Our Work: M. I. A. Conference

OUR WORK. 789 Junius F. Wells until he was called to fill a mission on the first of November. On November 6th, Elders John Henry Smith, M. H. Hardy and B. Morris Young were appointed by the First Presidency to continue the work begun by Elder Wells. On December 8, 1876, a central committee of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations was organized with Elder Junius F. Wells as president, Milton H. Hardy and Rodney C. Badger, counselors; John Nicholson, R. W. Young and George F. Gibbs, secretaries; and Mathoni W. Pratt, treasurer. From that time to this, the organization has continued to grow. On April 6, 1880, upon the nomination of President John Taylor, Apostle Wilf ord Woodruff was chosen as the general superintendent with Joseph F. Smith and Moses Thatcher as his counselors. As assistants to this general superintendency. Elders Junius F. Wells, Milton H. Hardy and Rodney C. Badger were chosen with Elder Heber J, Grant, secretary, and Wm. S. Burton, treasurer. The general board now numbers twenty-eight as follows, and who have been presented and sustained by this conference: Officers: Lorenzo Snow, general supurintendent; Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant and B. H. Roberts, assistants. Aids: Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Matthias F. Cowley, Abraham 0. Woodruff, J. Golden Kimball, Junius F. Wells, Milton H. Hardy, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson, Douglas M. Todd, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Le Roi C. Snow, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor; Thomas Hull, secretary and treasurer; Evan Stephens, music director; H. S. Ensign, assistant music director. President Woodruff remained at the head of the organization until his death in September, 1898. From the organization of the first association in the Thirteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, the work has grown until there are now five hundred and forty-four associations with a membership of twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and forty-seven. The influence of the associations has been felt for good in every part of The Church, but nowhere greater than in the missionary field. Presidents of missions universally bear the testimony that young men who have faithfully attended the Mutual Improvement Associations invariably make the most faithful and efficient missionaries. In no way is the judgment which called these associations into existence more fully vindicated, and their usefulness and benefit so well exhibited, as in the one fact that out of about eighteen hundred missionaries now in the field more than twelve hundred are taken from the active membership of the Mutual Improvement Associations.

790 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Of late years, the work has made rapid strides, and new life has been infused into the organizations. A great missionary work was inaugurated in 1897-8 among the young men of The Church which accomplished mighty good, and ten thousand were added to the enrollment. This work has been continued during the succeeding years, and its possibilities for good among the youth of Israel are incalculable. Years ago the Contributor, a monthly magazine, was published as the organ of the Association and three years ago, the Contributor having cease publi cation, the General Board undertook the publication of the Improvement Era making it the property and organ of the Associations. Wonderful success has attended this enterprise. You heard this afternoon what the Era was doing, and it has accomplished its mission so far by the loyal support of the young men and their friends. Of the need of these organizations and their usefulness there can be no question, and the future is bright with promises for their continued benefits to The Church. Elder Walter Wallace sang a solo. Sister Camelia H. Clayton addressed the congregation on the "Growth of the M. I. A. Work," showing that, by the blessing of the Lord, it had grown from the humblest beginnings to a great and mighty power in the midst of the people of God. Elder Horace S. Ensign then sang a song. Apostle John Henry Smith said: Happy indeed am I in this privilege. I congratulate you upon the past, upon the present, and can see bright rays of hope for the future. Fifty thousand young men and women engaged in the work of God is indeed an inspiration. May Heaven's blessings rest upon you for the future, and may each and every one be found true and faithful to the end. I surrender my time that his voice may be heard who worked so nobly and well in laying the foundation upon which has been reared the glorious structure of Mutual Improvement Associations. Elder Junius F. Wells said that he had come all the way from New York on purpose to be present at this conference. He was greatly pleased at the wonderful progress made by the Mutual Improvement Associations. In its beginning he was called upon to organize the associations and very little instruction was given him, but by the aid of the Spirit of the Lord and his inspiration he had been able to make the beginning. He had always had the greatest joy in the work. Of late years his business had taken him away from home and mutual improvement had marched on and left him far in the rear. He had now concluded, however, that it was the proper thing for him to come back to

