MARTIN COVE

 5.7.25

Poem

There I sat,
Dirt beneath my nicely covered feet,
A wooden log for a seat.
The sun’s rays beat down heat.
One hundred fifty years ago, some people were also here
In this cove.
Yet unlike me,
They had uncovered, bloody feet.
Yet they rejoiced
Despite their weeps,
Despite their griefs.
They prayed in faith.
Their life may be as broken as their feet,
Yet these ones prayed.
They asked the Lord to help them with their feat,
To overcome this mountain near,
To make it to a place secure,
A place among the hills so far.

Their answer was one of whispers,
They felt was almost gone unanswered.
Yet, as He does,
God did answer,
Reassuring endless glory.
“Trust in me,” the Savior said,
“Learn my words,
Remember what they said.
For on the morrow we shall conquer.
Relief and lightening will be offered.
Feats and feet were recorded.
Overcome by their lack of murmurs,
Hush your fear and just remember,
Their burden I did, and for you too will you be able to surrender.”

 

There we sat in martins cove together. I was xtremly y blessed that our “metaphorical company” was all banded together; no death, sickness, or starvation had selected us. The only thing slowing us down was a stomach full of warm hotdogs, bountiful veggies, cold potato salad, and hand-cut watermelon.

 

Our circumstances were very unlike the rest of the souls who gathered here, whether it be that this was their resting place or just a quick stop.

 

All these thoughts entered my mind, building on the last one with each step I took. Each movement reminded me that souls with faith and frozen feet trekked these very roads. A theme of this trip: walking the steps where those before us go, we learn abour their faith and mighty growth.

 

These thoughts hit around my head the same way a wagon wheel spins . I was snapped back to reality, viewing the paper book in my hand. We were in Martin’s Cove, and I was reading a verse in The Book of Mormon:

> 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 

> 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 

> 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 

> 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. 

> 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 

> 17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage. 

> 21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God. 

> 22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God. 

 

Mosiah 23 as well: 

> 22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. 

> 23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. 

> 24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings. 

> 27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. 

> 28 Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children.

 

I read these words and was flushed with the realization that these words were written for these people. The Book of Mormon probably meant so much to these saints. And in a very real and literal sense They were in this destitution of circumstances because of this book, because of their belief in this book, and they would also be delivered and comforted by this book too. The Lord didn’t get rid of their distance or transport them to the Salt Lake Valley, but he did offer another hand to lighten the burdens.