---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Sarah E. Pearson
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 1
number: 4
published: 1898-02
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Sarah E. Pearson, "To President Wilford Woodruff," *Improvement Era* 1, no. 4 (February 1898): 251.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera14unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera14unse
start_page: 251
end_page: 251
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-02)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera14unse
  publication_year: 1898
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1898, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# To President Wilford Woodruff

<!-- page:251 -->

TO PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF,

ON HIS NINETIETH BIRTHDAY.

Hail! honored leader. Israel greets thee well

On this, thy ninetieth natal festival.

The peace of God be with thee; may His hand

Lead, guard and guide toward the Better Land

As in years gone by; His grace inspire,

His Spirit fill thee with prophetic fire;

Thy "crown of years" prolong, by Christ's decree,

His faithful representative to be.

Press on, thy lofty destiny to fill;

Thou hast the fervent prayers of Israel.

May little children who, at mother's knee, Offer in lisping accents prayers for thee — (A homage sweeter than the bow of kings — An incense which the smile of heaven brings) — Learn by thy upright life a lesson true, And aged sires their faith and vows renew. May all God's people learn by thy example The gospel is for all conditions ample; Obey its precepts and its teachings pure, And priceless gifts of Endless Lives secure.

Ring out, brave voice, in accents strong and bold,

The Shepherd's present message to the fold.

And you, ye listening multitudes, give ear

The Prophet of the Living God to hear.

And as ye value life, Eternal Life,

For which ye have so long endured the strife,

Put not your trust in mortal vision dim,

But heed the voice of Israel's God through him.

And as the boding signs in every nation

Foretell the end of this last dispensation

Be wise; in virtuous deeds your lives enshroud —

Prepared to meet your Savior in the cloud.

Sarah E. Pearson.