Our Work: Annual Conference of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations

OUR WORK.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE YOUNG MEN'S AND YOUNG LADIES' MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.

The general annual conference of the Y. M. M. I. A., which closed on May 30th, was an occasion of much instruction to the young people of Zion. It was an encouraging gathering, for in every department progress was evident. There were thirty-five stakes represented out of forty. In the conjoint meetings on Sunday, 28th, there was an earnest feeling and a spirit of eagerness to obtain the Spirit of the Lord, and the key note to further progress. These both came. The need of the Spirit of God and how it could be obtained, were shown by President Joseph P. Smith. The word of the Lord to the young from President Snow on the payment of tithing was given and is the key note to our progress the coming year. If the young men will observe this law, they will both have progress and receive the spirit so essential to make the associations thrifty — to show

forth the fruits of the Gospel. The meetings were well attended; the business transacted was satisfactory and important, and showed a live interest in association work. The entertjiinment and the banquet on Monday and Tuesday evenings were all that could be desired, and were fruitful of much good feeling and sociability. A summary of the business transacted shows: That more than twice as many members paid Improvement Fund dues this year than last. The time for collection remains the same: the first week in December and the first week in February.

That a new course of study is being prepared, on the early portion of

708 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the "Dispensation of the Fulness of Times," for the season of 1899-1900. The associations were urged to take up this new manual which was adopted by the conference, and promptly place it in the hands of the members. That the missionary labors were bearing good results, but that in all probability some change would be made, reducing the number of

missionaries. The subject was left with the General Board, after receiving a thorough discussion. That the Era was prosperous and would be sure of sufficient support this year. The officers were urged to continue their aid. Every officer should subscribe and make it a point to get one subscriber who is not an officer. In this way success would be insured for the next year —the most critical in its history.

That a change was necessary in the Era editorial department. Elder Roberts having to devote his time to Congress. Elder E. H. Anderson was presented as his successor. Following is a brief synopsis of the minutes:

SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 28tH, 1899, TABERNACLE.

President Lorenzo Snow called the conference to order, and the M. I. A. choir sang the hymn on page 212, after which prayer was offered by Apostle John Henry Smith. The choir again sang on page 257. President Lorenzo Snow then addressed the congregation as follows: Young men and young ladies of the Mutual Improvement Associations; my Brethren and Sisters. I expect to occupy but a short time this morning. I shall be dependent upon the exercise of your faith and prayers for what I shall say. I wish to speak so loudly that every one of the audience will hear me. I feel thankful for this opportunity of addressing you. I feel that I am addressing associations that are accomplishing a great deal of good. In reflection upon the past I know that you have done a great deal of good, but in looking into the future I can see that you will do a great deal more. All that is necessary to do this is simply to depend upon the Lord and his aid and assistance. Whatever you may undertake for the furtherance of the interests of Zion, you must depend upon the Lord for its success.

I have just returned from a journey to the south, having been absent eleven days. I made twenty-four addresses to the people and

held twenty-six meetings. There were about twenty brethren and sisters

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with me. The Lord blessed us very much. All the brethren and sisters who accompanied me said that they never enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord more than they did during this visit. We have returned feeling well. Now, that this conference may be very useful and beneficial to each of us, and that this may be a little better conference than we have ever had before, let us be united and exercise our faith, for it depends upon ourselves. The last conference should always be the best that has ever been held. Each last day or each last week should be the best that we have ever experienced, that is, we should advance ourselves a little every day, in knowledge and wisdom, and in the ability to accomplish good. As we grow older we should live nearer the Lord each following day. The opportunities that are afforded the members of the Mutual Improvement Associations are indeed wonderful. They have the advantage of the Spirit of God to assist them when they arise to address their brethren and sisters in their meetings. The Spirit of the Lord and even the spirit of revelation may sometimes rest upon you to such a degree that you will never sit down until you have accomplished some great

good if you will but make one prayer before hand, and that is this: Ask the Lord that you may say something during your remarks that will be beneficial to those whom you address. Never mind whether it will be something that will add to your own glory or not, but simply bear in mind that you are called upon to address the audience and that they desire to receive something that will benefit them. This can only come from the Lord. Do not worry as to whether you will have the assistance of oratory or not that those who hear you may say you spoke beautifully. Do not mind about that at all, but remove every selfishness that may be in your mind that the Lord may dictate unto you something that will be of benefit to the people. Now, do this, and when you arise before an audience you will never sit down until you have done somebody in that audience some good. I know this from my own experience. What a great opportunity the brethren and sister of the Mutual Improvement Associations have !The blessings of the Almighty will be poured out upon you. You have already accomplished a great deal in Zion, but in the future the blessings of the Lord will increase upon you, and those who address you in your meetings will be more greatly endowed with the Spirit of the Lord than they have been in the past. There are many important things that we have to do and to take into consideration. Some things we have sadly neglected in the past and it will be necessary to present these things unto you. We must arouse the people who gather in these meetings, to the necessity of taking hold and fulfilling those things that have been neglected.

