---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Curtis, Theo. E.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 4
published: 1909-02
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Curtis, Theo. E., "Are These the Latter Days?," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 4 (February 1909): 294.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1204unse
  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: improvementera1204unse
start_page: 294
end_page: 294
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-02)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1204unse
  publication_year: 1909
  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 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Are These the Latter Days?

<!-- page:294 -->

ARE THESE THE LATTER DAYS?
(For the Improvement Era.)
I hear the clash of^arms afar!
Behold the battle fields ablaze;*
And every nation talks of war.
Oh say, are these the latter days?
Upon the gale a wail of woe
Against the firmament resounds;
Convulsing earth reels to and fro,
And ocean heaves beyond her bounds.
Behold the multitudes abroad, +
By prophets anciently reproved,
With cunning lips draw near to God,
But lo, their hearts are far removed.
Another angel earthward flies,!};
The gospel message in his hand;
And with a trumpet- voice he cries
To every tongue and every land.
Truth springs triumphant from the dust,
And righteousness looks from above.?
Salt Lake City, Utah.
* Matt. 24:6.
Psalm 85: 11.
U Jer. 33: 7.
+ Matt. 15: 8.
**Ezek. 37, 16-19.
She flees, — the night of greed and lust —
Before the golden dawn of love.
The sticks of Jacob, in the hand
Of God, are one, and are unfurled**
Before the eyes of every land,
To save or to condemn the world.
The rocky mountains, crowned with
snow,
(Prophetic dreams) salute my gaze;
For unto them all nations flow++
With hearts of joy and songs of praise.
Lo Judah wakes, and angel hand
Directs his pilgrimage divine. XX
Put on thy strength, oh Holy Land,^.
He turns his face to Palestine!
Toward the West the moon reclines,
And lo! the East is all ablaze.
My friends, what think you of the signs'.'
Are these, are these the latter days?
Theo. e. Curtis.
: Rev. 14: 6, 7.
tt Isa. 2:3, 4.
J Isa. 29: 4.
XX Isa. 11: 12.