--- 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: 3 number: 11 published: 1900-09 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: A Call for Officers’ Stake Conventions—Program of Instructions," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 11 (September 1900): 870–875.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera311unse 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: improvementera311unse start_page: 870 end_page: 875 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1900-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera311unse publication_year: 1900 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 1900, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Our Work: A Call for Officers’ Stake Conventions—Program of Instructions OUR WORK. A CALL FOR OFFICERS' STAKE CONVENTIONS— PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTIONS. I To the Stake Superintendents, Assistants and all Stake Officers of Y. M. M. I. A.: Dear Brethren: This circular letter is of great importance to you, containing, as it does, instructions to call a convention of all Y. M. M. L A. officers in each stake. This step is taken in conformity with the instructions of the General Board at its meeting of August 1, 1900. The matter of calling a convention of stake officers to meet in Salt Lake City for instructions, was discussed at the M. I. A. General Conference in June, and was finally left to the General Board. That Board has decided that instead of such convention, and instead of calling general missionaries this season, stake conventions will be held in each stake, at which all matters pertaining to mutual improvement work, including the local missionary labor, will be presented by the stake officers assisted by visiting members of the General Board, and by the general missionaries of last year. The purpose of this convention is to present not only the most essential items of procedure for the associations in their regular work, but also to outline the course to be taken by the local officers in the local missionary labors that were established by the general missionaries last season. To this end, the following outline of instructions is named for the guidance of the presiding officers in these stake conventions: The Convention: — Stake Superintendents, after first consulting their Presidents of Stakes for permission, are requested to call a convention of all the officers of the Y . M. M. I. A. in their stakes, to be held in a OUR WORK. 871 central place in each stake, on Sunday, Sept. 16, 1900. Three meetings are to be held- The Stake Superintendent is expected and requested to prepare himself so that he may instruct his officers thoroughly and to the point on the following outlined topics: (These topics are to be treated either by the Stake Superintendent or by such competent assistants as he may call upon, and the subject matter should be prepared before the day of meeting.) Preparations for the Opening of the Season: — 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, and before this convention, 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. Grading of the Associations: — It was decided by the annual M. I. A. Conference to divide the associations into senior and junior classes wherever this is practicable. Make two divisions of each association, placing in the junior class the members under, say 16 or 17 years of age, and in the senior class, all others. The lines of this division should not be too strictly drawn, but should be governed by local conditions. Class Work: — Every association should select a competent class leader. This leader need not be the president of the association, but he 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 is better. 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, we suggest in addition: 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. 872 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Not more than fifty should be in a class, if the best work is desired. The first thing necessary in a class is 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 facts as seen from the different standpoints of the boy and the man must be brought out. The Manual: — The manual for this season is a continuation of the subject matter of last season's manual, dealing with the history of the Church from the founding of Nauvoo to the Exodus. It includes, besides the thrilling historical narrative, six lessons on the important doctrines of the Church promulgated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo. There are twenty-three lessons, covering about 150 pages. One of these lessons should be completed at each regular meeting. Each of the sub-topics of a lesson should be assigned to a member, and that member should come specially prepared, at the next meeting, to treat upon that topic; such treatment should not occupy more than five or ten minutes; but this special preparation of one topic should not preclude the student from studying the entire lesson. Every member of the class should prepare upon the whole lesson and be fadiiliar with every topic, so that in case of the absence of an appointed speaker, upon request any other member may take his place. It is expected, of course, that the officers shall be fully prepared on every lesson and ready to finish the program, in case of failure on the part of any member, but the officers should not be considered until it has been made clearly apparent that no member in the house is prepared; the members should do the work and not the officers, except in cases of need, and in their regular order on the programs. There are a number of ways to use the review questions. The first and most satisfactory is for the class teacher to ask the questions of or from the whole class, calling promiscuously upon some member for reply. Another plan is the assigning, at the prior meeting, of all the questions to as many members as there are questions; in that case giving them principally to such young or inexperienced members as are a little backward in their studies, thus giving them opportunity and encouragement. For further instruction on this topic, we refer you to the sub-head "Class Work," in this circular. We suggest that the Stake Superintendent conduct a model lesson from the manual, using for his class members the officers at the convention, all who are to speak to have their parts assigned to them beforehand. The manual may be obtained from General Secretary Thomas Hull. OUR WORK. 873 There are two ways of handling it. The first has been found most satisfactory in certain stakes, where the distances are not so great, and where there is a general central gathering place, — it is for the stake officers to obtain the entire supply for the stake and distribute the manuals to the ward presidents. The second method is for each president to order the manuals for his association direct from the General Secretary. In either case, the manuals are furnished on credit, it being distinctly understood that the person ordering them is responsible for their cost, to the General Secretary. Orders for manuals should be sent in immediately. Secretaries: — It is very important 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. 