Our Work: The Spirit of Our Manual; Manuals for 1907–8; Senior Manual Study

: OUR WORK. THE SPIRIT OF OUR MANUAL. At the head of every Manual lesson this season is a sentiment bearing on the lesson, which each student will do well to learn by heart. On the title leaf is a scriptural quotation which is a suitable motto for every association class-room. Let frequent attention be called to it, for it conveys the spirit of the Manual, and is the slogan of our work for the season Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me ivith thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. — Psalms 51: 10-13. MANUALS FOR 1907-8. The Junior Manual, Acts of the Apostles, for study in the junior classes of the Y. M. M, L A. for this season is now ready for distribution, and officers will kindly send in their orders promptly, so that the distribution may take place before the opening of the associations, the first week after the general Chuixh conference in Uctcber. The Senior Manual, Spiritual Growth, consists of twenty lessons, in practi- cal religion. Orders for this as well as the Junior Manual will be filled on the same day received, and we trust that the officers will use diligent effort to have the Manuals distributed to the associations, before the opening night of their meetings. Send all orders for Manuals to General Secretary Alpha J. Higgs, 214

1000 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Templeton Bldg., Salt Lake City, A free copy of either Manual preferred is sent to every subscriber of the Eea. PRELIMINARY PROGRAMS. For the benefit of officers, the following instructions are reprinted from the Manual. Officers are instructed to abide by them as closely as possible in order to make a success of this division of our work: Presidents of associations conjointly with officers of the Y. L. M. I. A. should provide an outline for each meeting. The committee this year presents no suggestive preliminary programs, but leaves this work to the ingenuity and initia- tive of the stake or ward officers. Where the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Associations meet conjointly for opening exercises, it is expected that they will conjointly render these preliminary programs; and that a standing committee wilj be appointed from each of the associations to arrange for the rendition of this part of each evening's exercises. It is intended that the preliminary program shall occupy not more than thirty minutes of each session, including the opening exercises. The purpose of the board in these exercises is to provide for the young men mingled recreation and instruction along literary and musical lines. While the religious idea lies at the basis of our work it is also intended that all legitimate intellectual and aesthetic recreation shall be permitted and encouraged. In accordance with this intention preliminary programs are instituted. A few general hints on these programs are here given:

1. The essays, declamations, recitations and readings should be of a high order — approaching the classical standard as closely as possible. They should not be permitted to degenerate into burlesque. Any attempt at buffoonery would be decidedly out of place in these programs.
2. Whenever possible, selections of a musical or literary character should be chosen for fitness and relationship to the subject of the lesson. Not that they should all be purely theological, but they should all be elevating and strongly moral, pointing more or less clearly to the general character of the lesson. They will thus prepare the minds of the young men for the specific work, while at the same time they provide a valuable recreation.
3. The preliminary programs should always be carried out conjointly with the Young Ladies' Associations, where the two societies meet conjointly for open, ing exercises, and where the associations do not so meet, then by the senior and junior classes together before the classes take up their respective lessons. SENIOR MANUAL STUDY. From the introduction to the Senior Manual, the following is selected to give the reader a general idea of the aim and value of this season's study:

: OUR WORK. 1001 The Aim of the Manual.— The aim of this Manual i8 to interest the young men of Zion in the practice of true religion. The lessons are merely a guide, and, as they are studied, a thousand thoughts giving light on how to prac- tice what we have already learned as theory, will present themselves to the minds of the students. In this respect this Manual differs from the previous ten in the series heretofore iss 'ed. It does not so much aim to teach the doctrines of the gospel as it does to urge and show the value of their practice, to the end that the young people may become spiritually enriched. The text is mostly complete in itself, but it is expected that all the references therein will be studied, and that others that will naturally suggest themselves on similar topics, will be used with the utmost freedom. The Bible and other Church works are freely referred to, and the student should verify the quotations, and more carefully prepare himself to treat the subject by reading not only the quotations given, but their contexts. Value of the Study.— It is hoped that the study of this Manual and the work in our associations this season will awaken in the hearts of the young men a strong and abiding determination to put the theories of our religion into practice, and to test the leading ideas sought to be made uppermost in the work, viz., we can grow in spiritual power and strength, and by right and proper action just here in this life and performed every day, approach God, and have his Spirit as our companion. In this way we can secure the Spirit as our daily friend to be a ceaseless source of joy and growth to ourselves in all the vicissitudes of life. We believe that an effort on the part of our membership to apply in their daily walk and conversation the few leading principles of our religion as discussed in this Manual will result in great spiritual development and in a much closer communion with the Holy Ghost. Lectures.— It is believed that many of the topics of this manual, by a little amplification and study of other literature in the same line of thought, maybe used as subjects for lectures. The young men should be given every opportunity in conjoint sessions and otherwise, to speak in public, and what they may learn from be arranged, amplified and logically prepared and pre- the Manual topics should sented by them on such occasions, as a means of training them in public speaking.