---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Blair, George E.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 8
number: 2
published: 1904-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'George E. Blair, "In Memory of the Prophet Joseph: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 2 (December 1904): 108.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0802unse
  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: improvementera0802unse
start_page: 108
end_page: 108
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0802unse
  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.
---

# In Memory of the Prophet Joseph: A Poem

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108                         IMPROVEMENT ERA

      "Foolish fellow, you could have been better employed."
      "But your answer, Bessie?"
      "My answer to what?" playfully.
      "Will you be my wife?"
      "Yes;" she said, giving him her hand.
 American Fork, Utah.

            IN   MEMORY OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH.
                             December 23, 1904.

          The angels heralded thy birth with songs of praise,
          Joyous hosannas! And the courts of heaven trembled
          With the ecstasy of melody!
          And lo! there swept upon the air, so pure, so sweet,
          So filled with harmony, and joy and love, it seemed
          'Twould melt the soul, a new and glorious hymn,
          Radiant with hope!
          A peon of sweet liberty, a benediction and a blessing.
          Rising in gladness from the hearts that loved the Christ,
          And who had waited in the Paradise of God.
          Waited in hope, oft longing forthe hour,
          When light again should flood the darkened earth,
          And thy great work begin!
          0, thou wert valiant in the cause of Christ!
          The mockings and the scourgings thou didst bear!
          Thy armor was of Righteousness, and round thy loins
          Was girt the buckler of God's Truth. Thy shield
          Was Love: upon thy brow was placed a crown of Peace;
          And in thy hand the sceptre of the Lamb!
                                 U Envoi.
          Our hearts with love are turning unto thee,
          On this thy day of birth.
          Into our fainting souls thy faith has crept
          And made us strong!
          0, Christ, our Lord, grant thou that we
          May dwell with Joseph in eternity!
                                                    George E. Blair.
  Salt   Lake City, Utah.