Our Work: The Annual Conference of the Mutual Improvement Associations

OUR WORK.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE MUTUAL IMPROVE- MENT ASSOCIATIONS.

The sixth general conference of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, which opened on Sunday, June 2, 1901, in the Tabernacle, at Salt Lake City, was by far the most successful and spirited held in recent years. At the opening meeting, on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, there was a large representation of young people present, and at the afternoon and evening meetings, the attendance was so large that the galleries of the great building were thrown open and nearly filled. The spirit of the officers' meetings was one of activity and earnest- ness. Forty-one stakes were represented, and by the brightest, most earnest and intelligent class of young men. A spirit of fraternity and good feeling prevailed, and all seemed to vie with each other in an effort to show forth their loyalty to the mutual improvement cause, and their faith in, and love for, the gospel of Jesu& Christ. The discussion of the proposition to reduce the price of subscription to the Era brought out the fact that the officers and members were proud of their organ, devoted to its interests, and willing to do all in their power to promote its growth. Great good must result from this conference. We predict that mutual improvement will take on new life and will greatly increase dur- ing the coming season the good it has heretofore been instrumental in accomplishing among the young men. The social and reception at the home of President Lorenzo Snow

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was greatly enjoyed by those who were privileged to attend. Over six hunded people pressed the hand of our beloved president. The music and refresliments were excellent, and the social communion cheered the whole assembly. Following is a very brief synopsis of the proceedings. Some of the leading addresses will be published in full, in this and future numbers of the Era.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 1901, 10 A. M.

Opening hymn, "Redeemer of Israel." Prayer by Elder Rodney C. Badger. Singing by the tabernacle choir. President Lorenzo Snow made the opening address to the conference,, which we take great pleasure in presenting to our readers in full: Brethren and sisters: I certainly feel very illy prepared to talk to you this morning. I was not aware that I was on the program, until it was handed to me just now, for an address this morning. I suppose that the object of this conference will be, in a general way, to talk to the young people. There certainly could not be a better subject to talk upon, especially when the speaker has given the matter consideration and thought — which I have not for some little time past. However, the prospects that are before our young men and ladies are unbounded. There is no end to them. There will be no time when there will not be an opportunity to improve. There is grandeur in the con- templation of the prospects before the young people. In youth, and up to one hundred years, all along the line, there is a constant opportunity to improve and to advance. The contemplation of the future is mag- nificent. There are no young people that have such an opportunity a& those of the Latter-day Saints have. Circumstances with us are such that there is a constant opportunity for the young ladies to learn how to address their sisters, and sometimes the brethren, and to continue to increase in the spirit of inspiration and understanding, and the ability to speak. It is wonderful how the Lord has given us a chance in our youth

to receive these advantages, which our fathers and mothers did not en- joy. Now you can live a great while. You can live till you are a hun- dred years old, and perhaps longer, especially if you have been born with a good constitution; and those that have not been so favorably born, there is a chance for them, through the power of the Holy Ghost, to improve their constitutions. It is the privilege of persons to live

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long. It is not only their privilege, but it is an absolute duty for all persons who desire and are qualified to do good, to try to live long upon the earth, that the experience which they secure along the line of ad- vancement may be of advantage to others. There is something for us to live for; for there is always some- thing before us to add to our happiness, as well as to the happiness of others. We can greatly add to the happiness of others by knowing how to be happy every day, and by gathering up all the enjoyment that can possibly be had in the doing of our duty and securing it to ourselves. There is a vast amount of trouble and vexation, as well as a little horror, in our lives, because of our ignorance or our failure to defend ourselves against evil and temptation, The sisters should learn to become perfect women. In seeking to gain those qualifications which are necessary to make you useful, do not try to be like the men. Never mind what the qualifications of men may be; strive for those qualifications that will make the young girl a per- fect woman —that is, as perfect as women can be, and that is saying a great deal. If you will seek for this, you will be sure to reach it. But in gaining strength, qualification and force of character, always have it in mind to use these thing to do good to others. It is a fault with some

that they study to be great themselves, without trying to make others great with them. One of the best things a young man or a young woman can have in view, in trying to be great, is to have others great also; and not mind spending a little time to improve others. The best way to improve ourselves is to exercise ourselves in doing good to others. Keep this in mind constantly. Selfishness is one of the great evils of joung people. Get rid of it gradually. Do not expect to become per- fect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not over- come us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves. Now, the young girl will be a mother some day, in all probability. She ought to be, for she has come into the world for that purpose. Well, what is it to be a mother? Sister Taylor will tell you that when she comes to talk; she can explain it far better than I can. But I know enough about it to say that it is a great thing to be a mother, that is, — a wise and prudent mother, to know how to administer physical and spiritual life to her children. It requires experience; it calls for the

