--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Hamlin, Emma Fidel collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 10 number: 6 published: 1907-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Hamlin, Emma Fidel, "My Prayer: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 6 (April 1907): 423.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera106unse 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: improvementera106unse start_page: 423 end_page: 423 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera106unse 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. --- # My Prayer: A Poem IMMORTALITY OF MAN. 423 And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he, [the Christ] is pure." (I John 3: 2, 3.) * * * * # * In the presence of these great principles revealed of God, I say—Father from my lowly station in this world, where limita- tions, intellectual and spiritual, press heavily upon us frcm every side, and where human weakness humbles the spirit and hinders its attainment of that knowledge which but for this it might attain: where temptations are constant and power of resistance is inter- mittent; where, at best, we see things but in part, and therefore imperfectly—as through a glass darkly—from the midst of these conditions, I venture to uplift a thought to thee, and thank thee for the revelation of these truths to thy children. I thank thee for making us to know that we are so near akin to thine own self; that in very essence we are akin to thee, and that by the keeping of thy law—to which, of our own volition, acting on that agency which is an inherent quality of intelli- gences, we did subscribe—we may dwell with thee eternally in the heavens. For all this, I thank thee, and humbly pray for grace, that in my day, and with such strength as thou canst supply, I may be constant in these great truths, and teach them to others; until they feel their power and uplifting strength,as I do now. Salt Lake City, U tah. MY PRAYER. (For the Improvement Era.) Father, merciful and kind; Give me the strength to help the weak, I kneel, a little child, tonight, And sympathy for all mankind; With contrite heart and prayerful mind, Forever gentle, kind and meek, My spirit proud, is humble in thy sight. Help me the broken hearts to bind. For you alone can know and share Let me aid others, near ttee reach, Myjoys, my hopes, my trembling fears, And promulgate thy gospel right, And you alone can help me bear Help me the darkened mind to teach My pain, my bitter grief, and tears. The beauty of the gospel light. My prayer tonight is, Lord, to you: The glory, Father, shall be thine; Preserve me from the Tempter's wiles ; I crave but sanction in thy sight, And keep me always pure and true, The honor to be yours, not mine. To bask in thy approving smiles. This is my humble prayer tonight. Laie, Sandwich Islands. Emma Fidel Hamlin.