Our Work

OUR WORK, THE SUGGESTIONS OF A PRESIDENT. From the President of one of the associations in Sanpete County we receive the following letter in relation to the work of the associations: "I take this liberty in making a few suggestions regarding the future of M. I. work. The present Manual has been an exceedingly interesting one and great good has been done in its perusal here. "But I am convinced that many Latter-day Saints' sons live too much in the thoretical life of the noble characters and principles treated in the various organizations of the church. There is a lack of the practical appli- cation of these glorious truths. "They halt at the thought that these lessons only refer to the greatest and most talented of the earth, and not to subjects such as we. It does not seem to reach the less determined and doubtful ones who most of all need to be touched with a spirit of repentance, and research. They live only in the theory of its granduer, never tasting of the sweetness of the fruits so delicious to the fervent son of obedience. How to reach their position in a most practical manner is the theme that perplexes me. I have found when an ambition is aroused for a better and higher sphere of life in a spiritual way there is sure to be a firm resolve and successful action in reformation. This is pleasing to note that when the chord is struck on the heart of the young man there is sure signs of a radical change in his life. Now this is often done by a talk on such topics as these, Love, Charity, Forgiveness, Faith, Duty, Humility, Patriotism, Meek- ness, Fidelity, Virtue, Truth, Wisdom, Liberty, Happiness, Honesty, Moral Sowing and Reaping, Habits, Union, Repentance, Kindness and Self-Respect, etc., etc. Now these reach into every act of life in a practical way of ad- vancement, and if woven into life there is no fear as to the conduct of th e student of improvement. "From my own experience I see more results from the talks on such sub- jects as these than the beautiful references to the orientals. The scripture seems to be so foreign to some of our backward boys until they are touched with a deep spirit of reformation; then they delve into the sacred law with .zeal. It then becomes a well spring of life to them, but never before. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat

OUR WORK. 619 'the fruits thereof (Prov. 18-21,) Samuel Smiles, works, "Duty," "Charac- ter," etc., also J. G. Holland's work, such as "Gold Foil, " "Letters to Young Folks" etc., are valuable converters to the highest aims of life. These are only a few suggestions in my rude way. I am deeply interested in the wel- fare of the youth of Zion and in my humble manner take observations con- tinually to gain a new point for more rapid strides of promotion in their ranks. May God give the wisdom of complete success in every effort of the general board to the end we desire to reach. Your Brother in Truth, etc. We are pleased to receive such letters as these in relation to our work, and only hope that more presidents and members who have an interest in the cause of Improvement will favor the Era with their suggestions. Relative to the suggestion of our brother that more direct attention be paid to practical ethics in our association exercises, and that works treat- ing on such subjects as he enummerates take the place of the scriptures, which are now so largely used in our program exercises—we would say: First, there is and can be no objection whatever to the suggested "talks" on the subjects enumerated, Love, Charity, Virtue, Truth, Wis- dom, Liberty, Kindness, Self-respect, etc.; and we are of opinion that ample opportunity can be obtained for such talks without interfering with the pro- gram of work laid out for each season in the Manuals. It is not the inten- tion that the Manual course shall occupy the entire time of the meetings. One of the considerations which so far has persuaded the General Board to present in the Manual course only one line of study has been that there might be left a margin of time to the respective associations to introduce other exercises than those provided in the Manual course; and we know of nothing more worthy to engage the attention of our young men at such times than brief talks or essays on such subjects as those proposed by our correspondent. But to make up our entire program of exercises on such themes would be unwise for the reasoa that oar young men would weary of them. Honey is good, but too much honey causeth to vomit. So instruction in ethics is good, but too much ethics ! We are of opinion that there is opportunity sufficient outside the Manual course to introduce as far as it would be prudent to do so the exercises proposed by our correspondent. Second: In all our exercises in the associations we should not lose sight of the primary object for which our associations were called into be- ing, namely: ' ' That our young me7i may grow in a comprehension of andfaith in the holy principles of the gospel of eternal salvation; andfurthermore have an opportu?iity to and be encouraged in bearing testimony to and speaking of the truths of our holy religio?i. Let the consideration of .these truths a?id principles be the ground-work and leading idea of every such association; and on this foundation of faith in God's great . latter-day work, let the members build all useful knowledge, by which .they may be useful in the establishment of his kingdom " With such a purpose as this before us our Improvement associations