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improvement of the mind; it requires the control of ourselves. When the child needs to be taught, etc., it requires an immense amount of wis- dom to move along with the child as it advances in age. We already have the finest class of young sisters and young brethren that there is in the world, and they are bound to become great and mighty men and women in the things that pertain to their exaltation and glory. Could a woman be presented to this audience who has become perfected and exalted, allow me to say, to the Godhead, you would see something won- derful and grand. The sisters would say to themselves that a position of that character was worth seeking after. This is the truth, and noth- ing but the truth. Men and women's exaltation and glory is something that cannot be expressed in language. I suppose that the idea to be carried out in this three days' con- ference is to not have lengthy speeches, but as far as possible be pointed, and speak pertaining to that which will lift us up to exaltation and glory eventually. God bless you. Amen. Sister Martha Home Tingey then addressed the conference, stating that President Elmina S. Taylor was very glad to be present, but felt un- equal to the task of speaking in so large a building. She extended love and greetings on behalf of Sister Taylor to all present. Elder Alfred Best sang the beautiful tenor solo, "The Pioneer," written by Professor Evan Stephens. Secretary Thomas Hull presented the statistical reports of the Young Ladies' and Young Men's Associations,* and also presented the general officers of the associations. Following are the names of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association officers as sustained:

Lorenzo Snow, General Superintendent, Joseph F. Smith, ^ Heber J. Grant, v Assistants. B. H. Roberts, J

Thomas Hull, Secretary and Treasurer. Evan Stephens, Music Director. Horace S. Ensign, Asst. Music Director.

• The full report of the Y. M, M. L A., will be published in the Aug- ust number of the Era.

716 IMPROVEMENT ERA. aids: Francis M. Lyman Nephi L. Morris- John Henry Smith Willard Done Matthias F. Cowley Le Roi C. Snow Abraham 0. "Woodruff Frank Y. Taylor J. Golden Kimball Rudger Clawson Junius F. Wells Rulon S. Wells Milton H. Hardy Joseph W. McMurrin: Rodney C. Badger Reed Smoot George H. Brimhall Briant S. Hinkley Edward H. Anderson Moses W. Taylor Douglas M. Todd B. F. Grant H. S. Tanner. A soprano solo was beautifully sung by Miss Ruth Wilson. Sister Lucy Woodruff Smith addressed the conference on the Life of President Brigham Young. Elder Horace S. Ensign then sang the baritone solo, "Babylon." Elder John H. Hinckley, supt Y. M. M. L A., of the newly-organized Big Horn Stake, addressed the audience briefly, upon the conditions in-

that stake, and the work accomplished by the mutual improvement as- sociations there in the railroad camps during the past winter. The choir and congregation sang the hymn, "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation," and the closing prayer was pronounced by Sister Maria Y. Dougall. 2 P. M. The choir and congregation'sang the hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints." Prayer was offered by Apostle Reed Smoot. The choir sang the anthem, "The Mountain of the Lord's House." Elder B. H. Roberts addressed the conference, referring to the original object of the organization of the Mutual Improvement Associ- ations, and showing how the associations had lived up to that object. He also eloquently appealed to the young men to hold high the standard of truth and maintain the principles of the gospel, assuring them that the eyes of the whole world were upon them. Even a voice from the great Tolstoi, in Russia, had come enquiring about the religion and social conditions of the Latter-day Saints. Elder G. D. Pyper sang the solo, "There is sunshine in my soul today." Sister Susa Y. Gates spoke upon "What we Owe our Fathers." The choir sang the anthem, "When Thou Comest to Thy Kingdom,'^ the beautiful solo being sung by Sister Lizzie Thomas Edward. Prayer was pronounced by Sister May Booth Talmage. (To be continued.)

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