--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Peery, Joseph S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 22 number: 3 published: 1919-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Peery, Joseph S., “The Heaven We Get Will Be the Heaven We Earn,” *Improvement Era* 22, no. 3 (January 1919): 203." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2203unse 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: improvementera2203unse start_page: 203 end_page: 203 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2203unse publication_year: 1919 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 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Heaven We Get Will Be the Heaven We Earn IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH 203 As a preacher he was original, simple, fearless and pro- found. He never indulged in fine-spun theological technicalities. Nor was he a reciter of verbal trappings, empty of meaning. His words were more than mere coinings of a brilliant brain. What a life he lived! From his thrilling escape from In- dians, when only eight years old, to his glorious vision of the spirit world at the age of eighty, almost every hour of his life was spent in serving man and glorifying God. Very few lives have been as rich in deep and varied experiences. He knew the thrill of dire danger, the pang of privation, the gnaw of hunger, the deep joy of divine service, and the bliss and glory of being in favor with God. Such a life is not the product of colleges alone. The school room alone cannot produce such a man. Indeed it is question- able whether technical scholasticism could have added any- thing of importance to such a career. What did he lack that schools could give? He knew man and God. His heart was as deep as truth, and lifted as high as heaven. He was not a stranger to sod nor star. He knew every phase of practical life, and his tender spiritual nature was keenly sensitive to the finest things of art, and the truest things of religion. His life touched the depths and heights of human experience. He was a pioneer, preacher, orator, lawmaker, prophet, and leader of men. He was the most kind-hearted husband, the most loving father, one of the truest friends of mankind, and the anointed of God. His life was a complete, perfect exemplification of the truest success. He suceeded most wonderfully in the biggest business of life, the business of ennobling human souls. The Heaven we Get will be the Heaven we Earn By Joseph S. Peery, Superintendent Y. M. M. I. A., Liberty Stake. Many people seem to be satisfied with baptism, thinking thereby they will get to heaven. It is true that baptism is the door to the Kingdom of God, but there are various degrees in that kingdom. Paul compares the degrees to the sun, moon and stars. Heaven will be strictly a merit system. We get what we earn. That is all we are entitled to. Should we send up no good works, by what right can we expect a good place? If we make the Celestial degree, it will de- pend upon our works. It will not be attained through indifference. Things worth while are won by effort. The Lord is a good pay-master. It is a great privilege to be in his service, and those who decline this opportunity will certainly have intense regrets. They may lay up for themselves treasures on earth, but these treasures all perish with death. President Young said, "I am for life ever- lasting." He attained his aim. Will I get a mansion or a dug-out? That depends on what I earn.