A Biography of Ezra Thompson Clark

Ezra Clark, page 055

EZRA THOMPSON CLARK 55 In the early history of Utah there was much discussion about retrenchment, establishing the United Order and "getting back to the fear of the Lord," etc. Those times are referred to as the Reformation and most of the Saints were rebaptized. One of the family asked Brother Clark if the Lord really did not like us to have fine horses and car- riages, nice clothes, etc. "Surely he does," was his prompt reply, "only we should love the Lord most of all." At an- other time he heard a man denounced for smoking. He remarked: "Some very fine people use tobacco." Before leaving for a mission when his little boy, Eugene, was very sick, he was asked if the report were true that President Young had promised recovery of the child if he would go on a mission. "No," was the reply, "President Young said the child would be as apt to live if I went." Someone reminded him that he had gone to bed without saying his prayers. "One doesn't always kneel to pray," was his response. One of his daughters referred with reverence to the high position of two young men in the Church. Her father remarked, "Position doesn't make the quality of the man." On one occasion one of his daughters came home from her school in Salt Lake Citv elated that her seatmate was an apostle's daughter. He replied: "Ezra Clark's daughter is quite as good as an apostle's daughter." In his religious philosophy he seemed to be free from a superstitious fear of God's punishments. He was never heard to attribute the misfortunes of people to a displeased God. Rather it was mismanagement on their own part or lack of judgment. He had a profound devotion for his Church and was untiring in his efforts to promote its interests. While he