620 IMPROVEMENT ERA. can never turn away from the study of the scriptures, or even give the study of them a subordinate place in their exercises, as they contain the authorita- tive declaration of the doctrines, a knowledge of which our organization is to help our young men acquire. Morever, the teachings of the holy scriptures, both in their precepts and in the examples they furnish in the lives of men, are necessarily the authoritative text books on Christian ethics. And nothing that moralists have written can equal their utterances on morality—in other words, righteousness. No, let us not put aside Moses and the prophets, Christ and the apos- tles, the Nephite prophets and Joseph Smith, for Samuel Smiles and John G. Holland, or any other moralists. And yet let us not neglect to read the works of these last named, for much of what they have said is good and true, and helps one to appreciate the beauty and glory of what the scrip- tures teach; for it was at the sun-blaze of the scriptures they lighted their tapers, and under its flame they fastened their pilgrim sandal-shune, " and with profit we may read what they have thought out under the in- fluence of scripture teaching. Our position with respect of such teachers and such teachers' works is this: Jesus condemned the scribes and the pharisees because they paid tithes on mint and anise and cummin, but omitted observance of the weightier matters of the law—judgment, mercy faith. Because Jesus condemned them for neglecting the weightier matters, of the law, it does not follow that he would not have them pay tithes on mint and anise and cummin; for this he said they ought to have done, but not to have left the other undone. So in our studies let us not neglect to read and talk about the writings of approved moralists—let us pay our tithes on mint and anise and cummin; but in doing so, let us not neglect the weightier mat- ters of the law—the study of the scriptures, both ancient and modern. Let us seek through this study to impart to our youth faith in God—the foundation of all righteousness; and faith in God's great latter-day work, the dispensation of the fullness of times, in which God will gather together in one all things in Christ; both things which are in heaven and in earth, even in him. Y. M. M. I. A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. As this number of the Era comes to the hands of our readers the An- nual Conference of the associations will be in session. It will undoubtedly be a very important conference, full of interest and fruitful in suggestion and plans for the future success of the great cause of Mutual Improvement. Mutual Improvement last year took a mighty stride forward, this year the forward movement must be maintained and still more progress be made. Whether this shall be done or not depends largely on what measures shall be adopted by this conference, and the enthusiasm it shall generate. We do not doubt its success. We have confidence in its wisdom, it will con-

OUR WORK. 621 sent to no steps backward being taken. Full minutes of its proceedings will be published in the July number of the Era. A CORRECTION. In the report of our M. I. A. missionary work, published in the last issue of the Era, the name of Alma Ash, of Salt Lake City, was omitted from the list of missionaries who labored in Davis and Tooele Stakes, and the name of J. C. Knudsen, of Provo, inserted. Elder Ash labored in Davis and Tooele, and Elder Knudsen only in Utah Stake. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR "BUSY" MEN. Our active young men in M. I. A. work who may be tempted to think at times they are too crowded with work may be comforted with the following reflections which we clip from a contemporary: Men who have "half a dozen irons in the fire" are not the men to go crazy. It is the man of voluntary or compelled leisure who mopes, and pines, and thinks himself either into the mad house or the grave. Motion is all nature's law. Action is man's salvation, both physical and mental. And yet nine out of ten are wistfully looking forward to the coveted hour when they shall have leisure to do nothing, or some- thing only if they "feel like it"—the very siren which has lured to death many a successful man. He only is truly wise who lays himself out to work till life's latest hour; and he is the man who will live the longest, and will live to the most purpose.