--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 1 number: 7 published: 1898-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, \"Our Work,\" *Improvement Era* 1, no. 7 (May 1898): 532–540." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera17unse start_page: 532 end_page: 540 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1898-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera17unse publication_year: 1898 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1898, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Our Work OUR WORK. REPORT OF M. I. A. MISSIONARY LABOR, 1897-8. President Wilford Woodruff, Assistants, and General Board of Aids of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations. Brethren: — At the last general conference of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, held in July, 1897, a plan of missionary work among the young men of the church was submitted, having for its object the awakening of an interest in the cause of Mutual Improvement, the conversion of the unbelieving among our: youth to thie faith of itheif fathers, and the establishment of a higher moral and spiritual lifearopnji; them. The plan was accepted by the conference, and the work of carrying it into effect was entrusted, as you are aware, to the undersigned, who here- with submit to you the following report of their labors and the labors 6i those called in to aid in the work. "When we began choosing men to engage in this mission to our youth we hoped, because of our wide acquaintance with the young men of the church, to be able to make up a fores of workers who would be personally known at least to one or the other of us; but as we entered upon the labors we soon found that the work was so extensive, and so many of those we hoped would be able to join in it were so situated that they' could ntot' ao cept the call, that we were under the necessity of abandoning the idea of calling only men personally known to us, and with the approval of so maay of the General Superintendency as could be reached at the time, the follow- ing letter was sent to the Stake Superintendents of the several stakes of .tiinu'cO- iiiTtt.rvsijjiii 6."!} "lO '.;'.>ri.£t> ;->rfi .•9ait-3Jift'5 I^tnOfS ^A% COPY OF LETTER ASKING THAT NAMES OF MISSIONARIES BE SUGGESTED. 8.6 V ', ;. -..' v.-:, at — "Dear Brother: During the ofi&cers| meetings of the Y. M. M. I. A, : Conference, held on the 17th, 18th and 19th of July, in which twenty-five stakes wete represented, a resolution was passed and unaniriiously sustained, to the effect that a thorough missionary work similar to that adopted id preaching the gospel in the world be inaugurated,>,for.the conyersiori of/flrtur young people in the stakes of Zion. < o . , , .. It is our purpose to call from sixty to one hundred young men to this labor, and as we are not personally acquainted with so large a number oif OUR WORK. 583 elders whose names we can suggest to the proper authorities to be called into this work, we ask you to consult with the presidency of your stake, and suggest to us about eight names of young men who will be suited to this kind of labor. We shall need them for about three months' service, be- ginning about the 20th of November. It is expected that the brethren called from your stake will be required to labor in some other stake, and therefore they should be men who can leave their homes for the time speci- fied. Of course it is desired that the most efficient young men be called, and perhaps you can find such among elders who have recently returned from foreign missions. We want men full of faith and zeal, who will be willing to fast and pray, and work with the energy of apostles for the conversion of the youth of Zion who are not now converted to the truth. It is expected that they will travel without purse and scrip from the time they reach their fields of labor. We desire to emphasize the fact that this is just a request that you will suggest to us the names of young brethren suitable for this work, and in no sense is to be considered a call upon them. When you furnish us the names of men you consider suitable, they will be presented to the proper author- ities andcalled as when going abroad. We ask you to take up this matter immediately and forward us the names without delay, as our affairs in this matter cry haste and speed must answer them. Praying that you may be guided by the inspiration of the Lord in mak- ing the suggestions we ask for, We are, most truly your brethren. This call for names was very generally responded to, and from the list supplied 183 names were selected and submitted to the General Superin- tendency and called to the work by President Wilford Woodruff. Of the number thus called 156 responded favorably, and twenty-seven, for a var- iety of reasons, could not