Our Work

OUR WORK. ELEVENTH ANNUAL M. I. A. CONFERENCE. Minutes of the first meeting of the Annual M. I. A. Conference held in the Barratt Hall, Friday, June 8, 1906, 10 a. m, Elder B. H. Roberts presiding. The congregation, led by Prof. Evan Stephens, sang, "Hope of Israel." Prayer was offered by Pres. Frank Y. Taylor. Singing, "Improvement Song," composed by Sister Ruth M. Fox. Elder George A. Smith welcomed the visiting officers and representatives, and hoped that all had come with the common thought, "The Work of the Father." In looking into the faces of those assembled, he saw the indications of good workers, and expressed the thought that the same "common thought" is throughout all the organizations. He asked them to feel as brothers and sisters, and to feel as if they were among friends, as indeed they are. The fact that they were all engaged in the work of the M I. A. was sufficient introduction, and all should feel at home. A preliminary program was then given, designed as a sample to the associations : Sister Judith Anderson rendered the Contralto solo, "From the Depths." Current Events were given by Elder Thomas Hull. Sister Amy Brown Lyman told ' 'The Story of Ruth." Elder B. H. Roberts explained that the program just completed was intended to show what was expected in a preliminary program. The congregation sang, "We thank Thee, 0 God, for a Prophet." Prayer was offered by Sister Julia Brixen, following which the young ladies and young men separated for department work. In the young men's section the following program was carried out: Pres. Frank Y. Taylor spoke on "Amusements for the M. I. A." He stated that amusements were necessary and as natural for the young as it is for a bird to sing. And although necessary, to be beneficial, they should be regulated by some organization. He spoke of the advantage of having an amusement committee such as is organized in some of the stakes. It should not be the ambition of the organization to raise money only, but to provide high class amusement and recreation for the young. Proper restraint should be observed in dancing. Public dance halls are a menace to the community, while ward functions, conducted by the proper authority, is a source of innocent amusement and benefit. We should encourage home drama, music, and all ennobling arts. Excursions are good in getting the young people interested. Saloons and public loafing corners are doing much to destroy the spirit obtained in Mutual Improvement Associations. On "Summer Work," Elder Benj. Goddard recommended monthly conjoint meetings. He thought it good for wards and settlements to exchange programs,

736 IMPROVEMENT ERA. where practicable, as it acquaints the young people with each other and causes a spirit of union. M. I. A. workers should discourage idleness, and devise something good for the young people to do, such as visiting widows, missionary wives, and helping them in their work. PRESIDENT LYMAN ON MISSIONARY WORK. President Francis M. Lyman said that he would not be present during the remaining meetings of conference, and he desired saying a few words on summer work, fall work, winter work, and spring work. He referred to the last M. I. A. conference, in which it was concluded to require individual missionary work of the members of the association, instead of calling general missionaries. He had inquired at conjoint gatherings in a number of stakes as to what had been done in the missionary line last winter; but had not heard a report so far, from any stake, that seemed to him to cover the ground, or that met his ideas in regard to missionary work. In some of the stakes they have gone into the field and have endeavored to enroll members, and have invited them to attend to meetings. This is a very good idea, but his idea has been, was, and is now, more than ever, that every man, who has a spark of life within him, and ambition, should enter the field as a missionary, as if he were going out into the world, or on a foreign mission. "Be a life-working missionary, a converting missionary, not only an inviting missionary, not only an enrolling missionary, but a missionary for conversion. What converts have been made? What reformation has been made? What young men have been reformed from intemperance, from use of tobacco, from profanity, infidelity, and brought into the fold? It would be nice to know something about that. I heard a young man from Uintah stake, a plain, hard-working young man, who had gone into the field and adopted the rule of preaching and teaching and had actually converted seven persons during the last year. "In regard to reading rooms, I like reading rooms, like them splendidly, but wish to add a little more—more reading rooms. I wish to suggest that these enrolled Mutual Improvement workers go into every home where there is a young man, and look after the young man, who is the material with which they are to work, and find out if in every house they have a reading room, and are supplied with the Era and with our Church literature. I would like to find that the Deseret News is in every house, and to know that the Era is in every house and home. Let the young men make it their business to see that it is there; read it yourselves, and then let some one else read it. The Era instead of being thrown in the waste basket, the Deseret News burned, and the Young Woman's Journal laid away to be bound, they should be on the reading table in every home. Make a little start for literature by obtaining a Bible, a Book of Mormon, a Doctrine and Covenants, a Pearl of Great Price, and some other books. We should look into the homes of people who are not wealthy, and who are not able to subscribe for daily papers, and scarcely able to subscribe for the semi-weekly, and who cannot take magazines, and who do not have them. I have discovered that there are very many homes where there is no literature. I ask that this missionary work be done. I wish you to take it home, and tell the brethren when they come to visit you, and take part in your conjoint gatherings, that you have invited people

