Who Watched in Faith

By Alice Morrey Bailey

(Book of Mormon, III Nephi 1:5-21)

The Prophets’ cryptic speech, and only faith
Were theirs to span the vast and wordless sea
Back to their father’s land, the time-dimmed wraith
Of Jordan and the blue of Galilee.
And hidden from the far Jerusalem
Were those whose lives were doomed at sunset’s dark.
While Joseph traced the road to Bethlehem,
They watched in faith the day’s descending arc.

And only signs to mark the Savior’s birth
Were promised testaments of their belief,
Yet angel songs above Judean earth
Were not more sweet with joy than their relief
When glory shone through night, and, blazing high,
A new star hung in Zarahemla’s sky.

(1950)