Matthew Cowley, a member of the Twelve Apostles, found a picture of a workhorse while serving a mission in New Zealand in 1918. The picture so impressed him that it hung in his office until a week before he died. Before he died he gave the picture to Elder Glen L Rudd. The following poem, written about the horse, was entitled “Hard Labor”, written by Elder Galo Ramirez in 1988.
As humans, almost from birth, we are encouraged to learn and succeed and we are taught to be proud of our accomplishments. However, if and when we are brought to church we are exposed to a whole new concept. The concept of worship, worship of another being and told that it is OK. The younger the child when they are first exposed to church worship, the easier it is for them to grasp the idea of worship because they look up to their parents and feel subservient to them. To add another, at that time, is agreeable because He too is called ‘Father’. Teenagers, who need to become independent of parents, sometimes become independent of that other ‘Father’ also. Worship is a very hard concept to grasp. To believe in a being that is supposed to be so powerful that he created all things, can control nature, and that all of the earthly elements obey his voice. To believe in a person, described as looking like we do and to believe that we, humans, were created in His image, can be most difficult when we cannot see, hear and/or touch Him. This being has been seen by some and heard by others but won’t speak to you. That creates another snag in our belief system. As adults we are expected to be strong and independent, to earn our own way and not become dependent on or subservient to anyone else.
All the adult rules and/or expectations are contrary to the idea of subservients or worship of another. Yet, a father figure may tell us that we will be better parents, more successful if we will be actively engaged in church and to worship the ‘Almighty One’. Because this Almighty One is billed as being full of love, mercy and kindness for all, and I am told that if we, as a people, can learn to be like Him than our neighborhoods will become that way, as well. We learn about Him through the scriptures and if we study and learn we are told that our hearts and our very demeanors will change. I, well remember, the first time I was asked to pray in public and how embarrassed I felt because I wasn’t sure of what to say. Had I concentrated on the Father whom I was supposedly talking to, I believe the words would have formed naturally. It would be well for us to remember the work horse poem; “If we’d be like unto this horse, O’ if we’d only say, “We love thee, O’ dearest Lord, Thy will we will obey.” Then, I believe, we will be blessed with the Holy Ghost as our companion. It is true that we cannot see Him but we can feel Him, His presence. That should be enough for most of us.