--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Fox, Ruth May collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 10 number: 3 published: 1907-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Fox, Ruth May, "Be Thou Perfect: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 3 (January 1907): 187.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1003unse 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: improvementera1003unse start_page: 187 end_page: 187 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1003unse publication_year: 1907 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 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Be Thou Perfect: A Poem LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 187 tumults among them, because of the love of God which dwelt in their hearts. In recording this glorious state of things, the Prophet, in the fulness of his rejoicing, exclaims: "Surely there could not have been a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God!" This was because they were one, the followers of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of heaven. That which was possible with the Nephites, eighteen centuries ago, is possible in this dispensation with the Latter-day Saints, upon their conforming to the same principles. Such results are not attained by mortals in an instant, or with a breath, but re- quire earnest effort and steadfast faith. As individuals, we are yet far from being prepared far the condition here spoken of. But we know the means by which it was reached, and have the same gifts, authority and powers of the gospel that the Nephites possessed. The position which they enjoyed is worth every effort to attain to. An important step towards it, and that brings its blessings with it, is that we "cease to find fault one with another," and devote ourselves more energetically than heretofore to labor- ing for the establishment of the love of God and of our neighbors in our hearts, to the exclusion of every opposing influence. Salt Lake City, Utah. BE THOU PERFECT. (For the Improvement Era.) Stay thy tongue; judge not thy brother; He who fashioned ev'ry fibre, Can'st thou read his inmost thought: He alone doth hold the key. His heart's purpose can'st thou meas- ure, Doth thy trembling feet ne'er stumble? Whil'st with weakness thou art Art thou ne'er misunderstood? fraught? Are thy breathings always holy, Hast thou heard his anguished plead- And thy secret thoughts all good? m£s' Be thou perfect, my brother, As the bitter tear-drops start? clothe thygdf w|ft ^^ Hast thou seen his earnest str.v.ngs, Though fchy g . ftg were ^m moun _ To obtain the better part? taing Who made thee thy brother's keeper? Failingthis, they're dcoss to thee. Did Almighty plan with thee? Ruth May Fox. Salt Lake City, Utah.