--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Carroll, Elsie C. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 1 published: 1909-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Elsie C. Carroll, "My Prayer," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 1 (November 1909): 13.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1301unse 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: improvementera1301unse start_page: 13 end_page: 13 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1301unse 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. --- # My Prayer THE CHEAT APOSTASY. L3 thority, particularly those who had the greatest number of churches^under their inspection, and who presided over the most opulent assemblies. They appropriated to their evangelical function the splendid ensigns of temporal majesty. A throne surrounded with ministers, exalted above his equals the servant of the meek and humble Jesus; and sumptuous garments dazzled the eyes and the minds of the multitude into an ignor- ant veneration of their arrogated authority. The example of the bishops was ambitiously imitated by the presbyters, who, neglecting the sacred duties of their station, abandoned themselves to the indolence and delica- cy of an effeminate and luxurious life. The deacons, beholding the presbyters deserting thus their functions, boldly usurped their rights and privileges, and the effects of a corrupt ambition were spread through every rank of the sacred order." (Mosheim's Eccl. Hist.,Cent III, Part II, chap. II: 2, 4. My Prayer. I do not ask for fame, Nor do I ask for power. I do not ask that wealth Shall ever be my dower. The morrow needs no care, No more does yesterday; 'Tis for the present hour, Dear Lord, for which I pray. For eyes to see the wrong; For will to choose the right; For voice to sing hope's song To make a sad face bright. Just help my lips to speak But words of love and cheer. Just help me, Father, help My conscience to shine clear. Just show me how to walk In thine own perfect way, In thought and act and talk, Just for today, just for today. Elsie C. Carroll Orderville, Utah.