Give the Boys a Chance

GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE. the late June conference. Elder Joseph W. McMurrin spoke on this subject at all the officers, now that our organizations are His remarks should be noted by beginning their meetings again There may be some question in the minds of those who are present in regard the "Give the Boys a Chance," and the need of speaking on to the origin of title, it at conference. this One of our stake presidents recently asked permission to connection with one of the bishops of his be heard before the General Board, in

1032 IMPROVEMENT ERA. stake, and met with the brethren who composed the General Board. He asked the privilege of using Sunday night, given once a month for the conjoint meetings of the young people's associations. The reason assigned was that this night, instead of being occupied by the young men, had been given over entirely to the delivery of lectures, and that these lectures were not typical of mutual improvement work. It may be said by those present that anything in the line of education may be called typical of mutual improvement work. In a sense that may be credited; and yet, technically it may be true that lectures do not represent mutual improve- ment work. The fact was named that if mutual improvement meetings were given over to the bishops, better work would be done than is now being done under the management of mutual improvement officers. The bishops could then call upon a number of young men to express their feelings in relation to the gospel, and in that way there would be better work accomplished than by listening to lectures. I hope that in the minds of these officers the queries will arise, "Is that true? Are we giving up our mutual improvement meetings to a line of instruction that does not belong to mutual improvement work?" I believe we are drifting very far from the old fashioned idea of mutual improvement. The old fashioned idea of mutual improve- ment was the bringing to the boys a testimony of the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If there are any here who have received a testimony of the truth of the gospel while they were listening to lectures, I would be very glad to have them stand up. I take it as a fact that more testimonies have come to men while upon their feet than while upon their seats. That is my testimony to you this afternoon. We forget that we are organized for the benefit of the boys. In traveling among the people of many of the various stakes of Zion, I cannot recall a' solitary instance in the quarterly mutual improvement meetings that a real bona fide mutual improvement worker has been called upon to open a meeting by prayer. It is generally a man of experience ; but that a boy has had a chance, who might have the ability to open a meeting, I do not remember having wit- nessed in traveling over these stakes, for nine years past. The boys are entirely forgotten, and we seem to seek after the men of the most experience to pray and speak in all of these quarterly conjoint meetings. We recommend that you give the boys a chance ; and in the preparation of your programs that you be anxious to choose mutual improvement workers.