--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Mitton, Sarah E. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 2 published: 1911-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Mitton, Sarah E., "Ever Look Upward. A Poem," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 2 (December 1911): 160.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1502unse 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: improvementera1502unse start_page: 160 end_page: 160 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1911-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1502unse publication_year: 1911 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 1911, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Ever Look Upward. A Poem 160 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sorrowfully came the answer, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss!" The crowd surged forward, surrounding the Master. In the midst of it he stood, calm and radiant, his face emotionless, save for the sadness of his eyes, and when his followers would have resisted for him, he forbade them. "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfiled, that thus it must be?" And "they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled." So was the Son of Man betrayed, and that scripture was fulfiled, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." This tragic betrayal is but symbolical of the certain conse- quences when men allow envy, jealousy, ingratitude and covet- ousness, to take possession of their better selves, and to rule their lives. In the very beginning these traits proved the downfall of Cain, later of Judas, and eventually they will cause abasement and misery to every man who barters to them his rightful heirship in the Kingdom of the Father. Hull, England. Ever Look Upward. (For the Improvement Era.) Ever look upward, 0 spirit of mine! Look for the beauties that most brightly shine; Turn thou away from earth's sin and it's crime, Ever look upward, O spirit of mine. Ever look upward, O spirit of mine! Raise thou a standard both high and divine; Think of eternity more than of time, Ever look upward. O spirit of mine. Ever look upward, O spirit of mine ! Walking the while in these walls of time, Trust thou in God and his message divine, Ever look upward. O spirit of mine. Ever look upward, O spirit of mine! Naught can more richly ennoble thy prime; And e'en will death wear a mantle sublime, If thou'lt look upward. O spirit of mine. Logan, Utah. Sarah E. MlTTON.