Events of the Month

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sleepy, uninteresting beginnings will drive many away who would other- wise become interested and good workers. The stake boards should have everything well prepared and in hand, and should have a represent- ative at all the opening meetings in the wards. They should send a report to each ward showing the general con- dition of the work in the stake, so that each wardmay know what are the weak spots, and go to work accordingly. One of the stake superin- tendency should be given charge of each of the leading departments, such as the Era, fund, missionaries, and Manual; and it should be their particular business to look after these things; but the superintend- ent should not feel that he is therefore released from his responsibilty for all these departments, but he must exercise general supervision. The ward officers should have made ready for work some weeks before the first meeting of the association. They should hold officers' meetings and plan the coming season's work. They should examine the roll and urge the attendance of those who have previously been dilatory and indifferent, making special effort to get them to the first meeting. It would be well to compare the condition of the association, as shown

by the last report, with that of a year ago, and see wherein the associ- ation has fallen down, or made progress. Use special effort to make the first meeting attractive. This is very important. Newcomers may be made permanent members by an attractive and pleasant meeting, while they may be driven away dis- gusted if the first meeting they attend is dull and uninteresting. Select, therefore, your best speakers for the first program. Invite the bishopric and other ward officers to all your preliminary and other meetings. Be informed, so that you can answer all questions about your association.

EIGHTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE M. I. A.

MONDAY, 10 A.M., JUNE 1, 1903. Sang the hymn, "Do what is right," prayer by Superintendent C. L. Haight, of the Cassia stake. Sang, "How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord." The secretary read the financial report for the year ending May 31, 1903, which had been duly audited and signed by the auditing commit- tee. On motion the report was approved and filed. MANUALS FOR 1903-4. Elder B. H. Roberts then addressed the meeting on the subject of

952 IMPRO VEMENT EHA.

the Manual for 1903-4. He said: "The subject will be the Book of Mormon, and the Manuals for 19t3-4-and 1904-5 will treat on this sub- ject. We have been gradually building up a cou: se of study in 'Mormon' theology and 'Mormon' organization and government. We have had number one, a Manual on the 'Life of Jesus;' number two, on 'The Apos- tolic Age;' numbers three and four, 'Dispensation of the Fulness of Times;' numbers five and six, 'Principles of the Gospel.' We shall now publish two on the Book of Mormon, and one on modern revelation (Doctrine and Covenants); this leaves untreated the great period of the apostasy, which it is expected will be covered by a Manual on that subject, to succeed the one on modern revelation. This will make a ten years' course, an academic course, and one which we can use again, and will be the permanent course of study for the Mutual Improvement Associations. We believe it can be used also with advantage by quorums of the priesthood, and the Church schools and colleges. The text matter of the two Manuals on the Book of Mormon is really the second volume of the 'New Witness for God,' by the speaker, the first volume being Joseph Smith as a witness for God, this one being the Book of Mormon as a witness for God. This work has never yet been published, and has been purchased by the Church, the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. paying for the use of it in the ensuing two Manuals.

"It is divided into four parts; first, the Book of Mormon as a witness for God and the Bible; second, discovery of the Book of Mormon, its translation, lands and history, and travels of its peoples; third, internal and external evidences of the truth of the Book of Mormon; fourth, ob- jections considered. "The first two parts will be, perhaps, the least interesting to our students, yet they must be considered first. The foundation must be laid. I desire to forestall any criticism on the score of this being a hard Manual. It is absolutely necessary, at this stage of our work, that our boys should be called upon to dig deep and work hard. We have now a Junior Manual for the smaller boys, and the seniors must take up good, hard study. To those who are studious, the subject of the Book of Mormon as a witness for the Bible, and a discussion of what is called the higher criticism of the Bible, may appear dry and difficult, but our elders today are required to meet these very things in the world, and if theywould be fully equipped for their work, and polished shafts in the hands of the Lord, they must give their minds to these studies, to prepare themselves for good work in the mission field. The Manual will be divided into lessons, with an analysis for each lesson, as usual, and copious references to other works; although the chief references, of course, will be to the text contained in the Manual itself. This anal-

