Mutual Work

Mutual Work. General M. I. A. Conference. The Sixteenth General Annual Conference of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement associations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held in Salt Lake City, June 2, 3, and 4, 1911. The officers of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement association assembled in Barratt Hall, June 2 at 2 p. m. President Joseph F. Smith and assistants and many members of the general board were present. Owing to the large number of entries for the athletic meet to be held on Saturday afternoon it was decided to present the program for two meetings at the one meeting on Friday afternoon, thus leaving all of Saturday for the field day at Wandamere. Assistant Superintendent Heber J. Grant presided and Oscar A. Kirkham had charge of the singing. Singing, "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation"—congregation. Prayer by Elder J. Golden Kimball. Violin solo, Vaughan Clayton. Elder Lyman R. Martineau, chairman of the committee on athletics, field sports and outdoor activities, spoke on the subject of athletic work. His paper will be printed later on in the Era. Elder Frank Y. Taylor treated the subject, "M. I. A. Missionary Work." While we have a large number enrolled in the associations, there is still room for some splendid missionary work. In every stake board there should be some one appointed to take charge of this work throughout the stake, and to see that each ward does its share towards bringing in the indifferent boys. Select some young man who loves boys and who can mingle with them. Encourage the boys when they do come, and do not be afraid that they will disturb the classes. Solo, Professor Oscar A. Kirkham. Professor John A. Widtsoe spoke on debating. Experience during the past year indicates that debating may be made a very valuable feature of Mutual work. This coming year subjects will be chosen which

944 IMPROVEMENT ERA. will also be suited to those stakes removed from the center of the Church. Two classes of debates will be chosen this year: fairly difficult questions that may be handled by the older boys, and easier ones that may be handled by any of our boys in any part of the Church. All wards should try to begin their work about the same time of the year; that is considering each stake by itself. Try-outs on public speaking contests should be held, and judges appointed. The officers should select the best speakers to handle the debates. The debates should be held during the same week throughout the stake. The successful team in each ward is then to be allowed to enter into inter-ward debating. The most successful two best teams of the stake may be chosen finally to hold a stake debate, to which all the wards are invited. This method has been tried out in several stakes, and is recommended to all the stakes. If the stakes can afford it, it would be well to offer cups or a diploma to the winning team, which may be placed or hung in the Mutual Improvement hall. The subject of "Programs and Conjoint Meetings" was treated by Elder Edward H. Anderson. In the preparation of programs for conjoint quarterly meetings generally held on Sunday night of quarterly stake conferences, the. officers of both associations should work in harmony. Short reports should be given by the officers of both associations, of the work done, and the program should reflect the work taken up by the associations during that year. The superintendent should be in readiness to report; and have the stake and ward officers present. The Mutual officers should consult with the stake authorities in setting the dates for annual conferences. Reports should then be made to the general board. The program is left to te prepared entirely by the Mutual authorities and both associations should work in harmony in the preparation of the same. Let the program be lively and reflect the work of the organizations. The annual conventions are held in the fall. The dates are set by the General board, and where they are not satisfactory, notice should be given immediately, so as to have other arrangements made. The program is outlined by the general board, and a member of the board will be present at each convention. He called attention to the necessity of having new officers appointed in tim3 for them to be present at the conventions to receive instructions on the coming year's work. Stake superintendents should insist on every Mutual officer in the entire stake being present. Solo, Miss Hinckley. Elder B. S. Hinckley gave a brief outline of the manuals for 1911-12

MUTUAL WORK. 945 stating that the manuals will contain fifteen lessons each. The junior manual will be devoted to the development of character, treating on the elements of success. These lessons will be made up of a series of stories full of inspiration to boys, calculated to appeal to the boy, and to arouse in him a desire to win a place among men. The senior manual will continue along the lines of the manual of last year. The first five lessons are devoted to agricultural interests, of great value to farmers, also of economic interest to the people in the cities. The second five lessons will be devoted to a discussion of municipal public utilities, and the third series to public finance. The manuals will be ready for distribution in ample time, and the officers should see that every member of the association has a manual. General secretary Moroni Snow read the statistical reports for the past year. Although the reports were very late in reaching the office, every stake was reported except Juarez and Wayne. The amount received on general fund account this year had fallen off by several hundred dollars. A synopsis of the statistical report appeared in the July number of the Era. Roll call shewed only three stakes unrepresented, although at the morning meeting there was a decrease of about one hundred and fifty representatives as compared with last year. Many, however, came expecting to attend on Saturday, which was field day. President Heber J. Grant presented the reading course books for 1911-12, and stated that Dr. Brimhall would write an article on the subject to be printed in the Era. The books are: For the seniors—The Young Man and the Worid, by Beveridge; Dry Farming, by Widtsoe; Cities of the Sun, by Cannon; John Marvel, Assistant, by Page. For the juniors—Good Hunting, by Roosevelt; The Young Forester, by Gray; Boy Wanted, by Waterman; Aljred the Great, by Abbott. Joint books of reference—History oj the Church, six volumes; and Good Manners, by Kingsland. Elder Willard Done read a paper on "The Association and the Drama," which will later appear in the Era. Meeting adjourned. Singing, "We thank thee, 0 God, for a prophet"—congregation. Conjoint Y. L. and Y. M. M. I. A. officers' meeting was held in the Tabernacle Sunday morning, June 4, 10 a. m. President Heber J. Grant conducted the exercises. President Joseph F. Smith and a large representation of the general board members were present, and a congregation which nearly filled the floor of the Tabernacle.

