---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - T. E. Curtis
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 7
number: 8
published: 1904-06
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'T. E. Curtis, "Our Talents," *Improvement Era* 7, no. 8 (June 1904): 570.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0708unse
  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: improvementera0708unse
start_page: 570
end_page: 570
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-06)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0708unse
  publication_year: 1904
  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 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Our Talents

<!-- page:570 -->

spect to the subtle forces of the universe, than did any of his con-
temporaries.    That acknowledgment        is   a wonderful tribute to the
powers of an unlearned boy.
      Evidence crowds upon evidence, and testimony upon testi-
mony,   until the opposition of logic falls      away; and Joseph Smith
rises above the fog of prejudice, a mighty prophet of our God.

                          (to be continued.)

                           OUR TALENTS.

                      [For the Improvement Era.}

                  BY T. E. CURTIS, SALT LAKE CITY.

                In every human soul is sown
                Some mighty seed, if it were grown
                Aright, would magnify a throne.
                               But lo!
                Who hath not God among his needs?
                'lis ours to cultivate the seeds,

                And pluck out the offending weeds
                               That grow.

                Thy talents give the world to scan,
                This power of Deity in man;
                No scheme's so mighty but we can
                               See through it.
                We've only to observe to find
                The trouble is with humankind,
                In making up an idle mind
                               To do it.

                Than have been played are, greater parts
                To play, in sciences and arts;
                And if we will, these minds and hearts
                               Can play them
                Blazing in our modern skies,
                Suns of greater power will rise;
                And we, with little sacrifice.
                             May be them.