---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - F. E. Barker
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 18
number: 3
published: 1915-01
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: "F. E. Barker, \"The Prophet Joseph's Birth,\" *Improvement Era* 18, no. 3 (January 1915): 242."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1803unse
  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: improvementera1803unse
start_page: 242
end_page: 242
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-01)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1803unse
  publication_year: 1915
  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 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Prophet Joseph's Birth

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242                     IMPROVEMENT ERA
slept one night with them. They received me with much kindness,
invited me to cat with them and desired much to listen to what I
had to tell them. I held a meeting with them and sang for them.
They all felt well, as did I also.
                           (to be continued.)

                  The Prophet Joseph's Birth
                           (December 23, 1805)

              Of all whose wortli has graced the earth,
                  In all its varied history through,
              The memories of whose mortal birth
                  And missions great and true,
              Next to the high Exalted One,
              E'en Jesus, God's Beloved Son,
                Whom most of all we should revere,
              We have most cause in joy to raise.
              Our thanks to God in tuneful lays
                For Joseph Smith, our Modern Seer.

              He made the span 'twixt God and man,
                  As Egypt's Joseph, in his day,
              And plain revealed the heavenly plan
                From God to whom we pray.
              For Truth sublime, best boon from God,
              Through him revealed and preached abroad
                Through him restored a ain to earth
              And gifts and keys of Heaven's choice,
              We praise his name, and now rejoice,
                  And celebrate our Prophet's birth.
              How we should live and honor give,
                Heartfelt, to God, and Truth, and man,
              lie showed with proof most positive
                In God's all-perfect plan,
              Of which he was, midst trials rife,
              A true exemplar in his life;
                His death, a martyr, oroved his worth,
              For precious blood sealed living truth.
              So let us all, adult and youth,
                  Commemorate our Prophet's birth.
             The choicest ones of Israel's sons
               And God's elect of every age,
             To blaze the way till Jesus comes,
               With prophet, seer, and sage,
              Will all extol our Prophet's name,
              Their leader in eternal fame,
                For works of great and noble worth.
              Then let all Israel join the lay
              And celebrate with us today
                  The Prophet Joseph's name and birth.
                                                       F.   E. Barker.
December, 1914.