Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK.

M. I. A. ANNUAL CONVENTIONS. At the recent M. I. A. conference in Salt Lake City, the following appoint- ments for the annual conventions throughout the stakes of Zion were read. In case any of the dates are unsatisfactory, our stake superintendents are requested to consult with the officers of the Young Ladies Associations and with the Presi- dency of the Stake and make other dates which will be acceptable to all con-

cerned, and then notify the General Boards of any change:

Box Elder, — August 22. Beaver, Emery, Malad, San Luis, Hyrum, Pocatello, Fremont, — August 29. Bear River, Taylor, Cassia, Teton, Liberty, Jordan, Weber, Parowan, North Davis, San Juan, Sevier, Yellowstone, Rigby, — September 5. Alberta, Ensign, Star Valley, South Sanpete, Wasatch, Cache, Wayne, Uintah, Granite, South Davis, Tooele, Bannock, — September 12. St. George, — September 13.

Big Horn, Oneida, Blackfoot, Summit, Millard, Pioneer, Salt Lake, Pan- gaitch, Juab, Ogden, North Weber, Nebo,— September 19. North Sanpete, Woodruff, Union, Benson, Bingham, Morgan, Utah, Kanab, Alpine, Bear Lake, — September 26. Dates for holding the conventions of the Arizona and Mexico Stakes will be given hereafter.

Y. M. M. I. A. STATISTICAL REPORT. The annual statistical report of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Asso- ciations for the year ending May 31, 1909, shows that there are 629 associations, an increase of one over 1908. Four hundred thirty-five associations are graded, an increase of 34. There are 32,225 permanent members enrolled, which is a decrease of 392, but the active members enrolled number 23,391 as against 22,217 for last year, an increase of 1,174. It appears that there are 12,752 boys and men between the ages of fourteen and forty-five not enrolled, which is a decrease of

2,429. There are 1,210 members away from home attending school; 1,097 en- rolled members on foreign missions. The average attendance for 1909 was 13,367; 24,114 meetings were held thronghout the season; 13,840 manual lessons were completed There were 38, 198 home preparations reported, which is a decrease .

of 2,856. There was also a decrease in the visits of the stake and general M. I. A. officers by 271; a decrease in the missionary viBits of ward officers, of 171.

In the 200 libraries reported there were 11,691 bound volumes. A notable feature this year was a complete report, with the exception of Bingham Stake, from the 61 stakes of Zion.

M. I. A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The first meeting was held in Barratt Hall on Saturday Morning, June 5, at 10 o'clock. There was a splendid representative gathering of officers, every stake in the Church except five being represented— Alberta, Ensign, Salt Lake, Snow-

flake, and Teton. President Joseph F. Smith presided. The congregation sang, "Come All Ye Sons of Zion," and prayer was offered by Elder Benjamin Goddard, after which the congregation sang, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet." The senior manual was considered by Dr. George H. Brimhall who gave a lesson, taking for his class the audience, himself being the teacher. The junior manual on Church History in Biography was considered by Elder Douglas M. Todd in the absence of Edward H. Anderson who was confined to his home with typhoid fever.

THE READING COURSE. The third exercise was given by Elder Joseph W. McMurrin who gave a review of the books and spoke generally upon the good and bad effects reading. of It appears from the reports that in 1907, with a permanent membership of 30,650, active membership, 16,811, 750 read one

or more of the books of the Reading Course, which was 2.04 per cent

of the permanent enrollment, and 4 05 per cent of the active enrollment. In 1908, these figures stood 33,617; 22,217; 1,635; or 4.09 per cent and 7.4 per cent; while in 1909, the permanent membership is 32,225; active member- ship, 23,391; number who read one or more of the books, 1,332, or 4.1 per cent of the permanent and 5.7 per cent of the active, membership. Following are the titles of the Reading Course for 1909: For the Senior Classes:— A ncient America— Baldwin; Courage—Wag- ner; The Crisis— Churchill ; Our Inland Sea— Lambourne. For the Lincoln— Hapgood John Stevens' Courtship Juniors:— Life of ;

— Susa Young Gates; The Castle Builder— Nephi Anderson. These books should be purchased through the Era office. Elder D. M. Todd different classes will later explain in the Era, the character of the books, so that the

of readers may choose the books most suitable for them. Elder McMurrin' s talk will appear in full later.

