Our Work: M. I. A. Annual Conference

OUR WORK. M. I. A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the Mutual Improvement Associations opened on Friday, June 9th, in the Barratt Hall. The officers of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Associations met in conjoint session for devotional exercises, after which the Young Ladies adjourned to the Brigham Young Memorial Building, and the Young Men continued their session in the Barratt Hall. Elder B. H. Roberts presided. There were two subjects discussed at each session on Friday and Saturday. On Friday morning Elder Joseph W. McMurrin discussed the follow- — ing subject: "Substitute for Formal Missionary Work General Individual Work — — Personal Attention by Officers to Members Arousing of Universal Patriotism." He announced that the General Board had decided to abandon formal missionary work, and that it would be expected of the officers of the asssociations to do the missionary work required in the associations. It was then urged that the officers pay personal attention to members, and by individual work enthuse the young people in their districts to attend the associations. It was also announced that an effort must be made to arouse universal patriotism for the associations, and to this member is expected to become a missionary. end, every Beginning with the members of the General Board, who will be called upon now and then to report their labors in the meetings of the Board, it is expected that every officer in the associations will become a missionary and report his labors at the weekly meetings, or at such other time as may be set apart for this purpose, and also that officers will call upon members to ascertain what is being done in this direction. A discussion followed. Elder George A. Smith then spoke upon the subject, "Obstacles in the Way of Mutual Improvement: (a) In Our Country Wards, (b) In Our City Wards." He touched upon the difficulties that lie in the way of

Mutual Improvement, and laid particular stress upon the lack of initiative,tact and ingenuity, on the part of the officers of the association. He urged upon them the need of acquiring these virtues to make the association a success, and to dispel the difficulties in the way of the work. He urged especially punctuality, approachableness, good example, and a leadership in social affairs, as among the virtues that would accomplish this result. At the meeting in the afternoon Superintendent Alexander Buchanan, of the Pioneer stake, dwelt upon the subject of "Indispensability of Regular Ward and Stake Officers' Meetings and a Regular Order of Business." He gave an outline of the order of business in monthly stake union meetings and weekly ward meetings, for the guidance of the officers present. It was especially urged upon the officers to meet regularly, both in stake and ward capacity. Elder George H. Brimhall spoke upon "The Fall Conventions," and the following dates for the conventions, to be held in the various stakes, were read and approved: August 13, Alberta, August 20, Taylor. August 27, Alpine, Beaver, Emery, Juab, Malad, San Juan, San Luis. August 28, Panguitch. September 3, Box Elder, Cassia, Granite, Pocatello, Teton, Bannock, Jordan, Nebo, Weber, South Davis. September 4, Kanab, Big Horn. September 10, Morgan, Ensign, Salt Lake, Pioneer, Liberty, Star Valley, South Sanpete, Hyrum, Utah, Sevier, Cache, Woodruff. September 11, St. George. September 17, North Davis, Fremont, Bear Lake, North Sanpete, Summit, Wayne, Millard. September 19, Parowan. September 24, Union, Uintah, Wasatch, Blackfoot, Oneida, Tooele, Bingham. October 1, Benson. The dates for the Arizona and Mexico conventions will be announced later. A circular giving the details of the order of business for the conventions, the programs and other instructions to stake and ward officers, in this connection, will be issued and distributed in ample time to reach the officers before the conventions are held. The second edition of the Digest of Instructions, issued last season by the General Board, will also

OUR WORK. 711 be prepared in time for distribution among the officers. This digest will contain instructions pertaining to the machinery of our associations with which every officer should familiarize himself. At the 10 o'clock session, on Saturday morning, 10th, there were "Ten Two Minute Talks on Manual Difficulties," by officers from the body of the house, and a response was given by Elder B. H. Roberts, showing how the difficulties of last season's manual, which will apply in a great measure to the present season's manual, may be overcome. He also gave a splendid preview of the manual for 1905-6, the text of which will be printed in the Era for August. Following the remarks of Elder Roberts, Elder Douglas M. Todd spoke on "The Excuse Hunter — Kill Him Off." He pointed out the difference between the person with a legitimate excuse and the one hunting for an excuse. Those who hunt for an excuse, generally have failed to do a duty, and it is then they hunt around for some excuse to justify them. There should be no excuse hunters in the Mutual Improvement Associations. At the afternoon session at 2 o'clock, Elder Bryant S. Hinckley presented the diagram of the machinery of the Mutual Improvement Associations, which will be printed in the Digest of Instructions, and will be of great value to the officers in presenting before them the organization and the essentials of our associations. He proposed an athletic contest in connection with our annual conference. The closing exercise of the afternoon session was given by Elder Edward H. Anderson, who spoke upon the subject, "The Spirit Giveth Life.'' He contended that all living things are dual, that the material is but the covering to the life within, and that without the spirit, the material, or outward form, is dead; and also that the spirit can only give expression through outward forms. The machinery of our associations may be likened to the forms or framework of material matter, but the spirit of the work, the love of must underlie these forms to make them sucit, cessful. It is this spirit and love of the work that officers must have to make a success of their associations, and? which they must seek to instil into the hearts of the members. Elder Junius F. Wells followed, giving a detailed statement of the origin of the first Mutual Improvement Association, thirty years ago today. He gave a clear account of the calling of himself and others, by President Brigham Young to organize the associations, and also gave a history of the first organization in the Thirteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, on the 10th of June, 1875. His remarks will appear in the Era in full. President Joseph F. Smith made some closing remarks, giving the

