Our Work

OUR WORK.

AMUSEMENTS AND ENTERTAINMENTS. From the beginning, the Latter-day Saints have recognized the need of amusements. For the young people, they are not a luxury but a posi- tive necessity, and the efforts of our officers should be not to suppress, but to control them. Since association officers are responsible for the kind of amusements indulged in, and for the style of places where they are sought, a person's fitness as a social leader of the young should be considered when new officers are selected. They should be men who have social as well as other qualifications. The social gift will enable them to enter into the spirit of the young men, and to make their meet- ings attractive. Amusements should be under the supervision of the bishopric. By selecting a committee, on which there should be at least one member of each auxiliary organization, to direct the amusements of a ward or stake, the burdening of a few may be avoided. The following forms of amusement have received the sanction of the General Board: Dancing, amateur theatricals, picnics, concerts, home socials, etc.

At home socials, the following are recommended as suitable forms of amusements: Games of skill, guessing games, literary games, mirth- provoking games and musicals. For social gatherings in the cities, where a majority of the young people who gather are engaged during the day in occupations requiring the exercise of the brain more than the muscles, it is urged that brain-taxing games should not be played. Com- plaints have been made by many young people that after attending social entertainments, in which such games have been indulged in, they have returned home weary and more tired than when they went to them, so that instead of receiving relaxation and rest, they have simply contin- ued the toil of the day. Late hours should be avoided, everywhere. This is especially applicable to the country districts, where the custom in so

OUR WORK. 147

many places prevails of beginning dancing parties at 9:30 or 10 o'clock, and keeping them up until 1:30 or 2 o'clock in the morning, and this, too, frequently after the young people have traveled long distances to the parties, and have the same distance to return home. This is injurious, physically and morally, and should not be tolerated. At the September convention of the General Boards, the following motion by Elder J. W. McMurrin prevailed: That it is the sense of the General Boards that we recommend to all officers of the Mutual Improvement Associations that they use their in- fluence to have all dancing parties and other amusements, both public and private, commence early and close at 12 o'clock, p. m. Other instructions pertaining to this subject were given as follows. They appear very timely for the holiday season: We urge the officers to spare no effort to keep in touch with the members — to take part with them in their amusements, at home and in public, as well as in their religious work. Especial attention is called to the necessity of proper personal behavior at all places of amusement. Polite manners —good behavior—are fine arts to be cultivated. The demand of the young people for amusements and recreation is recognized in our communities by all. In the Church, the older people fully recognize the fact that amusements are necessary for the young folks, and they co-operate and associate with them in their amusements. Recreation and rest are not useless; nor a necessary evil. — Our amusements should be educational they should be of a high class —we should not permit anything of a low or improper character. This does not mean that all our amusements should be of a serious nature; merriment and wit are not only allowable but advisable. Literary enter- tainments in many places have been very successful. In our amuse- ments, we should avoid all objectionable methods of dancing, late hours, and card-playing; the latter is unqualifiedly opposed by the First Presi- dency. See editorial by President Joseph F. Smith, in August 1903, ,

number of Improvement Era. Upon motion, it was decided that the entertainment to be held just previous to the commencement of the season's work should be conjoint. That is to say, the entertainment or reception given by the young ladies, preliminary to the opening of their season, should be participated in by the young men, and the entertainment given by the young men should receive the assistance of the young ladies. To these entertainments the parents should be specially ihvited, and while they are present, the fund and its objects should be referred to, and the parents should be made, if possible, to understand the educational phase of this fund. In our amuse-

148 IMPRO VEMENT ERA .

ments we should avoid objectional methods of dancing, and other evils of the ball room, late hours, card-playing and similar practices. We should guard well the liberties that have been granted us in the gospel, and avoid every form of license. One of the evils in many of our towns is that the ownership of dance halls is in the hands of men who are not responsible. We should discour- age the patronage of such halls, and should remember that amusements and entertainments are not gotten up primarily for the object of making money. Where halls are thus owned, our organizations should seek to obtain control on certain nights for select parties. The officers of Mutual Improvement associations should be encouraged to unite with the stake and ward authorities, and support them in all plans adopted for the amusement of the young people. Following resolutions were adopted: 1. By Elder Edward H. Anderson: That there be two opening en- tertainments, one for the young men, and one for the young ladies. 2. By Elder Rudger Clawson: That in the coming conventions, under the subject of amusements, the matter of card-playing be given prominence; and that it be the sense of these Boards that we discourage it with our influence, as members of the General Boards, by teaching and example. 3. By Elder Rudger Clawson: That the subject of billards be also brought up, in connection with the subject of amusements, and that we also discourage pool and billiard playing. Elder Reed Smoot strongly urged that the growing habit of buggy riding late in the night, and on Sundays, should be discoun- tenanced.

CONJOINT MEETINGS. Officers of the M. I. A. are reminded that there should be in every stake the following conjoint meetings: 1. Stake officers' meetings. These should be held monthly, at which all matters pertaining to the conjoint interests of the associations may be discussed. Misunderstandings can be adjusted, and better feelings maintained by holding conjoint meetings. At these meetings prepara- tions should be made for the quarterly conjoint meetings of the associa- tions held at the time of the quarterly conferences. It would be well to

arrange at these meetings for the visits to the various ward associations, so that the brethren may accompany the sisters on those trips. (This applies more particularly to the country districts where considerable distances have to be traveled by team to visit the associations.)

