--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Webb, E. M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 4 number: 3 published: 1901-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'E. M. Webb, "God and Nature: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 3 (January 1901): 186–188.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0403unse 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: improvementera0403unse start_page: 186 end_page: 188 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0403unse publication_year: 1901 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 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # God and Nature: A Poem 186 IMPROVEMENT ERA. trust to impart to others this great knowledge, for when the judgment book shall be opened, shall the young man alone be to blame for his downfall? GOD AND NATURE. There's no effect without a cause; The laws of Nature are God's laws. All things are new, first known or seen. Their types are old, they've always been. 'Tis said of God, with truth profound. His works are one eternal round, A constant re-creation. The germ that's quickened first today Will run its race and pass away. But from its life new germs will spring And run their race in that same ring: So on without cessation. Unceasingly the morning light Is driving back the shades of night, And ever, in his glory bright. The sun comes crowned with dazzling v/hite, His glorious path ascending. Warmed by his rays, the mists arise As if to meet him in the skies, Then, at the angry storm's command, They turn again and seek the land, In showers of rain descending. The vigorous drops refresh the land; The effect is felt on every hand. — GOD AND NATURE. 187 By animals both great and small, By tiny plants and forests tall, In circles wide extending. The moistened soil with strength is rife, The purer air imparts new life. The quickening impulse spreads abroad. And Nature feels the pulse of God The fact not comprehending. The eager earth absorbs the rain. Which myriad springs send forth again. Thus rippling rills to rivers grow. And mighty floods forever flow, Their way to ocean wending. From thence again the vapors rise. Again the clouds form in the skies. And, carried by the winds, again Enrich the land with snow or rain, In round that's never ending. Great Sun! thou type of Him on high Who made the ocean, land and sky. No form of force on earth, we see. That doth not have its source in thee. But for thine aid sustaining No seed could germinate or grow. No clouds could form, no winds could blow. Without thy light, all things would die, And earth herself in ruins lie, Forever thus remaining. Small is the earth, compared with thee. Yet, in His greater majesty. Who made and holds thee in his hand. And counts the worlds as grains of sand. His glory all transcending. Thy majesty as naught appears, And evanescent as the years. Which, as they pass, to mortals seem • The fleeting phantom of a dream. Forgotten ere its ending. 188 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 'Twas God who fixed thee in thy course^ From him is all thy light and force, His power, as manifest in thee, Extends throughout immensity, His kingdoms still increasing. However great, however small, He planned and formed and governs all- The glorious sun, the mote in air. Is each the object of his care And love that's never ceasing. Yet, faithless man hath vainly thought No God hath all these marvels wrought... And nature, to his narrow sight, Will end in an eternal night Of utter desolation. Truth-seeking man, with faith now sees All things in higher spheres than these,. And ever as the cycles roll Will feel in his immortal soul A higher aspiration. E. M. Webb. Colonia Duhlan, Mexico.