Holiday Thoughts and Wishes
George Q. Cannon
The ceaseless round of the seasons has brought us once more to the end of a year, and to the holiday time that marks the going out of the old and the coming in of the new. We trust sincerely the season may bring much happiness to all our readers; gladness to the downcast, relief to the oppressed, health to the afflicted, and the holy spirit of light and truth and righteousness to everyone. We hope also, as a fitting beginning to the new year, that each one as he looks back over his record for the year now closing, may be able to find that he has done better as a citizen and as a Saint than he did during the year previous; that he has been more dutiful, more humble, more willing in the performance of good, and more sturdy in the resistance to evil, than ever before.
The contemplation of our past is what enables us to class the years as good years or bad years. As a matter of fact the years themselves are much the same; but to each of us they are fraught with peace and joy, or sorrow and regret, according as we have done well or done ill during their progress. In this view each succeeding year ought to be better than those that have preceded it; for we should be continually going on to and striving after perfection. If every one would make this his aim, how rapidly the world would improve, and what giant strides it would make toward its preparation for the advent of the reign of complete righteousness!
In the world as a whole 1899 has been a grand old year. It has witnessed great advancement along many lines, and will be found to have maintained with credit its place in the wonderful nineteenth century on which the curtain is soon to be run down. We may not be able to regard its close without a feeling of sadness, such as comes from parting from an old friend. Those of us who love life (as we all should do) may not all be able to think without a sigh that we have reeled off one more year from the bobbin of mortal existence. Those who dread death (as none really need to whose lives are correct) must realize that they are one year nearer that portal through which all must pass.
In any case, however, the retrospection will be profitable to us if it is made in a proper spirit and with the resolution to scan our lives truthfully and to correct as fast as possible all the mistakes and weaknesses which we have noted in our past. Then each new year will open more brightly and come to us laden with higher hopes and desires, for we will realize that the nearer we draw to the great reign of peace the better we will be prepared to take our part therein.