accept the call, and were honorably released. The inauguration of the mission was begun at American Fork on the 2n(l of December. A number of brethren, most of whom were personally known to us, joined us at that place. Public meetings were held in the evenings, and council meetings during the day, until our plans of operation were matured, and then the work was extended to the surrounding settle- ments. After these brethren had acquired a little experience, a number of them were selected to take charge of groups of from six to ten or twelve elders, and given one or more stakes of Zion as their field of labor, with instruc- tions to push the work zealously and with such wisdom and modification of the general plan agreed upon as the spirit of the Lord and local conditions might suggest. In order that the spirit in which the work was prosecuted may be manifest, though long, we think the following letter of instructions sent by us to all the missionaries called to this labor, should be presented: COPY OF LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO MISSIONARIES. Dear Brother:— It has been thought proper by us, to address a few words of instruction to the brethren about to engage in missionary labor among the young men of the Improvement Associations of the Church of Christ. Of course, we are aware of the fact that no instruction can be given in a letter that will enable you to deal with all the emergencies that will arise in your labors during your mission, but it occurred to us that something might be said in a general way that would be of some service to you in the commencement of your labors. we call your attention to the words of Jesus, where he First of all then, says, "The whole need no physician, but they that are sick." We suggest that these words of the Master's betaken as the key note of your labors this winter among the young men of the Improvement societies. The statistics of last year show that there are between eight and ten thousand young men in the church of the improvement age, who are not connected with our as- sociations, and who have little or no interest in the gospel. Among these, more especially, we think you will find those who need your ministrations — your faith, your prayers, your strong reasonings; and to them we com- mend you in the hope that you will be able to reach their hearts and make them, from henceforth, earnest workers in the cause of Mutual Improve- ment, and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In performing this part of your work you will, of course, find it necessary to come in contact with these indifferent ones, and we suggest, in this connection, that you will find it to your advantage to secure the assistance of the local brethren, as far as you can, who are already interested in the work. It is not to be expected that the local brethren can devote themselves to this work as you will, but they can be of great service to you in bringing you in contact with the in- different ones who need your labors. They can introduce them to you at the close of public meetings, induce them to meet you at the conversational meetings, hereafter to be described, and, when -necessary, can accompany you to their homes in the evenings, and assist you in introducing your work at the fireside. In making your arrangements for holding public meetings, it will be necessary for you to consult the local authorities of the wards, we mean the bishops of the respective wards where you labor, as well as the presidents of the associations; for we desire to honor all the officers of the church in their respective spheres, that we may have the influence of all in the ac- complishment of our great work. In regard to holding public meetings, we would suggest that while you should hold such meetings as you may think necessary to create an interest in your work, yet we would not have you think that holding public meetings is all that is expected of you, nor even the principal part of your work. Quite the contrary It is expected that you will work, for the most part, in a quiet way with the young men who are without interest in the work of the Lord, and only hold such public meetings as the local authorities of the ward may find it convenient to allow, without interfering with other interests of the church. We suggest that you hold conversational meetings as often as you find it convenient; that is, that you secure, where you can, the vestry of a meet- ing house, or the sitting room of some good brother or sister, and invite the OUR WORK. 535 young men to meet there with you, where you can engage in conversation on the subject of your mission. You can here encourage them to make known the diflSculties that stand in the way of their acceptance of the gos- pel, what it is that puzzles them, what obstacles stand in their way, and the