OUR WORK. 149

2. Once each month, a meeting of the ward officers of both organ-

izations should be held to prepare the program for the monthly conjoint session, and to consider all other matters pertaining to the conjoint interest of the associations. At these meetings, the brethren and sisters to take part in the preliminary programs should be selected. 3. In every ward there should be, each month, a conjoint meeting to which the public should be invited. Special attention should be paid to the programs of these meetings. They should be made especially attractive, interesting and lively. Especial efforts should be made to

get the parents to attend them, and also to secure the attendance of strangers, and those who are indifferent to Mutual Improvement or other Church work. If necessary to secure the attendance of all such, personal

visits should be made. 4. The privilege has been given to the Mutual Improvement Asso- ciations to hold a conjoint meeting on the Sunday evening of each of the quarterly conferences. Special preparation should be made for these meetings. The program should be spicy, short and sharp. The num- bers should be presented partly by local members. The object of these meetings is to create a greater interest in Mutual Improvement work amongst the people generally. Officers should therefore make special

effort to interest the bishops and the priesthood generally in the meet- ings, where the aims and objects of Mutual Improvement should be laid

before the people; they should be shown what the associations are doing. Therefore, an extra effort to secure the attendance of all the parents should be made. Let all officers' meetings, separate or conjoint, be formal and regu- lar; that is to say, they should be opened by prayer, and singing would formal not be out of place. The business should be taken up in a regular, and business-like manner, the business dispatched with promptness, and that is the meeting dismissed by prayer. They should be held regularly; to say, at stated intervals, not at haphazard times.

It the desire of the General Boards that all officers' meetings be is

opened and closed by prayer. In the conjoint meetings, all long lectures

Short talks is the order, and no speaker should be should be avoided. allowed to encroach upon the time of another.

THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. twenty-five cents per annum is The collection from the members of means that the general officers have of paying their expenses the only railroad fares, and other legitimate out- for clerk-hire, postage, printing, associations generally. Two weeks are set lay for the benefit of the

150 IMP HO VEMhNT ERA

aside for the collection of this fund, —the first weeks in December and February. The first is upon us, and attention is called to the need of diligence in getting the matter attended to successfully and promptly. As one of the members of the Board put it, "This fund is a volun- tary 'obligation' upon each member. It is used for defraying the ex- penses of the General Board —for railroad fares, attending conferences, conventions, etc., office expenses, rent, stationery, clerk hire, etc. The members should be trained and encouraged to bring their contribu- tions to this fund, and not wait until a collector calls upon them. In this respect, they should be the same as the Saints in regard to their tithing, and pay the amount at their earliest opportunity." As to its collection: do not dun the members, nor talk too often about the fund at the meetings. The collection weeks, and the use of the envelopes, were adopted that the fund might be earnestly and vigorously pushed during the first weeks of December and February, and the con- stant talking about the fund be avoided. This fund is not an entrance fee nor a membership due, but is a voluntary subscription or "obligation." When the envelopes are dis- tributed, the members should be asked to return the envelop, either with their donation, or stating the reason why they cannot pay it. Enthusiastic officers, converted to the fund themselves, will always be able to collect a good amount from their members. There is an edu- cational side to the General Fund which is of greater importance than the mere paying of the amount. The boy who faithfully pays the fund, will be the faithful tithe payer of the future, and the man who will be willing to donate for all Church purposes. We should require the boys to pay this for their own benefit that. they may be broadened. For this reason, entertainments gotten up to obtain means to pay this fund do not meet the object, from the fact that they relieve the boys from their personal obligations, and deprive them of the opportunity to obtain this education in generosity and the faithful meeting of their obligations. Officers are requested to take opportunities to place the subject be-

fore the parents, and so secure their co-operation in inducing the younger members particularly to pay this small amount. Do not let the matter drag, but be up and doing. When you have a task, do it now!

M. I. A. CONFERENCES. Conjoint conferences of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, of the stakes of Zion, will be held during the season, as per the following appointments.

. OUR WORK. 151

It is desired that the officers of the associations'will see that the conferences are well advertised, and insist upon the officers being present to represent all the organizations. Suitable programs, reflecting the work of the associations, should be presented by the members, and care should be taken in the arranging of the programs, that sufficient time is given for the visiting brethren and sisters, as well as for the mem- bers who are appointed to speak. The best musical numbers should be prepared, and every detail arranged to make the conferences attractive,, and up to the standard of the work of your membership, Following are the dates:

Sunday, November 8th Utah, Juab Sunday, November 15th Parowan, Alpine Sunday, November 22nd Emery, Malad Tuesday, November 24th Uintah Sunday, November 29th Nebo, Hyrum, South Davis Monday, November 30th Panguitch Tuesday, December 1st Alberta Monday, December 7th Kanab Tuesday, December 8th Taylor Sunday, December 13th Beaver, Bannock, Wayne, Box Elder Monday, December 14th St. George

Sunday, January 10th Wasatch, So. Sanpete, Bingham, Jordan Monday, January 11th San Juan Sunday, January 17th Woodruff, Oneida, Summit, Granite Tuesday, January 19th San Luis Sunday, January 24th Benson, Millard, Bear Lake, Tooele Monday, February 1st Cassia Sunday, February 14th North Sanpete, Pocatello, Sevier Monday, February 15th Snowflake Sunday, February 21st Morgan, North Davis Monday, February 22nd, St. Johns Monday, February 29th Union Tuesday, March 1st Maricopa Monday, March 7th St. Joseph, Big Horn

Sunday, March 13th Fremont Monday, March 14th Juarez Sunday, May 8th Cache, Weber

Sunday, July 10th Star Valley

Sunday, July 24th Teton