--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 9 published: 1916-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The M. I. A. Annual Conference," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 9 (July 1916): 839–840.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1909unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1909unse start_page: 839 end_page: 840 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1909unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The M. I. A. Annual Conference The M. I. A. Annual Conference The M. I. A. Conference which closed on the 11th of June, after a session of four days, was unusually inspiring and encour- aging to workers in the Mutual Improvement cause. From first to last the meetings bristled with life and inspiration for all the workers. Every moment was occupied, and the officers and rep- resentatives from all parts of the Church were not only kept busy but were given material that will be of great value and instruction in their work. The scout activities and the Bee-Hive girl work during the first day clearly demonstrated the intense in- terest taken in these departments and lent enthusiastic encourage- ment to the officers. With the scout work the paramount ques- encountered in tion is leadership, for much difficulty has been obtaining enthusiastic and able directors and scout masters. The conference, however, demonstrated that we have them coming on. The day closed with a splendid encampment and exercises in the Gymnasium for scout leaders, in which talks were given by Na- tionalCommitteeman A. W. Ivins, and Orson F. Whitney and Brigham H. Roberts. The spirited officers' meetings joint and separate were full All but of inspiration to the large representation who attended. officers of the one stake out of seventy-two were represented by presented for that Y M M I A., and a legitimate excuse was out of our - Kanab. Many new ideas relating to the carrying and definite and conclusive numerous activities were considered, and adopted that will improve and sim- instructions were given it more effective. plify the work and at the same time make 1 lie the scheme for efficiency, report; reading course, special activities, for better social and publications, as well as the adopted standards prohibition, and the spirited work, not forgetting the work for instructions on this subject by Superintendent Heber J Grant and the we fare ot were among the items pertinent to the needs with delight by the workers the young people, and were hailed demonstrated that the 'The^fast meeting on Sunday morning deep-rooted in the hearts of spiritual side of Mutual work is as The Assembly hall at the early hour the young people as ever. morning was filled with devout of 8-30 on that beautiful Sabbath The testimonies of the brethren officers who came to worship. in the associations, were full of inspiration, and sisters, workers 840 IMPROVEMENT ERA and the Spirit of the Lord was manifest to such a degree that not only the authorities upon the stand but many who sat in the congregation wept with joy and were filled with the Holy Ghost. The contest work was better and more efficient than ever, and the singing and public speaking and contests attracted large congregations of interested listeners. The winners will be featured in the August Era. The general speeches on Sunday, particularly that of Presi- dent Joseph F. Smith on the "Observance of the Sabbath Day and Proper Dress," and of Nephi L. Morris on "How the Gospel Can Be Taught Through Pioneer Experiences," were great features of the conference. Elder Brigham H. Roberts at the evening service spoke masterfully on the subject "But Ye are a : Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People." His sermon covered practically the whole ground of instructions, and brought forcibly before the congrega- tion the lessons that had been given by President Smith on the matter of dress and the observance of the Sabbath day, as well as vital topics touched upon by other speakers of the conference. The Era for August will contain the conference resolutions, speeches, and much of the vital and technical information' that Mutual officers and others interested in the social, industrial and religious welfare of the youth of Zion, will find necessary in their work. How to Get Prohibition The M. I. A. slogan was presented and spoken of on two or three occasions during the late June conference namely, "We ; Stand for State- and Nation-wide Prohibition." This commendable declaration, if backed up by the community in Utah, will have tar-reaching effect. If the people of Utah are ready for prohibi- tion, it can come as well as not at the fall elections. But if it is to come, there will be grave need of prompt and enthusiastic action in every precinct of the state, and in every party. This action should lead to the organization of those who are favorable to prohibition to carry the nominations in each and every precinct at the primaries. Onlv such men should be nominated for the state and county conventions as will pledge themselves to stand for this slogan, and to vote for no candidates, for the legislature, or for governor, or for other state position who will not pledge them- selves to stand for prohibition. It is not enough that we have friends who vote at the election, but the work that must be done before election is what counts, otherwise on the dav of election we shall have no choice. The