OUR WORK. 737 to come to conference'and to meetings, and tried to have them enrolled, etc.. and also that you have preached the gospel to every young man in this way. I do not expect to have you convert them} all, but convert seven each. Report that you have made seven converts, or tried seven times and failed. Let us know you have done something, because I am suspicious that there has been very little done in the missionary line in twelve months. Do not wait for special times to come, but keep working all the time. I want to say, without boasting, that whenever I meet a brother, I try to find out something about him, and sometimes men acknowledge to me that I have done them good, and I am working in that line all the time. I do not ask you to do what I am not trying to do myself. Let every official who comes here, next year, to conference, announce that he has been doing work in this direction, and has labored with one or two. God bless you, and may you come here with your experience, with suggestions and views, to help us who do not know how to do as well as you know how to do. Elder Roberts stated that the General Board was in perfect harmony with Pres. Lyman on missionary work, and that it should be a constant labor to be engaged in, summer and winter. Elder Rulon S. Wells moved that each officer of the M. I. A. personally take up this labor, and try to make tangible headway therein, and to report his conversions at the next conference. Carried. General Secretary, Edward H. Anderson read the statistical and financial reports for the year ending April 30, 1906. The statistical report shows that there are 658 associations, an increase of 9 over 1905; 29,413 enrolled members, a decrease of 403. There are 940 members on missions, an increase of 94. -The total average attendance was 12,418, a decrease of 90; 22,279 meetings had been held, including 647 public lectures, showing an increase in meetings of 202. There are 10,174 people between the ages of 14 and 45 who are not enrolled in the associations, an increase of 230 over last year. The officers meetings held, showed a decrease of 371. A large increase was shown in conjoint officers' meetings, monthly conjoint meetings, and extra and special meetings. The North Davis, Fremont, Granite, Kanab, and Pioneer stakes, failed to send in their reports for 1905-6, and the membership and association totals are, therefore, taken from the last year reports. Through an error the General Secretary announced that Tooele had not reported, but the report of that stake was included in the general report. North Davis and Kanab have since reported. The following seven Foreign Missions reported: Netherlands, Northern States, Sweden, Turkish Mission, North Western States Samoa and Hawaii. In these seven Foreign Missions,there are 47 associations, with a membership of 1721, all of which is included in the totals given above. The general officers of the M. I. A. of the young men were presented and accepted as follows: Officers: Joseph F. Smith, General Superintendent; Heber J. Grant, B. H. Roberts, Assistants; Evan Stephens, Music Director; Horace S. Ensign, Assistant Music Director. Aids: Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, J. Golden Kimball, Junius F. Wells, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson,

738 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Douglas M. Todd, Thomas Hull, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Le Roi C. Snow, Frank Y. Taylor, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Jos. W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor, B. F. Grant, Henry S. Tanner, Hyrum M. Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., 0. C. Beebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Philip S. Maycock, Benj. Goddard, Geo. Albert Smith, Thomas A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, Lyman R. Martineau, Joseph H. Hart, John A. Widtsoe, Edward H. Anderson, General Secretary. Roll was called, showing representatives from fifty-five stakes. Elder D. H. Morris, of St. George stake, requested that arrangements be made for next conference, to have tickets on sale earlier, so that those living far from the city shall be able to get here for the morning meeting on Friday, which was voiced by several of the representatives. After singing, "Redeemer of Israel'" Elder Jos. E. Hickman, of Utah stake, pronounced the benediction. The afternoon and evening was spent in field day exercises at Calder's Park. The principal features were, a game of base ball between Box Elder and Weber stakes picked nines, resulting in a score of 4 to 4 in 12 innings; basket ball, races, and an informal reception in the pavilion, and dancing. The boating and other amusements of the park were free to the visitors, and the General Boards provided also for free admission, over 3000 tickets being distributed by them to M. I. A. officers and workers. (TO BE CONCLUDED IN THE AUGUST NUMBER.) THE ANNUAL M. 1. A. CONVENTIONS. Superintendents of stakes are requested to note the following appointments for the fall conventions of the M. I. A. In case changes are desired, the superintendents should consult with the officers of the Young Ladies' Associations of the stake and the stake Presidency, and decide upon a new date, and then notify the General Boards. It is hoped, however, that only a few changes will be necessary, if any: Taylor—Monday, August 20. Alberta—Monday, August 27. Panguitch—Monday, September 3. Alpine, Beaver, Emery, Juab, Malad, San Juan, San Luis, Hyrum, Sevier— Sunday, September 9. Kanab, Big Horn—Monday, September 10. Box Elder, Cassia, Granite, Pocatello, Teton, Ensign, Jordan, Nebo, Weber, South Davis, North Davis, St. George—Sunday, September 16. Bannock, Salt Lake, Pioneer, Liberty, Star Valley, South Sanpete, Wasatch, Utah, Cache, Woodruff, Oneida—Sunday, September 23. Parowan—Monday, September 24. Morgan, Fremont, Bear Lake, North Sanpete, Summit, Wayne, Millard—Sunday, September 30. Union, Uintah, Blackfoot, Tooele, Benson, Bingham—Sunday, October 14. Arizona and Mexico—unprovided for.