--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 1 number: 6 published: 1898-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Symposium of Best Thought,\" *Improvement Era* 1, no. 6 (April 1898): 427–430." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera16unse 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: improvementera16unse start_page: 427 end_page: 430 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera16unse 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. --- # Symposium of Best Thought ——— SYMPOSIUM OF BEST THOUGHT, It is often urged by the speakers of our church that our young people should study the principles of the gospel, that they may be prepared to carry it to the nations of the earth; but we should rather study them that we may understand and obey them, and by so doing escape the consequence of ignor- ance and sin, that we may fully enjoy the things of heaven. Harry W. Matthews, Taylorsville, Utah. — Our Articles of Faith How simple, yet beautiful and explicit are these inspired statements! Boundless in magnitude, and elevating in the nature of their teaching. How comprehensive in their application to humankind! N. S. Pond, Pocatello, Idaho. The character of a young man's home is generally re- If his home training makes flected in his conduct in society. for honesty, virtue and purity, his influence on society will be good. If contrary conditions exist at home, his influence in society will be dangerous, and he an object to be spurned. There may be exceptions to this general rule, yet the chips usually resemble the block from which they are hewn. Peter Frost Benson, Cache Co., Utah. A wise man tells not all he knows, nor half he thinks much less what he imagines.—James B. Walkley, Draper, Utah. Youth of Utah, let us receive heartily the exhortations of our superiors, interest ourselves in the institution that has for itsobject the cultivation of a knowledge and the application of the eternal principles of the great science of life. Then our Young Men's associations will include within them, morally, the strongest body of young people on earth. D. J. Lang, Salt Lake City. — — . — — — 428 IMPR O VEMENT ERA Nothing more completely bafflesone who is full of tricks, as integrity in those with whom he deals. John L. Haynes, Roset, Utah. The ministers of the world study, write, then speak what they have written; the ministers of the gospel of Christ study, speak, then write what they have spoken. Douglas M. Todd, Logan, Utah. The men of today were the boys of yesterday. The boys of today will be the men oftomorrow. And the measure of energy and resolution with which the boys of today apply themselves to the development and culture of their minds, will also measure to them the distinction with which they will be known among their fellows tomorrow. — Harden Bennion, Vernal, Utah. Never notice the errors of others for the purpose of showing their faults, but with a view to aid them to see and guard against them. Z. N. Decker, Holbrook, Arizona. The stars speak in a most solemn manner of the glory of God, but in a language little understood by man; because he does not comprehend their glory nor their power, neither their beginning nor end. H. De Bry, Ogden, Utah. Take away the Living Oracles of God from the church, — and thus break the chain of revelation what a deplorable condition the Church of Christ would be in. — Wm. Ira Porter, Bryce, Arizona. The saloon is more destructive to the human family than the sword, for it not only causes men to lose their lives but their souls also. Geo. K. Riding, Panaca, Nevada. Do each day the first duty that presents itself. It is the only sure way to success and happiness. We cannot step over the minor duties of life and expect to achieve success, no more than a child can read before it has learned the letters. O. A. Fuller, Mill Creek, Utah. To each person God gives at birth his sole capital, time and talent. Nothing else is absolutely his. He may inherit money, but that properly belongs to another, its producer. — — SYMPOSIUM OF BEST THOUGHT. 429 On the wise investment of his time and talent depend the profits of his life, and the terms on which he may exchange his earthly talents for those of a higher order, and his time for eternity. — Willard Done, Salt Lake City. To those who set their mark of spiritual development high, — how desirable the condition to be so worthy of the spirit of God, and so ready to hear and quick to understand and follow its promptings, that every word and act would be - the expression of divine wisdom. — Wm. A. Hyde, Downey, Idaho. What will contribute most to the success of Mutual Improvement in Zion? To have a set time for the meeting of these associations throughout the whole church. As long as dances, concerts, theaters, etc., are held on the same night as the association meetings, we shall fail to achieve the best success in Mutual Improvement work. — Chas. A. Welch, Morgan, Utah. The proof of truth is the fruits thereof — None can show better fruits than the Latter-day Saints. — Wm. Lester, Salt Lake City. In my estimation the youth of Zion can find no better occupation than to study ''Self," beginning in this study with the "Life of our Lord and Savior," as laid out for Mutual Improvement workers; those who are fortunate enough to graduate from this course are fit subjects for the responsibili- ties of the priesthood of the Son of God.—A. T. W., Woods Cross, Utah. Live as you should never die; and live as you should die tomorrow. Andrew Christensen, Mill Creek, Utah. My best thoughts are those which lead me to reflect up- on God and his love for us his earth-children. My thoughts on this line to me are like a mine which the deeper I dig into the brighter are the gems it contains. Fred Rallison, Whit- ney, Idaho. Economy requires the power to resist present gratifica- tion. It does not make money an idol, but regards it as a —— —— — — useful agent. It may be styled the daughter of prudence, the sister of temperance, and the mother of liberty. The divine Master said, gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing may be lost. John Lingren, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The most desirable things, in my judgment, are dis- cernment to see our own imperfections; and power to edu- cate ourselves above them. Edward Davis, Afton, Wyo. My heart swells with joy at the remembrance of an ex- pression of a sister whose house we visited in Sanpete as Mutual Improvement missionaries; when we made the nature of our errand known, she exclaimed, with tears in her eyes, "God bless you, brethren, this is the fulfillment of a revelation given to my husband twelve years ago in which he saw the elders visiting the saints at their homes, and preaching the gospel to the youth of Zion." C. W. Rockwood, Centerville, Utah. Speak not against God's organized authority that is upon the earth, nor allow it to be done by others in your presence without protest. H. B. Clawson, Jr., Salt Lake City. We should so live in the present as to be improving on the past, and building for the future. Geo H. Wallace, Salt Lake City. An educated man with no self-confidence is a wheel- barrow with but one leg. While some one is holding it up and pushing it along, it is a benefit to the world; but it can- not stand alone. E. D. Partridge, Provo, Utah. Never be too busy to work for the Lord.—James Sanders, Murray, Utah. The seeker after truth at the shrine of knowledge is made aware at the outset of his quest that light and intelli- gence are unlimited. He stands abashed at the portals of knowledge, realizing that the broad expanse confronting him is only limited by the universe. Each advancing step un- folds new truths to his gaze, until like the astronomer gazing into the realms of space, he sees new worlds opening up be- fore him, each blazing with effulgent light, portending other worlds beyond. Arthur F. Miller, St. George, Utah.