--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 6 published: 1908-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The Mission of Our Master: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 6 (April 1908): 455.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1106unse 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: improvementera1106unse start_page: 455 end_page: 455 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1908-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1106unse publication_year: 1908 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 1908, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Mission of Our Master: A Poem THE MISSION OF OUR MASTER. (For the Improvement Era.) [Read by the author, at the Latter-day Saints' Easter services, Park City, 1907.] In Bethlehem long years ago, there came unto this earth, A child of light, a child of love, a babe of lowly birth. A star appeared in heaven so bright, and shepherds, watching flocks at nigl t, Heard heav'nly angels' songs. They sang a song of love and praise, proclaiming peace and joy; Salvation free to all the earth, through the mission of the boy. The wise men gathered from afar; they traveled, guided by the star, To see the promised child. 'Twas he the prophets said would come, a wicked world to save, And he that ere his work was done, won victory o'er the grave. As Savior of the world he came, among his own he had no claim, No place to lay his head. His life on earth was free from sin, he marked the sacred way, That all may gain eternal life who do his laws obey. His mission was of peace and love; he taught us all to look above; He taught us how to pray. With scoffs and scorns and ridicule, the wicked men of «arth Did crucify our Lord and King; they did not know his worth. A crown of thorns upon his head; a cruel spear-thrust in his side, And thus the Christ he died. His mission ended here on earth, he went to other spheres, And taught the gospel plan to those who lived in former years. In Paradise, he made it plain, repentant sinners still may gain The boon of endless life. And this his mission, briefly told: peace, sacrifice and love; That through his labors here below, we gain a heaven above. For Adam fell that man might be; then Jesus died and set us free, To live eternally. David E. Seamons. Park City, Utah.