Greetings to M. I. A. Workers

GREETINGS TO THE M. 1. A. WORKERS- When the time arrived for opening the first meeting of the June, 1905, M. I. A. conference, the Assembly Hall was well filled It was a with over two thousand officers of these associations.

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glorious sight to behold these young people, leaders of the youth of Zion, workers in the splendid cause of Mutual Improvement, gathered in council and to be instructed. The scene inspired President Joseph F. Smith to utter the following greetings and in- instructions, as reported by Stenographer F. W. Otterstrom, of the L. D. S. University: I desire on the part of the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations, to extend, also, our greet- ings, not only to the young men, who are assembled here in the interest of Mutual Improvement work, but more especially to our sisters who are also engaged in this noble work of improving the minds, the character, and the lives of our youth. We greet you with a most hearty welcome. We are glad to see you, and sincerely hope that you will enjoy a season of great pleasure, while mingling with each other and with your fellow workers in this great cause, during this conference; and that when you return to your homes, those of you close by, and those of you who have come from a dis- tance, that you will carrv with you renewed determination, re- newed strength, courage and faith, and that you may go forth with an earnestness and interest in the work that we are engaged in. It has been said often that we must set a good example and

live up to the principles of the Gospel. It goes without saying that it is necessary for him or for her who desires to teach others, to be in a position themselves to teach. It is, therefore, encouraging to think and to see the number of our workers who are present here today, men and women who are, without question, without doubt, prepared to teach by their own works, by their own faith, through their own energy and devotion to the work in

which they are engaged. I believe you are prepared to teach

others, and to set a good example before the youth of Zion. I hold that it is an uphill business, an exceedingly uphill business, to have one who is addicted to some bad habit, under- take to teach somebody else not to indulge in that habit, to which he or she may be addicted. I have never been able to see how it would be possible for one who has given way to a vicious appetite or an unwholesome desire, or uncanny practice of any kind, to say to another person: "Walk not in my footsteps; follow not my ex- ample; shun my habits; you must do the things which I did not do,

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in order that you may be acceptable before God." I cannot

understand how men and women can be teachers and set an exam- ple before the world, who are not prepared to say to those whom they would teach: "Do not so much what I say, but come and do the things that I do." "Follow me," were the words of the Lord himself. Follow' me, do the things that ye see me do; and who- soever doeth the things that I command, and the works that I have done, shall be like a man who built his house upon a rock, and when the storms came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, it did not fall, for it was founded upon a rock. I do not intend to enter into a discourse this morning, but I

wish to say to those present, who may not be directly engaged in Mutual Improvement work, that here before me, and in this house at this time, is a most inspiring sight; for here is a congregation of men and women who are indeed setting an example before the world; whose lives are above criticism, whose works are pure and spotless, and whose hearts are right in the sight of the Lord; for they are engaged in a work that requires this status of character,

and they are not the kind of people who would engage in the work of the Lord, while they themselves are guilty of the evils,

vices and sins of the world. They have put themselves in a posi- tion to teach others, both by example and precept; and, there- fore, I greet you my brethren and sisters, as the salt of the earth, which has not lost its savor, but which is full of life, and which can impart life, and light, and truth, and virtue, and honor, to the children of men; whoever shall come in touch with you, will come in touch with purity, with pure desires, with honest purposes, and with true devotion to the cause of righteousness in the earth; for these are men and women who are engaged in a work that is intended to uplift the souls of men. We believe in honor, honesty, virtue, uprightness, truth, and everything that emanates from the source of light and truth and goodness; and it is our business, our joy, and our pleasure, to labor for the welfare of mankind. Now, what I have said, I have not said boastingly; I have not said in a spirit of self-righteousness, or anything of that kind;

but Imerely aim to speak that which I believe candidly and honestly to be true, that there is here assembled a congregation of good men and women, whose characters are above reproach,

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men and women who are filled with honor and the spirit of truth and virtue in their hearts. What a power you are in the midst of this people, for the accomplishment of good! pray God to bless you in your labors, to fill you with light, I

and give you joy in your efforts, and to enable you to see and realize many — aye, a hundred fold, of the fruits of your toil and

efforts for the advancement of his cause, in the reclamation of the unwary, and those who are foolish and see not; that you mav see them, through your efforts, brought back to the knowledge of the truth, and to a proper consideration of their own duties in life, which may God grant unto you, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.