OUR WORK. 791 Utah, and he proposed. to get into line with his brethren and go on in this glorious work. President Joseph F. Smith made a few closing remarks, congratulating the congregation on the good spirit pervading the meetings of the day. The choir sang the anthem, "Jesus, I my Cross have taken," and benediction was offered by Sister Adella W. Eardley. MONDAY, JUNE IItH, 10 A. M. Officers meeting in lecture hall of Latter-day Saints Business College, Templeton Building. Singing, "Do what is right." Prayer by Elder J. W. McMurrin. Singing, "Come, come, ye Saints." The roll of stakes was called and thirty-nine out of forty-two stakes were represented. ^ President Joseph F. Smith addressed the meeting, saying: I extend to you the hand of friendship and a hearty welcome to our conference. We are not alone — our influence is not confined to ourselves — we feel it, one from another, so that, if we come together, each having the spirit of our calling and mission, we shall each contribute to the joy and profit of our meetings. It stands to reason that you have received the testimony of Jesus in your hearts and are ready to impart it to others, hence we should have most pleasant and successful meetings. The secretary then read the general statistical report,* which on motion was ordered filed. The financial report was then presented and filed. The treasurer reported that he had received $722.92 from the associations as a donation towards the erection of a monument over the grave of President Wilf ord Woodruff. President Joseph F. Smith said that the board was very pleased with the response of the brethren of the associations to the request for a donation for the monument for President Woodruff. President Woodruff left $600 to be used for the erection of a monument, but the Board felt that the young men, over whom he had presided so many years, would like to see a little better one than that amount would purchase, and hence it was decided to ask them for a small donation for this purpose. It is not intended to erect anything very elaborate but to make it plain and substantial. The cost, it is expected, will be about $1500 so that it will be seen that the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations pay one-half of this cost. ''This report is published in full in number 9, pages 712 and 713.

792 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Apostle Francis M. Lyman then addressed the meeting on the subject of the "Permanency of the Associations." He said in substance: The enrollment of the associations should not decrease but should be kept up and increased. Mutual Improvement Associations should be the one thing in the auxiliary organizations that is nearest the heart of every officer, and these should all be deeply interested in the success of their work. No superintendent should be satisfied without some one being at these conferences to represent his stake. There should be but few changes made in the officers. No changes should be made unless conditions and circumstances demand it, and the good of the work needs it. The loca missionary work inaugurated last year must not be discontinued, but should be made more effective. Everything should be prepared and the missionary corps filled and all made ready for a good, vigorous work during the season. Elder Edw. H. Anderson spoke upon the subject of "Preparation for Opening the Season." He said: "The manual should be obtained and distributed in ample time for the preparation of the first lesson for the opening meeting. The first program should be ready before the first meeting, and be prepared and assigned by the officers at a preliminary meeting of the officers held for the purpose. As early as possible, before the commencement of the season's work, all the organizations should be completed and vacancies filled, but care must be taken that the work goes on even if this cannot be done, or the president or any other officer is unavoidably absent. The hymn, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning," was sung, and benediction was pronounced by Elder Junius F. Wells. MONDAY, 2 P. M. Singing: "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation." Prayer by Elder Edw. H. Anderson. Singing: "Hope of Israel." Elder J. G. Kimball presented "General Missionary Work." He reported the labor of last season as having accomplished great good, but that all that had been expected from it had not been realized. He urged the necessity of continuing the work among our young men. He read the report of the Missionary Committee published in No. 9 of the Era,. page 715. Elder Frank Y. Taylor also spoke upon the missionary work, suggesting and urging the holding of a convention of the stake officers, in Salt Lake City in the fall, prior to the commencement of the season's

OUR WORK. 793 work, and the holding of conventions of ward officers in the various stakes immediately after the convention in Salt Lake City. These conventions were to be held for the purpose of fully instructing the officers upon all subjects connected with the conduct of M. I. A. work, and especially to instruct them upon the missionary labors for the coming season. After a general discussion of the questions presented, the following motion by Superintendent George Christensen, of Sanpete Stake, was carried: "Believing that the General Board has the interest of the M. I. A. workers, and the cause of M. I. A. at heart, I move that the matter of holding these conventions and the dates thereof be left with that Board." On motion of Elder Francis M. Lyman it was decided that the general M. I. A. conferences he held each year as nearly as possible about June 1st. Singing: "Lord dismiss us with thy blessing." Benediction by Elder Douglass M. Todd. TUESDAY, 10 A. M. Singing: "Ye Elders of Israel." Prayer by Elder Rudger Clawson. Singing: "Come, come ye Saints." Elder George H. Brimhall addressed the meeting on the subject, "How to Improve the Class Work." He said: The first consideration in an association is the qualifications of the officers. They should all have a good working standing in The Church. They should be possessed of earnestness — there should be no indifference. They should be thoroughly converted to mutual improvement and to the mutual improvement machinery. There are four items of the latter: 1 — The Manual; 2 — The Missionary Work; 3 — The Improvement Era; 4 — The General Fund. One plan for the improvement of the class work would be the grading of the associations and the speaker recommended the forming of senior and junior classes wherever it was practicable. Every association should select a competent class leader. This leader need not be the president of the association, but should have the ability to conduct the class work in an interesting manner. One or two of the very ablest men should be placed in charge of the junior class. No thoroughly effective work can be done in the association unless frequent officers' meetings are held. They are absolutely essential and should be held at least once in two weeks and once each week would be better.

