Keepapitchinin features a fair amount of historical Mormon poetry, stories, music, and jokes since, of course, a culture’s literature offers valuable insights into its past and present identity.

For obvious reasons Ardis has rarely featured offerings from other languages, but our recent German history and culture week allowed a brief exploration of a hymn text from a German-American Latter-day Saint, Louis F. Mönch.

To make things more interesting, we hosted a contest, complete with prizes. The intrepid readers who picked up their pens, or perhaps opened up new documents in their word processors, will have learned something interesting about the process of translation, and most particularly about translating poetry. (([…and here I sit on my hands to avoid lapsing into a recital of “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer”…]))

But, enough talk. Here are the winners. Since the Thanksgiving weekend is upon us ((Hanukkah begins this evening as well in a combination of holidays that will not occur again for an estimated 79,043 years. And yes, I will be making challah for our holiday gathering, and no, it will not be shaped like a turkey.)) and people are busy, we’ve edited each prize-winning offering down to just a few verses for your expeditious enjoyment.

Thanks, all, for your participation. We will contact you about the promised prizes.

First Place, Wendy P. —

Hark, ev’ry angel sounds out the call,
Clear as a trumpet, certain to all:
“Strait is the gate and narrow the Way;
Come join His fold to stay!”

From darkest corners, Saints shall arise,
Shake off earth’s dust and echo their cries:
“Come to God’s mountain; Truth never ends,
Enter His house as friends.”

Second Place, Mike S. —

Behold all ye peoples, the dawning of light
Brought by an angel, pointing toward right;
The path is illumined, home to His love,
Led by the Son above.

Sow up repentance, deep in your heart;
Ask for forgiveness, then do your part,
Mercy awaits, for those who would ask,
Then in His presence bask.

Chorus:
Wondrous news streams forth from Heaven’s throne;
Light and Truth! His Saints are not alone!
Hear Father’s voice, as never before,
Sounding from shore to shore.

Third Place, Laura N. —

“Love your neighbor,” also sounds out,
Gorgeous and lovely choir of angels!
“Only through this is the door opening
You up to heaven.”

Loving our neighbor, serving our God,
Keeping our cov’nants, grasping the rod,
We’ll tread the path that leads to the gate
Where Heaven’s joys await.

Notes.