Mutual Work: Department of Vocations and Industries: I

Mutual Work Department of Vocations and Industries. I. The twentieth century will be pre-eminently the age of specializa tion in vocations. If in the closing decades of the nineteenth century it began to be realized that while a person might know a little something about everything he must know everything about some one thing, in order to succeced in any large way, that truth will become more patent, and be more emphasized in the twentieth centurv than ever before. The day of "the jack of all trades and master of none" is passing. Our modern life is so complex and at the same time so insistent upon things being well, efficiently- and quickly done that experts in all lines of industrial and professional activities are not only in demand, but the tendency is to reject all others. The opportunity for every man to do what he has inclination and skill to do, and exchange his product of labor service for the things he needs for his own consumption, was never so great as now. The rapid means of transit, both upon land and sea; the means of instant communication locally, nationally, and internationally, has wonderfully affected the industrial world, and makes it possible not only for states and neighborhoods to be benefited by an exchange of products, but enables the individual to work at that which he best likes to do, which is also most likely to be the thing he can most profitably do, and exchange that labor service for the product of labor service of his fellows who also, by the conditions of our twentieth century, are able to follow specialized work for which they have inclination and skill, and which to them is most profitable. Under these conditions it will be readily seen that each man will be able to engage in that for which he has inclination and special aptitude, and thus get the highest value out of his industrial or orofessional vocation. These conditions emphasize the importance of every young man finding out at as early a date as possible the vocation in life for which he is best fitted, the thing at which he will most likely succeed. It will go without saying that there has been in the past, and is now, in our communities, too much neglect of this subject; and the matter of choosing a vocation for, or helping our young men to choose for themselves a vocation, is left altogether too much to chance, or undirected circumstances. Recognizing these conditions the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A. has thought it necessary to open a new department in M. I. A. work, which in reality will be the Department of Vocations and Industries, though in its organization it will be placed under the direction of general and local committees known simply as "Committees on Vocations." Of these committees their will be three kinds: (1) a general committee to have direction of the whole department appointed from

MUTUAL WORK. 955 the General Board. The personnel of which has not yet been designated. (2) A committee of two from each stake board to have the supervision of the work within the stake. (3) A committee of one in each of the ward associations to take immediate charge of the work as related to the members of the respective associations. This in outline is the organization. The functions to be performed by the General Board committee and Stake Board committees will be the general and stake supervision of this department, involving a study of vocation and industrial activities of our modern life, including outlook for opportunities and advantages obtained in various pursuits in life; calling attention to advantages and difficulties, desirable and undesirable things in given callings; and to supervise and direct activities of the respective association committees who will be in personal contact with the members to be helped in the consideration of and the choice of vocations. The association committees should be chosen with strict reference to their fitness for this work. They need to combine the thoughtfulness of somewhat matured minds, and sympathy with boys and young men whom they are expected to influence to their advantage in choosing trades, professions, business, and other industrial pursuits. They will need to be men who can co-operate not only with the young men themselves but with parents and teachers in regard to special cases and problems that will present themselves in connection with their work in this important field. Also, they should be men of such broad sympathies with boyhood and young manhood life, that the members of the respective associations will seek their counsel and advice in relation to matters herein considered; that our young men may feel that there is a local source to which they may appeal for a sympathetic hearing to their wishes, desires, inclinations, and ambitions, in reference to vocations in life, and where they may reasonably look for helpful suggestions in relation to all these matters. This is a brief and imperfect outline of what we hope will develop into a very interesting and important department of M. I. A. work, the first of a number of descriptive articles in relation to it, which from time to time will appear in the Era and will be the subject of correspondence and discussion in M. I. A. meetings, both stake and ward. It is desired, however, that a commencement shall be made in our fall conventions, and the appointment of a committee of two from the stake board officers; or, in case of more desirable material for such committee existing outside of stake boards, such brethren as will be thought proper may be brought into the service. Then at the opening meetings of the respective associations, or as soon as it is possible to accomplish it, suitable appointments should be made of a committee-man in the respective associations, that the movement may be started as simultaneously as possible, and at the same time the most suitable persons for the work be enlisted in its service. One other thing should be pointed out in these initial steps in the

956 IMPROVEMENT ERA. work, viz., that while it is designed to place this work under the charge of the General Board, stake, and association committees, and make them responsible for the work, it should be understood that each of these committees, as in fact is' the case with all committees, has the right to the cabinet services of their respective boards, and should in fact keep said boards well informed as to their progress as the work develops, taking to them for consideration problems as they arise, as well also their plans of procedure, and reports of their achievements, for in this work, as in all work involving community of effort, in the midst of counsel there is both safety and the greatest promise of success. — B. H. Roberts. ^Kr * 4^1 [. ' "W| Hk -f g 1 m 1 11 ■ ■" **4 ' CRi ' ' PVi i r *W^k •' 1 Ufm \7m * jflH K *fm ^h>u9 ' Ht'jJ Elder Victor L. Hansen gives a report of the semi-annual conference of the East Washington conference at Spokane, March 10. The elders reported their labors; Sunday School was held, and President Melvin J. Ballard delivered splendid discourses. A priesthood meeting was called where the elders received their assignments and instructions. President R. H. Hale, who has presided over the East Washington conference the past year, was released after twenty-nine months of active service, and Victor L. Hansen was sustained as his successor. Elder F. F. Brown was also released after twenty-one months of faithful labor. The names of the elders are, left to right, top row: Fred G. Carlile, Heber; George C. Wood, Woods Cross; Nephi P. Nielsen, College ward. Middle row: P. M. V. Anderson, Ephraim; L. E. Talbot, Kimball, Canada; Katherine L. Woodbury, Sale Lake City; Horten E. Fackrell, Bountiful; Victoria Egbert, Layton; Melvin K. Walker, Oakley, Idaho. Bottom row: Victor L. Hansen, Elwood; F. F. Brown, Blackfoot; R. H. Hale, Oakley, Idaho; Mission President Melvin J. Ballard; M. J. Stringham, Vermillion, Utah.