--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Carroll, C. H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 8 number: 1 published: 1904-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'C. H. Carroll, "A Reflection," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 1 (November 1904): 15–17.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0801unse 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: improvementera0801unse start_page: 15 end_page: 17 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0801unse 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. --- # A Reflection REFLECTION. Carlyle says of Burns: "Thus, like a young man, he cannot gird himself up for any worthy well-calculated goal, but swerves to and fro, between passionate hope and remorseful disappointment: rushing onwards with a deep tempestuous force; he surmounts or breaks asunder many a barrier, travels, nay advances far, but advancing only under uncertain guidance, is ever and anon turned from his path; and to the last cannot reach the only true happiness of a man, that of clear decided activity in the sphere for which by nature and circumstances, he has been fitted and appointed." But is Burns the only one who was ever in this position? Perhaps his life seems to be a greater mistake and more misdirected than the lives of other men because the world has taken more trouble to enquire into it, perhaps it is an extreme example anyhow; but how many ever find their exact level in life, and waste none of their energies in wrong directions? In almost every station, we see this indecision and drifting, and many who apparently have found their place are really far from it. Some have given up their goal before they reached it; others without any definite goal, and who are held back by that supposed blessing of contentment, have stopped far short of what they might have accomplished, both because they did not understand the purpose of life. When we, after groping about in this shadow of uncertainty, find a gleam of light that will lead us out into the bright sunshine of knowledge where we are able to see and comprehend the whole Universe, and find our place in the great eternal plan of progression, then we may hope to accomplish something. Then all our honest toil will be rewarded; there will be no failures and disappointments, no retrogression, nothing but advancement; but until we find the light, and are able to see mpre clearly our relation to the rest of the world, we shall be, in this respect at least, more or less like that poor, Scottish bard. — C. H. Carroll. Salt Lake City, Utah. SOME INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF NELSON A. EMPEY. BY ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON. The recent demise of the late Bishop Nelson A. Empey, aroused a great deal of sympathy among the community at large. The excellent article published in the Deseret News, on that occasion, was a well deserved delineation of the disposition and career of this honest, kind-hearted and upright man, and the services over his remains were exceedingly appropriate to the occasion. About thirteen years since, Brother Empey, by request of the writer of this, related a number of his experiences. The relation was so interesting that full notes of his statements were taken and preserved. The result is the writing of this synopsis, which will perhaps, be interesting to the numerous friends of this genial, faithful, and kind-hearted man. Bishop Nelson A. Empey's parents joined the Church under the ministrations of Arza Adams and C. Merkley, while he was but a young child. The family soon afterwards removed to Nauvoo. Some of Nelson's recollections of scenes that occurred in the beautiful city on the banks of the Mississippi adhered vividly to his memory. He saw the Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum Smith, leave for Carthage, both of whom lifbed their hats in courteous salutation to his parents as they departed. Young as Nelson was, he gazed after them with deep emotion. The next time INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF NELSON A. EMPEY. 17 he gazed upon the faces of those two great men, their eyes were closed in death, they having been murdered by a mob of fanatical religionists. It is needless to dwell upon the hardships of the exodud, so frequently told. When the Saints were compelled, by murderous mobocrats, to leave their homes, Nelson's father drove up to the door of their house with a wagon, and said: "Come, wife, come, children; get in and let us go." They crossed the river, went to Florence, where the family remained while the head of the house started over the plains with the Pioneers, in 1847, leaving young Nelson to act as the man of the household. When the brave band of Pioneers reached the Platte river. President Young directed William Empey, Luke Johnson, Appleton Harmon and Brother Ellsworth to stop and help an Oregon company of immigrants, known to be on the way, to ferry across the river. The object in view was that those who remained might, in this way, obtain supplies to support the company proceeding westward, when they should return to bring on the main body of the Saints. There appeared to be much danger from hostile Indians, for those four brethren; but President Young told them that if they did their duty, not one of them should be harmed. The Indians would frequently gather up, matters would appear to be exceedingly critical, but the clouds would always disappear, and the promise of the Prophet was fulfilled. When President Young and company returned eastward, from Salt Lake valley, William Empey went back to Florence with them, and brought his family here to the gathering place. In 1849, as may be imagined, the Saints in this valley were in straitened circumstances, being barely able to subsist. Brother Empey, Sen., asked President Young if he had any objection to his going to California, to which point the tide of emigration had already opened, that he might raise some means for a start. The Prophet replied that he did not wish him to go, and that if he remained, he would, by the end of the year, have all the money and other commodities he desired. He could not see how this prediction could be fulfilled,but had confidence that it would,so he stayed at home. He established a ferry on north Bear River, at a point