--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Penrose, Charles W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 21 number: 5 published: 1918-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Charles W. Penrose, “Congratulations,” *Improvement Era* 21, no. 5 (March 1918): 449–451." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2105unse 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: improvementera2105unse start_page: 449 end_page: 451 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1918-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2105unse publication_year: 1918 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 1918, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Congratulations Congratulations President Charles W. Penrose celebrated his eighty-sixth anniversary, on February 4, 1918, having been born in Camber- well, London, England, February 4, 1832. Thousands of our readers join with us in congratulating him on this auspicious occasion, and in wishing him continued health and happiness. President Penrose is a remarkable man who is greatly adored and respected by the whole community of Latter-day Saints. He had read the scriptures when four years old, and at the 450 IMPROVEMENT ERA age of eighteen joined the Church, having become convinced that the doctrine taught by the Latter-day Saints was scriptural and true. He straightway became a missionary in England, and traveled a whole decade thousands of miles preaching the gospel, going mostly on foot, and without purse or scrip. When released, he emigrated to America, in 1861, and in the Mountain Valleys took immediate interest in Church affairs, literature, writing and newspaper work. He made speedy progress both in civil and religious affairs. His life has been one constant stream of activity, and he arose from one honor to another until at present he occupies an exalted position in the highest quorum of the Priesthood — the Presidency of the Church. Beloved by all the people, he is constantly sought for the counsel and advice which his long and valued experience enables him to impart. On the principles of the gospel there is none more versatile, none more entertaining and instructive, both in public speaking and in written utterances, than President Charles W. Penrose. His many writings on the gospel have been circulated by the millions, and everywhere they have become standards on Church doctrine. In the early eighties he wrote a valuable work entitled Mormon Doctrine, and in 1896, while acting as Assistant Church Historian, he wrote twelve tracts entitled Rays of Living Light, which series he closed with the following prophetic utterance, very applicable in the present day: A Prophetic Warning This is a day of warning. It will be followed by a time of judgments. The Lord is about to shake terribly the king- doms of this world. War, pestilence, famine, earthquake, whirl- wind, and the devouring fire, with signs in the heavens and on the earth, will immediately precede the great consummation which is close at hand. These are the last days. All that has been foretold by the Holy Prophets concerning them is about to be literally fulfilled. The everlasting gospel has been restored to the earth as one of the signs of the latter days. Israel is being gathered. The elect of God are assembling from the four quarters of the earth. The way is opening for the redemp- tion of Judah. Soon all things will be in commotion: "men's hearts failing them for fear, and looking for the things that are coming on the earth." The places of refuge appointed are in Zion and in Jerusalem. The Lord, even Jesus the Messiah, will come to his Holy Temple. He will be glorified in his Saints, but will "take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel." He will break in pieces the nations as a pot- ter's vessel. He will sweep the earth as with a besom of destruc- tion. He will establish righteousness upon it and give do- EDITORS' TABLE 451 minion to his people. "The meek shall inherit the earth and the wicked be cut off forever." Therefore, repent and turn unto him all ye nations, and obey him all ye people, for these words are true and faithful and are given by his Spirit! Sal- vation has come unto you; reject it not lest ye fall and perish. The time is at hand!