Our Work: The Improvement Fund; Class Work

OUR WORK.

THE IMPROVEMENT FUND.

Elder Rudger Clawson treated this topic at the general conference of the Y. M. M. 1. A., and his remarks are now pertinent, as the date for collection is at hand. He said, among other things: Although this subject does not admit of very wide treatment, it is nevertheless important; for in presenting this obligation to the young men, it gives them an opportunity to exercise the spirit of loyalty to the cause. There are two or three essentials that I would like to impress upon your minds. One is, that it is always to be remembered that the superintendency of a stake and the presidency of a ward association must themselves be converted to this important duty before they can convert others to it. I do not think it is necessary to set forth the propriety and wisdom of having a general fund, any more than to say that we are all aware, no doubt, that no organization can be carried on without expense, either in the Church or out of the Church. There is expense connected with all great movements, and that expense must be met. There is expense connected with the General Board, not to pay salaries, mind you, but to pay the oflBice expenses, and the expense of sending members of the Board into the stakes to visit the various conferences. I am converted

to this myself, and I hope that all who are here are converted. Another essential is, after we are converted, we should be posted. The superintendency of the stake should be posted and know something about this fund in their stake, so that when a member of the Board asks for information about this fund, the superintendency will not be under the necessity of referring the matter to somebody else. The president of the ward must always be posted in relation to this fund, when he re- ceives a visit from the stake officers. Another essential: It should be the purpose of every superintend- ency of a stake to have a little improvement in this fund every year-

OUR WORK. 75

It should be the ambition of every ward president to make a little ad- vance each year. Another essential: The effort to collect this fund should be made in the season thereof. There is a time for everything, and there is a time for the collection of this fund. Let us bend our energies to that time, which is called Fund week — the first week in December and the first week in February. A president should know just how his associa- tion stood the year before, when he comes to present this matter during fund week, and he should see to it that every member, whether present or absent, has an envelope furnished him. Then it is the duty of the president to become acquainted with the response that is made, and to know who has paid in, and who has not, so that he may know where to fire his shot. He must not do it in a public manner, however, but he must fire some very heavy shot in private, to convert those who have not paid.

CLASS WORK. The following suggestions on this subject were given by Elder B. S. Hinckley at the annual conference. Teachers and class leaders will find them of great value, if studied and adopted:

(1) Aims of the Lesson. 1. —To develop a testimony of the gospel. 2. —To impart a knowledge of the gospel. 3. —To create a habit of study. (2) General Suggestions. 1. —Keep mind the end toward which everythan whatshould in lesson point. 2. — What the learner more important loves is he learns. 3. — Adapt the the lesson to class. 4. —Be most interested the in least interested. 5. —Love the and the lesson student. 6. — Respect the student's individuality. 7. —Encourage individuality. 8. — Be a good listener. highest form of success. 9^_Getting others to succeed is the (3) Teacher's Preparation.

—Fresh, knowledge of the subject. 1. full —Essential points 2. selected. 3.— A general plan of procedure decided upon. —The 4. of the lesson awakened spirit own mind. in his

(4) Handling th3 lesson. 1. —Presume all prepared.

2. —Gently hold the the class to subject.
   3. —Keep each part and time. to his
   4. — Show work. indifference to careless
   5. —Eulogize careful work, though poor.
   6. —Encourage members good to select points.
   7. —Relate the the main lesson to subject.
   8. —Give frequent reviews on essentials.
   9. —Encourage boys come you for to to help.

   —Discourage manual reading 10. (a) (b) discussion of dan- in class,

gerous questions. — Make a of 11. list questions, and come prepared with difficult defin- iteanswers. 12. — Vary the method.

Some class leaders, particularly in the junior class, may find the following suggestions to be of advantage.

KINDS OF LESSONS.

(1) Study Recitation. —This may occupy ten or fifteen minutes at the close of the meeting. The aim is for the president, or class leader, to study with the members, the lesson that is to come up at the follow- ing meeting. It is not to be a simple statement of the points to be studied, but a discussion in which members and leader develope, in a general way, the essential points contained in the subject. In this study-recitation the following points should be kept in mind: (1) That the members have recalled to their minds such things as will aidthem to interpret the new points to be learned: e. g., when we meet new words we seek their definition and interpretation in words we already know. (2) That the members have the privilege of thinking and ex- pressing their thoughts. (3) That the leader state suggestive questions. (2) Study-Lesson. —This means the lesson assigned for the follow- ing meeting which should be prepared at home. As a result of the study-recitation, the study-lesson, or home preparation, is made much easier, on account, the essential features have already been indi- cated, thus saving considerable time and energy. In this study-lesson each member is supposed to thoroughly develop the various points in the lesson; e. g., study the work outlined in the manual and commit to mem- ory the passages indicated.

(3) Recitation-Lesson. —After the member has gone over the les-

son with the class leader, and then studied it carefully at home, he should be prepared to present it properly to the association. The teacher who succeeds in getting his class members to come to the asso- ciation with a thoroughly prepared lesson has the first requisite for a spirited and successful meeting.