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ysis, however, will not be published throughout the text, but the whole number of lesson-analyses will be placed together at the beginning of the Manual with the preliminary programs, which will be prepared jointly by the Y. M. M. I. A. Manual Committee,and the Y. L. M. LA. Guide Committee. "The cost of this Manual will be very much greater than any previ- ous Manual, but the price will be the same. The Manual will contain two maps, one of North America and one of South, showing the physical features of these countries. They are very fine relief maps, and will be a valuable aid in the study of the Book of Mormon, and greatly enhance the vslue of the Manual. "The Junior Manual will be biographical, containing short biograph- ical lessons on Bible and Book of Mormon characters." At the close of Elder Roberts' discourse, a general discussion en- sued on the question of changing the date of the issue of the first number of the Era volume, it being suggested that the Era volume and the

Manual should be issued at the same time; but after consideration, the matter was referred to the General Board for their action. The question was asked, Which shall be studied in associations — which are always held jointly the Young Ladies' course of study, or the Young Men's? And this matter was also referred to the General Board. Elder W. C. Clive rendered, in his inimitable style, two beautiful violin solos, accompanied on the piano by Prof. J. A. Anderson.

CLASSWORK.

Elder Douglas M. Todd addressed the meeting on the subject of classwork. He said that there appeared to be not quite enough enthus- — iasm on the part of the class leaders not quite enough heart power thrown into their work. Officers and class leaders should be well posted on their work; but above all, they should develope a love for and interest in the subject. Without this interest, no matter how well versed they were, they could not create the necessary interest in their students. Elder Brimhall has well said,' 'It is not what we learn, but what we love, that is of importance." If we do not love our work, our study will be only fragmentary. Class leaders should not give too much attention to the best stu- dents, the negligent and indifferent student is the one which needs the greatest attention, and an effort should be made to call into active work the backward ones. Teachers should not do too much themselves. Their effort should be to encourage the boys to express their ideas. We are

954 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

not hunting after the very best, but to encourage all to express their thoughts. Students should be encouraged to ask good questions. The speaker urged the greater necessity of class leaders keeping in view the whole subject, and continually referring to that which had already been gone over, so as to keep up the relation between one lesson and another. As a means of success, the teacher was asked to thoroughly prepare himself at home before coming to his class. The teacher was admonished that he should never "nag" the students. He should give special en- couragement to those who have done good work, but should not find fault with the student in the class who had failed. Elder Edward H. Anderson said that every teacher should keep in mind three points; namely, aim, illustration or development, and appli- cation; or, in other words, what are we studying for? how shall we study it? and what good will the lessons do us? Brother Williams, of South Davis stake, urged that class leaders should be selected early in the season, all such selections should be made not later than the first meeting. The doxology was sung, and the benediction pronounced by J. E. Heppler, Superintendent of Sevier stake.

2 P. M.

Singing, "0 ye mountains high." Prayer by President William H. Smart, of Wasatch stake. Singing, "Guide us, thou great Jehovah."

SUMMER WORK. Elder Bryant S. Hinckley spoke on the subject of summer suggestions. He urged as absolutely necessary for keeping up the interest during the summer vacation, monthly conjoint meetings, and the quarterly conjoint meetings held in connection with the stake conferences. In the prepar- ation of the programs for these meetings, the Young Men's officers must remember to pay due deference to the sisters, and combine with them in all the conjoint work. He also called attention to the suggestion of Brother Edward H. Anderson, that every member of the association ought to take up some good book for summer reading, and further urged that officers' meetings should be held occasionally, so that the officers might keep themselves in touch with one another and with the work, both that which was to be done during the summer season, and the preparation for the coming winter.

MISSIONARY LABOR.

Elder J. Golden Kimball said upon the subject of missionary meth-