--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Fletcher, I. N. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 12 published: 1909-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'I. N. Fletcher, "Aphorisms," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 12 (October 1909): 976.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12012unse 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: improvementera12012unse start_page: 976 end_page: 976 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12012unse 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. --- # Aphorisms . 976 IMPR VEMENT ERA between such men as St. Paul and the runaway criminal slave Onessimus, or between the bold, zealous, and highly gifted Apostle and some of his more timorous and less educated Asiatic associ- ates. These men lived up in full to the standard laid down by our Lord, — "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, that ye love one another" (John 13: 35), and it was the exhibition of such friendships as those described in these sketches that drew from the astonished pagans of the time the remark, "See how these Christians love one another." [the end.] Pas De Calais, France. APHORISMS. True religion elevates, strengthens, and sweetens character, giving tone to our every act, showing individuality and reliability. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, a person no stronger than his weakest characteristic. The devil will not be bound until we have overcome all of our false habits and appetites. There cannot be a counterfeit without a genuine first. A righteous person was never known to simulate wickedness, but often a wicked person simulates righteousness. After having prayed for what we think we need, the moment we arise let us set about to fulfil the prayer to the best of our ability, depending upon the Lord to supplement what we are lacking. The golden opportunity to do right is ever present. I. N. Fletcher.