---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Ruth May Fox
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 8
number: 8
published: 1905-06
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Ruth May Fox, "Let Light Descend," *Improvement Era* 8, no. 8 (June 1905): 618–619.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0808unse
  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: improvementera0808unse
start_page: 618
end_page: 619
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1905-06)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0808unse
  publication_year: 1905
  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 1905, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Let Light Descend

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and carried out for generations by the bigotry and intolerance of
Pobiedonostzeff, the Procurator-General of the Holy Synod, are rescinded by the Czar's Easter Ukase, and henceforth the Old Believers are placed on an absolute equality         with members of the state
church.
      Ii will be remembered that some time ago,          France refused toloan Russia more money.        was then predicted that the war
                                  It
must soon close. By this Ukase of the Czar, however, he has
made his treasury independent, for the present at least, of any
foreigp country.   No sooner was it declared that the Old Believers were to be granted all the privileges of the orthodox subjects
of the Czar, than they arranged to raise five hundred million dollars as a free gift to the sovereign, which amount is, perhaps, only
the   first installment   of the donations expected from these wealthy
schismatics.
      Among the dissenters from the orthodox church, who will be
benefited, are the Dukhobors,      who have been emigrating to Canada to escape the hardships imposed upon them in Russia.
      Now let us hope that the Czar and the Liberals of his dominions will see that the Ukase     is    put to practice, for there is a lingering suspicion that, like so     many other edicts declaring concessions and liberty in Russia,     it may be effectually blocked by the
friends of the autocratic system, in its practical application.
                          LET LIGHT DESCEND.
                      (For the Improvement Era.)
                 Open the windows of heaven,        Lord,
                      Let light descend
                 On every tree, and flower, and blade,
                 On every mountain, vale and glade,
                 On every creature thou hast made,
                      Let light descend,
                      0, thou, our Friend.

<!-- page:619 -->

LET LIGHT DESCEND.                             619
              We have wandered far from the fold,         Lord,
                    Let light descend;
              Amid sore distress and scenes of woe,
              With hearts that are failing, to and fro
              We stagger and reel, and sigh as we go;
                     Let light descend.
                    Our one true Friend.
              The way is so lonely and cold,    Lord,
                     Let light descend;
              0, for some hand in the darkness to greet!
              My friends are lost in the dismal street,
              I   hear but complaints and scurrying feet;
                     Let light descend.
                     Be thou my Friend.
              How long shall the blind lead the blind,       Lord,
                     Ere light descend?
              Groaning beneath burdens of discontent.
              Stifling the great blessings thou hast sent.
              Each following his own mad selfish bent;
                     Let light descend.
                     Our only Friend.
              Open the windows of heaven,      Lord,
                     Let light descend;
               Light that shall shatter the head of gold.
               And gather its fragments manifold.
               Into onf- great heart of love that shall mould
                     Each man a friend;
                     Let light descend.
                                                  Ruth May Fox.
Salt Lake   City, Utah.