---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations
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: Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, "A Tribute of Respect to the Memory of Francis Marion Lyman," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 3 (January 1917).
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
curator_note: Source-native unpaginated front matter; no printed page number is supplied.
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.
---

# A Tribute of Respect to the Memory of Francis Marion Lyman

A Tribute of Respect to the Memory of
                 Francis Marion            Lyman
A Member of the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A.
           Adopted by the General Board Y. M. M. I. A.

    In the death of Brother Lyman, Nov. 18, 1916, the young men of
Zion are separated from a sympathetic, faithful friend; and the Associations we represent, from a firm advocate and wise counselor.
    It is our privilege and duty to bear witness to the fine quality
of his splendid character and to the influence and power of his
teaching and example among us.
    The people   generally   knew of his indefatigable public service
and apostolic ministry.   It isnot improbable that more people knew
of an individual private service and ministry, at his hands, than from
any other public man. It is marvelous to contemplate, and almost
unbelievable, that a man, so constantly occupied with public duties,
could devote the time he did to so many individuals. In this respect
the young men of Zion were the chief beneficiaries. He knew more
of them personally than any other man, and he made them know him
and his. interest in them. His arm was always around them, drawing
them closely to him, as he whispered into their ears words of admonition, advice, counsel, encouragement, warning if need be, and reproof
if required.   In it all and always, he was the ever-zealous servant of
God, seeking to help and to save the children of men.
     He used to say: "The Lord calls upon all men to do right, but
he expects us (Latter-day Saints) to."
    "Seek the Lord early and ye shall find him." Brother Lyman
believed men should do so, as he himself had done, and having found
Him early in life, abide in the knowledge of Him continually.
    Speaking of men wearing out their lives he said "Why shouldn't
                                                    :

they? That's what our lives are for, to wear them out in serving
the Lord."
    The Law of the Lord was in his heart.       He was its living exponent. He was wise in keeping it, and he taught and practiced       it

with understanding, for he knew and understood it.
     Finally it was said of him, as truly as of any man, that in
perfect faith, never doubting, he taught and exemplified in the spirit
of the sublime Job who said, "Whence then cometh wisdom? and
where is the place of understanding? * * * * And unto man he
said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart
from evil is understanding."

    The above was read by President Heber J. Grant, at the funeral
services of President   Lyman in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Tuesday,
November 21, 1916.