A Mormon Poem of Sensuality
once or twice
once or a score
hand clasps hand
in perfect drama
in quiet fires
thunder sealed
in an upper room
manifests salvation
eastward the course
saved from a grave
time pierced
the occurrence of desire alongside
the verities of beautiful tradition
wind up the kingdom
sun, stand still
moon likewise
in that grove of western spring
fade into awe and reverence
spirit and thanksgiving
spread upon the mountains
the inheritance of hearts chosen
days raised, opened, unstopped
acts, in short, pervading
the lowly commence
things spoken by harvest
selected souls become servants
to usher in the fulness
hands consume
search
treasure
invite
pursue
rule in love
lips usher in due course
words lack pure will
sink into pleas
wavering
turning
brooding
awaiting
the young force
with a power none can save
into the heart of venom
secluded in a grove of desires
the power ages into ruin
the place, the hour, the need,
all united by the thunder
once in a thousand
once in a gaze
Questions for Discussion and Notes
Thank you for reading! What was your impression of this poem? What lines stood out to you, for either positive or negative reasons? How does this piece compare/contrast with the erotic poem “Song of Solomon,” found in the Holy Bible?
This erasure poem utilizes words and phrases taken from the written text of Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s October 1975 General Conference address: Once or Twice in a Thousand Years. The poem should be read as an original piece rather than an abridgement of Elder McConkie’s sermon. It is part of a series. You can try another here: McConkie Erasure: April 1975. Reactions are welcome in the comment section.
Wheat & Tares 
This poem is sublime. It touches on the beauty that occurs when one soul that inhabits two bodies is finally reunited.
And that is the irony of “Mormon” in the title of the poem. For Mormons were a community in which the members served, worked, and played together. This was the sort of community that allowed for relationships to grow to the point that the love mentioned in the poem was possible.
Unfortunately, along with the name, the Mormon sense of community has been taken away. Church members interact for two hours a week and have no sense of community. When they eventually marry out of duty or obligation, they find none of the love mentioned in the poem.
I fear for the younger generation that will never know the Mormon community of old. Zoom is no substitute for the beautiful love mentioned in this poem.