Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK. ANNUAL Y. M. AND Y. L. M. I. A. CONFERENCE. ' The Thirteenth General Annual Conference of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints will be held in Salt Lake City, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 12, 13, and 14, 1908. All officers and members of the associations are requested to be present at all of the meetings of the conference, and a cordial invitation is hereby extended to the Saints generally to attend the meetings to be held in the Tabernacle on Sunday, June 14, at two and seven o'clock p. m. Alpha J. Higgs, Joseph F. Smith, Secretary Y. M. M. I. A. General Supt. Y. M. M. I, A. Ann M. Cannon, Martha H. Tinge y, Secretary Y. L. M. I. A. President Y. L. M. I. A. DETAILS OF THE ANNUAL M. I. A. CONFERENCE MEETINGS. On Friday, June 12, in the Assembly hall at 2 o'clock p. m. an informal re- ception will be held. On Friday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock, a complemen- tary entertainment to the visiting delegates will by given by the General Boards, in the Odeon, at No. 26 E. No. Temple St. The Young Men's Officers meetings will be held in the Assembly hall, on Saturday at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. The Young Ladies' will meet in Barratt Hall on Saturday at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. The conjoint. general officers' meeting will be held Sunday in the Assembly hall at 10 a. m., and general public meetings in the Tabernacle at 2 and 7 o'clock p. m., that day. All officers and members of the associations are requested to be present at all of the meetings. Foljowing are the conference committees: On Program — H. J. Grant, H. S. Tanner, Junius F. Wells, E. Stephens, Mae T. Nystrom, A. C. Tuddenham, Emily C. Adams, Emma Goddard.

MUTUAL WORK. 561 On Social— Ruth M. Fox, A. W. Eardley, Elen Wallace, M. B.Talmage, Benj. Goddard, Thomas Hull, L. R. Martineau, D. M. Tood. — On Transportation Alpha J. Higgs, Ann M. Cannon. — On Music Evan Stephens, H. S. Ensign, A. C. TuddenhamJ Mattie Read Evans. On Entertainment — B. F. Grant, Rodney C. Badger, Louis A. Kelch, Lewis T. Cannon, Joan Campbell, Augusta W. Grant, Agnes Campbell. Superintendents of stakes and ward presidents are requested to advertise the conference and do active work to make the gathering a success. Usual conference rates will prevail. SUMMER WORK. A number of inquiries have come to this office asking the General Board for suggestions concerning Summer's Work programs. Replying to these, stake super- intendents will take note that the General Board will prepare no outlines for Summer's Work this season. They request, however, that stake superintendents, who contemplate holding summer sessions in their stakes, prepare outlines them- selves and send copies of same at once to the various ward presidents under their jurisdiction, or else arrange for the ward presidents to outline their own work. A copy of all stake outlines should be sent to this office also. SUMMER PROGRAMS. The following program for summer conjoint meetings comes from Box Elder county: 1. Singing by the choir. 2. Prayer. 3. The four following to alter- nate: congregational singing, solo, duet or quartet. 4. Speech, not to exceed twenty minutes. Subject, "Principles of the Gospel. " Text Book, Articles of Faith, by Talmage. 5. Music —vocal selection. 6. Speech. Subject, "City, County, State or National Government," to alternate with customs and habits of nations, or temperance talks. 7. Instrumental music or reading. Closing exer- cises. Meeting not to exceed one hour and fifteen minutes. One hour preferred. Meetings held twice a month— first and third Sunday evening in South end of the stake, and first and fourth, in North end. THE ERA IN KNIGHTVILLE. Melvin Wilson, of~Payson, writes under date of March 16: "In the past Eras have appeared accounts of the work done by various M. I. A ward officers in securing subscribers. I desire to give you an account of the work done by the officers in one of the wards in our stake. In the Tintic mining district just east of Eureka is Knightville, a small ward of Saints. Here, among the hardy miners of the camp, we have one of our most progressive associations. Nearly all who live in Knightville are members ot the Church, and their work extends much farther than their own community. They have in the ward just twenty-five fami-

