---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Cole, Lou E.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 20
number: 4
published: 1917-02
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Lou E. Cole, "Seventeen Questions for 1917: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 4 (February 1917): 343.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2004unse
  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: improvementera2004unse
start_page: 343
end_page: 343
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-02)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2004unse
  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.
---

# Seventeen Questions for 1917: A Poem

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OCCUPATIONAL CHANGES                                343

    I believe that we need have no fear of the vocational
changes that are taking place. Each occupation is gradually
becoming more specialized, and there is a constantly increasing
need for young men to prepare themselves well for whatever
vocation they may decide to adopt; but without doubt, these
various occupations are arranging themselves for the best good
of humanity.
Logan, Utah

                Seventeen Questions for 1917

                      By Lou E. Cole, Cowboy Poet

Awakened from restful slumber, in the quiet, silent night,
By a form bending over my pillow, clothed in misty, golden light.
Came these words: "I would ask some questions, in this friendly interview,
That will be asked of all earth's children, and I ask them now of you:

"Have you kept your faith with conscience? Your soul quite free from guile?
Has your tongue been free from slander? On your lips a hopeful smile?
Have you helped to bear life's burdens? Have you helped to right one
     wrong?
Have you added to human music, by joyful lilt or song?

"Have you measured the love     of mothers?    Have you sounded     the faith

      of men?                                                 ,     „
Have you learned the power of Spirit that drives on a prophet s pen.'
Have you caught the inner value of memory's treasured tears?
Have you tested the gem of kindness? Dispelled another's tears?
                                                              side of Right?
"Do you know the joy of forgiving? Have you fought on the
                                                       an arm of might?
Have you earned your bread by labor? For Truth raised
                                                             the test?
Do you truly love your brothers—with a love that will stand
                                                 his heaven-your breast."
Then, God is indeed in his temple-at home-in