--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Alfred Osmond collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 18 number: 6 published: 1915-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Alfred Osmond, "The Ship of Zion," *Improvement Era* 18, no. 6 (April 1915): 481–483.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1806unse 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: improvementera1806unse start_page: 481 end_page: 483 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1806unse 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 Ship of Zion PRAYLR AND WORSHIP 481 tions may confidently say, such and such blessings are actually laid up for me. "Thus saith the wisdom of the Lord: Bless'd is the man who hears my word: Keeps daily watch before my gates, And at my feet for mercy waits." "The soul that seeks me shall obtain Immortal wealth and heavenly gain; Immortal life is his reward, Life and the favor of the Lord." BONIDA, IDAHO The Ship of Zion BY ALFRED OSMOND A boy was commanded to build a ship And sail o'er a stormy sea; But his life was young and his hand unskilled, And he thought, "This can never be. I cannot perform such a mighty task; It cannot be just nor true. My Master is kind and could never ask That which I can never do." The voice the Master is heard again, <">f And its tones are still mild and sweet: "I command thee, my son, that ye build a ship That is rugged and strong and fleet; That ye make your home on the boundless sea, Where the winds and the billows rave, That ye give your life to the storm and strife Go forth, and be strong and brave." The boy has completed the stately ship. (For years have been rushing by.) She is proudly launched on the boundless sea List, list the commander's cry; "On, on to the harbor of distant lands! Sail on o'er the boundless sea! We are seamen all who obey the call Of the God of our destiny." Soon the storm came down with titanic rage And burst o'er the calm, blue sea, Till her placid breast heav'd with wild unrest To yield to her king's decree; While the lightning's glare through the startled air Rushed on with its trains of fire, And the thunder's roll seemed to shake the soul Of the world with its horrors dire. Then death, on the wings of the midnight blast, Came down to the vessel's crew 482 IMPROVEMENT ERA From that little band who on sea and land Had been sturdy and bold and true, He selected the bravest and best of all, The captain who, dying, cried, "Sail on through this carnage of blood and death! Sail on o'er this storm-swept sea! Ye are seamen all who obey God's call — Sail on to your destiny." With her splintered masts and her shredded sails, The ship, as in throes of pain, Like a thing of life in a deadly strife, Contends with the wrathful main. And the crew in dread, with the captain dead, Are ready to yield and die, When the voice they hear of their captain dear Ts their new commander's cry: "Sailon through this carnage of blood and death! Sail on o'er this roaring sea! We are seamen all who obey the call Of the God of our destiny." And the ship on through the wrathful storm Till its bold commander fell, Then the crew again felt the pangs of pain, And sad are the tales they tell. But another came with a soul of flame, A hero who dared to die. On the deck he stands, and his bold commands Are- heard in the ringing cry: "Sail on to the harbor of distant lands: Sail on o'er this roaring sea! We are seamen all who obey God's call - Sail on to our destiny." The captain is dead on the wave-washed deck, And horror has seized the crew. When a man as mild as a laughing child, Yet manly and bold and true. Is called by the Master to sail the ship When the waves that are mounting high " Wildly crash and roar, but as oft before Is heard the commander's cry: "Sail on to the harbor of peace and love! Sail on o'er this troubled sea! We are children all and our Father's call Will give us the victory." The Captain who paces the deck today Looks out on a troubled sea; Rut his eyes are bright and his heart is light, And his spirit is bold and free. When demons of death, with their blasting breath, Leap forth from the sea and sky, 'Mid the wreck and gore and the crash and roar. We hear our commander's cry: "Sail on through this carnage of strife- and death: Sail on o'er this raging sea! I command us all to obey God's will Sail on to our destinv." THE SHIP OF ZION 483 When this captain mild as a laughing child Is called from his faithful crew, Then another came in the Master's name, Who was gentle and bold and true, Though he loved a life free from storm and strife, When danger and death were nigh, 'Mid the lightning's flash and the thunder's crash Is heard this commander's cry: "Sail on to the harbor of blissful peace! Sail on o'er this raging sea! We are seamen all who obey God's will Sail on to our destiny." As the months and years, with their smiles and tears, Sail on o'er life's troubled sea, So this ship and crew, with a chosen few, Sail on to their destiny. The God of the tempest has launched the ship; He chose its commanders brave, He commands the storm and can shield from harm; He alone has the pow'r to save. When captain and crew shall have passed away, And their sons and their daughters die, There will still be then good and faithful men Who will hear from the decks thecry: "Sail on to the harbor of peace and joy! Sail on o'er life's troubled sea! We are seamen all who obey the call Of the God who has made us free." BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, PROVO, UTAH W^R 9^ ; l WINNING THROUGH PLAY Le Grand Hardy, with his M. I. A. Scouts, on Maple Flats, above Prove Brother Hardy is a son of the great pioneer in the M. I. A. cause, the late Dr. Milton H. Hardy.