M. I. A. Contest Work

M. I. A. Contest Work BY OSCAR A. KIRKHAM, OF THE GENERAL BOARD V. SI. M. I a. Life is a series of contests. The best in nearly every line of work is the result of some form of competition. To "call our youngpeople to prepare some work out of a sense of duty is not always_ enough to bring forth their best; but when asked to join in a friendly contest, their personal pride at stake, they put forth their best efforts, and splendid results are the outcome. In a ward where this work has been tried, a young man, after having seen his friends performing, said: "Well now, I believe I can do as well as that," and soon "they found new material coming forth. In some instances young people have been invited to prepare some line of work, the officers desiring that the ward might be represented well in the district, and they who have never appeared before the public, come now into prominence, and do themselves and the ward proud by their splendid work. The gospel is broad in its scope, including every line of noble endeavor. We are not all inclined toward spiritual work, but the literary, musical and other lines may appeal to us. Why not develop these, and perhaps some day we'll find ourselves longing for ths greater and nobler work, — the spiritual. I know of a quartet of male voices, young men who used to roam the streets of one of our country towns singing songs of a light and frivolous nature who, I believe, never would have responded to prepare a quartet number out of a sense of duty, but when told that the ward wanted them to represent it in a friendly contest, they at once sought instruction, and turned their splendid power into this work, and won for themselves and their friends first place in the stake contest. They are now singing in the Sunday evening services and blessing the people with their beautiful music which was once light and frivolous and wasted on the midnight air. One young man, I remember in particular, who had never given the public the benefit of his ability, though he had attended the auxiliary organizations, was asked to join in a ward contest, and to perpare a ten-minute address on "Education in Utah." He did so well that he surprised his friends. One remarked : "That was fine ! I didn't know he could do anything like that." I happened to be sitting by the bishop who remarked : "Well, well, that boy will make a splendid public speaker." Perhaps the greatest difficulty in all the contest work is to learn the great lesson to be good losers as well as good winners. Here is where the officers must play their parts well. They should have definite, detailed understanding, after the work has

1008 IMPROVEMENT ERA been carefully discussed. The material, the rules, etc., should be written and placed in the hands of all contestants. Then the officers, both stake and ward, should uphold the decision, never bending the rules in order to favor their particular friends. The thought should be kept before the young people that the real victory comes through splendid preparation and growth. The decision of the judges always should be taken without question, and they should remember that the decision is only the necessary ending of the work. Being a good loser: that is one of life's best lessons. Why hot learn the lesson among our friends ? It requires considerable strength of character to come up smiling when, after a long period of preparation, the decision goes against you ; but a great life-lesson has been learned and a great winning power has been acquired by those who can thus meet such decision. Let us not forget that in splendid preparation the greatest victory is won — intellectual growth. The answer to a problem is not the most important thing, but the many hours spent in working over that problem, the splendid growth that comes as a result of concentration, — these are the things worth while. WASATCH STAKE LADIES QUARTET Winners of first place in final contest, June Conference. At a recent outing of M. I. A. scouts, part of the daily program consisted of a large campfire-meeting, when stories were told and old familiar songs were sung. At first, the singing was fairly successful, but no one knew that there was special ability in camp until one evening the company was divided in a friendly contest. A neighboring farmer, his son and his daughter-in-law were chosen judges. The song selected was the "Star

M. I. A. CONTEST WORK. 1009 Spangled Banner." They had sung this before, but now, when every young lad with all his young life and vigor was called upon to do his best, the result was really an inspiration. Let the great work of the Mutual Improvement find new strength in these friendly M. I. A. contests ! As officers let us do our part in keeping alive this movement which demands the best from our boys and girls, so that as our June Conferences come and the grand finals are given, we shall have intellectual contests that may be the pride of any people in the world. We publish herewith the list of contestants, the titles of their numbers, and the stakes represented at the grand finals of the late annual June Conference. All who entered had won first place in their stake contests : STORY-TELLING Jane Rawlinson, Deseret stake, "The Prophecy." Inez Bird, South Davis stake, "A Character Sketch." Cora H. Flinders, Juab stake, "The Great Stone Face." Hattie Johnson, Oneida stake, "Michael Strogoff, A Courier of the Czar." Mrs. Thurza T. Adams, Bear River stake, "The Great Stone Face. *Claude Cornwall, Granite stake, "The Whirligig^ of Life." Afton Young, Liberty stake, "Jonnie's Thanksgivin'." Lisle Lindsay, Wasatch stake, "Theodocia's Pearls." Wilde Dixon, Nebo stake, "The Other Wise Man." Jean Clark, Morgan stake, "The Last Game." Myrl Brugger, Sevier stake, "Love's Sacrifice." Mabel Clark, Maricopa stake, "Laddie." ORATORY Mrs. Mark Reynolds, Utah stake, "Religious Freedom." Mr Hilton, South Davis stake, "Young Men of Utah." J. Lyman Smith, Cassia stake, "The Problem of the American Home." . .... ,- „ George W. Hanks, Panguitch stake, "International Arbitration. Joseph S .Fish, Snowflake stake, "The Debt We Owe." Stayner Richards, Granite Stake, "Loyalty." *Axel A. Madsen, Liberty stake, "Our Conception of Life. George Baird, Box Elder stake, "The Pioneer." Lethe Coleman, Wasatch stake, "Utah." N. E. Dahl, Nebo stake, "Life of Christ." MALE QUARTET Liberty stake, "In Absence," Dudley Buck. *Salt Lake stake, "The Woodland Rose," Parks. South Davis stake, "The Woodland Rose," Parks. ladies' quartet Juab stake, "Pale in the Amber West," Parks. Oneida stake, "Daddy," Parks. Star Valley stake, "Dawn of Day," Stephens. Liberty stake, "Lady Pioneer," Stephens. Nebo stake, "Pale in the Amber West," Parks. *Wasatch stake, "Annie Laurie," Parks. *Winners of first place.