Improvement Era
{{Short description|Official magazine of the LDS Church}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Improvement Era
| image_file = Improvement Era cover Volume 12.jpg
| image_caption = A scan of the April 1966 cover of the Improvement Era, volume 12
| frequency = Monthly
| category =
| founded = 1897
| finaldate = December 1970
| publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| country = United States
| language = English
| editor =
|circulation =
|ISSN =
}}
The Improvement Era (often shortened to The Era) was an official magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) between 1897 and 1970.{{cite web|title=Online Collection of Historical Church Magazines Expanding|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/online-collection-of-historical-church-magazines-expanding?lang=eng|work=Church News|access-date=16 October 2016|date=29 August 2012}}
History
The Improvement Era was first published in 1897 as a replacement to the unofficial magazine, The Contributor. Over the years, it was the official publishing organ for a variety of organizations within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the Seventies, the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, priesthood quorums, church schools, the Church Music Committee, and the Home Teaching Committee.
In the July 1960 issue, an insert targeted toward the teenagers of the church was included. Entitled "The Era of Youth," it continued to be included in the Improvement Era until 1970, when it became the basis for the New Era.
With the implementation of the Priesthood Correlation Program in 1970, the Improvement Era ceased publication and was replaced by the New Era and the Ensign.
Editors of the Improvement Era included Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, John A. Widtsoe, Richard L. Evans, B. H. Roberts, Edward H. Anderson, Hugh J. Cannon, Harrison R. Merrill, and Doyle L. Green.
Notable articles
The February 1968 issue included the first publication of images of the Joseph Smith Papyri, in sepia tone.
See also
{{Portal|LDS Church}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Citation |author=Jay M. Todd|contribution= Improvement Era |contribution-url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/3791|page= 678|editor=Daniel H Ludlow |editor-link= Daniel H. Ludlow|year=1992|title=Encyclopedia of Mormonism|location= New York|publisher=Macmillan Publishing]|isbn=0-02-879602-0|oclc=24502140}}
External links
- Complete issues of [https://archive.org/details/improvementera Improvement Era], Church History Library and the Internet Archive.
- An index to poetry and prose in [http://mormonlit.byu.edu/lit_work.php?w_id=1142 Improvement Era], Mormon Literature and Creative Arts Database of Brigham Young University.
{{LDSChurchpubs}}
Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States
Category:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints periodicals
Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States
Category:Magazines established in 1897
Category:Magazines disestablished in 1970
Category:1897 establishments in Utah
Category:1970 disestablishments in Utah
Category:Magazines published in Utah
Category:Young Men (organization)
Category:Young people and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Category:Young Women (organization)
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