--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - John Jaques collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 7 number: 2 published: 1903-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John Jaques, "The Gospel. A Poem", *Improvement Era* 7, no. 2 (December 1903): 117–118.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0702unse 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: improvementera0702unse start_page: 117 end_page: 118 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0702unse publication_year: 1903 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 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Gospel. A Poem PUBLIC WORKERS. 117 average. He was useful wherever he was placed. * * * He was not a demonstrative man, and every one did not gain access into the inner circles of his life, but those who did enjoy, his confidence, and who — knew his heart, knew him to be genuine a man of strong character and one who would lay his head on the block for a conviction. * * * He did not shine among his fellows with that glitter that is sometimes taken for brilliant mentality. He was retiring in manner and not forward in speech. He made no special effort at oratory. Even in conversation, his words were few and sometimes brusque, though not antagonistic. He had opinions of his own which he was not afraid to express whatever might be the views of those who surrounded him. Yet he was not offensive in his language. He was for many years a great worker. For fully half a century he labored incessantly in that which he firmly be- lieved was the cause of human redemption. His first literary efforts were known through the Millennial Star. The brightness of that lumin- ary received much of its lustre, for a considerable period, from his active mind and facile pen. In poetry and in prose, he reflected the light of truth for the benefit of his fellows, and his logical thoughts and spiritual sentiments were a comfort and a strength to many honest souls. The following heretofore unpublished poem, and doubtless the last that he ever wrote, was written at the solicitation of the editors of the Era, in 1899, and breathes that peaceful resignation to the gospel and faith in the Lord which were leading traits in the life of the author: THE GOSPEL. The gospel is the power of God to every soul's salvation, No matter whether Jew or Greek or any other nation. But there is something we must do ere we can be possessing That great and glorious gospel gift, that all-embracing blessing. When we reflect upon our sins, it brings us many a tremor, But on repenting we're forgiven, through Jesus, our Redeemer. The needful thing for us to do is full obedience render, Then our trangressions fade away, and Christ is our Defender. When we repent of all our sins and make full reformation, Keeping God's laws henceforth, for us there is no condemnation. To work the rule of righteousness, the gospel is the leaven, That here the will of God may be done as it is in heaven. 118 IMPROVEMENT ERA. When to our Heavenly Father's will we offer no resistance, We're in the onward way to solve, the problem of existence. If we would put and keep ourselves upon our best behavior, We'd very soon be one indeed, in Jesus Christ, our Savior. If we would try our very best to do what is most fitting, We should not waste our precious time in doctrinal hair-splitting. Sectarian technicalities would then have wholly vanished, Strife, quarrels, envy, jealousies would be forever banished. The selfish games of greed and grab would never more afflict us; Nor would oppressive laws be made to needlessly restrict us. The many worries of our time no longer would annoy us, And every effort would be vain to ruin or destroy us. From talking of our neighbors' faults, we should feel more like shrinking; And how to better our own lives, we should be of t'ner thinking. As we wish they would do to us, so we should do to others, That is the true and only way for men to live like brothers. That is the golden, gospel rule, though now we live below it; That is the height for us to gain, and every one should know it. If we would live a perfect life, (than this, naught could be plainer) We must obey a perfect law, or hopes could not be vainer. Yes; in the great millennium this must be our election; To shape our lives by gospel laws and thus attain perfection. Some say, "These are ideal views;" well, real is fruit of ideal, Heaven is ideal realized, there ideal becomes real. These ideal views, the Lord above Is daily to us giving; To make ideals real, is The purpose of our living. John Jaques.