---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Williams, Sarah M.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 12
number: 10
published: 1909-08
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Sarah M. Williams, "A Prayer," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 10 (August 1909): 829.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12010unse
  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: improvementera12010unse
start_page: 829
end_page: 829
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-08)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12010unse
  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

<!-- page:829 -->

PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE ORIENT.                              829

boats where they sat and smiled at the passengers.                    When the
latter threw a coin into the water,             the boys      with a dash and a
splash, jumped in, and a few  moments later came up, one holding
triumphantly the piece of money    in his hand, which was trans-

ferred to his mouth for safe keeping.   The performance was re-
peated time and time again. The last of the passengers are com-
ing aboard.         We lost seventy-one passengers at Honolulu and re-
ceived only thirty in exchange.             All are decorated with lets, it is a
token of regard; and upon the departure of a steamer, every
traveler is bedecked with bright flowers, until the ship appears to
be fully decorated with blossoms.               Once more the bell rings, the
last Alohas are said, flowers are thrown back and forth,               and again
we are on our journey to the           '
                                           'Land of the Rising Sun."
Honolulu, H.   I.

                                     A PRAYER.

                       Creator of the souls of men,
                       The earth, the sky, and all therein,
                       Protect us with Thy love and might;
                       Protect us through this awful night
                       Of sin; and send thy beaming light
                       To be about us ever, when
                       We're weakest, and beset by sin.

                          make us strong and help us gain
                       A blessing.    All our weakness slain,

                       Firm may we stand to conquer right;
                       Firm may we stand and win the fight;
                       May thy great glory us incite,
                       That we may greater heights attain;
                       Thy richest love may we retain.

                         may we e'er in wisdom move;
                       A dwelling gain with Thee above;
                        may all evil take its flight;
                         may temptations never blight
                        Our hopes; but speed to loftier height
                       Our aims; and Thou approve
                        Our works forever, God of Love.
                                                            Sarah M. Williams.
Ogden, Utah.