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A general discussion followed each exercise, and a number of questions were asked concerning different departments of Mutual Work. After roll call, which showed 284 visiting officers present, the congregation sang, "Come, Come Ye Saints," and the benediction was pronounced by Elder Francis M. Lyman. At 2 o'clock the officers again met at the same place and after singing, "High on the Mountain Top, " prayer was offered by Elder A. W. Ivins. The congregation sang, "0 Say What Is Truth."

ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENCY.

President Joseph F. Smith again presided, and asked Elder B. S. Hinckley to read an address from the General Superintendency calling attention to the place and privilege which the Y. M. M. I. A. should hold and enjoy among the Latter-day Saints, in order to promote harmony, union of purpose, and the best interests of all concerned; also defining the field for the Y. M. M. I. A., now that the Priest- hood Quorums have taken up the study of formal theology. This important docu- ment to our officers will appear in full in a future issue of the Era. After the reading comments were made, and, on motion of Dr. Geo. H. Brim- hall, the address was unanimously adopted.

THE ERA AND THE FUND.

Elder Alpha J. Higgs, in the absence of Elder Heber J. Grant who was at home very ill, spoke upon the Era, giving the percent of subscription in each Stake. It appears that a number of the stakes did not do as well for volume

twelve as for volume eleven, and the aggregate circulation wa3 lower than last year; whereas, other stakes did much better, as for example, Maricopa obtained 9.64 per cent of the Church population as subscribers for the Era; Union, 8. 10;

Bear River, 7.75; Box Elder, 7.58; Cassia, 6.72, San Juan, 6.26; San Luis, 6.07; Cache, 5.33; Juarez, 5.54. These stakes should be commended for their energy; and what they have done can easily be done in each stake, if the work is pushed at the proper time. He also called attention to the necessity of superintendents and ward presidents taking the matter of subscriptions up early this fall, and getting all the present subscribers to renew and adding a number of others. The officers of the associations, now that the Era is also the organ of the Priesthood, from the authorities of the Church and the Priesthood Quo- will receive great aid

rums, and should on this account increase the circulation for volume thirteen be- yond anything heretofore experienced in th* successful history of the Improve- ment Era. As to the fund, he called attention to the fact that there was a decrease of $387 64 as compared with 1908. A new feature was a calculation of the number stakes of Zion. The of cents paid by each active member enrolled in the various highest per cent paid by any stake was paid by San Juan and Fremont stakes, where the stake paid an amount equal to thirty- three cents and twenty- seven cents respectively for each active member. Summit paid 24 cents: St. Johns, 20 cents; South Davis, 18 cents; Bear River, 18 cents; Jordan, 18 cents; Mari-

copa, 16 cents; Star Valley, 16 cents; but a number of the stakes contributed per capita of active members as low as one cent, while six stakes contributed nothing. "Systematic and Persistent Work," was the subject of an excellent talk by Elder B. S. Hinckley. This will be printed in full in a future number of the Era. General discussion followed. A number of the members of the Board spoke on politeness and morality, and other ethical topics suggested by the splendid effort of Brother Hinckley. President Francis M. Lyman inquired how many of the brethren present had been on missions, and upon arising it was ascertained that more than one-half of those present had been on missions outside of Utah.