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Well now, God bless you, brethren and sisters, and may he bless those who shall address you that this may be a grand and a glorious conference. This is our privilege and may the Lord grant it, in the name of Jesus. Amen. President Elmina S. Taylor delivered a short address of welcome and congratulation. Mrs. Ann Cook reported the condition of the Bear Lake Stake which was flourishing, as far as the young ladies were concerned. A sweet solo, "Glory to God," was sung by Miss Bessie Edmunds. Reports of the mutual improvement work in their several stakes were then given by Superintendents OleenN. Stohl, of Box Elder; George Christensen, of Sanpete; Mrs. Vogel, of the Utah Stake, and Superintendent John L. Herrick of the Weber Stake. Each report indicated rapid growth in association affairs. Maria Young Dougall, of the General Board of the Y. L. M. L A., addressed the congregation expressing her thankfulness for the progress manifest in the ranks of the young people. Apostle F. M. Lyman spoke: The growth of mutual improvement is desirable and will be plainer in the future than it has been in the past, and we shall see the present generation of young men and young women so established and settled in their faith in the Gospel that it will tell throughout the Church. It will tell in a very positive manner in the growth of the Church abroad and it will be seen in society at home. It will be noticed in individuals and in the community, and will influence the work of the Lord; it will influence this Church so that it will be distinct and remarkable for the morality and the purity and the devotion that the people will manifest in the work of God. This generation, who may be looked upon as laying the foundation or Ijeing the beginners in the cause ofmutual improvement, will be remembered in the various wards and stakes of Zion as the founders of a system of mutual improvement that will continue throughout all time. There shall never be a time while we tabernacle in the flesh but what the work of mutual improvement will be needed, will be necessary, and we shall become more efficient; and the training in the religion classes in the Sunday Schools, all tend to prepare us for our work of mutual improvement. It is pleasing and quite fitting, I believe, that President

Snow, our prophet, should stand at our head. We should listen to him, and should be worthy of our file leader, that his example and the inspiration of the Almighty that moves him every day of his life should also rest upon us, brethren and sisters, that we too may be workers as he is a worker, for the object of this great cause in which we are engaged

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the work for the salvation of the souls of men, living and dead. It was so beautifully presented to us, while at Nephi, by President Joseph F. Smith, that the greatest work, and the whole object of the revelation of the Gospel to men is the salvation of mankind, to save the living and to redeem and save the dead.Every principle, every requirement, and every commandment, that the Lord has revealed is for the accomplishment of this work. That is what we live for. We do not live simply for enjoyment or to occupy our time in some certain direction to amuse or be pleasant to us in this life, but for the salvation and redemption of the children of God. This is the reason that the Gospel has been revealed, and it is the object of every principle, the object for which we labor, for which we teach, and set examples, and study, and pray, and are devoted; and the reason why the Spirit of the Lord is poured out upon us that we may be qualified to make our lives useful that we should be as an open book; that what we say and do shall tend to establish and sow in the hearts of mankind a love for each other and the love of God and of the Savior, We should try to walk in the footsteps of the Savior who, living was made perfect by the things he all his life without sin, it is recorded,

suffered. He endured more than any other man who ever lived, and is the captain of our salvation; and should be to us and to all mankind a pattern after whom we may profitably follow, that we may live as he lived and teach as he taught, and honor the Lord and do his will, having no will or choice of our own but doing the will of God. This I understand to be the object of mutual improvement and of all other branches that have been established as helps in government, helps in development, and in the salvation of the children of men. I pray that the spirit of the Lord may be upon President Snow, and his assistants and upon our Sister Taylor and her associates and all who are gathered here today, that our labors in the cause of mutual improvement may never cease, that we may never weary and never be discouraged because the advancement may be slow, but as was said here just now: without knowing it many of the young people are being brought into the spirit of the Gospel and they will find presently that they will be established in the faith of the Gospel so that they will never be moved. I fell to bless you my brethren and sisters who have gathered here

on this occasion, and pray that the spirit of the Lord may fill your souls and that we may unitedly continue. Possibly many of us may continue to labor until the coming of the Son of Man, until the announcement shall be made that the Son of God cometh, and the people will be prepared to meet him. There will be a people who will be prepared to meet him, and those who will not be prepared will be sorrowful because they have

