of fornication

These sins He did decree

Was a great abomination.

Thou shalt not steal

Or others’ property hide

And tax money reveal

Civil laws you must abide.

Thou shalt not bear false witness

Or lie in any way

Your words and deeds tell us

How well you do obey.

Thou shalt not covet

Thy neighbor’s property

His wife or servant

Or what belongs to others and not thee.

(Exodus 20)

I AM THE HOLY GHOST

A member of the godhead in the Eternal plan,

A messenger of truth between God and man.

Born of the spirit is my key

To enter your body under God’s authority.

I know each person from Adam to you,

Your premortal record and what you did do.

I have guided each Prophet and directed his mind

So the Gospel could go to all mankind.

I am the Comforter which Jesus said

The Father would send in His stead,

To teach you all things as a witness

And bring all things to your remembrance.

I am given as a gift to each baptized person

So I can help him remember his life’s mission.

Whenever a person is tempted to sin

I prick his conscience so he won’t give in.

I was given the call to protect the inner man,

To teach you the truth whenever I can,

The unpardonable sin is to blaspheme me

Because you’re a traitor to God’s Spirit, you see.

I do the will of the Father and the Son

And I’m sent to bear witness to each and everyone,

If you want to know if something is true

Just ask in faith and I’ll come to you.

(John 14)

MARRIAGE

Marriage is part of the Gospel plan

Ordained of God for the progression of man,

Be fruitful, He said to Adam and Eve, the first,

You must multiply and replenish the earth.

Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh declared Adam

As the Lord took his rib and formed the woman,

For this cause shall a man to his wife cleave

And his father and mother he must leave.

What of divorcement? the Pharisees queried

Jesus said, "Only for wickedness was it permitted,

What therefore God has joined together,

Let no man put asunder."

God created this earth for his family of spirits

To take a body and prove their merits,

If we don’t marry and have a family

This