Which Was Greater
that at the beginning of miracles, Jesus
changed water to wine and the bridegroom
at Cana set forth good wine last,
or that the blood-red wine
He gave the twelve at the final supper
would become living water for the bride?
– Previously published in The Glory of the Son (2019) –
Cross and Condescension
In the morning of creation,
His spirit moved upon the waters,
great rivers and small streams
flowed down.
Riding upon the clouds,
He sends showers
upon our fields, small rain upon
tender branch and bud.
In power He commands the waves,
speaks to us in storm and flood.
He fills fountains, fonts, cups
to wash our feet, cleanse our lives,
yet on the cross, He cries,
I thirst.
– Previously published in The Glory of the Son (2019) –
In Your Name
Descending
below all things,
bleeding sorrow
from every pore,
He was fully
bathed in grief
that we might be
cleansed, rescued
from death and hell.
I descend marble
temple steps, enter
baptismal waters.
Completely immersed,
bearing His name
and yours,
I hold my breath.
Emerging, rising,
may you inhale
everlasting life;
together may we
dwell in heaven.
– Previously published in Ensign (Feb 2010) and The Glory of the Son (2019) –
Sharon Anderson delights in finding just the right words to express what she learns while studying the Gospel and serving in the Church, and she loves sharing her insights with others. Her poems have appeared in BYU Studies, Encore (published by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies), Ensign, The Friend, New Era, Poetry Panorama, and Utah Sings. She has received many state and national awards for her poems and is the author of Praising the Prophet: Joseph Smith and the Restoration in History and Verse, and The Glory of the Son—Poetic Insights: Jesus Christ and God’s Great Plan of Happiness.
Sharon and her husband Peter are the parents of nine children. They have 36 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren so far. Additionally, she has written and illustrated a series of history timeline packets for home-schooled children and others students of all ages (timelinesetc.com/lds/ ). She can be contacted at mytimelinesetc@hotmail.com.
About the poems
►“Which Was Greater”: As I considered Christ’s miracle at Cana, I thought of another transformative event that involved not only water and wine, but also bridegroom and bride.
►“Cross and Condescension”: How ironic it is that the very Lord who created and controls both earth and water willingly submitted to the anguish of the cross.
►“In Your Name”: In a unique, eternal way, temple work can bless our lives and connect us with those for whom we perform the ordinances and with the Savior as well.
