“Follow-up Work” in the Mutuals

"Follow-up Work" in the Mutuals* BY NEPIII ANDERSON, EDITOR AND AUTHOR, AND MEMBER OF THE GENERAL BOARD Y. M. M. I. A. By "follow up work" is meant the following up by General Stake and Ward officers of plans proposed and instructions given, to see that these are carried into effect. If the suggestions just given by Brother Morgan are to become a power for good, they must move the receiver to action, sufficiently to have them carried into effect. A true "follow-up" work would be done if the General Board, adopting these suggestions as its own, would not lose sight of them, but would at some future time call for reports on them to see how they were working out. The very purpose of organization in Mutual Improvement Associations, as well as in all like societies, is that there might be order, and system, and leadership, for it is necessary that there are some to plan, to suggest, and to lead the way. Human society is so constituted that such organization seems essential to insure progress along any line of activity. Leadership, however, is of little value unless the leader has some means of enforcing his orders. Instructions issued by the heads of any organization are largely wasted effort if these instructions are not carried into effect. In the case of our Mutual Improvement Associations, as in all our Church organizations, the plans of the head can be enforced only to the extent that the subordinates are willing to carry them out ; for the rule of the Priesthood is based on this, that "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, and meekness and by love unfeigned ; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile." All our follow-up work must, therefore, harmonize with these great fundamental principles. In our case, the lack of carrying out instructions of superior officers is usually more because of carelessness or neglect rather than because of any spirit of insubordination. We acknowledge the wisdom and helpfulness of instructors and rules of conduct, but we may lack the will power to heed the instructions and ob- *Delivered at the M. I. A. officers meeting, June, 7, 1913, General Conference.

"FOLLOW-UP WORK" IN THE MUTUALS 995 serve the rules; hence the principle of follow up work in our associations becomes of great importance. We arc willing to be reminded of our duty if done in the proper spirit; we are glad to be checked up at times, knowing our proneness to forget or to procrastinate; we cheerfully accept help when we lag behind or come to a seeming formidable obstacle in the road. The principle of this follow-up work is fundamental. The law of compensation holds in the world and all its affairs. Every blessing is predicated on the observance of the law which brings it. Some day the books shall be opened, we are told, and all shall be judged from what is there written. The recording Angel never forgets to follow up and make the proper entries. The Lord in giving instructions to the Saints in early days regarding the temporal affairs of the Church said: "It is required of the Lord at the hands of every steward to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity." It seems from this that the responsibility of stewardship never ceases. The Lord always holds men to account, into whose hands some responsibility is placed. Every Mutual Improvement officer is a steward. — a caretaker of things of more value than of material wealth — of the growth of soul and character of the young men of the Church. The General Board's stewardship extends to the whole Church, the Stake Board's to the activities within the stake, the ward officer's to the young men in the ward, committees' and individuals' to the specific duties devolving on them. All are under responsibility, not only to plan and to give instructions, but also to see that these plans and instructions are carried into effect. This responsibility does not cease when the instructions are sent out, for that is frequently the lesser labor. To sit in a Board or Presidency, or Committee meeting is important, because all things must be done in order ; but to cease to labor when that is done, is to do but half the work. To dictate letters of instructions to a stenographer, and send them out by the hundreds, may do some good, and usually does; but unless these letters are followed up by other letters, by enquiries, by required reports, and by personal visits of inspection, they fail to do their full work. The value of this follow-up work is appreciated when we remember the importance of preventing failures. Plans matured and launched only to be lost sight of on an unmarked sea of uncertainty, are like ships sent out without compass or guide with no destined port in view. There is sheer waste of time and energy in such things. The result on character of continued failure to carry out instruction, is not good. It is unfair to give instructions to a boy or a young man, and then to leave the matter of carrying out these instructions wholly to himself, without fastening to him.

