--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Wootton, Attewall collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 3 number: 7 published: 1900-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Attewall Wootton, "What Can We Know?," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 7 (May 1900): 518–520.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera37unse 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: improvementera37unse start_page: 518 end_page: 520 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1900-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera37unse publication_year: 1900 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 1900, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # What Can We Know? 518 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Snow, entitled, "The Importance of a Virtuous Life." I read and re-read it, my room and again and I called the journeymen up to read it. They said, "That is foolish 'Mormon' doctrine." In all my life, and I am now old,I have never seen anything more beautiful,more noble, more lovely than a young man who can say: "I am a son of God, I am a brother of Jesus Christ, I am his representative on the earth, my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Rather would I die than disgrace it. I will not act so that I may be compelled to blush before God or men. I will live so as to be worthy of a pure woman and no disgusting strong drink, no filthy tobacco, shall ever more be associated with me." My brethren, if all could say that, what a power in the land we would be! How proud parents would be of such sons, and how proudly such boys could lift their pure eyes to heaven and say, "my Father." What mighty power every such man would have in the earth to preach the Gospel, and perform its ordinances. Truly this is our mission here on earth, and that we may unitedly work to accomplish this, is my humble desire. Christopher I. Kempe. If the testimony of the Gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith were burning in the bosom of every Latterday Saint, we would realize the importance of living in accord with the teachings of our Heavenly Father, and would understand the significance of the great command: "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." I have ^had occasion to dwell upon this divine command many times, and feel that I would like to speak to some of my comrades. Do we as children of the Almighty understand the full significance of this command? Does it simply mean we are to be very polite and kind to our parents while in their presence, or has it a more far-reaching import! It is pleasing indeed to see a child obedient and courteous to its parents, and but few things are more displeasing than a disobedient, insulting child; one who is always complaining or grumbling at what is required of him, or speaking in a disrespectful manner of those whose welfare should be dearer to him than life itself. LETTERS FROM MISSIONARIES. 519 This class of sons and daughters are not happy. Their very natures will not allow them to enjoy happiness; they are enemies of peace and good will. But the sons or daughters who perform the task uncomplainingly are always happy, even if they are required to do something they do not like. There is always that inward feeling of joy and happiness which follows the noble performance of duty. Some may think that when they never say a disrespectful word to their parents that they have fulfilled the law; it is a great thing to be able to say, "I have never uttered an unkind word, nor openly refused to perform any task required of me;" but it is a greater thing to be able to say, "I have never brought upon the heads of my parents dishonor either by word or action." Some may say we are accountable for our actions, which is true, if our parents have done their duty; but every dishonorable act we perform brings sorrow and grief upon our parents, just as every honorable act brings joy and comfort to their souls; so when we cause sorrow to fall upon them, we have dishonored them in the highest degree, because we have trampled under foot their infinite love for us. We cause them to go down into the grave broken-hearted. Think of it; could we be more dishonorable! A boy leaves home at night; his mother cautions him to behave himself like a man. When he leaves home that night, it appears like a heaven. He speaks kindly to his parents and goes his way. Some one offers him a drink and he accepts. Soon he has a desire for more, and goes to the saloon to satisfy his appetite; soon he is upon the floor, a human in lowest form. Sorrow now fills that home, the parents are brought low in grief and shame. Where is your honor, boys; has it not taken wings? Night after night that boy frequents the saloon, and his poor mother lies upon her couch, or walks the floor in the bitterest of agony. She who would not hesitate one moment to lay down her life for him is now stricken low with grief. 0, boys! where has your honor gone ? Let us wake up and be men ere it is too late, for as God lives, his judgments will fall upon us. Sometimes we hear jeering remarks passed about young men and women who are obedient to their parents. Some will say, "I 520 IMPROVEMENT ERA. would like to see my father run over me like that; you are a simpleton to let him do it." Let them jeer, their destination is branded upon their foreheads. If they do not repent, degradation and shame will overtake them. Great men and women have always been such as have honored their parents. The scum of society is composed of, and prison cells are filled with, those who have been disobedient to their parents. No matter if all men point at you the finger of shame, and every woman's lips be turned at you in scorn, do your duty, and God and his angels will be with you; and greater by far are they that are for you than all that be against you. It is by no means significant of a great character to be a scoffer. "A dog may stand upon the street corner and bark, even at angels, should they pass." I will close with the words of the poet: "Give mo my old seat, mother, With my head upon thy knee; I've passed through many a changing scene Since thus I sat by thee; 0! let me look into thine eyes; Their meek, soft, loving light, Falls like a beam "of holiness Upon my heart tonight." Your brother and co-worker, Harley p. Randall.