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Two Plans

Improvement Era, vol. 13, no. 7, May 1910, pp. 652 to 653

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations

652 IMPROVEMENT ERA. fairly well organized, well-equipped and widely distributed for the purpose of making the best possible observations in the hope that new scientific truths shall be revealed. Logan, Utah. Two Plans. (For the Improvement Era.) When you've planned and plotted; when you've schemed; When you've hoped and struggled; when you've dreamed; And then have seen each favored project fall, And all your honeyed dainties turn to gall; You could curse the world and give up like a rat, But what's to be gained by that? When you've risen in the morning, rested and renewed, When you've felt yourself with God-like power imbued— And then, ere day hath waned, your strength has flagged, 'Till night discovers you entirely fagged; You might give up the struggle with the doffing of your hat, But what's to be gained by that? When you've found a friend, one who you think is true; The one in all this world, to sympathize with you; And then, ah, then, your fond hopes fade away, As time reveals your idol made of clay, You could mistrust the future, when hope has fallen flat, But what's to be gained by that? To battle 'mid the strong ones, and to hold your own, To prove yourself a hero, 'mid thousands, or alone, To rise from insignificance to noblest height, And look back on a course as clean and bright As man can shape on this old habitat, There's something to be gained by that! When others falter, to have faith to stand And reach, perchance, a kindly, helping hand To some poor, fainting brother, sorely pressed; To trust in God, and do your very best, And take life as a game of tit for tat, There's something in a thought like that! To have a heart for others, as we swing along; To "let up" on the dirge, and substitute the song; To quit the sqalid basement, with its mould and blight, And live upon the surface where the sun shines bright; To live and love and labor and laugh, and just grow fat, What better could we ask than that? Lon J. Haddock.

PRESIDENT JOHN HENRY SMITH, Sustained April 6, and set apart as Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 7, 1910.