Companions

The word companion derives from two Latin words com + panis  or English with + bread.  English adopted this word from classical French compagnon which literally means bread fellow, messmate (see www.etymonline.com under companion).

I know Spanish at an intermediate level so I knew that the word must mean who you eat bread with. This had a powerful meaning on my mission because I had my mission companion with me at all times. I wrote this poem while I was in the Missionary Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This has spiritual meaning for me as illustrated in this poem:

Multitudes beg:

Break the bread.

Baskets are passed

Until 5,000 are fed.

Apostles sat down.

Christ blessed the bread

Tearing every morsel

Until Twelve were fed.

The Savior knelt down

Crushed to red.

The Savior was nailed up,

Scorned and shred.

The priests kneel down

To bless the bread.

The Holy Ghost fills

Until all are fed.

Missionaries kneel down

To bless their bread.

They sit to sup

Until both are fed.

The family sits down

Breaks the bread

Blessing every morsel

Until all are fed.

This is the Spanish translation at my intermediate level. It has definite faults. Those Spanish speakers may cringe. You may suggest grammatical changes.

Compañeros

Multitudes pidieron:

Rompa el pan.

Se pasaba las cestas

Hasta 5,000 estaban satisfechas.

Apostoles sentaron.

Cristo bendijo el pan,

Rompiendo cada pedazo

Hasta el Doce está satisfecho.

El Salvador se arrodilló

Molido en rojo.

El Salvador fue clavado,

Despreciado y roto.

Los presbiteros se arrodillan

Para bendecir el pan.

El Espíritu Santo llena

Hasta todos están satisfechos.

Misioneros se arrodillan

Para bendecir el pan.

Ellos sentan para cenar

Hasta ambos están satisfechos.

La familia senta

Rompe el pan

Bendeciendo cada pedazo

Hasta toda está satisfecha.

Do Not Fear What Man Can Do

Corrie ten Boom wrote the book The Hiding Place about her experience in the Resistance and in concentration camps during WW2. She feared for her life but knew God was in charge. We all experience the real fear someone might embarrass or hurt us, but we can know God is in charge. The only real thing to fear is turning wicked and losing our souls, not physical pain or death. We suffer or thrive sometimes because of others' decisions. But we choose who to look to during trials. Jesus calls us to him to succor us.

Do not fear what man can do

For I am with you.

I am your Guard

When the times get hard.

I am your Hiding Place

When you can’t face.

I am your Rock

To whom you can knock.

I am your Friend

Beyond this life’s end.

I am the One who died

So death could be defied.

I am the One:

Only Begotten Son.

"fear not..." Doctrine and Covenants 122:9; Psalm 27:1

Guard or shield- Psalm 3:3

Hiding Place or hid in Christ- Psalm 27:5; Colossians 3:3; D&C 86:9

Rock- Helaman 5:12; Matthew 7:24

Only Begotten- John 3:16

Word History of Bear

The Latin word for bear is ursus. You can recognize that root in the name of the star constellation Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The Sanskrit word is rkshas. (The Germanic languages, and Latin-based languages derive from Indo-European. Indo-European is a theoretical reconstruction of the language from languages we do have a written record of. Sanskrit is the closest written language to Indo-European we know.)

But the English word for bear is not related to the Latin or Sanskrit root at all. Fear influenced the shaping of of the word bear. Germanic tribes were afraid of bears. It was taboo to use the animal's actual name. They called the bear beron or brown one (Proto-Germanic).

I learned this during my college course on the history of the English language. That's when I wrote a poem about the word bear.

The Brown One

"Sepia Grizzly Bear" by Lilla Frerichs

A child taunted the younger ones

Yelling, “Ursu! Ursu! Ursu!”

The younger ones scattered abroad

Shrieking aloud, “Curse you! Curse you!”

The brown one lurked in the forest,

Ready to pounce on the slow soon dead.

His eyes traveled from child to child

Then head to head of the most well-fed.

Pedophiles Can Repent

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."       --Isaiah 1:18

Everyone can repent, even the vilest of sinners. Pedophilia is an addiction and a sin. As a sin, it causes guilt and sadness to compel you to repent. Pedophilia is not a mental illness as the world would say. At one time, you were most likely a victim. This doesn't excuse your sin, but the knowledge does help you understand that you need healing along your journey of repentance.