562 IMPROVEMENl ERA. lies composed of one hundred fifty- seven souls, yet the work done by this little body in our Mutual Improvement Association is of the highest order. They have one hundred subscribers for the Era at present, thirty- three of whom are non- members of the Church. Counting the families in the ward, there are 400 per A. E. Watkins Perry Fuller E. F. Birch cent of them taking the Era. Counting the souls all told, there are 65 per cent of them who subscribe for it; of course, many are taken by miners who do not live in the ward. I mail a portrait of the presidency: Perry Fuller, president; E. F. Birch, first counselor; A. E. Watkins, second counselor. BASKET BALL. The twentieth Ward Basket Ball Team has played since its organization eleven games, winning ten and losing only one, the first game played to the 18th Ward. On Wednesday night, April 15, before 300 spectators in the 20th Ward annex, the 20th Ward defeated the 18th Ward team by the narrow margin of 28 to 23. This was a most exciting and close game. It practically decides the championship of the Ensign Stake Basket Ball League for 1908. The lineup of teams was: 20th Ward 18th Ward Grant Romney Left Forward B. Robbin Heber Romney Right Forward L. Taylor M. Alonzo Romney Centre Frank James Lennox Sloan Left Guard H. Wnolley P. H. Service Right Gnard * Les. Paul

MUTUAL WORK. 563 The 20th Ward "Sscond" Basket Ball team, has not suffered a defeat this season, winaing all games by a large margin. Wm. Service. FROM ENGLAND. Elder James H. Piatt, Oldham, England, writes: "I desire to relate an instance in connection with my mission work, which testifies to me that this is the gospel of Christ, and that God has prophets upon the earth. Just before leaving home, I went to Patriarch John Smith for a blessing. He me that I would told come out into the world and fill an honorable mission and present the gospel to kindred and friends. When I arrived at Liverpool, I expressed a desire to go to the Birmingham me to labor in the conference, but President Grant assigned Manchester conference, and I have thanked the Lord many times for it. What Patriarch Smith said to me has been fulfiled to the very letter. Shortly after coming to the Manchester conference, I was assigned to labor in the Oldham branch, where I have found a number of my father's relatives, and they have treated me very well, and one of them has applied for baptism. A number more are interested in the work, and have given us the privilege of holding cottage meetings at their homes at any time we wish. This is a testimony to me that there are prophets on the earth now, and that this gospel which I have been called out to preach unto the world is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I can truthfully say that I never spent a happier time in my life than since I came into the mission field. I wish that every young man, and woman for that matter, could have a missionary experience. Nothing can compare with the joy that comes from knowing that you are in God's service and doing his bidding. It opens the eyes of the young who have been reared in Zion. I did not know the value of this gospel until I got out into the world and compared it with the religions instituted by men. The Latter day Saints are blessed above all other people in comprehending the truth of the gospel, and ought to earnestly prepare themselves to teach it to those who are still in darkness. The place for young people to prepare themselves for this work is in the quorums of the priesthood, the Mutuals and Sunday Schools. The work is in a very prosperous condition in the Oldham branch of the Manchester conference. Our Sunday School and Mutual are fully organized and we are studying the Manual, "Spiritual Growth," and it is greatly enjoyed by all who attend our meetings. Our cottage meetings as well as others are well attended. We lack, however, a suitable place to meet, but the Saints, although few in number, are hard workers, and have started a build- ing fund, so as to build a meeting house of their own. If any one in Zion feels like helping them in this work, contributions may be sent to Mrs. Sophia Mortiner, No. 94 Edward St., Werneth, Oldham, Lancashire, England. My companion, Elder William Glenn, joins me in wishing the Era every succes-s, and in asking God to bless his people wherever they may be."