Steady, Son, Steady: A Poem

336 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Then if we would know the Lord Jesus Christ, and his servants, who are in our midst, and that their testimonies are true, we must enjoy the light of the Spirit of the living God individually. The possession of this heavenly knowledge is absolutely necessary to keep us in the paths of life and truth, for without it we cannot distinguish the voice of the true shepherd, which is spiritually discerned ; and although we may be in fellowship with the Church, fully believing the counsels of our brethren to be dictated by wisdom, yet, without something more than mere belief or supposition, we cannot stand; and furthermore, under such circumstances, we cannot consistently claim that we have part or lot in the kingdom of God. For as it is written : ' 'An actual knowledge to any person, that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God without which no person can obtain eternal life." For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be an insult to the dignity of the Creator were he to say that he would be a partaker of his glory when he should be done with the things of this life. — Journal of Discourses, 19: 22-23. STEADY, SON, STEADY. {For the Improvement Era). Darling son, no more a nursling Clinging to thy mother's knee; Feelings strange now stir thy bosom — Thrills of manhood bounding free; But remember, 0 remember. Thou art still a child to me. Now thy bark is gaily sailing On a broad and placid sea. Warning words to thee seem useless — Lo ! the breakers wait for thee ; Steady, steady, watch the current, , Mother's heart beats anxiously. There is One who knows the waters, Do not venture recklessly ; He will guide thee through the breakers. If thou rowest faithfully ; Trust him, son, and still remember. Mother's love e'er pleads for thee. Ruth May Fox. Salt Lake City, Utah.