---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 25
number: 11
published: 1922-09
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The Soul Is Victor O’er the Grave", *Improvement Era* 25, no. 11 (September 1922): 953.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25011unse
  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: improvementera25011unse
start_page: 953
end_page: 953
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-09)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera25011unse
  publication_year: 1922
  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 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Soul Is Victor O’er the Grave

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The Soul is Victor O'er the Grave Here softly tread among these graves, Here softly speak above the dead, While silently the willow waves Its drooping branches overhead, And solemn quietness abounds Within the group of sacred mounds, — While loved ones there Our loved ones wait, Beyond, in Paradise await. 'Tis dust to dust for all our race, And spirit back to God who gave; The dust alone hath here a place, — The soul is victor o'er the grave ! With flowers we decorate each tomb ; We know that they must love the flowers, — Our yearly gift of bud and bloom. Perhaps they meet us in these hours When love and friendship here are blest, In memory of those at rest, Where loved ones there Our loved ones wait, Beyond, in Paradise await! One family, yet tarrying here, Are we who think of loved ones gone. That other family so dear Await us as we're passing on! Their virtues let us all commend, — Their love and ours shall never end, — Where loved ones there, Our loved ones wait, Beyond, in Paradise await! 'Tis dust to dust for all our race, And spirit back to God who gave; The dust alone hath here a place, — The soul is victor o'er the grave ! Joseph Longking Townsend