officers his blessing, and urging upon them the necessity of obtaining the spirit of Mutual Improvement work. This may be obtained by at. tention to duty and by effort in thework outlined for them. He was exceedingly interested in Mutual Improvement work, and recognized its great importance as a factor in assisting to build up the Church and kingdom of God, and to keep the young Latter-day Saints in their line of duty. On Sunday morning, 11th, there was a conjoint officers' meeting of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Associations in the Assembly Hall, Elder B. H. Roberts presiding. After greetings by Sister Martha Home Tingey, president of the Young Ladies Associations, and by Elder B. H. Roberts, for the young men, Elder Mathonihah Thomas, superintendent of the Ensign Stake, spoke upon "How May Our Association Create a Popular Sentiment for Right Things?" This was followed by a discussion from the body of the house, at the close of which Elders George M. Cannon, Jr., and Noel Pratt sang Evan Stephens' "God Bless Our Mountain Home." Sister Mary E. Connelly, of the General Board of Young Ladies' then spoke upon "The Member With a Purpose," which was followed by a discussion. Sister Sasie Heath, president of Pioneer Stake, gave some instructions on the "Management of Preliminary Programs,'' followed by Elder B. F. Grant, of the General Board of Young Men's Associations, on "Management of Conjoint Meetings." A very interesting exercise was ten minutes devoted to one-minute talks on results ©f last year's resolution on "Reverence for Sacred Things." The resolution reads as follows: Resolved, That we will exert every effort to persuade the members of our associations to join in developing in the hearts of our young people a sentiment of reverence for sacred places and sacred things; and to unite with us in refraining from talk, laughter and all unseemly conduct in our worshiping assemblages; and in keeping all of our places of worship clean, well ventilated and attractive. The discussion showed that much good had resulted where an effort had been made, from the efforts of the young people in this matter, that the conduct in worshiping assemblages was better, that houses of worship had greatly improved in attractiveness, cleanliness, and in general appearance, much of which was due to the efforts of the associations in this direction. Many had not put the resolution into practice, and on motion it was readopted. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock, the associations met in the great

OUR WORK. 713 Tabernacle, which was comfortably filled with young people. The music was in charge of Elder Evan Stephens and the Tabernacle choir,and the organ under J. J. McClellan. The choir sang, as the opening hymn, "True to the Faith," and after prayer, the anthem, "Glory to the Lord, our DeThomas S. liverer," the music by McClellan and the words by Stephens, Ashworth singing the solo. Secretary Thomas Hull presented the names of the officers of the Young Ladies' Associations, the Primary Associations, and the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations. The officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. are as follows: Joseph F. Smith, General Superintendent; Heber J. Grant, B. H. Roberts, Assistants; Thomas Hull, Secretary and Treasurer; Evan Stephens, Music Director; Horace S. Ensign, Assistant Music Director. AIDS. Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Matthias F. Cowley, J. Golden Kimball, Junius F. Wells, Milton H. Hardy, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson, Douglas M. Todd, Thomas Hull, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Le Roi C. Snow, Frank Y. Taylor, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor, B. F. Grant, Henry S. Tanner, Hyrum M. Smith, William B. Dougall, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., 0. C. Beebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Philip S. Maycock, Benjamin Goddard, George A. Smith, Thomas A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, L. R. Martineau. A synopsis of the reports of our associations follows: Number* of associations, 689, including 40 in foreign countriesmembers enrolled, 31,648, including 1,632 in foreign countries; average attendance, 12,508; members on missions, 846; meetings held, 21,977. Exercises: lessons from Manual, 21,432; home preparations, 46,920; miscellaneous, 10,883. Reports were received from the Hawaiian, California, Netherlands, Northwestern States, Northern States, and Eastern States, Missions, and from all the stakes of Zion except two — St. Joseph and Teton. There are 592 Young Ladies' associations, with a membership of 25,951, and an average attendance of 12,097. Meetings of all kinds to the number of 27,402 had been held, and 38,135 testimonies had been borne. There are 649 Primary Associations with a membership of 42.249. Frank P. Foster sang a tenor solo, "The Lord is my Light," following which Elder Junius F. Wells spoke on the subject, "Tested by the Lives of its Members, How Far is M. I. A. Work Vindicated?"

Nellie Druce Pugsley sang "Gospel Restoration," assisted by the Tabernacle choir, following which Sister Ruth M. Fox, of the Young Ladies' Board, spoke on "Home Influence — the Source of Spiritual and Moral Living." This was followed by an address by Minnie L. Snow, of the General Board of the Primary Associations, on the training of the children in the Primary Associations. The Tabernacle choir closed a most instructive and interesting meeting by appropriate singing. A general meeting was held at 7 o'clock in the evening, at which Ida B. Smith, of the General Board of Primary Associations, occupied ten minutes in the interest of the young children. Lottie Owen sang a soprano solo, "With Verdure Clad." Sister Susa Young Gates spoke on "Effort May Modify Environment." A quartette was sung by Messrs. Thomas S. Ashworth, W. Derr, Chas. Pike, and Ed. Braby, of the Liberty stake, following which a spiritedsermon was delivered by Elder Nephi L. Morris, on the subject, "Let Us Worship God;" the text being from The Cotter's Saturday Night , The hymn, "0, ye mountains high," was sung by Sister Emma Lucy Gates, assisted by the Tabernacle choir, followed by the congregation singing "America." The conference was celebrated for its splendid spirit and general social good feeling. On Friday evening, Board of the Young Men's 9th, the General Associations tendered the Young Ladies' Board and the stake officers a free admission to the concert of Miss Emma Lucy Gates, held in the ! great Tabernacle, which was a very delightful musical feast. On Saturday evening, a reception to the M. I. A. stake officers by the General Boards, was held at the Granite Stake tabernacle. At this enjoyable function, nearly one thousand officers attended, and it was pronounced one of the best entertainments of these now celebrated annual gatherings.