Gazing at Old Photos

by Cheryl Merrick

Seeing my younger self,
I remember when life

stretched endlessly before me

so full of possibilities. 

Filled with sparkling optimism,

I faced forward gazing

into the vastness of my future.

Now, fifty years have passed.

With knowing eyes,

I look back at my younger self

and smile. 

Sunlight

by Cheryl Merrick

Into the cold dark corners

where despair and fear cringe,

Sunlight floods

filling my soul with hope

and surrounding me

with the joyful warmth 

of His love. 

Two Men Facing Death

by Cheryl Merrick

Knowing the end is near,
one man sits blankly in his chair,
his eyes looking hopelessly
out into nothingness.

His wife withdraws
consumed by fears
of soon becoming
"just a widow".

As the other man's friends and family
gather to say goodbye,
his eyes twinkle
as he lovingly shares
these last moments of his life.

Blessed

by Cheryl Merrick

Blessed to be on the earth
to see mountains and smiles
to hear birds and friends voices
to feel warm sunshine and hugs
to smell and taste an apple
to touch soft corduroy or smooth wood
and to move, reach, and walk on my own

Blessed to have true principles to guide me
to know what is right and the purpose of life
to understand how to have peace and happiness
to change and grow through the atonement
and to have the Holy Ghost, scriptures,
prayer and prophets, ordinances, and temples
all to help me return to my heavenly home.

Settled

by Cheryl Merrick

No more experimenting to make me “better”.
My health is stable.
I know what I should do and what to avoid.
I am to avoid everything I reasonably can
which stresses me physically or emotionally.
I am to avoid chemicals in buildings.
I have removed most allergens and chemicals
from my home and diet.
I can get out some but not for too long.
I need to avoid extremes in temperatures
and strain on my jaw, rib, and hips.
I am to take my medicine on time
and once in the middle of the night.
I am to sleep at consistent times.
I am to relax after six in the evening.
I am to move frequently, but only for short periods
and never get out of breath or overtired.
I am to walk and do stretches daily.
I am not to lift anything over a few pounds.
I can putter around my home
and keep it clean and orderly.

Reflections On

by Cheryl Merrick

Three Months of being a Church Service Missionary*

Day after day they send me their requests.
Half are polite, reasonable questions on how to use the LDS.org web site.
The rest are prideful criticisms and demands, and a few are pleas for help.

Preferring hearsay to the Lords’s invitation to study, ponder and pray,
Many drift aimlessly; confused and unsure.
While others want only to return to the comfort of the familiar,
refusing to learn anything new.

Letting Go

by Cheryl Merrick

I pleaded,
“Help me to be able to do my family history.
Help me know what I should do.”
The answer came,
“Release your reserved names
and let their work be done.”
I obeyed --
then I cried.
I wanted to do their work myself,
but I must accept my limits.

If I don’t go into the temple,
then I can do the research
and prepare the work so others
can do the ordinances for my ancestors
I can share their stories and photos
I can help to seal my family for eternity
This is the work I am to do

The Foolish Woman

by Cheryl Merrick

Sighing deeply,
she begins another day,
attempting to dull the pain of her loneliness
with constant activity.

“My children need this. My house needs that.”
And so she hides behind
a sense of importance,
denying her failure.

“After all, who can expect a marriage
  to be fun and exciting
  after all these years?
That’s just the infatuation of the young.
Our marriage is fine.
We don’t argue and we get along all right.”

Greater Wisdom

by Cheryl Merrick

I thought to respond
issue by issue 
to her misconceptions

Praying to instead
do His will,
I sent a scripture and 
shared my testimony

Her heart was touched,
and my spirit humbled,
by His
Greater Wisdom

Justice and Mercy

by Cheryl Merrick


In his determination for revenge
he gave no quarter
to mercy

Absolute Justice
was his demand

Til experiencing
its crushing weight,

He cried out,
Mercy!

Peace

by Cheryl Merrick

Feeling His love,
Seeking His wisdom,
Listening to His counsel,
Following His example,

She trusts her life to
His protecting care,
and walks confidently 
into the darkness
Knowing He will guide
her home again. 

Being Me

by Cheryl Merrick

I really have no choice.
Who else could I be?
I could try to be different,
but why?

Mothering

by Cheryl Merrick


Knowing that mothering
is more than just giving birth,
but an expression of the heart,
She reaches out
to teach youth at school
and in the Church
to invite neighborhood children
to share her cookie jar and talk,
to guide young student teachers,
and to nurture her sister’s children
during the summers;
Til one day she is called to the General Young Women’s Presidency,
and proudly declares,
“My daughters!”





My memories of Sister Ardeth Kapp who was never able to bear or adopt children of her own. She was my student teaching supervisor in 1971 in Bountiful Utah. Later she became the 9th General President of the Young Women organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Always a Mother

by Cheryl Merrick


They’re on their own.
You cheer them on as they manage their own lives-
getting an education, choosing a mate, 
making a living, and raising a family.
You share in their triumphs and sorrows.

Why I became a Mormon

by Cheryl Merrick

When I was eighteen and living close to Berkeley, California, I was looking for some teachings to guide my life. I wanted a happier life than I'd seen in my family.  I looked into all sorts of religions, even Far Eastern.  Nothing felt right and many of the things they said didn't seem just; such as if you were a little bit better you went to heaven or a little bit worse and you went to hell. About this time I met a nice girl in a high school summer class, and we became friends. I was very impressed with the love I saw in her family. I had never seen anything like it before. I began to ask her questions, and she suggested I talk to some missionaries. As I read the Book of Mormon, so many questions I had were answered. Ideas just rang true. They felt like things I had always known, but had forgotten. Finally, two years and many, many questions later (I  had to be sure for I knew this was the biggest decision I would make in my life), I finally joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My parents weren’t very happy with my decision, but I was.  Through the years, these true principles have helped me to build a happy marriage and a strong family, and to see my health problems as opportunities to grow. I have never regretted my decision one moment.