--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Anderson, Edward H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 12 published: 1912-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Edward H. Anderson, "A Wish and the Answer. A Poem," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 12 (October 1912): 1077.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15012unse 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: improvementera15012unse start_page: 1077 end_page: 1077 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15012unse publication_year: 1912 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 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Wish and the Answer. A Poem WHAT THE RETURNED MISSIONARY CAN DO 1077 Young men and also older men often fail to act and speak in accordance with their convictions for fear of ridicule of associates. We find some "wishy-washy" returned missionaries, and when they fall in with former companions who have bad habits, to avoid their taunts they join them in their smoking or drinking or perhaps worse. They are cowards, and their companions who tempt them know it, and have contempt for them. What can the returned missionary do for himself? He can be brave and keep himself pure before men and before God, preserving his reputation as a servant of God holding the holy priesthood. In recognition of the privilege he has enjoyed, he can be diligent in his service in the priesthood and in our organizations, whether officer or member, and by valiant service call down the blessings of God by which he shall be magnified before all the world, and by which, if he continues to the end, he may win a place with the brave, and the pure, and the valiant, in the kingdom of our God. A Wish and the Answer A WISH "I wish I knew what I could sing That others would repeat When I have sung my little song And made my life complete." THE ANSWER If you had said, "I wish I knew What useful work I best can do To help a fallen creature rise," Your song would echo to the skies, Would sing itself, and speak of you ! Edward H. Anderson.