--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 10 number: 9 published: 1907-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Our Work: General Conference and M. I. A. Convention, 1907," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 9 (July 1907): 759–762.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1009unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1009unse start_page: 759 end_page: 762 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1009unse publication_year: 1907 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Our Work: General Conference and M. I. A. Convention, 1907 OUR WORK. GENERAL M. I. A. CONFERENCE. The General conference of the Y. M. and Y. L. M LA. of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in Barratt Hall, Salt Lake City, Friday morning, 10 o'clock, June 7. Elder Heber J. Grant, presided. The first meeting was a conjoint preliminary meeting, which was so largely attended that many could not find seats. The congregation sang, "Up, Awake, ye Defenders of Zion;" and prayer was offered by Superintendent M. A. Stewart of Maricopa Stake. The Congregation sang: "Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded." President Joseph F. Smith welcomed the visiting officers and representatives, and delivered the opening address of welcome. Sister Elizabeth Booth of Beaver sang a solo. Elder Heber J. Grant expressed regret that there was so little roOm and hoped that at our next conjoint meeting we may convene in a larger place. Elder Edward H. Anderson for the committee announced the appointments for the fall M. L A. conventions. In case any changes in dates are desired the officers should consult with the stake Presidency, decide upon a new date and make it known to the General Secretaries as soon as possible. Elder B. F. Grant announced that if any wished entertainment they should call at the close of the meeting on the committee who would look after them. Elder Heber J. Grant announced a concert to be given as a testimonial to George Careless, the well-known Church musician and composer, in the Tabernacle, on Monday evening, June 10. The attending officers and members were given free tickets as guests of the General Board. This closed the preliminary program and the officers of the Young Men's As- sociations adjourned to the Assembly Hall. Roll call showed 53 stakes represented. Elder Heber J. Grant presented the general officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. as follows. They were sustained by unanimous vote: Officers: Joseph P. Smith, General Superintendent; Heber J. Grant and 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, Geo. H. Brimhall, Edw. H. Anderson, 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, Jos. F. Smith, Jr., 0. C. Beebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Benj. Goddard, Geo. Albert Smith; 760 IMPROVEMENT ERA. TLc3. A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, Lyman R. Martineau, Charles H. Hart, John A. Widtsoe, James H. Anderson; Alpha J. Higgs, Secretary and Treasurer. Secretary A. J. Higgs read the statistical and financial reports for the year end- ing April 30, 1907. The statistical report shows that there are 637 associations with an enrollment of 30,650, and an active enrollment of 16,811. There are 1,002 members away from home attending school, 1,043 on foreign missions, and 1,755 excused for other reasons. The average attendance was 12,394; and there were 12,346 between 14 and 45 not enrolled. There were 3,497 officers' meetings held; 11,330 regular weekly meetings; 2,257 conjoint officers' meetings. There were 750 who read one or the other or all of hooks Rasselas, True to his Home, , John Halifax. The number of libraries is 216, with 11,827 bound volumes. Superintendent John L. Herrick of Weber spoke on "Summer Work." He presented the course of study for the summer season of 1907, arranged by the Weber associations. It is of a literary and musical rather than a theological char- acter, though there is a religious element about it. The first song in each meeting would be congregational, the second a solo. The object of the outlines is to en- courage the young people to activity in their work, and also the reading of good literature to take the place of so much pleasure-seeking during the summer months by the young people . The officers had found it very beneficial to work in harmony with the Young Ladies, both 'i the summer course and in the regular winter course. The subject was further discussed by Superintendent Samuel E. Taylor of Nebo who referred to different methods which had been tried in his stake to in- terest the young people in the work. He considered the program of the Weber itake one of the best suggestions that has ever come to the associations, and that It would be a great help to keep the associations alive during the summer. Superintendent A M. Merrill of Cassia stake was greatly in jf avor of yearly . work, and considered that t^is program came to the associations as an inspired thing. He hoped, however, that we would not depart from our gospel studies, and that we would not neglect congregational singing. Elder Thomas Hull of the General Board called attention to the printed oat- line of study for the summer work of 1907, in the Fremont stake. This matter of summer study was not initiated by the General Board, but the members heartily approve of it. They are heartily in accord also with the sentiment expressed by Superintendent Merrill when he hoped that the M. I. A. meetings would be made general throughout the Church during the whole year. Initiative should be en- couraged, and to this end stake boards should devise plans to interest and instruct the associations for the summer. He suggested that where stakes are not prepared to take up summer work, that the young people should be encouraged to assist in the labors of the Lesser Priesthood, the Sunday Schools and other organizations. We