996 IMPROVEMENT ERA as it were, some future responsibility. If no account is kept with him, he is in clanger of acquiring a habit of neglect. After this statement of general principles, let us see how they may be applied. Beginning with the General Board : If it has been weak in the past in regard to this follow-up work, it is hoped that this will be corrected in the future. One of the chief duties of the Committee of Stake Work, recently created, is to look into the condition of the stakes, get reports from them, and make such suggestions as are required. Elder John H. Taylor's work among the M. I. A. Scouts partakes very much of the nature of follow-up work, and Elder Oscar A. Kirkham will this season devote his whole time to visiting among the stakes, carrying to them, and following up, the instructions of the General Board, and giving to the stakes and wards a practical helping hand. All this, it is hoped, will place the General Board in closer touch with the stakes and wards. As to the stake officers, it is strongly urged that they meet as such at least once a month, when plans should be laid, reports of the Stake Board's labors should be given and propositions discussed. This meeting should be preparatory to other monthly meetings of stake and ward officers, usually held in connection with the monthly stake priesthood meeting. The subject matter presented at these meetings will vary with the seasons, as suggested by Brother Morgan. At these meetings of stake and ward officers, one of the first items of business should be to hear reports. If the month previous it was decided to carry some plan into execution, now is the time to hear how the plan is working. Praise should be given where success is evident, the failures should be noted, and the causes of the failures should be discovered ; and then further instructions and help is given. These cases of failure should be kept in mind by stake officers, and if necessary, be brought up at future meetings, until they are disposed of satisfactorily. At this meeting the stake officers may get the proper information on which to base their appointments for visitations of inspection, instruction, and help. The follow-up work will find an enlarging field in the various Mutual Improvement activities. The Era problem, for instance, is always with us. Which of you officers have obtained the 5 per cent by sitting in an office and sending out letters only? A certain stake officer, hearing of the constant success of another stake in the matter of Era subscriptions, decided to make a visit to the successful stake and learn the secret of success. He was welcomed by the Superintendent, and the royal road to results was explained : "This evening," said the Superintendent, "I am going to help one of the boys in the Blank Ward with his list of Era

"FOLLOW-UP WORK" IN THE MUTUALS 997 subscribers. We have watched him, and encouraged him for some time, but fearing for him now, I shall take a hand and help him out. Come along with us, as we call on the people individually, and see how it is done. We are simply following up our own instructions." In the matter of the Fund it is important that the envelopes which are passed to the members are not lost track of. They should be followed as an account due, of course, always with tact and care. Conjoint session and Open Night programs are frequently arranged by the Stake Boards. There is no way of determining how successful these programs are unless there are reports on them. A checking up will be beneficial in determining what to do next. One of the Mutual Improvement fields in which a following up reveals a true, and sometimes a startling condition, in the Reading Course. An intelligent adoption of new books is hardly possible without a knowledge of what the results have been in the past. In the scout movement among the boys, there is a series of promotions from rank to rank which necessitates a close following up of the boys' doings. The literary, public speaking, and musical contests, as also those of our out-door activities which have become such a prominent and successful feature of our Mutual Improvement work, have within them the very elements of follow-up work, and the M. I. A. Day is a logical culmination of the principle. Our department of Vocations and Industries brings to us a field of usefulness where follow-up work must be done to insure any degree of success. In any line of work we cannot intelligently provide for the future without a knowledge of past accomplishments or failures and present conditions. Definiteness in planning for the future calls for this ; and so the follow-up work is closely related to every branch of M. I. A. activity all along the course. The principles herein briefly set forth apply just as well to the work of the ward officers in their dealings with local problems. The weekly meeting of the ward officers of the Mutual are splendid clearing houses for M. I. A. work. These officers have committees to appoint and work to assign. There are class leaders to find, to assist, and to sustain. There is the work of the various departments, of Era, of Fund, of Manuals, of Boy Scouts, etc.. to supervise, and from all these, reports must be had at stated times. A following up here is of vital importance, for it is here in the wards that the M. I. A. work comes in close touch with those for whom it is provided. The machinery of the whole Mutual organization is moving to reach the boy and the young man in the ward association. A closer and more careful attention to this follow-up work will help to place the cause of Mutual Improvement in harmony

998 IMPROVEMENT ERA with modern tendencies in other lines of Church work. In the Priesthood quorums, in Stake and Ward work, this principle is found to do wonders in the betterment of the work of the Church. Stake Presidencies have committees from the High Council whose duty it is to follow up and report. Bishops know the condition of their wards through the work of the ward teachers. The office of the Presiding Bishopric of the Church is now a storehouse of wonderful information regarding the Church and its activities, all obtained by a careful system of follow-up reporting. Let us in the future increase the value of our work by preventing the big leakage and waste of energy which is sure to be found where the follow-up work is neglected. CLASS IN L. D. S. SCHOOL, KORONGATA, N. Z. The Sabbath school of the Latter-day Saints Maori Agricultural College, at Kcrongata. The boys are dressed in their becoming college uniforms. Their nobby caps show to good advantage their high foreheads, and intelligent countenances. The school has been organized only two months, but thus far every officer, teacher, and pupil, has a record of 100 per cent in order, punctuality, and regularity. It is the ambition of every one to continue this excellent standard. There is a complete set of officers, and three departments, the First Intermediate, the Second Intermediate, and the Theological. The President of the college is the superintendent of the Sunday School, and two of the regular teachers are his assistants. Sister Johnson, the teacher of music, is chorister, and Miss Vivian Johnson is organist. All other officers are chosen from the student body. The singing is good, every one, without exception, taking part. The marching has become almost perfect. A lively interest is being manifested in all the classes. We feel justly proud of our Sunday School. Maori Agricultural College, June, I, 1913.