--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Crocheron, George W. 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: 'Crocheron, George W., "The Word of Wisdom," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 3 (January 1907): 207.' 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: 207 end_page: 207 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. --- # The Word of Wisdom THE HISTORY OF RASSELAS. 207 "My dear Imlac," said the prince, "I will open to thee my whole heart. I have long meditated an escape from the happy val- ley. I have examined the mountains on every side, and find my- self insuperably barred: teach me the way to break my prison: thou shalt be the companion of my flight, the guide of my ram- bles, the partner of my fortune, and my sole director in the choice of life." "Sir," answered the poet, "your escape will be difficult; and, perhaps, you may soon repent your curiosity. The world, which you figure to yourself smooth and quiet as the lake in the valley, you will find a sea foaming with tempests and boiling with whirl- pools: you will be sometimes overwhelmed with the waves of vio- lence, and sometimes dashed against the rocks of treachery. Amidst wrongs and frauds, competitions and anxieties, you will wish a thousand times for these seats of quiet, and willingly quit hope to be free from fear." "Do not seek to deter me from mv purpose," said the prince; "I am impatient to see what thou hast seen; and since thou art thyself weary of the valley, it is evident that thy former state was better than this. Whatever be the consequence of my experiment, I am resolved to judge with mine own eyes of the various condi- tions of men, and then to make deliberately my choice of life.' 1 "I am afraid," said Imlac, "you are hindered by stronger re- straints than my persuasions; yet. if your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill." [to be continued.] THE WORD OF WISDOM. Viewed from a physical, moral, and intellectual standpoint^ the benefits to be derived to the person practicing the Word of Wisdom are manifold. Its close observance will prove of great value in correcting many of the physical ills which distress man- kind. The moral effect of its practice upon an individual, is to safeguard the soul from alluring temptations which impair pure character. The intellectual advantages secured by its observance add dignity to one's personality, and has a tendency to brighten the perceptive faculties of the mind.—Geo. W. Crocheron.