System in Stake Work

System in Stake Work* BY NICHOLAS G. MORGAN, OF THE GENERAL BOARD Y. M. M. I. A. The title of this topic bespeaks its importanee. System is a synonym of the word "order," and order we understand is the first law of heaven. No organization can progress far, achieve much, or in fact endure long, that is not conducted or operated on a basis of some system. The great fundamental reason for the success of our commercial institutions is that they are carried on systematically and orderly. Mutual improvement work is a business, and in order to make it successful and profitable it must be carried on in a systematic and orderly manner. The same reason that requires system in our business life applies very forcibly to the work in which we are engaged. It is universally found that where definite plans are formulated and ways and means devised to carry those plans into execution, where regular meetings are held and enthusiasm is injected into the work, in those stakes success always results. The stake superintendency and board should be in constant communication with the officers of the various wards. The stake organization might be likened unto a central power station from which the respective wards in the stake draw their power. If there is a short circuit at the central station, naturally, the stations dependent thereon will be vitally affected. The stake organization should keep advised as to the needs and requirements of the local organizations, and the ward organizations should look to the stake officers for information and direction. A complete understanding and perfect harmony between the ward and stake officers must be had before any progress can be achieved. Meetings, at regular intervals, should be held by the stake officers with the ward officers. Generally these meetings are held monthly. At them a closer relationship is brought about between all the Mutual Improvement officers in the stake. Instructions and assignment of work are here given to the ward officers. Questions that have arisen in the local organizations that require discussion are here submitted and discussed. In order to make this monthly meeting a success, it should be held regularly and made highly interesting. There should always be a special order of business. Questions vital to the work are arising constantly ♦Delivered at the Y. M. M. I. A. officers meeting June 7, 1913, General Conference.

SYSTEM IN STAKE WORK 991 and require the attention of all officers. The stake superintendency should plan and prepare for this monthly meeting. The first of these meetings should be held in September, that plans may be laid for the opening of the work in October. The old adage that a battle well begun is half won is true, and the stake superintendency that can line up its forces, have the ranks filled, and can start out well-prepared, has overcome half the difficulties of the winter's work. On the other hand, where a good start is not had, where the season is half gone before the organization is completed, where problems that should have been solved in October, and questions that should have been taken up in November, are not considered until December or January, chaos is bound to result, and defeat and failure is inevitable. Such procedure is not systematic. At this first meeting in September, every officer in the stake should be present. Above all other meetings, this should be well attended and made highly interesting. It is the starting point for the winter's work, and to a large degree indicates what is going to be accomplished. At this meeting there are certain questions that are uppermost in the minds of all officers. The question as to how the opening meeting can be made a success arises. The ward officers are deeply interested in getting their work started off properly. A very profitable discussion could he had on the question : What is the best plan or program for the opening night ? Another topic that should be considered at this meeting is : How can we raise the Era subscription to the 5% mark and thus place us on the Honor Roll? I have found it true, and T think you brethren will concur with me, that where Era subscriptions are solicited at the beginning of the work, when everyone feels the spirit of the Mutual Improvement cause, more can be accomplished in getting subscribers to our journal than at any other time of the year. Instructions concerning the canvass for the Era should be given at this meeting. Missionary work for members should also be discussed at the September meeting. Arrangements should be made for the appointing of a missionary committee in each ward. Much good would come from a free discussion as to the best plan for getting our boys and young men into our organization. If this meeting is a success, the ward officers will return to their respective organizations with definite plans as to how to proceed, and filled with enthusiasm for the work. At the October monthly meeting the program for the special order of business might be a discussion on the question: Preliminary Programs. Someone should be appointed at the preceding meeting to lead out in the discussion of each of these questions After a thorough discussion of this topic, a suggestive preliminary program for each week of the ensuing month might

992 IMPROVEMENT ERA be drawn up for the use of the various organizations. The question of the monthly conjoint meeting might be considered. Suggestions as to how this meeting can be made the mosj; interesting and effective should be made. Instructions as to what should and what should not be included in the program of the monthly conjoint meeting should be given by the stake superintendency. A third question that could profitably be discussed at this meeting is the "Open Night." The subject of "Debating" might also be considered. A thorough understanding should be had concerning these various topics during the first part of the season. If the winter's work is to be a success, the preliminary program, the monthly conjoint meeting, and the open night must be made interesting and profitable. At the November meting the question of the Fund naturally arises. No organization can long survive without means, and the importance of this matter should be laid before the ward officers by the stake superintendency. "How to collect 100% of the fund, could be discussed by some officer, and then the matter thrown open for general discussion. It should be definitely determined at this meeting as to how the fund should be collected, and when it is to be handed in. Another subject that could be discussed at this meeting is that of "Class Study." ■ The month of December brings the holiday season, and the meeting held during this month could profitably be devoted to the discussion of the question of amusements. Both in our smaller settlements and in our larger cities, the amusements of our young people present a vital issue. The Mutual Improvement Association should take the initiative in planning the amusements and in making them so attractive that our boys and girls will have no desire to go elsewhere. At the January meeting plans should be made for a second campaign for membership. January opens up the second half of the winter's work and initiates the new year. A lively discussion should be had in relation to the matter of getting new members into the ranks, and stirring up the old members to activity. Plans should also be laid at this meting for a second collection of the fund. The meeting in February might be devoted to the laying of plans for the M. I. A. Day. This question requires a great deal of work, and it would be unwise to postpone its consideration to a later date. Instructions concerning the work to be done in the various wards, assignment of duties to the various officers, etc., should be given at this meeting. The date when it is thought most advisable to hold M. I. A. Day, should also be determined upon at this meeting. The March meeting should be devoted largely to the question

SYSTEM IN STAKE WORK 993 of reports and records. A resume should be made of the year's work, and it should be ascertained whether or not the reports and records have been kept properly and are ready to be handed in. Instructions concerning these matters should be given by the stake superintendency. April brings the end of the year's work and the April conference. The meeting held in this month should be utilized in preparing for the April and the June conferences. Through the means of these monthly meetings the stake superintendency should be able to keep advised as to the condition of the work in the various wards. Through these meetings, uniform work should be done throughout the stake. The great responsibility of making this system a success rests, however, upon the stake superintendent himself. He is the engineer of this machine and it largely depends upon him as to whether or not every part is kept in order and made to do its portion of the work. Men should be selected as stake superintendents who are in sympathy with the work, — who are familiar with the workings of our machine, and who are enthusiastic in the Mutual Improvement cause. The ward is a unit in the stake just as the stake is a unit in the Church. Regular weekly meetings should be held in each of the wards where the questions constantly arising within the organizations can be considered and disposed of. If the ward president can make these meetings successful, there is little doubt but what his organization will prove successful. Definite programs can be arranged for each of these meetings. It is here that the ward officers should consider and arrange to carry into execution the instructions and assignment of duties given by the stake organization. These meetings, it can be clearly seen, are very vital to the welfare of the ward association and unless they are held regularly and attended to by the officers and teachers, the work assigned and the instructions given by the stake authorities cannot effectively be carried into action. If, therefore, we are to get results in our work, if our organizations are to prove successful, we must inject system into them, and we must follow out our plans with vigor and enthusiasm. If a thing is worth doing at all, it worth doing well, and the work in which we are engaged is certainly worth while. I can conceive of no greater work than that of building character and making men. That is the aim of the Mutual Improvement Association. You, my brethren, and the great host of officers and t°achers associated with you are in very deed ambassadors of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, in making upright and honorable, the lives of the children of men.