cannot do too much to keep up interest in our associations, as other organizations, notably the Y. M. C. A. , are doing everything to interest our young people in their work Elder Heber J. Grant expressed his willingness to have the Board in each stake devise plans for summer work. It develops men to work out subjects for OUR WORK. 761 themselves, and each stake should have the privilege of working out their own salvation in this matter of summer work. He emphasized what was said by Super- intendent Merrill in regard to congregational singing, and suggested that in singing the words should be made plain, as it is just as important to know what we are singing for, as it is to know what we are praying for. Elder Hyrum M. Smith stated that he was in favor of encouraging young men and young women to take part in individual or vocal solos. There was as much danger of not understanding the words of a congregation as of an individual, and a vocal solo is as much of a prayer to the Lord as congregational singing, provided it is properly given. Elder L. R. Martineau moved that the efforts of the Weber and Fremont stakes in the matter of providing summer work be approved, and that it be the sense of this convention that all the stakes provide in a general way for summer work in their associations. The motion was put and carried unanimously. After singing, and benediction by Elder Rudger Clawson, the congregation adjourned. The afternoon and evening were spent at Wandamere. The amusements at the Park were free and the General Boards provided for free admission for the M. I. A. officers and workers. A heavy rain interfered with the pleasure of the afternoon and evening, but notwithstanding, quite a number made good use of the dancing floor, boats, and other entertainments and amusements. [to be concluded in august number.] M. 1. A. CONVENTIONS, 1907. The following appointments were made at the June annual conference for the M. I. A conventions. The conventions of the Snowflake, St. Joseph, St. Johns, Maricopa, and Juarez stakes will be held in connection with the regular Church quarterly conferences of those stakes, in November. In case any changes are desired in the dates given, the stake superintendents should immediately consult with their etake presidencies and arrange for a new date, and notify the General Boards of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. Taylor— August 10-11. Alberta—August 17-18. Panguitch —August 25. Kanab, Big Horn —September 1. Alpine, Beaver, Bannock, Emery, Juab, Malad, San Luis, Hyrum, Sevier September 8. Box Elder, Cassia, Granite, Pocatello, Teton, Ensign, Jordan, Nebo, Weber, North Davis, San Juan, St. George— September 15. Liberty, Star Valley, South Sanpete, Wasatch, Utah, Cache, Oneida, Wayne, Uintah, South Davis— September 22. Parowan— September 15. Fremont, Blackfoot, Bear Lake, North Sanpete, Summit, Millard, Pioneer, Salt Lake— September 29, 762 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Woodruff, Union, Tooele, Benson, Bingham, Morgan — October 13. Snowflake, St. Joseph, St. Johns, Maricopa, Juarez, will be be held in connec- tion with the stake conferences in November. THE READING COURSE. For the coming season, the following books have been announced for the Reading Course of the Y. M. M. I. A. According to the annual reports for the season of 1905-6, there were seven hundred and fifty persons who read True to His Home, and John Halifax. This was a fairly good beginning, though we believe for the coming season this number ought at least to be trebled. In this connection, we ask the young men and others who are desirous of purchasing these books to forward their orders directly to this oflSce, and they will be filled as promptly as possible, at the prevailing prices. Money must accompany every •rder, and the books may be ordered either all together or one by one. The books selected for young men under eighteen years of age are: Tom Brown's School Days, by Hughes, twenty-five cents; Wild Animals J Have Known, E. Seton Thompson, two dollars. Those recommended for older readers are The Secret of Achievement by Orison Swett Marden, one dollar and fifty cents; Great Truths, by William George Jordan, twenty-five cents; Silas Marner, by George Eliot, (Marian Evans) thirty, five cents; The Strength of Being Clean, David Star Jordan, fifty cents. We hope to receive orders for these books immediately, as during the sum- mer months many of our members should be able to complete some of these vol- imes, and perhaps all. M. I. A. IN SCANDINAVIA. President J. M. Christensen, of the Scandinavian mission, forwards the annual report of the Y. M. M. I. A. of that mission, for 1906. It appears that there are ten associations in Denmark and Norway, with a permanent enrollment of 433, and an active number of members enrolled of 348, with an average at- tendance of 273; 374 regular, 20 conjoint, and five monthly conjoint meetings were held during the year. There are two libraries with 86 volumes, 35 pamphlets, and 81 scrap-books. There are associations in the following cities in Denmark: Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen; and in Norway: Christiania, Laurvik, Fredrikstad, Trondhjem, Drammen, Fredrikshald, Bergen. In closing his report he says: "Mutual work throughout the mission is in fairly good condition. We are of course greatly handicapped on account of having no Manuals in this language. The oflBcers are good, energetic workers, as a rule, which goes a long way towards making the associations successful. An interesting feature of the work, and one which has proved a great drawing card in getting strangers to attend the meet- ings, is the English school taught by one of the elders of each branch who is capa- ble of handling the same. Many young people have come to learn English, and remained to learn more of the gospel. We feel encouraged, and hope to be able to do some good in this direction as well as every other."