--- 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: 4 number: 12 published: 1901-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "My Work," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 12 (October 1901): 904.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0412unse 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: improvementera0412unse start_page: 904 end_page: 904 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0412unse 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. --- # My Work —— 904 IMPROVEMENT ERA. importance of discreet selection of books. Only such literature should be read as will lead the mind to right thinking, which is thebasisof right action. What will the benefit be? should be asked before any book is read. And these, also: Will this book awaken thoughts that will help me onward and upward in my chosen vocation? Will it help me in the building of a noble char- acter? Only such books as can answer, Good, and Yes, to these questions are worth reading. The Bible and Church books stand first on the list to give this answer. MY WORK. I come to thee, Lord, for strength and patience To do thy will; Help me, Father, in this world of duty, My place to fill. I may not go and labor in thy vineyard, Where through long hours Brave men and women toil, and from thy presses The red wine pours. My work at home lies with the olive branches; My field is there To train them fitly for the heavenly garden Needs all my care. I may not in the woods and on the mountains Seek thy lost sheep At home a little flock of tender lambkins 'Tis mine to keep. Thou givest us, thy servants, each our life-work; No trumpet tone Shall tell the nations in triumphant pealing How mine was done. But 'twill be much if, when the task is over, Through grace from thee, I give thee back, unharmed, the precious treasures Thou gavest me.