946 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Singing, "My Shepherd," Ensign Stake Male Chorus. Prayer by President Anthon H. Lund. "Preliminary Programs in the Associations," was discussed by Elder B. S. Hinckley. He urged that these be in strict harmony with association work; namely, that there be good music, good short stories, essays, and original speeches. Junior and Senior class members should be represented. Sister Edith R. Lovesy and Elder Edward H. Anderson spoke on "Social Affairs in the Organizations." Mrs. John Taylor and Mrs. John M. Cannon discussed the topic. Having social functions in connection with M. I. A. work is as important in its way as religious and moral training, since it has religious and moral effects. Both speeches, which occupied most of the time, will be printed in the Young Woman's Journal and the Era. Mrs. Taylor urged the necessity of grading the amusements—have some forms for the youth, others for the older folks, and still others for both. Mrs. Cannon called attention to the Doctrine and Covenants 88: 124, and counseled the observance of these injunctions. Singing "Onward, Christian Soldiers"—Ensign Stake Male Chorus. Benediction by Sister Ruth M. Fox. Conjoint general meeting at 2 p. m. in the Tabernacle, President Joseph F. Smith presiding. Singing, "The Cause of Truth," Tabernacle choir Prayer by Elder C. W. Penrose. Singing, "True to the Faith," Tabernacle choir. Solo, "Come Unto Me," Brother Hector T. Evans of Emery stake. Elder Heber J. Grant then spoke on the subject, "What June 27th Means to Utah," in which he urged every Latter-day Saint who believes in the word of God to do his duty and vote out of existence the saloon and whiskey, which destroy his home,and his children's prospects. Elder Grant, in his splendid sermon on temperance, read copiously from Leaves from the Diary of an Old Lawyer,who had practiced some thirty years and pleaded in some four thousand cases. It was there stated that nearly all the crimes committed in our country are due directly or indirectly to liquor. Owing to lack of time, it was announced that President Smith would speak on "The Observance of the Sabbath Day" at some future time. At the conclusion of Elder Grant's remarks, President Smith expressed himself as being in hearty accord with what had been said, and stated that the general authorities of the Church were strongly in favor of prohibition. The general authorities of the associations were then presented and

MUTUAL WORK. 947 unanimously sustained, after which the choir sang, "Lord Now Victorious," and the benediction was pronounced by President Louie B. Felt of the Primary associations. Tabernacle, June 4, 1910, 7. p. m. President Joseph F. Smith presiding. Singing, "Praise ye the Father," Granite stake M. I. A. choruses, M. Einer Christopherson conductor. Prayer by Elder A. W. Ivins. Singing, "Pilgrim's Chorus," Granite stake M. I. A. choruses. Elder B. H. Roberts gave a lecture on "Higher Criticism as Effecting 'Mormonism.'' He described the picture of the future as set forth by higher criticism and by "Mormonism," showing that higher criticism leads to a repose which can be compared to nothing, while "Mormonism" leads to a living, progressive hope of eternal life. Elder Roberts closed with this testimony: "I have now been preaching writing, studying in the ministry for more than thirty years. I would like to draw close to you young people long enough to give you the result of my strivings, to give you my personal testimony. If it is at all possible for the consciousness of man to arrive at a knowledge of the truth, then I know that the gospel of Christ is true." President Smith made some concluding remarks in which he thanked those who had taken such an interest in these gatherings, and hoped that the words that had been spoken during the conference would find lodgement in their hearts. He bore his testimony to the truth of the gospel. The conference adjourned. The concluding musical number was "The Soldier's Chorus," rendered by the Granite stake choruses, after which the benediction was offered by Mrs. Martha H. Tingey, president of the Y. L. M. I. A. Charles Raymond Woodmansee, who died in the Swiss-German mission, May 24, was laid to rest in the Ogden city cemetery, on Thursday, June 15. He was born in Ogden, August 21, 1891, and was the son of C. H. and Vilate Pincock Woodmansee. He spent his early life in Rexburg, and was a student at the Ricks Academy, and later at the Weber Academy, in Ogden. He left for his mission Jan. 14, 1911, and died after four months' absence, of tuberculosis of the brain, the result of a fall sustained two years previous, while working on the farm. He died in the hospital in Lucerne, Switzerland.