--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, D. W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 1 published: 1916-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'D. W. Smith, "Reflections," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 1 (November 1916): 16.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2001unse 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: improvementera2001unse start_page: 16 end_page: 16 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2001unse publication_year: 1916 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 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Reflections 16 IMPROVEMENT ERA stepped to a western window and looked upon another picture. Calling Joe to his side, he placed a hand upon his shoulder and said: "My boy, you have asked three questions. You asked the name of the architects who planned this building. They are men of exceptional ability, and their names are L and T "You asked what great sculptor carved the huge buffalo in the entrance to this museum. His name is a native of , our own state. "Then you asked the name of the artist who painted the picture of Mary and the Christ child. The original of that picture hangs in a noted gallery in Germany and was painted by the world-renowned Rembrandt. "Now, I have answered your questions, I want you to answer one for me. My boy, do you see that field of ripened corn on the southern slope of vonder hill?" "Yes, father, I do." "Do you see that patch of golden grain in the vale just below?" "Yes." "You see those cattle feeding in that green pasture by the side of that winding river?" "And you see that glorious sun, sinking into that mirrored lake,and sending its rays far across the deep blue sky, giving each cloud a golden lining?" The young man was absorbed in what he saw and deeply impressed by his father's description. At last, he looked up and answered, "Yes, father, I do." Then his father asked, "My boy, who painted that picture?" That night, the father, the mother and the boy knelt down together and prayed to the greatest of all artists, the Maker of heaven and earth." Reflection I sit and watch the daylight fade, I gaze into the west; Far out beyond those distant hills my thoughts first seek their rest, And fain would reach the scene of everything which I love best. How came it I have wandered from the things I hold most dear, And cast my lot in this wild place; so lonely and so drear? I now recall them, one by one, those things I long to see; And joys past come floating down the stream of memory. My dear old homestead, could I but return there for a day, And see my loved ones; ev'ry one, and hear my mother sing: "Our love is just the same as when you first began to stray!" But such is life, we wander from those things we dearly love, As we have wandered from the realms of light and peace above. I will not stay here, my thoughts have led the way; And I shall follow them back home, ves home again to stay. D. W. Smith