A WHITE HOSANNA HANKIE

The men had plain ones, all neatly pressed
The ladies also neat and had a pretty lace frill.
People greeted each other, spoke, voices suppressed,
Then in their seats sat so very reverent and still.

When the service started, the spirit was so strong,
All listened to the anthems and the spoken word,
Tears flowed from every eye in that joyful throng
The instruction to wave the hankies was heard.

A flutter of white as many voices called with love,
Three times, those praises rang in the temple walls,
It seems as though angels joined from realms above
And wandered with the living along those temple halls.

Now my white hankie is washed and safely put away,
Ready for another dedication, if that’s the Lord’s will.
But I will keep it safe till that great and dreadful day,
Then wave, shout Hosanna, with joy the whole earth fill.

For I will shout aloud for joy when Jesus comes to reign,
It is too hard to imagine the true joy that will be found,
When the earth is free from sorrow and free from pain,
Voices raised in love and praise everywhere will be found.

M Ann Margetson © July 27, 2000



        I am not sure if the Hosanna shout is known of anywhere except in the dedication of a temple. Even if it is to be talked about in any other place.
        We welcome deity into their home with that shout and here comes the point that I wish to make. Are we not to proclaim with mighty voices and loud the words so aptly written for this occasion? I know my voice shook with emotion and although my heart shouted for joy, the words came out as a normal, albeit emotional, voice. I wanted to shout my praises so that the rafters did shake at my rejoicing. Yet I felt restrained so that I could not, or did not do it as I felt that I should. My welcoming seemed restricted by my wish to be like everyone else.
        Do we hold back in all our services to our Lord and King? Does the Hosanna shout come from an uncertain mind as to the full significance of the event that we are witnessing? ENTER LORD, COME AND DWELL IN THIS THY HOLY PLACE. Is this what we are feeling? Even after the dedication and as we serve are we bold in our serving? De we serve with CAPITOL letters in full service, or do we, out of conformity, stay on the lower case of our mind?
        I am sure that the early saints gave vent to their emotions at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. That shout reached the rafters, their bare feet and hunger and unfinished homes spoke of the sacrifice they made for it’s construction. It awoke the heavens and they also rejoiced. Those outside the temple even though they witnessed great and marvellous things, they could not be compared to what was seen and heard inside on that glorious day.
        We are blessed, (or are we?) that we do not have to sacrifice as those early saints to procure a temple. What did I sacrifice to have a temple of God on my doorstep? The saints rejoiced and cried for joy when we had only ten hours to travel, now that we have a temple close by, we are doubly blessed. The Saviour could be walking the halls and angels counting all who they see.
        If I am blessed of the Lord to be present at another temple dedication, I shall no doubt go with the throng and conformity and not shout. But I will want to, and will let my happy heart do all of the shouting it can do without actually bursting with joy. If the Nauvoo temple dedication is relayed, and I pray that it will be, and if I have remained worthy, I will be there. My white frilly hankie will be held high and tears will flow, my heart will shout each Hosanna till it reaches heavens highest throne.
        I can envision saints that had to leave home and temple to go west, gathered all around, their voices joining our voices. Tears matching our tears and the very earth will shout for joy. For that which was destroyed has been rebuilt. That which was defiled has been sanctified.

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