reasons generally why they are not interested in the great work of the Lord. In this part of your work, great wisdom will be necessary, in order to avoid vain questions that engender strife wherein there is no profit; and we sug- gest, in this connection, that you call the attention of your young skeptical brethren to the efiBcacy of faith and prayer in obtaining a knowledge of the things of God. Pray with them as well as reason with them; and what would be better still, get them to pray. If you can bring them to that pass, very much is gained, for you have put them far on the way to salvation. There is always hope for a man who will pray. If it is found that there are those whom you cannot reach, neither through your public meetings nor through the conversational meetings, then we suggest that you make it a point to call upon them at their homes and there in all earnestness, present to them the message of life and salvation, in the same way you would to strangers in the world; not forgetting to warn them of the responsibility they take in rejecting the message you carry to them. You will find it to your advantage to interest the parents of these young men in your labors, and very often they will become co-laborers with you in seeking to bring to pass the salvation of their sons; and, indeed, we should think that you could nearly always depend upon their co-operation, and it will be a good thing to solicit it. Brethren, what more can we say to you, except to add that faith, hope and charity will qualify you for this work of love? Approach this work, we pray you, as men interested in the salvation of your fellow-men, and es- pecially interested in the salvation of those who are of the household of faith, the sons and daughters of the Latter-day Saints. We know of no work that could be more pleasant than this promises to be, and certainly of none that will be more fruitful of good. We refer you to the brief article in the December No. of the Improve- ment Era for further information on the subject of missionary work, and from time to time we shall address you both by means of personal letters and through the pages of the Era, as circumstances may seem to require. We hope also to meet with you occasionally and partake of the joy of your ministry. Praying that the Lord will abundantly bless you in your labors, and give you great joy therein, We are, most truly your brethren. brethren, and with These instructions were faithfully carried out by our the very best results as will be seen later on. It was originally the intention to send missionaries into every stake some believing that the results would be better, as breth- from other stake, be affected by local conditions, such ren coming from a distance would not and neighborhood contentions, which unfortunately in many as jealousies places exist; but the task of getting the work started was so great, and com- menced so late, that we found it impossible to cover the whole field in the manner originally intended; and hence in eight stakes, viz: St. Joseph, St. Johns and Snowflake, in Arizona; San Luis, in Colorado; and Alberta, in Canada; San Juan, Wayne and Uintah, in Utah, we notified the elders who had been selected from those stakes to labor within their stakes, under the direction of the stake superintendents. Into twenty-three of the stakes elders from other stakes were sent; but in six stakes no missionary work whatever was done, viz: In Bannock, Bingham and Cassia stakes, in Idaho; Juarez, in Mexico; Maricopa, in Arizona; and Star Valley, in Wyoming. Of the 183 elders called into the work, 88 labored in other stakes than their own; and 68 labored within their own stakes. Believing that something of a general report of the work in each stake would be of interest, and also being of opinion that the names of the breth- ren who were engaged in this mission should be recorded, we give the fol- lowing reports of the work in the several stakes. The reason why the re- port in some cases is not complete in the three items selected for presenta- tion, is because at the start we did not have in mind the making out of re- ports, and therefore the elders did not gather the necessary data. REPORT OF WORK IN THE STAKES. No. enrolled at No. of M. I. No. enrolled as Stake. time of Mission- age not en- result of Mis- ary visit. rolled. sionary labor. Weber, 992 1655 1415 Names of Missionaries: Frank Y. Taylor, president, Salt Lake City; Chas. R. Lyman, Parowan; Frank Hinckley, Deseret; Franklin Christopher- son, Levan; Charitan Seegmiller, Richfield; Joseph Rasband, Heber; Will- iam Done, Smithfield; Daniel K. Walker, Syracuse; Edward Cottrell, Farm- ington. Salt Lake,* 771 i860 1530 Names of Missionaries: Frank Y. Taylor, president. Salt Lake City; Edward Pugmire, St. Charles, Ida.; Frank Hinckley, Deseret; Charitan