---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Hoyt, T. C.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 20
number: 3
published: 1917-01
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'T. C. Hoyt, "Achievement: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 3 (January 1917): 270.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2003unse
  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: improvementera2003unse
start_page: 270
end_page: 270
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-01)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2003unse
  publication_year: 1917
  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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Achievement: A Poem

<!-- page:270 -->

270                         IMPROVEMENT ERA

unable to answer; stay with the gospel. Close promptly. Always respect
the wishes of backward and indifferent members concerning prayer, lessons,
etc.   Don't give the impression that it is a serious offense not to be prepared.
Encourage brethren to come even though they have been assigned a les-son
and are not able to recite it. Immediately after meeting, if not already
done, discuss the roll. Arrange with each other, as a presidency, who to
visit, when to visit, and keep your promise.     Quorum work will not succeed
on wishes and broken promises.
                                 Elders' Duties
          the duty of the presidency of the quorum to teach every elder how
      It is
to act in his office and calling. The quorum presidency should feel it is a
reflection on them for a member of the quorum, who has been a member
for a reasonable length of time, not to know how to bless an infant; how to
consecrate oil; how to administer to the sick; how to baptize, and the words
to use; how to confirm; how to ordain to the Aaronic priesthood; how to
ordain to the Melchizedek priesthood; how to administer the sacrament.
Every elder should be impressed with the importance of his quorum work.
In some quorums, members report when they are out of employment, and
each member of the quorum should feel it his duty to help the members
who are out of work to obtain employment. Each elder should also fael
that he should help to support the missionaries from that quorum, and it is
an excellent practice to send (quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) remittances to elders. At regular periods, the members of the quorum should be
taught the law of tithing; the giving of fast offerings; the proper observance of the Sabbath day, and all other similar duties.
                               Priesthood Classes
    In High Priests' classes, the same rules may apply to the instructor and
his assistant, as to the presidency of a quorum, and he may perform the
same functions and duties as outlined for quorums; especially that part
which refers to program, getting members to class meetings, roll call, etc.
                                   Conclusion
     Continue the method outlined, even if it does not succeed after trying
it for two or three meetings.  Keep up interest in your quorum. Divide
the responsibility with your counselors; they are there to work.    Expect
only a reasonable preparation of those assigned to lessons. The best system
poorly handled, will sometimes be called a failure, where a poor system well
handled may be counted a success. Get the spirit of your office and calling.
Remember that you are responsible before the Lord for the success or failure of your quorum work. Be prayerful, and always go to the quorum
meeting after having prayed God for his blessing and his guidance.

                               Achievement

                  A dreamer dreamed, an image saw,
                    And from his dream a lofty purpose grew,
                  His chisel patiently he plied,
                    And lo, his dream was true.
                  A dreamer dreamed and wrought the while,
                    The dream became in him resolve to act,
                  And toiling earnestly he found
                    His glorious dream     a   fact.

 Ogden, Utah.                                                     T   -   C.   Hoyt