Repentance only comes through Jesus Christ. No one else can substitute His power. Repentance breaks down to two actions: confess and forsake (see Doctrine and Covenants 58: 43).

You need to confess to the proper authorities, your victims, and your church leader. Your church leader and God will help you know what is the best way to confess to victims. Understand others will react strongly. Confess every instance to the authorities and your church leader. This is like cleaning a wound--all of the infection must be gone before the wound can heal properly. Be willing to suffer the consequences and spiritual pain.

Forsake the sin for the rest of your life. This process is difficult, but worth it. This includes making restitution where possible. Just like an alcoholic should avoid a bar, you need to avoid tempting situations. Importantly, prevention is key. Here are some prevention tips I have thought of:

1. Be completely honest with yourself and others.

2. Avoid children and places children go. Never be alone with a child.

3. Keep a person as your "line of sight." This person should not be any person who will hide the truth from you or others.

4. Inform others so they can help you avoid being alone with a child.

5. Pray and study scriptures often.

6. Avoid pornography in all forms and other sexual sin.

7. Seek professional help from someone who will be honest with you.

8. Be aware if you notice yourself grooming a child (e.g. giving candy, attention, or toys)

9. If you sin again, repent immediately!

This will be a lifelong process. Call on others who are willing to help you along your journey. Rely on the Lord because He loves you. He is the only person who can redeem you.

Signs of a possible pedophile

I've made a list of a possible signs of a pedophile and how he or she may groom a child. Use your own judgment and the Spirit to determine what is useful from my list. The important element from all this is that the pedophile wants to isolate the child so he or she can abuse the child.

1. He or she may have a children's mecca away from people's line of sight.

2. He or she may obsessively volunteer to babysit children.

3. He or she may "change diapers" without informing a parent, or put the child to bed alone. This also prevents others from discovering any genital damage done to a baby.

4. He or she will isolate a child physically and emotionally.

5. He or she will manipulate and subtly threaten a child.

6. He or she may give away candy or toys in a secluded place.

7. He or she may host parties where children will be secluded in some way, like sitting on Santa's lap in a low visibility area.

Often, spouses or other loved ones will sometimes collaborate or try to hide the truth.  Family members are afraid of the truth because it will change their entire world view. The abusers and family members may orchestrate situations where someone else looks guilty.

Pedophiles are expert liars and manipulators. Their goal is to look trustworthy and deflect blame onto others. Anyone can be an abuser--the jolly-looking neighbor or relative, church leader, repairman, counselor, teacher, another child, etc. Most victims know their abuser.

Follow your gut instinct and the Spirit when protecting yourself and children. Children are so vulnerable. Stay calm if a child tells you anything. Get help from someone you trust. This is such a personal journey for each person.

If I Could

Christus Statue

Eighteen years ago, my mom received a call at 9 PM from a police officer that a relative was at the police station. This relative had been attacked at a job he was starting two hours away from us. In the middle of the night, we sped in almost half the time to the police station. My relative was highly perturbed when we arrived. After the attack, he had more difficulty, which leads me to believe he had PTSD.

On the drive home that night, I plotted a story in my mind for a new novel. I wrote it during and after school at the end of my senior year. The main characters were an orphan in a foster home and his female friend. The foster boy had been attacked by a football teammate. His friend wanted to help heal him, but she didn’t know how. The story has morphed over the years and I have yet to finish it. But I wrote a poem about how hopeless the friend felt to help her friend.

I realize that my teenage mind was processing how I felt toward my relative. I felt hopeless in helping him. I felt that only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ fully knew his pain. Others have had similar suffering who can relate on a human level and can help. Yet only Jesus Christ understands my relative’s pain on an intimate and divine level (see Alma 7:11–13).

In general, this is for anyone who feels inadequate to help others through their pain and for those in pain.

If I could reach you, I would;
If you beseech me, I could.
If I could spare you the pain;
If you could share me your bane.

If I could free you from grief;
If you could see your belief.
If I could heal you I would;
If I could feel you, I could.

If I could save you this hour,
If I could have the right power.
If I could do all for you,
But I can’t do all for you.

Only Christ can heal your heart.
Only He can feel your part.
Only He can reach your soul.
Only he can make you whole.

