--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, Henry S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 11 number: 12 published: 1908-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Tanner, Henry S., "Mutual Work: Duties of Stake Superintendents and How to Do Them," *Improvement Era* 11, no. 12 (October 1908): 970–973.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11012unse 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: improvementera11012unse start_page: 970 end_page: 973 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1908-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera11012unse publication_year: 1908 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 1908, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work: Duties of Stake Superintendents and How to Do Them MUTUAL WORK. DUTIES OF STAKE SUPERINTENDENTS AND HOW TO DO THEM. This timely talk to M. I. A. officers by Elder H. S. Tanner, of the General Board, was delivered at the June conference: Dear Brethren: My subject includes more than I am able to cover in the allotted time, but I hope to say something that will help you to understand more fully what is required, and show you how to avoid a few obstacles, that — in the light of some of our accomplishments — you may travel to success with greater satisfaction and freedom. To appreciate the duties appertaining to mutual improvement, we must become acquainted with the road, the means of travel and the object or destination we have in view. Mutual improvement was organized for the purpose of assisting in the completion of man's destiny, by implanting in the hearts of the young people a testimony and knowledge of things made known, make them receptive to the revelations of the Lord and develop the gifts of God within them. Not merely the making of believers, but practical workers — doers of the word. Our plans differ by reason of our experiences. What may appear satisfactory to one, may to another seem crude and poorly considered. All of us are liable to be satisfied too easily. That which we only partially conceive we may not properly comprehend, and cannot correctly teach. We must know mutual improvement, if we expect to teach and do mutual improvement work. We should adopt the means that will bring the best results. Well planned work, if properly executed, always gives satisfaction. Our work has been partially outlined, and it is incumbent upon us to be sure of the desired destination before we commence our journey. Should we lack in initiative, or be unable to devise a better way, keep in the paths already found safe and secure. Taking the young men as we do, at the beginning of their transition, we must be vigorous in what we undertake. If we are not energetic, or if unprepared, careless or indifferent in what we do and full of excuses, we may expect a harvest of sluggards and malcontents. It was once said that we should kill off the excuse hunters . The man that works is not an excuse hunter nor an excuse maker. It is the drone who is compelled to hunt for a reason for his existence. Our young men have a right to the MUTUAL WORK. 971 best that is in us, and if we are not familiar with our work, duty demands that we acquaint ourselves with it. We should know what has been devised and given for our assistance and not become an encumbrance or hindrance to mutual improvement. Keep in mind the injunction of the Lord, ' 'Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. ' ' Many of us fail in our purpose because we try to "do others" instead of ourselves doing. Work invigorates and enlarges the capacity for work, and those who will work will find plenty to do. Contentment, ease and luxury destroy ambition and make drones. We must lead the way. Work alone will do away with the excuse hunter and the excuse maker. There is nothing so healthful and invigorating to mutual improvement as doing the work, and nothing so stagnates and impedes our work as depending on someone else to do what duty demands of us. We cannot determine the degree of efficiency unless we know the standard. If we know the way and do what is required, those associated with us will in like manner become informed and follow our settled and determined pace to the creation of interest. If some refuse to pull in the team, put them in the wagon where their weight will be less burdensome. An officer that dies should have his corps removed, that others may not become disaffected. We are told that there is a time to every purpose under heaven, and we don't want you to get the times mixed up and die just as you are being born. The man who goes to war without his weapons is not prepared to meet the foe. A wise general trains and disciplines his men and secures his ammunition and arms before an emergency is possible and before he proceeds to the firing line. You cannot become too thorough or too familiar with mutual improvement. Even now your stake and ward organizations should be complete, and immediately you should make ready that nothing be lacking in your plannings and preparation. If we look for genius or inspiration to drag us through, we will fail. We are expected to get the Spirit of the Lord, and to work and utilize the best that time and labor has developed, and not sit down and wait for the Lord to force or command us in all things. A valuable key was given to Oliver Cowdery during the translation of the Book of Mormon. The Lord said, "You must study it out in your mind, then ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you, therefore you shall feel that it is right." In speaking of the latter-days, the Prophet Isaiah, under the influence of the Spirit, said: "The people shall dwell in Zion. At Jerusalem thou shalt weep no more. The Lord will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry. When he shall hear it, he will answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet thy teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying: This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left." Those who desire righteousness and do right shall be warned, and those who labor shall be rewarded. 