794 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Not more than fifty should be in a class if the best work is desired. The first thing necessary in a class was to arouse an interest. Then emphasis must be placed upon the essential points in the exercise or lesson. These points would necessarily be different in the senior and junior classes, and the main points as seen from the different standpoints of the boy and the man must be brought out. In closing, Elder Brimhall called the attention of the oSicers to the fact that office finds a man and measures him. When called to office he is held up before the people, and they find him and his conduct in office will exhibit his measure and ability before his fellows. The office may dignify or degrade the officer by his conduct in it. Elder Bryant S. Hinckley spoke upon the same subject, suggesting that care should be exercised in the preparation of the programs. So as to make them attractive. At the opening or closing exercises, where they are held conjointly, a song or recitation can be introduced with profit. The Manual program will always be the backbone of the work, but can be relieved and lightened, if judgment is exercised. As methods for awakening interest in the members Elder Hinckley suggested: 1 — A brief statement of the lesson for the succeeding meeting made near the close of each session; 2 — An exercise from the Era at each meeting; 3 — Living testimonies. After a general discussion of the question of grading, the following resolution presented by Elder Joseph W. Musser was adopted: Resolved: That the grading of the associations be left to the judgment of the local authorities, it being the sense of the General Board that wherever it can be done the associations are to be graded. The question being asked whether it was proper for men who were members of secret societies to be officers of Mutual Improvement Associations, President Joseph F. Smith said: Secret societies are opposed to the-genius of The Church. It is forbidden that men who have joined such societies should go into the temples. It is not proper for Latter-day Saints to join such organizations because it is a drawing off from the influences and institutions of the Gospel of Christ — it is a disintegrating force. Men who are connected with them have not time to attend to their duties in the Priesthood, nor means to pay their tithing; and some instances occur where men refuse to go on missions because they value too highly their membership in such organizations, and will not forfeit what they consider the advantages of such membership. We must not suffer ourselves to be led away by joining these secret organizations. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, that

OUR WORK. 795 the remarks of President Joseph F. Smith be adopted by this body as the sense of this conference, and that it be the sense of this body of men, in this conference assembled, that those who belong to secret orders and societies be not selected and chosen as officers of Mutual Improvement Associations." The Doxology was sung. Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant. TUESDAY, 2 P. M. Singing, "God moves in a mysterious way." Prayer by Apostle Reed Smoot. Singing, "Oh my Father." Elder B. H. Roberts presented the subject of the Improvement Era: Is it necessary for the general board to have a medium through which to reach the young men? Is it necessary for the young men to keep in touch with the leading minds of The Church upon current topics? These questions have already been passed upon by the officers. Three years ago we decided these questions in the affirmative. We need the Era; and now having it, we must sustain it and make it a grand success, mutual improvement workers cannot afford to let it fail. It must have the support of all the officers as subscribers and workers. No officer can keep in touch with the M. I. work without it. Officers should be loyal to it. They should always speak well of it, and never detract from it. Brother Roberts urged all the brethren to begin for the canvass for volume 4. This should begin early in October. First, every subscriber should be seen and urged to renew without delay, and then every other person. It has been decided to offer to the associations the two volumes already published and the current volume, bound for $6.00 for the set, postpaid. Every association should make the effort and obtain these volumes, for no association library should be without a full set of the Era. Every association should have a good library, and the officers should push this matter and do everything necessary to encourage our young people to read good books. As a foundation for every ward and private library there should be purchased the standard Church works and the Bible. Apostle Heber J. Grant endorsed and emphasized the remarks of Elder Roberts. He read a comparative list of the number of subscribers in each stake of Zion. This list showed Juarez and San Juan stakes as having 6 and 5-10 per cent of The Church population subscribing for the Era, and Box Elder stake as having reached the full 5 per cent of their Church population.

796 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Elder Grant urged the' officers to go right to work and see to it that the magazine is made a success in their stakes. Secretary Thomas Hull addressed the meeting upon the "Duties of Secretaries." He urged that competent young men be selected for this office who can be depended upon to remain with the association until the season's work is completed, and then make up the statistical report at once. Every association should have a well-kept record which should include: a roll book carefully kept; minutes of all meetings includingpublic lectures and joint-sessions, and a record of all financial transactions. Every stake should have a record of all meetings of the superintendency and of the stake board, a roll of all the stake officers, and a careful financial record. Every stake should have a complete stake directory showing the names and addresses of ever officer of the M. I. A. This should show the names of every ward president, counselor, secretary and other officer. Reports should be prepared during the season so that at its close,, everything being in shape, the reports can be compiled and forwarded without delay. On motion the conference adjourned sine die. Benediction by Elder Moses W. Taylor. On Tuesday evening the General Board tendered a reception to the visiting stake officers at the Gardo House, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. McCune. A very large number of officers were present, and a delightful social time was enjoyed. There was a spirit of perfect fraternalism and love in the gathering, and it was a most fiiimg finale to a very profitable and successful conference.