--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Pond, Noah S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 1 published: 1907-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Noah S. Pond, "Planned Work," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 1 (November 1907): 68–71.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1101unse 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: improvementera1101unse start_page: 68 end_page: 71 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1101unse 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. --- # Planned Work PLANNED WORK; At the stake convention held in Pocatello, September 8, Elder Noah S. Pond, of the Stake presidency, read the following paper. It is full of good counsel, is an inspiration to systematic effort, and its advice applies not only to M. I. A. work and workers, but also to other affairs of life, and to laborers in other direc- tions. The person who would succeed may gather this motto from its teachings: "Plan your work, then work your plan:" Planned work implies system. System does not mean an endless amount of red tape, but rather the attainment of a desired aim, the accomplishment of proper result by the shortest possible route. Discreet and wise adjustment of means to ends will bring success. All work, reforms or revolutions must be wisely planned and carefully executed, if they are to be effectual. History shows very generously that no great epoch in thought or morals has shown signal suc- cess which has not been minutely marked out, and which was not duly adjusted to antecedents and consequents. The records of the past abound with premature and belated efforts to accomplish a great good, all of which came to naught because the details were not properly planned. We must not want the end without the means. We must not expect the harvest before the planting of the seed and the growth thereof. We must not expect victory before the battle. The laws of nature and of Providence, too, are true to the logic of events. Antecedents always precede consequents : premises must go before conclusion; causes before results. (a) Value and Necessity of Regular Officers' Meetings and Persistent Missionary Work. Were I honored with the call as president of a Mutual Improvement Associa- tion, I would labor earnestly for the establishment of regular and systematic offi- cers' meetings. By being prompt and regular myself, I could reasonably well urge similar fidelity on the part of every other officer. Adopt an order of business MUTUAL WORK. 69 for the purpose of methodically disposing of each necessary feature of your work: (1) Opening exercises in which each officer should participate in singing. And sing with the desire for improvement, development, and the good that comes from the power of example. (2) Prayer in which the aid of our Heavenly Father would be invoked in our work. (3) Reading of minutes. (4) Correspondence. Read all letters from stake or general boards. Discuss their contents and properly dispose of all important features. (5) Reports, (a) Membership, (b) Missionary work, (c) Era subscriptions, Manuals, funds, (d) Amusements. (6) Miscel- laneous. (7) Dismissal. (b) Preliminary Programs and' Manual Work. Appoint a live and capable program committee. Choice recreative, intellec- tual programs will be found first class inducements for prompt attendance and increased enrollment. I suggest close adherence to outlines in our last year's Man- ual, as follows, with one addition: 1. Devotional Exercises— Singing and prayer. 2. Literary Exercises— Story, recitation, essay, extemporaneous speaking or reading. 3. Musical Exercises —Vocal solos, duets, quartettes, instrumental, congre. gational singing of hymns. 4. Current Events — Political, social, scientific progress. 5. Parliamentary Practice —Successfully resolving entire audience into a par- liamentary body with capable chairman and leaders on the floor, will be found highly interesting and instructive practice for thirty minutes. Invite assistance of class leaders in mapping out manual work. (c) Adopt Systematic Methods for Obtaining and Distributing Man- uals. Ascertain as near as possible the number that may be in attendance at open- ing of the season's work and have sufficient Manuals on hand at that meeting. Endeavor to have each young man purchase a Manual. This will not only add interest and numbers to the enrollment, but will also prove an opening wedge in many instances in securing subscribers for the Era, when the young men are informed that they receive this valuable treatise free by subscribing for the Era. (d) Give a Synopsis of Contents of Senior and Junior Manuals. We are requested to give a synopsis of that which we have not yet reviewed or seen. But from the report of Elder E. H. Anderson, before the young men's recent annual conference, we learn that the Senior Manual is entitled "Spiritual Growth," and "will consist of about twenty lessons on spiritual topics, showing that 'Mormonism' is a reasonable and natural religion. Prayer, its meaning and what it has accomplished in the history of the world, will be presented in two lessons." Definition: "Prayer is spiritual communion in which the children of our Father may with hearts, heads, and destinies united, go up into the mountain of Transfiguration, and bring to earth the Kingdom of Heaven." 