---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Richards, Samuel W.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 2
number: 1
published: 1898-11
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Richards, Samuel W., "Creation", *Improvement Era* 2, no. 1 (November 1898): 18–20.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera21unse
  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: improvementera21unse
start_page: 18
end_page: 20
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-11)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera21unse
  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.
---

# Creation

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—

                   CREATION.

     What field for thought this word supplies.
     O'er which to range 'mid earth and skies;
     Nor can the great Creator's plan
     Be fathomed by the mind of man.

     Wonders in science, art, and skill.
     Combine the ethereal space to fill
     With worlds and systems eternized,
     For spirit homes celestialized.l

     Sun, Moon, and Stars have worshiped been,
     And fabled into fancied gods;
     By sons of Him who made them all,
     His works adored, but not His words.

     This earth was once in beauty dress'd?
     Celestial hands arranged it all,
     For perfect man, and happiness.
     In which he dwelt before the fall.

     Painters may sketch with rarest skill.
     In all the fairest colors known;
     And yet the lily of the field,
     Surpasses aught that they have shown;

     The sculptor too in faultless form.
     May shape the image of his mind;
     And yet how worthless when compared,
     With life in forms, by God enshrined!

     The chemist may the air dissolve.
     And all the gases separate;
     Its vital power for man destroy.
     Disease and death thus generate.

<!-- page:19 -->

CREATION.                        19

No other science makes pretense,
Nor can so well all nature scan;
'Twill analyze and synthesize
All compounds known to search of man.

For life all elements designed,
Our God created—then ordained;
By skill dissolved, transposed, and changed,
They're means of death—      not gained.
                           life is

Thus there is proof that all God's works.
By loftiest science are combined;
To earth —to man,   this law applied,
Will bring perfection as designed.

The streams of water in the earth,
Like veins and vital blood in man,
Convey life's thrill to all its parts^
'Tis in the great Creator's plan.

Each change of seasons on the earth
Gives vigor to productive powers;
From day and night, to human life.
Comes vital strength from restful hours.

The air we breathe, is food to earth,
Like man, it could not live, but in it,
And viewed in every thoughtful light.
Is type of men who dwell upon it.

It lives, and moves, and honors law.

Sustains humanity and others.
In bearing and in feeding life,
Becomes the very best of mothers.

How well its author must have known
The wants of those for whom created       f

How well intelligence divine
Knew earth and man must be related.

<!-- page:20 -->

—

     Nay earth hath more than honored law.
     Has borne the curse and sins of others,
     And with its like in all the spheres,
     Shall e'er in kinship be as brothers.

     So much like jnan is earth itself,
     That born again they both must be;
     By water cleansed, by fire refined,
     From taint of sin shall both be free

     Earth, air, and water all agree
     Their powers of element combine.
     And act in perfect harmony,
     To consummate the grand design.

     The heavens are high above the earth.
     But earth than they shall higher be,
     And with exalted worlds on high,
     Shall dwell in glory numbered three.

     All living things thus joined in life,
     Naught can exist with power to sever,
     For man and worlds shall being have.
     And by God crowned, be His forever.
                                     Samuel W. Richards.