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wasted their opportunities, and their souls are not called saved. May God preserve us in truth and establish us most thoroughly, I humbly ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. The chorus sang the hymn on page 165. Brother John R. Winder offered the benediction.

AFTERNOON SESSION, 2 O'CLOCK, TABERNACLE,

The building was filled above and below. Admiral Schley, preceded by Governor Wells and accompanied by Mrs. Schley and by Senator and Mrs. Manderson and the escorting party> entered the south door. The audience rose and the great organ immediately thundered forth in power and brilliance, the well known notes of the "Star Spangled Banner." All the congregation joined with the choir in singing the first and fourth stanzas of the national anthem. The congregation was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith. The choir sang, with fine effect, the anthem of the hallelujah chorus:

"The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth."

Prayer was offered by Elder Charles W. Penrose. The choir sang: "Noble Chief, thee we hail!"

This was followed by an address by Dr. James E. Talmage in which he stated that we are associated with a work to which there can be no end. What is not possible to that which goes on forever, to that which is stamped with power of eternal improvement? I have heard many doctrines of the perfection to which God has attained; but that perfection to which he has attained and that to which he invites his children is that of perpetual progress. We need to purify our ideals and to know what true greatness is. Every son of God may be great and there is but one kind of greatness recognized of God, and that is goodness? We do well to honor the great; but we should understand that greatness consists in doing one's duty in whatever line we are called to labor, whether in the thorny paths of war or in the quiet vocations of peace. In every good act, in every kind word, we can recognize the supremely grand. To improve we must have some ideals; and I think that the hope of eternal growth is an ideal sufficient to inspire any soul with the hope of greatness. At the conclusion of this address, Col. John R. Winder escorted Admiral Schley and Senator Manderson up the centre of the aisle to the upper stand. Here introductions to President Snow, President Joseph F.

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Smith and others followed. Stepping forward, Col. Winder said: "I have the honor to introduce Admiral Schley." A ripple deepening into a volley of applause followed this announcement as the admiral came forward.

ADMIRAL SCHLEY'S ADDRESS.

Then the admiral, whose calm face was flushed now, at the unexpected ovation accorded him, said: "My Friends: Next to living in the love of God is that of living in the love of his people. This is the first time in my life that I have ever been in the interior of this great empire of ours, and I have abundant proof and reason now to understand how it is that we have grown into such a mighty nation. '1 believe that the fundamental principles underlying that rule of confidence upon which the republic is built has been the respect and love for its women. It has been their purity and beauty of life and their

strong characters that have made us the great and strong nation that we are. As we say in our profession, the man who serves behind the guns best is the man who has the best woman serving behind him. (Applause.) "I thank you very much for this very cordial welcome which you have extended to me, and it is all the more acceptable when I feel that it is intended for the great service that I represent, a service that has always been dignified with honor in shielding the nation's glory; that has always stood for the highest honor of its people and for their best and safest interests. It has been their doings largely which has made our flag a little bit more beautiful, that has made us a little bit more proud of

being Americans. "In the war through which we have just passed, I think it has been worth all the blood that has been shed and all the money that has been spent to have learned our own power and to have taught it to other people. (Applause.) Another impressive lesson has been that the lines which divided us heretofore have all been obliterated, and in the war just ended the North and the South, the East and the West, have stood in that brotherhood and in that readiness to die for the best flag in the world, supported and protected by the best people, because they believe in God and God's presence in everything." Senator Manderson was then introduced and said: "This is a holy day. When the lightning flashed and the thunders rolled about Mt. command came from the great Creator, Sinai, the Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. This is a holy place. The early settlers of this great valley builded this tabernacle to the worship

