--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Alder, Lydia D. 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: "Alder, Lydia D., “The Written Word,” *Improvement Era* 22, no. 3 (January 1919): 190." 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: 190 end_page: 190 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 Written Word 190 IMPROVEMENT ERA them. Associated with the Twelve, and with the general boards of the Sunday Schools and the Improvement Associations, he is constantly among the people, and his counsel and practical advice, in temporal as well at spiritual affairs, are eagerly sought. "I asked him to say a word to the boys and girls who read this sketch — what he would say, in fact, if he could speak to all the children of Zion. In reply, he gave a sermon that will require all the days of your lives to live, but only a few moments to read. He said: 'I would say to them: 'Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upo i the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.' Seek for the light and inspiration of the Spirit of God to guide you in all the walks of life; be forgiving, be charitable. Never allow the acts of men to affect your faith in the Gospel. Remember that God says we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and bring to pass much righteousness, for the power is in us wherein we are agents unto ourselves, that inasmuch as men do good, they shall in nowise lose their reward. In every vocation of life, try to get the Spirit of God to aid you in the accomplishment of your work. Try to make others haPPy» and to aid them in carrying their burdens in life, and you are sure of happiness, not only in this life, but in the life to come. Remember the words of Lord Bulwer Lytton: "'Dream, O youth. Dream nobly and manfully, and thy dreams shall be thy prophets!' "Always be punctual, truthful and virtuous, and you will thereby insure yourself the love of God and of all good men." President Grant's life is full of testimonies that God lives and answers prayer, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that the Church which he was instrumental in founding is di- vinely established by revelation from God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. As the burdens and responsibilities of his new and exalted position multiply upon him, President Grant will grow in ability and strength to bear them. All faithful Latter-day Saints will join in prayer and deeds to make his administration strong, progressive and pleasing and acceptable in the sight of our heavenly Father. — Edward H. Anderson. The Written Word The pen is mightier than the sword; The written, than the spoken word: The written, unborn ages sway; The spoken, idly drifts away. The written word hath wonders wrought, Thrown open wide the door of Thought. Truth filters through, and men can see A revelation, prophecy. Thought's storehouse never overflows, No smaller is, for all one knows ; Outstretch thy hand, Thought's flowers are fair; Pluck all thou wilt, nu fewer there. Lydia D. Alder.