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. The secretary should be present at every meeting, or see that some one is there to represent him if, for some unavoidable reason, he is compelled to be absent. He should keep the president informed in relation to the programs and all business connected with the association. He should see that a complete roll is kept containing the name of every member of the association, and that such roll is called at every meeting. For calling the roll, such method should be adopted as will best suit the local conditions. For large associations, the card system is suggested. For particulars as to this system, refer to pages 149 and 150 Vol. 3 of Era. Every association should have a well-kept record which should include: a roll book carefully kept; minutes of all meetings including public lectures and conjoint-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, also a complete stake directory, showing the names and addresses of every officer of the M. I. A. This should show the names of every ward president, counselor, secretary and other officer. Ike Era: — The Era is a necessity in your associations, and should be in the hands of every member thereof. It is your duty as officers to see that a thorough canvass is made in your wards for 'subscribers. Questions, or an exercise, should be used from it at each meeting. Notice the remarks of Elder B. H. Roberts on page 795 of Volume 874 IMPROVEMENT ERA. S of the Era. The canvass for subscribers should begin early in November. Do not delay; it makes the work hard, and results poor. One way to canvass is to appoint five or six young men, themselves subscribers, to thoroughly canvass the ward on a given date, and to continue their labors until the desired results are obtained. The General Board have decided to make a special offer to the associations, on the three published volumes. Any Mutual Improvement Association may have the 1st, 2nd and 3rd volumes, bound in cloth, for $6.00, postpaid. This is a splendid opportunity to obtain the Era for the libraries, and certainly every association should have the complete set. The General Improvement Fund: — The General Fund is an essential in the work of Mutual Improvement, and is an important item to place before the members; because, without it, the work of the General Board cannot be carried on. You will remember that there are two weeks set apart as collection weeks for this fund; viz., the first weeks in December and February of each year. This year it has been decided by the General Board that envelopes shall be sent to the stake superintendents for distribution to the ward associations, in which each member is requested, on the given date, to place his contribution of 25 cents, and hand the same to the president or secretary of his association. These envelopes will be destributed by the General Secretary to all the stakes, in time for the December collection. Missionary Work: — Last season, every stake was visited by a missionary who organized, in every ward, a missionary corps, by selecting young men to labor as missionaries in the interest of mutual improvement. These local missionary organizations, let it be distinctly understood, are permanent, and should be kept up by the selection of new missionaries where those already chosen are, for any cause, unable to continue their labors. The local 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. This local missionary work is among the most important that the officers have to do. Upon it depends greatly the success of the organizations and their power to do good. It should be made the spiritual labor of the season. Last year's local missionary methods, as presented by the general missionaries, must be emphasized and continued. In case this work is not thoroughly understood by the officers, information concerning its scope, and the methods to be adopted, will be given at the convention by a member of the General Board, or by one of the mission- OUR WORK. 875 aries who was in charge last season. This missionary labor should receive careful explanation in your convention. Other Items:— Fov additional matter to be presented at the conventions and for the guidance and direction of all officers, we refer to the topics treated upon at the annual M. I. A conference, (see pages 707 and 708 of Era Volume 3,) also to the minutes of that conference in the July and August numbers, likewise to the instructions given at the April conference. (See pages 548-553 Volume 3 of Era.) Outline of the Convention Program: — The topics briefly outlined above should be treated at the convention in the following order: 10 a.m. — Missionary Work; Era; Fund; Miscellaneous Topics. 2 p. m. — Preparations for Opening of Season; Grading of Associations; Class Work; Secretaries. 7 p. m. — The Manual and the Model Class; General Instructions. Conclusion: — In conclusion, we urge the superintendents of stakes to take hold of this work with spirit. A special meeting should be called of the stake Board in which this circular should be thoroughly discussed, topics assigned and every preliminary arrangement made for the carrying out of the work of the convention. A circular letter hould be sent to every ward officer, at once, urging him to be present, on time, at the opening of the convention, so that no item of informaon may be missed by him. We pray that the Spirit of the Lord may attend you in all your abors, and richly inspire you for this special work. By order of the General Board. Your brethren, J. Golden Kimball, Thomas Hull, Frank Y. Taylor, Edward H. Anderson, Missionary Committee.