--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Unknown collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 29 number: 8 published: 1926-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Unknown, “Youth,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 8 (June 1926): 719." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2908unse 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: improvementera2908unse start_page: 719 end_page: 719 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2908unse publication_year: 1926 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 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Youth Youth "Rejoice, O young man in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth: and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." — Ecdes. 11:9. Rejoice! rejoice! for you are young and strong And life is beautiful as flowers in May. It seems to you that you will linger long, To quaff the pleasures of the perfect day. The lures of life are calling you away From cares that foster sorrow and distress. The laughing loves desire to romp and play, And soft, white arms will tenderly caress And cheer you with the charms that captivate and bless. Thy heart has cherished many fond desires. Now walk in all the ways that they suggest. Let passion flame your heart with fiercer fires, For you are young and youth must have the best. When pleasure calls you, she will be a guest That lingers longer in the sylvan glade, The bluebird happiness will build her nest In leafy branches of the forest shade — Enjoy the goods of life that Providence has made. And walk today in visions of thine eyes, Not in the shadows that are dark and drear, When beauty beckons, will you fail to prize The sense of sight that makes her presence dear? Seek perfect love, for she will conquer fear, And boldly follow when admiring sight Reveals attractions that are far and near. Advance towards the golden gates of light, For that which seemeth good is beautiful and bright. Rejoice, O young man, in thy days of youth, And let thy heart cheer thee in golden days! And let thine eyes be torches of the truth, That you might win the Hebrew Prophet's praise. Thy heart's desires, that which attracts the gaze Of admiration, are to be thy guide. If they shall lure thee into pleasant ways, Along the highway that is smooth and wide, Be happy as the birds, for Beauty is thy bride. But know thou God will bring thee into judgment For alt you think and feel and say and do, And Nature, too, will soon disclose the content, To find if you are ringing false or true. When fields are green and skies are clear and blue And youth has been exalted to a throne, The old is changed again into the new, And ruthless Justice comes to claim his own, For whirlwinds must be reaped, if tempests have been sown. Provo, Utah. ALFRED OSMOND