Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Mormonism Music: Elder Czubak's 'A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief'


My favorite song is straight from the Mormonism Hymn Book:  #29 - A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.  Many scriptures come to my mind when I hear this lovely song, but first and foremost is the following passage:
Matthew 25:31-40
31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32. And before him shall be gathered all nations:  and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35. For I was an hungered  and ye gave me meat:  I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36. Naked, and ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 Also can be used this scripture from the Book of Mormon:
Mosiah 2:17
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
In these scriptures we see the importance of service as well as the love that God has for his children.  In another post I have shared the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson - "Every man takes care that his neighbor shall not cheat him. But a day comes he begins to care that he does not cheat his neighbor. Then all goes well."  I feel that has a lot to do with this conversation as well.  When we begin to see each other in the way that God sees us we will begin to treat people with charity and love.  When we begin to treat people with charity and love we then show God our love for his children, and therefore our respect and love towards him.



And now I would like to share with you the song.  Below is a video of me performing the song, and below the video are the lyrics.


A poor wayfaring man of grief hath often crossed me on my way
Who sued so humbly for relief that I could never answer nay
I had not power to ask his name, where to he went, or whence he came
Yet there was something in his eye that won my love, I knew not why

Once while my scanty meal was spread he entered, not a word he spake
Just perishing for want of bread, I gave him all, he blessed it, brake
And ate but gave me part again, mine was an angel's portion then
And while I fed with eager haste the crust was manna to my taste

I spied him where a fountain burst clear from the rock, his strength was gone
The heedless water mocked his thirst, he heard it, saw it hurrying on
I ran and raised the sufferer up, thrice from the stream he drained my cup
Dipped and returned it running over, I drank and never thirsted more

It was night, the floods were out, it blew a winter's hurricane aloof
I heard his voice abroad and flew to bid him welcome to my roof
I warmed and cheered and clothed my guest and laid him on the couch to rest
Then made the earth my bed and seemed in Eden's garden while I dreamed

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death I found him by the highway side
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath, revived his spirit and supplied-
Wine, oil, refreshment, he was healed - I had myself a wound concealed
And from that hour forgot the smart and peace bound up my broken heart

In prison I saw him next condemned to meet a traitor's doom at morn
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed and honored him 'mid shame and scorn
My friendship's utmost zeal to try, he asked if I for him would die
The flesh was weak, the blood ran chill, but my free spirit cried, "I will!"

Then in a moment to my view the stranger started from disguise
The tokens in his hands I knew, the Savior stood before mine eyes
He spake and my poor named he named, "Of me thou hast not been ashamed
These deeds shall thy memorial be - Fear not, thou didst them unto me."



If you have any questions on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) you are welcome to chat with a missionary about it (click the picture below).


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