Our Work: A Third Edition of Manual for 1897–98

therefore, that the present Manual course be completed; if possible, even though associations should find it necessary to hold special meetings during the closing weeks of the season's work, and where this exertion fails to complete the course, that members be urged upon to complete it during the summer by private study; and it may be, as was the case in some of the associations in completing the Manual on the Life of Christ, that the monthly conjoint sessions held during the summer months can be employed for this purpose. In any event get through—by the employment of some one or other or all of the means here suggested—with the present year's Manual and be prepared for the next. A WORD ABOUT THE ERA. The Improvement Era has been received with very general favor by members of the associations, and many hundreds of Latter-day Saints not immediately connected with active association work; and high words of commendation especially have been received from our missionary Elders to whom the magazine this year, as last, has been sent free. We have refrained from making any mention of these words of commendation as we certainly have no disposition to indulge in what would amount to selfpraise, but the reception that has been accorded our Mutual Improvement Organ is evidence of the favor with which it has been accepted. In a few instances, however, we have heard complaint made from a few of our younger members in the associations to the effect that the matter in our magazine was too serious, and treats of subjects which are far beyond the comprehension of many of our readers. In some respects we are inclined to admit the reasonableness of this criticism, and intend to do what can reasonably be done to remove the occasion for such complaint; but at the same time we desire to call the attention of our young men to the fact that from the commencement it was intended that the Improvement Era should be a serious publication; one devoted to a treatment, first of all, to religous topics, especially those having direct relation to the great work of God in the last days; and after that to the consideration of all great and important subjects of general interest as they might arise; certainly reading that would be merely entertaining and amusing was the least of the objects we had in view. Our purpose was to publish a magazine that would be instructive, especially on the

lines that we have indicated, and we feel that in the pursuit of that object we have not failed. A review of the articles published in Vol. I., and thus far in Vol. IL, will easily demonstrate to those who shall make it that a valuable collection of matter on important subjects has been presented to the readers of the Era; and instead of catering too much to this demand for lighter reading matter, the object of which is chiefly to amuse and pass an idle hour, we urge our young men, and ask the friends of the Ear to call the attention of their associates to the necessity of themselves rising to the consideration of important subjects. We would further remark that it is not possible to publish a magazine every article of which will be entirely satisfactory to every reader. We shall account ourselves exceptionally successful if we succeed in producing an article which now and then to every reader will be worth to him more than the price of the magazine, and that this has been done in the course of our publication of the Era we have abundance of reasons to believe, because of the numerous expressions from our patrons to that effect. To our Mutual Improvement members, therefore, we say: brethren view this matter from the standpoint that we now present it to you, and remember that the Latter-day Saints, of all people, must be an earnest people; we have a serious and important message to deliver to the world; we have other objects to attain in life besides amusement and the pleasant passing away of time. Whatever other people may do, however they may dispose of their time, upon us rests the responsibility of making known to the children of men the important message that God has conveyed, through the Prophets of the Church of Christ, to mankind; and to be equipped for the maintenance of the truthfulness of this message is a part of the duty that devolves upon us, and that duty cannot be discharged by considering life as merely a hugh joke and the main object therein pleasure and social enjoyment. REPORT OF M. I. MISSIONARY WORK. The Mutual Improvement missionary work for the winter of 1898-9 closed on the last of February. Elders of the Church laboring under the direction of the committee appointed by the General Board have been sent into every Stake of Zion, and nearly every settlement has been visited.