The Y. M. M. I. A.

The Y. M. M. I. A. The Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association was organized first in the 13th Ward, Salt Lake City, under the inspiration of President Brigham Young, on the 10th day of June, 1875, Elder Junius F. Wells being appointed to take the initiative in the organization. Steadily from that time up to the present, the association has grown until in the Church in the ihtermountain country there are now 670 separate organizations with a permanent enrollment of 33,506, and an active enrollment of 23,335 young men ; over 1,000 are away at schools, and more than that number on missions. The purposes of the association are to strengthen the faith of the young people in the divinity of the work of the Lord — the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ; and to develop the natural gifts within them through religious, physical, and intellectual instruction, and by affording them opportunities for practice in these various activities. To this end the organization has so far printed and distributed, for weekly study, approximately 400,000 manuals in 16 volumes, on religious, moral, economic and ethical subjects. It has established athletic associations, organized M. I. A. Scouts ; and made a beginning to help the boys in choosing vocations and encouraging industries, and in other ways aided them in the development of special gifts -and talents through debating, storytelling, writing, music, orations and other intellectual activities. Contests in these are held annually, graded from the ward to the stake, and finally to the Church. The organization is controlled by a General Board of which President Joseph F. Smith is the presiding officer. The stake divisions of the Church, of which there are sixty-four, have superintendents and boards of aids who have charge of the associations in their respective divisions. The single association, which is subject to the stake board, is directed by a president, counselors, secretary and board of officers who come in direct contact with the membership. The M. I. A. Scouts are affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, but are a part of the ward improvement association and under its supervision. It is needless to say the activities of the Y. M. M. I. A. have been a great power in the educational development of the young people of the Church. For seventeen years, closing with October, 1896, The Contributor was the organ of the associations. Since 1897, and now in its sixteenth volume, the Improvement Era has been, and is the organ of these organizations. It has a circulation of 13,000 copies and is one of the forces that has aided greatly in the progress of the organizations. — Edward H. Anderson.