70 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Were I to venture mention of some examples which may be presented in the Manual, or used in connection with it, I would name such illustrious characters as Adam, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Daniel, Peter and John, Paul and Silas, our beloved Savior, all of Biblical fame. In secular history no more beautiful pic- ture of supplication can be presented than that of the ' 'Father of our Country," Washington, in solitude upon bended knees, in the forests of Fort Putnam and Val- ley Forge, in 1777-8, a period which "sorely tried men's souls," imploring Divine aid for preservation and freedom of our country and cause. In Ecclesi- astical history, the life -long prayer of the priest and patriot, Savonarola, "Lord, teach me the way thou wouldst have my soul to walk," is another beautiful example. In our own day the prayers of the Prophet Joseph Smith stand pre-eminent, the fervor and sincerity of which drew from the heavens the Father and Son, and these, with angelic personages, became the prophet's tutors. Succeeding lessons will present reasons for Church organizations and their effect on spiritual growth. Ordinances in the Church, and loyalty to the priest- hood will be shown to be growth in the right direction One lesson will present the advantage, wisdom and practicability of counsel. Personal experiences and testi- monies from Church works will be considered. The history and value of tithing will be the topic of two lessons. A third lesson will adduce testimony from mediaeval and modern history. What chastity is and its effects will be interestingly presented in two lessons. Another lesson will deal with fasting and show how this principle promotes spiritual communion. Offerings to the poor and general love for humanity, chastity and the strength that is derived therefrom will be subjects for concluding discussions. From this brief and imperfect synopsis it will be readily seen and freely conceded that this year's manual, with its wealth of inspiring suggestions, will out-class its predecessors, and through the net results of its mental and spiritual f eastings, may be declared "the best one of them all." May we welcome its advent and be blessed in the perusal of its contents- The Junior Manual is a reproduction of 1902-1903, containing eighteen les- sons on "The Acts of the Apostles," their endowment, hbors in and beyond ' Jerusalem; persecutions through which they passed; conversion of Saul; why they were taken to the Gentiles; missionary journeys and imprisonments; Saul's defense before the Jewish council; Felix and Festus. (e) Select Proficient Class Leaders and Urge them to Develop Inter- est in the Classes. Were I selected as a class leader in a Mutual Improvement Association, I would accept the honor as a compliment to my ability, not in the egotism of my soul, but in the gratitude of my heart, and God being my helper, would lend every effort to the successful discharge of this educational responsibility. Interest is most quickly developed where the best and most earnest thought is gathered, concentrated, and focused upon the subject matter before a class. It is said that MUTUAL WORK. 71 we may scatter the contents of a powder keg upon an area of twelve or fifteen square feet, and when exploded it will be nothing more than a harmless flare, but imprison the same amount of powder in a rock, and when it explodes the con- cussion will be great enough to blow to atoms forty tons of granite. (f) Create Enthusiasm among the Officers and Inspire Them with the Spirit of the Work. Enthusiasm is a prime quality needed in men of activity. It is born of energy and the consciousness of power. Enthusiasm is one of the characteristics in the accomplishment of great things, and has always manifested itself wherever great work was done; whether in silent, studious research, or in the pressure of the thunders of war; whether in the workshop, in the field, at the desk, on the is the same enthusiasm which conquers all. platform or the battlefield, it No man is so poor as he who has lost or expended all his enthusiasm. Luther's enthusiasm won for him his high place in history. Agassiz was led by enthusiasm to the trackless forests of the Amazon and the towering rocks of the Alps. The deep meditation of Newton, the gigantic calculations of Keppler, the valuable dis- coveries of Faraday, the heroic inventions of Galileo andHerschel were all aided by this wonderful element of enthusiasm. What would have been the result had Washington, Longfellow, or Gladstone been devoid of enthusiasm in their work? What of Hannibal, the Carthagenian, or Julius Caesar, the Roman? Not even sickness, poverty or disaster, could cool or kill the enthusiasm of Palissy, the potter. Enthusiasm was one of the elements which led Elihu Burritfc from the forge and anvil to the mastery of forty languages. It sustained John Bunyan, while he wrote the Pilgrim's Progress within prison walls. Csesar's enthusiasm created bravery in the face of peril. Through it he smote the Helvetians and subdued Gaul, suppressed insurrections as they arose; forced his way into all the strongholds of his enemies; crossed the Rhine upon a bridge of his own building; passed into Britain and penetrated the Thames. After eight years of continuous war, in which he never lost a battle, he returned to his own beloved Italy to fight with equal enthusiasm one of the blood- iest of civil wars. His enthusiasm glorified all his accomplishments, and his career closed at last with the high honor of martyrdom for the liberty of Rome's downtrodden people. May the fire of enthusiasm be kindled in the hearts of all mutual workers, to our ultimate success and our Father's glory. Amen. Pocatello, Idaho.