Benjamin Caleb Bradford,                                          His parentage selected,

Fresh from heavenly realms,                                       Prepared with utmost care,

Helpless in his new world,                                          His Father directed

And all but overwhelmed.                                          How he be nurtured here.

 

Formerly possessing                                                    His knowledge and his powers

Great knowledge and inner light,                               Have all been taken 'way,

Priesthood power using,                                             But hour by earthly hours

Contending for the right.                                            Restore them day by day.

 

A mighty man of valor,                                               Duty, work and callings

A noble spirit he,                                                         Will seem to him too hard,

Authority and power,                                                 He'll sometimes think he's failing,

Bearing righteously.                                                    And perhaps let down his guard.

 

His noble companions,                                                But inch by inch he'll grow

Joseph and Abraham,                                                  And memories return;

Shared with him dominions                                        His progress won't be slow

In that not so far-off land.                                          As line by line he'll learn.

 

He wasn't idly waiting                                                            He'll gradually discover

To take his turn on earth,                                            That he can do all things;

But working and directing                                          With God as his mover,

While awaiting his own birth.                                     He'll have air beneath his wings.

 

Foreordained by Jesus                                                            Honored and successful

To direct things here below,                                       He will finally be;

He had his Father's trust,                                            Satisfied and peaceful

And was prepared to go.                                            When he leaves mortality.

 

Here he lies so innocent,                                             Then comes the revelation

A transformation huge,                                               Of who he really is

A special spirit sent,                                                    And with great elation

By Father to be used.                                                  He'll take the place that's his.

 

 

 

Thoughts about my 4-day-old grandson,

applicable to all 17.

 

—James E. Kerns

12 October 2008