For a poetical analysis, I created internal rhyme for the first two stanzas in addition to the end rhymes. The third stanza has save/have which look similar but have different vowel sounds. The next two have do on both lines. The first two lines in the final stanza have internal rhyme too. The internal rhyme emphasizes the verbs, the actions that the narrator can’t do, but what Jesus can do.

I employed anaphora, or repetition at the beginning of a phrase/sentence, for for most of the poem. I created a juxtaposition of if I could to but in line 12 and the fourth stanza initial repetition of only to emphasize Jesus’ power.

Looking at the first formant in vowels sound frequencies, I emphasized more high pitch vowels like /i/ in the beginning. The frequency changes to low vowels such as /u/ and /o/. The fourth stanza particularly has a rise and fall in the rhyming vowels. The /i/ in heel and feel change to mid-frequency vowel /a/ in heart and part. The final lines go from high frequency /i/ in he and reach to the low frequency of /o/ in soul and whole. The lower frequencies feel more soothing to my ear, so I wonder if I chose the final rhyme subconsciously to represent Jesus Christ’s healing power.

Jesus' Life from the Perspective of Pre-mortal Spirits

Narrator:

"Golden Angel" by George Hodan

At this time Christ descends,

I bid farewell to Him, my Friend.

As we tenderly embrace,

The tears roll down my swollen face.

Father: 

I love thee, my dear Son;

Our divine purpose makes us one.

Christ: 

Father, I love thee too;

I’ll share thy word in all I do.

Spirits: 

Goodbye Brother!

Goodbye Friend!

We wish thee well

‘Til thy journey’s end.

Goodbye Brother!

Goodbye Friend!

We love thee; we love thee!

To thy journey tend.

When Christ claims His birthright,

With joy, we illuminate the night!

Through a heavenly window,

We watch our Brother learn and grow.

Our hearts rejoice and sing

As John the Baptist baptizes our King.

Narrator: 

By the touch of His hand

Many do learn to understand.

Through faith He heals the blind

And those without a peace of mind.

Spirits:

At this moment in time—

Precious, vital, sublime—

Our Savior is put to the test,

To do His very best.

He could give up,

Not drink from the bitter cup.

After all, it’s His choice.

Humbly softly speaks His voice:

“Father thy will

"Jesus in Prayer" by Waiting for the Word

I will fulfill.”

Those words, that conviction,

This story, non-fiction.

He bleeds from every pore—

Not just a drop or two, but much more,

Every sin, every pain—

For many a worlds’ reign.

Narrator: 

Within Gethsemane,

Jesus the Christ lets out this plea:

Christ: 

Dear Father, can it be

This bitter cup can pass from me?

Father: 

But this work must be done

By thee my perfect elder Son.

Christ: 

Not my will, but thy will

Which I do my best to fulfill.

Father: 

Yes, my Son, yes that is right.

Thou canst do it; Thou art the Light.

Narrator:

 Upon His back lies our sin;

 He suffers so that we may win.

 No one can cry to sleep.

 Heavenly Father and Mother weep.

Pilate: 

King of Kings is the news;

Art thou then the king of the Jews?

Narrator: 

This reply from the Lamb:

Three Crosses

Christ: 

Thou sayest that a king I am.

I was born to this end

To bear of the truth to all men.

Narrator: 

“Crucify him!” they cheer.

No! Not my elder Brother dear!

They spit out such mean scorns.

They press on His head a crown of thorns.

How can they disdain

A love so clear, so great, so plain?

Yet I hear past their lies

Their spirits howling painful cries.

The Roman soldiers nail

Christ to the cross who paid their bail.

Christ: 

Dear Father, please forgive them

For they know not that they condemn.

I send my spirit into thy hands.

Father: 

Thou hast obeyed all my commands.

Now my heart extends to thee

In gratitude eternally!

Spirits:

In our hearts we agree,

Dear Savior, we thank thee!

Narrator:

The earth shudders.

Someone utters,

“Truly this was the Son of God.”

His body is not yet risen,

Mary at Tomb

He visits departed spirits in prison.

Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb

And her heart fills with gloom.

But the risen Lord comes to Mary

For a short time to tarry.

We now know--

We are no longer bound to death.

We will have our second breath.

So begins a new story,

When he returns in full glory.