Seegmiller, Richfield; Joseph R. Rasband, Heber; D. L. Van Wagener, Midway; Franklin Christensen, Levan; George H. Hall, Huntsville; J. M. Folkman, Plain City; Dan. H. Walker, Syracuse; Edward Cottrell, Farm- ington; J. C. Peterson, Newton; B. F. Grant, Salt Lake City; E. O. Best, Sugar; Franklin Smith, Salt Lake City. Sanpete, 652 1 169 Wasatch, 368 339 Summit, 290 394 *The work in Salt Lake did not begin until very late. What work was done was in Salt Lake City alone, and then only about one half of the wards was visited. A number of the brethren who had labored in other stakes were called in to assist in the work in Salt Lake. OUR WORK. 537 Names of Missionaries: Chas. A. Welch, president, Morgan City: Charles C. Rockwood, Centerville; George H. Buttler, Marriotsville, Weber Co.; Chas. R. Thompson, Logan; H. L. McMillen, Heber; Ova Peterson, Fillmore; John D. Flamm, Rexburg. Cache, 780 Oneida,* .... .... 313 Names of Missionaries: A. H. Snow, president, Brigham City; Peter Christensen, Moroni, Sanpete Co.; David C. Stephenson, Nephi; William E. Robinson, Spring City; Henry A. Grover, Parker, Bannock Co., Idaho; James Jacobsen, Shelby, Bingham Co., Ida.; J. B. Rhead, Coalville, Utah; C. W. Knudsen, Brigham City, Utah; Peter C. Jensen, Bear River City. Beaver, 81 301 164 Parowan, 189 277 67 Names of Missionaries: O. H. Snow, president. Pine Valley; Samuel H. Wells, St. George; S. T. Leigh, Cedar; Ernest B. Theobald, Hinckley, Millard Co., Utah. MaLAD, .117 300 272f Box Elder, J .... Names of Missionaries: E. M. Pugmire, St. Charles, Idaho; G. H. Hall, Huntsville, Weber Co., Utah; John S. Groesbeck, Springville, Utah; Thos. P. John, West Portage; James C. Peterson, Newton, Cache Co., Utah; William Poll, Idaho Falls, Idaho; D. L. Van Wagener, Midway, Wasatch Co., Utah; ]. M. Folkman, Plain City, Weber, Co., Utah Davis, 621 832 826 Tooele, 308 401 503 Names of Missionaries: Lyman, president, Parowan; Chas. R. Christopher S. Booth, Salt Lake City; T. F. H. Morton, Farmers Ward; James Winters, Salt Lake City; Albert Young, Salt Lake City; Fred. J. Fjelsted, Gunnison; R. B. T. Taylor, Salt Lake City; J. C. Knudsen, Provo. ' Juab, .... •••• 255 Millard, ••• 33i Names of Missionaries: Ed. D. Clyde, president, Heber City; Hans P. Hansen, Fairview; John H. Dicksen, Richville; A. W. Bohman, Mon- roe; H. M. Bohney, Jr., Castle Dale; John Burrell, Wilford; W. H. Cassidy, Tooele City; Martin A. Anderson, Fountain Green; Hail Hales, Spanish Fork. Sevier, ^^° Emery, 413 4^5 *The brethren were successful in getting 93 per cent, of all those visited in Oneida to identify themselves with M. I. A. work. f Thirty-four enrolled were not members of the church. _ _ to the mission- i:Eighty-five per cent, of those whose names were given aries in Box Elder stake they succeeded in enrolling as members of the as- sociations, but the missionaries failed to record the number added to the associations, or the number of names furnished them. 588 IMPROVEMEN2 ERA. Names of Missionaries: John F. Chidester, president, Panguitch; T. C. Young, Brigham Madsen, Brigham City; Joseph Hubbard, City; Nels Willard City; William Salt, Hooper; John Crawford, Brigham City; B. H. Tollman, Honeyville. St. George, 508 374 326 Kanab, 238 119 92 Names of Missionaries: Edward H. Snow, president, St. George; Walter S. Lamereaux, Preston; John Parry, Cedar; J. S. Carpenter, Glen- dale; A. W. Bachman, Jr. Glenwood; George Condie, Hamilton Fort; William Willis, Snowflake. San Juan, 66 198 Names of Missionaries: H. J. Nelson, president. Bluff City; Adam L. Petersen, Huntsville; S. Sanson Bayless, Bluff City; G. A. Adams, Verdure; Elmer Taylor, Jackson; Chas. Brown, Mancos. St. Joseph, 224 299 129 Names of Missionaries: W. J. Packer, president, Safford, Arizona; James R. Welker, Safford; Benj. F. Peel, Safford; Thos. E. Williams, Thatcher; Jos. H. Lines, Pima; Alva Porter, Eden; Chas. Matthews, Pima. Snowflake, .... 170 Names of Missionaries: Andrew L. Rogers, president, Snowflake, Arizona; Theodore Turley, Snowflake; Amos Rogers, Snowflake; William W. Willes, Snowflake; Andrew L. Rogers Snowflake; John Hancock, Tay- lor; Edw. Solomon, Taylor; Willard Hatch, Taylor; Adam Brewer, Pine- dale; Chas. Lillywhite, Woodruff. St. Johns,* Names of Missionaries: S. R. Gibbons, president, St. Johns, Arizona; Alexander Shreves, St. Johns; Aaron Cheney, Concho; Joseph Rencher, Springerville; J. D. Lee, New Mexico. San Luis, .... .... 