---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Stewart, M. A.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 6
published: 1909-04
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Stewart, M. A., "A Prayer and Its Answer," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 6 (April 1909): 422.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse
  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: improvementera1206unse
start_page: 422
end_page: 422
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-04)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse
  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.
---

# A Prayer and Its Answer

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A PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER.
(For the Improvement Era.)
Alwise and gracious Father,
Once more, in Jesus' name,
I ask thee to forgive me
And take away my shame.
How often have I promised
To put my sins away;
Yet, kind and loving Father,
I've sinned again today.
My heart is filled with sorrovv;
My life is stained with sin; .
Is there no hope to cheer me,
That some day I may win?
Or is my fate uncertain
With no assurance giv'n,
That I may conquer Satan,
And gain a crown in heav'n?
Sometimes, kind, loving Parent,
When hope and faith are strong,
I fight life's battles bravely
And sing the victor's song;
At other times, 0 Father,
I fail to comprehend,
Until the arch deceiver
Accomplishes his end.
I do not ask thee. Father,
To stay the tempter's hand;
For I would be no weakling,
Afraid to meet his band ;
Mesa, Arizona.
But what I ask, dear Father,
Is strength to be a man,
That I may know his power
And thwart his cunning plan.
x- * * *
"Oh son," the Spirit whispers,
"Thy pray'r hath not been vain;
Now listen to thine answer,
For I will make it plain:
The power that thou desirest
And more, when understood.
Hath been bestowed upon thee;
'Tis found in thy priesthood.
' 'Thou must not treat it lightly;
For thus it grieveth me,
That Satan and his angels
Should bind and fetter thee;
And so become thy masters,
While thou art but a slave;
Although the priesthood's with thee,
Thou hast no pow'r to save.
"But great shall be thy kingdom,
In realms thy God shall name,
Exalting thee to glory,
From whence the spirit came;
If thou wilt bear thy priesthood,
In honor to my Son!
To thee shall be the vict'ry,
When this life's race is run."
M. A. Stewart