Unanswered Yet?
(beautifully penned by Ophelia G. Adams)
Unanswered yet?
The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard you prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere,
You shall have your desire,
Sometime, Somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father’s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere,
The Lord will answer you,
Sometime, Somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what he has begun.
If you will keep the spirit burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere,
His glory you shall see,
Sometime, Somewhere.
Unanswered yet?
Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the rock;
Amid the wildest storm prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done,” sometime, somewhere,
And cries, “It shall be done,”
Sometime, Somewhere.
Reflections on a Word
REMEMBER...On August 26, 2008, I embarked upon the greatest adventure, and the greatest Gift, of my mortal sojourn so far. As I separated from my family in the infamous “MTC separation room” I gave each a final hug. Was I sad? Perhaps a smidge. Frightened? Certainly if I thought about it. Anxious? You better believe it. Happy? You bet. Excited? More than at any previous point in my life. So what were the parting words of my father as he held me for the last time? What was his advice as I entered the greatest work of all eternity? “Remember,” he said.
“Remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It’s not all up to you. Remember, remember Him.”
So did I, do I? Well, now that’s the question. I took that one word, REMEMBER, and I etched it in “the fleshy tables of the heart.” I also wrote it in big, black, permanent-marker letters on the back of my name tag. The badge that would, for more than a year, be a token of my sacrifice, my service to His name. Would I remember?
Imagine for a moment a tender scene. A large family is gathered: it must be a momentous occasion. There is much excitement in the air, but something else – a touch of sadness, perhaps some uncertainty. Still, it is overall a very joyous gathering. It seems someone is leaving – a very special member of this family is about to embark on a great adventure. There are sights to see, feelings to experience, lessons to learn. Now and then a tear sparkles from an eye as hugs are shared and loving, lifting words are spoken. At last, the final farewell – Father comes forward. As He embraces His beloved child, He whispers a few words of congratulations, love, encouragement, and comfort. With a hug, He sends His little one off, having perfect faith in the plan the child has accepted. Now imagine the departing child is you. You don’t remember this scene, but in some way it was played out before your arrival in mortality. As you left your Heavenly parents’ presence, you were undoubtedly thrilled about the coming journey, but perhaps a little unsure of what it would be like. How you loved your family and your home in heaven! How you longed to return with glory and honor! What words did you loving Father speak as you left His side? I don’t know for certain, but I can imagine. Perhaps it was just one word. One word – REMEMBER.
As children of a glorious Heavenly Father, what are we to remember? I’m sure He means for us to remember that once we lived with Him. That we were not, however, like Him, and could not become unless a plan was presented for our progression. We ought to remember that a vital part of our progression is the grand gift of Agency, a gift He granted us through His Son’s sacrifice when once we counseled with Him in the heavens and chose to follow His perfect plan. We certainly can look around us at the beauty of the world and remember the greatness of our God in creating the earth and all things in, on, and around it. We definitely should remember our first parents, Adam and Eve, who made the magnanimous Choice to leave Eden and pave the way for our entrance to this world.
As another righteous father taught his children, we must “Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, [as surely he will!] yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12). Remember above all that when the Father put forth His plan in the premortal councils, there was One, the First-born of the Father, who agreed to make it all possible. Though we would not be perfect (and that too must be remembered), He would descend below us all, take upon Him the sins of all mankind, and overpower death and hell. He would triumph. He did triumph! Remember, Remember Him. Remember the sublime gift of repentance – the change that comes through the grace of our Savior and the mercy of our Father that makes our hands clean and our hearts pure. Oh, remember!
Remember too that we would not be alone. No, never alone. As we are eternally part of God’s family, He would organize us into families here on the earth to lift and strengthen one another. The Father granted us the supernal gift of prayer. He will never desert us. And through the beautiful prayer of faith of one young man, you and I in this day live in the “dispensation of the fullness of times.” The Father has given us His word in the written scriptures and through the teachings of modern prophets. We know what to Remember. And through the Restoration of all things, we have the power of God to bind together “all things in one in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). If we but prove faithful, the remembering (and the glory) will never end.
Remember, oh remember that His promises are sure. Remember that a place was prepared for further growth and preparation after this life. And then, glory of glories! The promised time will come. The Son will reign in power and light on the earth. He will come with healing in His wings, and bring with Him the righteous of ancient days. Resurrection, Immortality, Exaltation. His promises are sure. Indeed, “How glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!” (D&C 128:23)
Hearken back to our initial imagination. Now we have a similar scene, but there is no sadness, only joyful anticipation. You’re coming home – how will it be? Did you remember? If you did, I have no doubt the reunion will be wonderful. Who will be there to greet you? What will you say? When you come before the Father, if you have remembered, you will fall at His feet, and He will bless you.
And I served. I prayed and served. Every day was a new and exciting adventure. Each night was joyful anticipation of the coming day. The challenges, the opportunities, the blessings. Oh, yes I remembered. How could I not? And I looked forward to the day I would return to my loving earthly father. I would walk toward him; he would open his arms; we would embrace. Then I would look him in the face and with tears of hope and gladness say, “Yes, Daddy, yes I remembered. I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t always successful. I was ever-faithful. Ever-faithful to the memory of our Eternal Father’s perfect plan and His Son’s wondrous sacrifice. Ever-faithful to the sacred trust they and you and so many others had placed in me as the Lord’s messenger. Ever-faithful to the truth I have been taught. Yes, I remembered.
It is the eternal memory of those days and the ones to come that live burning in my heart. “Oh remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it” (Mosiah 2:41).
Words
REMEMBER...FAITH...TRUTH...COVENANT...REPENTANCE...GRACE...UNITY...GIFT...REMEMBER
