Our Work: The General Secretary’s Request

300 IMPR O VEMENT ERA .

to the diligence with which he pursues his labors, and the amount of intelligent thought he gives to it. Grave responsibility rests upon the officers of these improvement associations. Upon them almost wholly depends the success of these institutions. It is a great trust imposed in them, and they ought not to disappoint those who have felt that confidence in them.

Let us, before closing our remarks, refer to another matter about which more or less anxiety exists. The missionaries now laboring among the associations are meeting with what may be regarded as remarkable success. In a number of localities large additions are being made to the membership of the societies. The question is, will the local officers be able to hold the new members after the missionaries take their departure. To this question we invite the attention of all the officers, and ask them to have it in mind, and bend their best energies to the attainment of this end, for we assure them it is important. It is part of the responsibility of the officers of associations to accomplish this or at least, to use their best endeavor to do so; and we are sure they cannot do it without putting forth their very best endeavors. But let enlightened activity characterize the administration of the affairs of each association, and ways and means be devised for furnishing each member something to do, and there will be no falling back from any step in advance that has been taken.

THE GENERAL SECRETARY'S REQUEST.

The general secretary desires that the attention of the stake and ward officers be called to the necessity of a prompt answer to all letters sent from his office. On December 14th a letter was sent out by him to each of the stake superintendents, asking them to forward, at once, a revised list of all officers of the associations in their respective stakes. Only thirteen out of the thirty-seven stakes have responded to this request. It is very important that it should be complied with, as we are sending out circular letters to the associations almost every week, either from the general board or the Era, and need the correct names of the presidents and other officers in order that the instructions sent out may reach the parties for whom they are intended. A prompt attention to all letters sent to the officers, from the secretary, will be very greatly appreciated by him. Brethren, please remember this, and form the habit of promptly responding to communications, and especially to communications respecting public business.