50 Names of Missionaries: Erastus Christensen, president, Manassa, Col.; Swen Peterson, Sanford; Brigham W. Hanson, Manassa; Emanuel D. Smith, Manassa; William H. Kirby, Sanford. Panguitch, 350 200 Names of Missionaries: C. S. Stoney, president, Beaver City; Wil- ford Robinson, Beaver City; Henry Baker, Beaver City; Thos. Houston, Panguitch; Adelbert Twitchell, Escalante; Nephi T. Howard, Cannonville; John E. Wilcox, Coyote; John W. Stocker, Junction; W. W. Ruby, Circleville; Geo. W. Johnson, Tropic. Wayne, 39 Names of Missionaries: Tanner, president, Fremont; Wm. Irvin J. E. Merrill, Fremont; C. T. Balla, Fremont; Wm. J. Callahan, Lyman; Wil- *No statistical report, but a good work was accomplished. OUR WORK. 539 lardSnow, Thurber; Chas. Ohurlaud, Loa; Levi Taylor, Loa; Walter Colman, Teasdale; John Norton, Cainsville. Uintah, 256 210 iii Names of Missionaries: O. D. Allen, president, Vernal; John Merkley, Vernal; J. Alma Holdaway, Vernal; T. J. Caldwell, Jr., Vernal; Waldemar C. Lyberts, Vernal; Adelbert Collett, Vernal; Ashley Bartlett, Vernal; Ellis J. Ellis, Ashley; Ralph Jacobs, Ashley. ^'^^"' •••• 2109 i8gi Names of Missionaries: A. J. Evans, president, Lehi, Utah; G. A. Iverson, Manti; J. C Knudsen, Provo; C. A. Alleman, Springville; J. H. Lambert, Heber; R. A. Dowdle, College; G. M. Smith, Lake View; E. O. Wilcox, Fielding; H. C. Jex, Spanish Fork; D. E. Pack, Kamas. Alberta, .... .... j- Names of Missionaries: John W. Wolf, president, Cardston, Canada; David W. Rawlins, Cardston; Benj. Watkin, Cardston; Social Ralph, Cardston. Bear Lake, 757 703 469 Names of Missionaries: James E. Hart, president, Bloomington, Ida.; D R. Morgan, Liberty; Rawson Van Orman, Bennington; James Clark, Liberty; Joseph Olsen, Ovid; John W. Long, Bloomington; Jacob Fuller, Paris; Wm. Clayton, Paris; Joseph Demo, Fish Haven; John A. Selton, Jr., Paris; Robert Schmidt, Paris; George Robinson, Lake Town; Wm. Finley, Fish Haven; Joseph M. Phelps, Montpelier; Fred Burns, Liberty; Moroni Dunford, Liberty; Hyrum Cook, Garden City. general results. This report shows that through the labors of the missionaries 13,035 have been added to the membership of the associations. This, however, does not give an adequate idea of the good that has been accomplished. Merely inducing men to become connected with the associations is comparatively a small matter. The work for the most part has been carried on among the wayward and indifferent of our young men, at the fireside, in private con- versation wherever they could be found, as well as in cottage and public meetings. Quite a general awakening of interest has been effected in the great work of the Lord. Many hundreds have been converted to the faith of their fathers, and have been started well along the path of duty. The testimony of many bishops and presidents of stakes is to the effect that this work has had a beneficial influence upon all departments of church work. The Sabbath schools, especially the theological classes, have been increased. The attendance at quorum meetings and the general meetings of the church have been increased It has influenced the payment of tithes and offerings, and the observance of the Word of Wisdom. The hearts of the parents in the household of faith have been made glad by the efforts put forth to bring their indifferent or wayward sons into the fold of Christ; and in many instances reported to us in our constant corres- pondence with those in charge of the work in the several stakes of Zion, the parents have shed tears of joy. The local authorities everywhere, as soon as they understood the nature of the work in hand, co-operated most heart- ily with the missionaries, and rendered every assistance within their power to aid the good work. But what is best of all, the Lord helped, too, and helped abundantly. His spirit softened the hearts of the young men, and made them susceptible to the influence of the spirit under which the mis- sionaries labored. The Pauls planted, the Apollos watered, but God gave the increase, and the glory and the honor is the Lord's, who made the labors of our brethren fruitful. Although the work of directing the movements of so many brethren, and keeping in constant communication with at least those in charge of — groups of missionaries in connection with other duties that made demands — upon our time has been arduous, yet we have had great joy therein, and have felt happy in the consciousness that we were working with God in bringing to pass, as we hope, and believe, the salvation of many souls. Trusting that our labors will meet with your approval and acceptance, We are, most, truly your brethren, B. H. Roberts, ]. G. Kimball. TO MISSIONARIES. We desire, once more, to urge upon the missionaries to promptly notify this oflBce of any change in their addresses and also to inform us as soon as they are released to return home, as it is only the intention to send the Era to those elders who are actually in the field and not to their home addresses after they return. New missionaries, upon their arrival in their fields of labor, should notify us of their addresses and the magazine will be sent to them, beginning with the number current at the time of receipt of their address.