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of Almighty God, a building better fitted perhaps for the purposes for which it was erected than any other where people gather to worship. (Applause.) "Is there desecration of this holy day? Is there disregard for the privileges of this sacred place that you gather here to pay tribute to courage, to love of country and to love of man? Our God, our country and our home, makes a creed to which every American citizen can bend the knee. "When the distinguished sailor who stands before you agreed in acquiescence with my invitation to come out west of the Missouri river and see for the first time the great States and look into the faces of its magnificent people, he did not conceive, nor did I conceive, that there should come to him upon every step of his journey that loud acclaim that shows recognition of his valor and love for him (applause), and in paying this tribute to him, he is too modest a man, he has too keen an appreciation of all that it implies to take it to himself. In paying your meed of tribute and praise to him, as he says, you recognize the great service to which he belongs, (applause;) that navy of the Republic that won renown before the birth of this great nation; that added to it in conflict with foreign power and that under Farragut and Porter, the teachings of this man added fresh glory to the flag of the Republic. (Applause.) "But you pay tribute not only to him, but you pay tribute to that other branch of the service that upholds our flag in honor and has never permitted it to sink to the ground in disgrace. And you recognize, citizens of Utah, you who are proud to belong to this youngest, but one of the brightest stars in our galaxy, you pay tribute to your sons who, on an island in distant seas, add new glory to America, and will make the name of every member of the Utah Artillery a name to inscribe upon monuments and live in history. "But above all, in this tribute to Admiral Schley you pay tribute to American institutions and to this great Republic. You teach in it to your youths patriotic ardor and love of country, and when you have successfully taught that lesson, when you have taught those lessons that lead to good citizenship, you have taught a true and perfect religion that pays tribute to God, to country and to home." Upon leaving, the admiral good naturedly shook hands with many persons along the line, the whole audience arising again as he left the building. Secretary Thomas Hull read the statistical reports of the associations for the past year. The report of the Young Men's Associations will appear later in the Era.

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Heber S. Goddard sang, "It is Enough." President Joseph F. Smith delivered an appeal to the youth of Zion asking them to seek the Spirit of God, in their lives, in their associations, and showing how this could be done. He quoted the 5th chapter of Galatians, and asked the young people to learn this passage of scripture and put it into practice in so far as pertained to the obtaining of the Spirit of God to be their guide. Mrs. Mary Romney Ross sang: "Jesus Lover of My Soul." Mrs. May Booth Talmage addressed the congregation. The choir and congregation sang: "We Thank Thee, God, for a Prophet," and Elder B. H. Roberts pronounced the closing prayer.

EVENING SESSION, 7:30 O'CLOCK, TABERNACLE. Called to order by President Joseph F. Smith; the Ladies' M. L A., chorus sang a selection entitled "Roses and Lillies. Prayer was offered by Sister Mary A. Freeze. "See the Young Eagle Soar," was sung by the Ladies* chorus. Miss Emily Caldwell, a member of the Salt Lake Board of Aids, was the first speaker, giving an instructive address on "Humility versus Pride." A tenor solo: "By the Waters of Babylon," was rendered by Elder George D. Pyper. Elder Matthias F. Cowley, of the quorum of Apostles, next addressed the large audience. The chief object and interest in mutual improvement work, as had in the mind of President Brigham Young in first establishing the associations, was the study of the Gospel, not only in the letter but in the spirit of it as well. Programs, the speaker said, should not

be perfunctorily gone through with by those taking part in them, but the Spirit of the Lord should be sought for and everything done under its infiuence and direction.

To learn "that God has spoken in these latter days" and to learn the power and workings of the Holy Spirit, were truths of more importance for the young people to learn in their mutual labors than to acquire a knowledge of the dead letter of the word alone. Keeping this in view the young people would become qualified to carry the Gospel to the nations of the earth with power and intelligence. Elder B. H. Roberts, reviewed the phenomenal progress made by the mutual improvement work since its inception. The report of the work done in the associations cannot but be gratifying to all who are interested in the work of God. With associations in far off Syria, the Philippines, in Europe, in the Eastern, Southern and Northren States, its influence was fast circling the entire globe.

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The first object of the mutual work was the salvation of the youth of Zion, and secondarily the salvation of the whole human family through their efforts, A few closing remarks were made by President Joseph F. Smith, and the Ladies' Chorus sang: "Lord, Thou Wilt Hear Me When I Pray," and the meeting adjourned till Monday morning to meet in the Assembly Hall. Benediction was offered by Sister Elmina S. Taylor.

(to be continued in the augdst number.)