GENERAL OFFICERS. The General Superintendency and members of the General Board were pre- sented to the conference and unanimously sustained as follows: Joseph F. Smith, General Superintendent; Heber J. Grant and B. H. Roberts, Assistants. Aids: Lyman, John Henry Smith, J. Golden Kimball, Elders Francis M. Junius F. Wells, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson, Douglas M. Todd, Thomas Hull, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Le Roi C. Snow, Frank Y. Taylor, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor, B. F. Grant, Henry S. Tanner, Hyrum M. Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., 0. C. Beebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Benjamin Goddard, George Albert Smith, Thomas A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, Lyman R. Martineau, Charles H. Hart, John A. Widtsoe, James H. Anderson, A. W. Ivins, and Alpha J. Higgs, General Secretary. Elder Evan Stephens for many years music director of the Y. M. M. I. A., and Elder Horace S. Ensign, Assistant Director, were honorably released from these positions on account of both being very much occupied in other labors. The congregation sang, "Lord Dismiss us with Thy Blessing," and benedic- tion was pronounced by Elder James H. Anderson. On Saturday evening at 7:30 o'clock, in the Assembly Hall, a conjoint meet- ing of the M. I. A. was held. President Francis M. Lyman presided. The con- gregation sang, "High on the Mountain Top." Prayer was offered by Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr., and the congregation sang, "Earth with Her Ten Thousand Flowers." Elder George Q. Morris spoke on the necessity of co-operation be- tween the young men and the young ladies in their conferences, conventions, travels, entertainments, and planning of lessons. This was followed by a general discussion. The Farmers Ward Ladies Chorus sang, "Christ Is Risen," and President Lottie P. Baxter, of Liberty Stake, spoke on "Preliminary Programs." Dr. George H. Brimhall followed on the subject, "Order, How to Secure It." This speech will be printed in full in a future number of the Era.The congre- gation sang, "Come, Come, Ye Saints," and benediction was pronounced by Sister Julia M. Brixen.

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On Sunday morning, June 6, at 10 o'clock, in the large Tabernacle, a con- joint testimony meeting was held, President Joseph F- Smith presiding. The con- gregation saLg. "Redeemer of Israel," and prayer was offered by Elder J. Golden Kimball, after which the congregation again sang, "0 Say What Is Truth?" Pre- sident Smith offered general instructions in regard to testimonies and testimony meetings, expressing his delight at meeting with the large congregation of work- ers, associates and sympathizers with the great cause of Mutual Improvement, and

bearing a strong testimony to the truth of the gospel and the mission of the Prophet Joseph. Quite a number of men and women bore their testimonies after which the congregation sang, "Praise to the Man Who Communed with Jehovah;" also, "We Thank Thee, God, for a Prophet," and benediction was pronounced by Sister Mary Connelly. At 2 o'clock p. m. the conjoint conference again assembled in the Taber- nacle, and the Tabernacle choir sang, "Sweet is the Work, My God, My King." Prayer by Elder Joseph W. McMurrin. The choir and congregation sang, "0 Ye Mountains High." Elder George F. Richards spoke on Primary Associations an- nouncing that the First Presidency had appointed Elders Hyrum M. Smith and George F. Richards to have general supervision under the First Presidency of the Church over the Primaries, and to aid the General Board and Primary workers. The Tabernacle Choir sang the anthem, "Hosannah," following which Elder Junius F. Wells spoke on "Chaperonage," followed by Sister Ruth May Fox on the same subject. The Tabernacle choir sang "Hallelujah," and the benediction was pronounced by Sister May B. Anderson. At 7:30 o'clock p. m. the Tabernacle again contained a large congregation, at the third conjoint meeting, President Joseph F. Smith presiding. The Taber- nacle choir and congregation sang, "Our God, We Raise to Thee, " and prayer was offered by Elder Rulon S. Wells. A. C. Crawford sang a solo. Sister Vilate Peart spoke for the Primary Associations, and the Tabernacle choir sang, "0 Gladsome Light." President Francis M Lyman spoke on amuse- ments and recreation, and his remarks will be printed in full in the Era here- after. Sister Hazel Graves of South Sanpete sang a soprano solo, ' 'The Dawn of Hope," followed by remarks by Sister Alice K. Smith. The Tabernacle choir sang the anthem, "I Waited for the Lord," and benediction was pronounced by Presi- dent John R. Winder. The conference adjourned for one year. In many respects the conference was a very important one, especially the

address prepared by the General Superintendency which points out conditions that make a new movement in the Improvement Associations advisable, and which recommends that the authorities of the stakes, wards, and missions of the Church, lend their support to the Mutual Improvement Associations in their endeavors to

carry out their enlarged program and new line of activity. officers, at the The entertainment given by the General Boards to the Stake Granite Stake House, was an enjoyable and successful affair.