--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - David H. Cannon collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 8 published: 1902-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'David H. Cannon, "Who Is A-thirst May Be Supplied," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 8 (June 1902): 574–575.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0508unse 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: improvementera0508unse start_page: 574 end_page: 575 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0508unse publication_year: 1902 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 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Who Is A-thirst May Be Supplied WHO IS A-THIRST MAY BE SUPPLIED. BY DAVID H. ELTON, EDITOR OF THE ALBERTA STAR," CARDSTON, CANADA. Under the caption, Agnosticism, there appears in a late num- ber of the Era (a monthly magazine of literature, published by Coates & Co., of Philadelphia) a verse from the pen of Curtis Hall, which is a most impressive and forceful appeal for revelation, for which the Latter-day Saints contend, and which they soberly tes- tify they have received. The lines referred to follow: We moderns are a-thirst, like those of old, (Soul-thirsty for the waters of our God), When will some Moses, waxing wise and bold, Release the rock-welled fountain with his rod! Why such expressions as versed above should be classified under the title, agnosticism; why this interrogatory exclamation should find a place upon the borderland of infidelity, is more than the writer can well comprehend. Our Lord, the Glorified Head of Christianity, has never thus arranged them; contrariwise, he hath decreed that they who so "hunger and thirst" are "blessed," and concludes with the glorious promise, "they shall be filled." Not- withstanding the blessed assurance of the Messiah, it is verily true that a desire in the heart of man to understand these divine prin- ciples; a desire to be blessed with another Moses, a mighty prophet and faithful seer; a desire for the revelations of the Holy One of Israel, in this day of evangelical Christianity — by some errone- is ously termed agnosticism, by others fanaticism, blasphemy, and WHO IS A-THIRST MAY BE SUPPLIED. 575 heresy, etc. It was not so anciently; but the program seems re- versed now; the scene entirely changed; and a radically different play is placed on the boards ! Indeed, the prophet here desired, when some complained that others in Israel's camp were prophesy- ing, rebuked the murmurers and exclaimed, "Would to God that all the Lord's people were prophets !" But the curtain of night has shut out this grand and realistic spectale, together with the eager, longing souls catalogued as agnostics. The "moderns" who are "a-thirst" today can be supplied with the "waters of our God," flowing in purity from the Rock of Reve- lation, released through the medium of a chosen seer, who, Moses- like, appointed of the Lord, hath smitten the 'rock-welled fountain ' with his rod." The Holy Priesthood of the Son of God as author- ized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! None need "thirst" and remain faint; all can be filled none need "hunger" ; and perish; all can be fed. That soul-inspiring, life-giving ele- ment, the Holy Spirit of promise; the Comforter and Guide; . the Recaller of things past; the Revealer of things present, and the Foreteller of things to come, hath been bestowed upon the sons and daughters of men who fear God and keep his command- ments. This spirit of truth which the world (they who have not put on Christ; by one spirit are we all baptized into one body) can- not receive, is just as powerful in every particular as it was an- ciently, and manifests in its operations, the same gifts and graces, administrations and blessings, as enjoyed by the primitive saints; if it were otherwise, then it would be as a flower without perfume, a rose without color, a day without the sun. To all honest, earn- est, inquiring minds, the divine promise of Jesus is given: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." To all so-called Agnostics, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is extended, while the servants of the Master approach you, saying: "Why thirst when living springs are bubbling from the sanctuary of the Lord, through the unerring channel of Revelation? Why linger in despair, or tarry in doubt? Why not follow up your earnest desires, even follow after the ad- monition of the great Apostle to the Gentiles, 'Prove all things; hold fast that which is good?'"