Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 2/Number 11/Morning

MORNING.

The stillness of the scene, and the serenity of the air, invite the mind to contemplation. When nothing is heard around but the warbling notes of nature's songsters and the lowing of the kine, that seem waiting to impart their nutritious aliment in their possession, for the benefit of man, receive their morning meal from the kitchen, and then depart; the mind that loves contemplation, that is fond of retirement and courts reflection, will delight to commune, on such a morning, with his own heart, and with that God who has prepared such a variety in the scenery that surrounds him.

While thus soliloquizing, I was led to wonder at my fellow man for neglecting to improve the but of the time that God has given him, for the best of purposes. A little reflection will sometimes supersede bitter repentance, and when can a man reflect with more intensity of thought, and bring all the powers of the mind to bear, with greater force upon any point, than in the stillness of the morning when rest and sleep have each contributed their full share to supply the waste of bodily strength and invigorate a mind that may have been distracted with a thousand cares the preceding day. If he have been guilty of follies or faults, he can at this season, weight their criminality more accurately, and put in requisition more power of mind, to pass such resolutions relative to his intercourse with his fellow mortals, as shall eventuate in the greatest quantum of human happiness, than at any other period.

If it be his sole employ to store the mind with useful knowledge, most assuredly there is no time, when the mind can be brought to bear more intensely and with greater accuracy upon any point than in the sober stillness of the morning. If he would invoke the blessings of heaven, when can he come more boldly to a throne of grace than in the morning before his passions have been disturbed, or his mind distracted with a thousand cares? When can he come with a heart more full of gratitude than in the morning, when a consciousness that that God.

"Who sees with equal eye as Lord of all

A hero perish or a sparrow fall,"

has by his guardian angels, protected and defended him during his defenceless hours? When can he come with more boldness to a throne of grace? When can he have greater confidence that he shall have access to a throne of grace? When can he more reasonably hope the heavens will be propitious to his wishes, and grant him that grace and that wisdom that are indispensably necessary to keep him from all the snares of the evil one, through the day? W.