972 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . If we desire the help of the Spirit we must make sure of our own willingness by doing the work. It is true, that man's work shall be manifest, that we learn to do by doing, and that if we speak not according to the law and the testimony it is because there is no light in us- If we do not become familiar with mutual improvement, our conversation will betray us and our labors will be worse than fruitless, for we not only waste our own time and deceive ourselves, but we hinder and destroy the opportunities of those who are subject to such misgivings or inexcusable incompetence. The past contains the record of our opportunities and achievements, but there is a chance to more perfectly develop our plans in the light of truth and experience and avoid the chafing shoals upon which the systems of human invention are stranded. You superintendents have selected your assistants, your secretary, treasurer, and board of aids, and you should see that your ward organizations also are properly officered prior to your fall convention and before the opening of the associations. Know personally each officer, and see that every one knows his calling and that each performs the duties incumbent or appertaining to his office. The obligation, responsibility and general supervision of the entire work in your stakes rest upon you. We look to you not only to hold and maintain the record of the past, but to increase the attendance and raise the standard of efficiency. Assign to members of your board the different divisions of the work, such as the Fund, Manual, Era, Rolls, Records, Minutes, Class Work, etc., and hold them responsible for the faithful performance of the duties accompanying each division of the work. You must not only see that they know but that they do the work. Remember that you carry the responsibility for either failure or success. The only way to constantly know what is being done, and to properly plan and prepare for the doing of what should be done, is to keep in constant touch with your workers, hold meetings regularly with your officers and visit them in the working departments of the associations. Analyze and thoroughly discuss the work of past years, but especially the work of the present, and improve wherever possible. The reason some of the stakes are so successful is that the officers love the work and they are constantly drilling. Work develops faith and inspires confidence. Faith does things ! Faith and confidence will unify our efforts and make the yoke easy and the burden light. Our work, like life, is made up of little things. We cannot afford to overlook the essentials. Even the slightest thing, if carefully adjusted, may help to harmonize and complete the system. If you commence your fall work early — doing what should be done in the proper season, you will obtain a knowledge of your men, and for what they are particularly fitted. One man can do but little. There is wisdom in counsel and organization. Organize your forces early and be prepared to intelligently handle every issue. Meet often with your officers and carefully outline your work. Call your presidents, counselors and aids together at least once a month, and carefully plan all of your work, and then positively work to your plan. Ascertain the number of young men of mutual improvement age in your stake and adopt some method of reaching them all — especially those who need you most. If your organization is complete and your plans well matured, you have MUTUAL WORK. 973 something to work to. A definite course properly mastered is superior to all of the haphazard and desultory work, so plan your work and work to your plan. Have your ward officers meet weekly, and do in the wards as you do in the stake, that there may be an early and successful beginning. If you create an interest and start them early they will help you to mature plans for doing the work and. effectually reaching the boys. Things gained without effort go easily, so do not be fearful of the obstacles. Climbing the hills increases the strength and the power of endurance. Be thankful for the difficulties, for the one who has something to do has a hope coming and something with which he may be satisfied when his efforts are rewarded. Confer with the Stake Presidency, secure their co-operation, and make your next convention the best in the history of your stake. Every advancement in mutual improvement means increase of faith and necessarily greater efficiency in the stake. The co-operation of all in interest is essential. To insure preparation and success and avoid mistakes, begin early and do your work thoroughly. See that every officer is at the convention, that the subjects are properly handled by competent men, and that the principles underlying this work are properly understood, that your officers may know what is expected of them and get the spirit of the work. I have visited stakes where but twothirds of the associations were represented, and one half of the officers who had received appointments were somewhere else. Can we hope for success where our interests are so miserably represented? If your co-workers haven't interest to attend the convention, bury them before they kill your associations. The business end of your work must not be neglected . If you are careless in making out your reports or fail to send them to the office when you should, we are liable to suspect neglect in other departments. Your reports and your funds should be sent to the secretary with promptness that we may know your status. Should you lack information concerning the scope or detail of the work and the methods to be adopted, consult our General Secretary at once, or the member of our General Board who visits your convention. When you select your officers see that they become informed and do the work. Remember that much depends on your beginning. If you fall down when starting — either from lack of preparation or incompetence — the work will be burdensome and the yoke will chafe you. Correct, attractive and early commencement will impel proper enthusiasm, and secure satisfaction and success during the coming season. On the contrary, if the head sleeps the body will be a close second, your exercises will be dull and uninteresting, your members disgusted and your efforts stigmatized — failure. We learned during the past winter that growth is natural and gradual, and we should not expect to come spontaneously and suddenly into the possession of a complete and perfect understanding. This work demands careful, constant, thorough and our most serious consideration. Men could not understand and control the elements about them without understanding the channels through which they operate. The channels must be understood and there must be perfect compli-