--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Retsloff, D. C. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 23 number: 8 published: 1920-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Retsloff, D. C., \"Nature's Whispers,\" *Improvement Era* 23, no. 8 (June 1920): 723." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse 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: improvementera238unse start_page: 723 end_page: 723 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1920-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera238unse publication_year: 1920 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 1920, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Nature's Whispers JOSEPH THE SEER 723 He looked into the world beyond, and what he saw answers the question, Where do we go? (Doc. and Cov., sec. 76, The Vis- ion of the Three Glories, or Graded Salvation.) He saw many other things by the power of seership which includes that of a revelator. He saw the disastrous outcome of social and political iniquity, and said, "I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies, blood and desolation and fire." Through his seership he interpreted the ancient writings of Abraham, which answers the inquiry, from whence have we come? (Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham, chapter III.) He viewed with clearness of vision governmental conditions of our premortal estate, revealing the fact that at the first or- ganization in heaven we were all present, and saw the Savior chosen and appointed, and the plan of salvation made, and we sanctioned it.' Through the power of his seership, which includes that of a revelator, he gave to the world three new volumes of Scripture, The Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and the book of Doctrine and Covenants. In addition to the three new vol- umes, he gave us an inspired revision of the Bible. Compared with the mission and accomplishment of other seers, his life and labor stands second only to that of his in- structor, the Son of God, to whom he was introduced, with the words of the Father, "This is my beloved Son, Hear Him." Provo, Utah Nature's Whispers When by friends you are forsaken, When life seems but worthless dross, Seek the Isle of Sweet Contentment In the "shadow of the Cross." Go and dwell alone with Nature, Watch her buds and leaves unfold, In her flowers and leaves and branches Nature tells of "Gates of Gold." Although childhood's days have vanished, And though youthful joys were fleet, 'Neath her swaying, waving branches Nature tells of "pastures sweet." Pastures sweet and quiet waters, Fleeting heaven's blue dome above, In the buds and leaves of summer, Nature whispers, "God is love." Sen Diego, Col. D. C. Retsloff