Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK ANNUAL M. I. A. AND PRIMARY CONFERENCE The twenty-second general annual conference of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, and the fifteenth annual conference of the Primary Associations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be held in Salt Lake City, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1917. All members are invited and all officers are particularly requested to be present at all of the meetings of the conference, and a cordial invitation is extended to the Saints generally to attend the meetings to be held in the Tabernacle at 2 and 7 p. m. on Sunday, June 10. Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, B. H. Roberts, General Superintenedncy Y. M. M. I. A. Martha H. Tingey, Ruth M. Fox, Mae T. Nystrom, Presidency Y. L. M. I. A. Louie B. Felt, May Anderson, Clara W. Beebe, Presidency Primary Assn. PROGRAM OF MEETINGS Thursday — 8 p. m., Scout meeting and Beehive Girl Demonstration, Des- eret Gymnasium. Friday — 10 a. m., Joint M. I. A. officers' meeting; 2 p. m., separate meet- ings Boy Scout and Beehive Girls; 4 p. m., Preliminary try-out, public speaking contest, both Assembly Hall; 8 p. m., Reception and social for vis- iting stake officers. Saturday — 10 a. m., Separate Y. M. M. I. A. officers' meeting, Assembly Hall, Bishop's Building; and Y. L. M. I. A., Assembly Hall; 12 noon, Noon luncheon for stake superintendents; 2:30 p. m., Joint M. I. A. officers' meet- ing, Assembly Hall; 8 p. m., Grand finals, public speaking, with cantata and playlet, and distribution of medals and presentation of winning stake in special activities. Sunday — 8:30 a. m., Testimony meeting for officers and workers, in As- sembly Hall; 10 a. m., Separate Y. M. M. I. A. officers meeting, Assembly Hall, Bishop's Building, and Y. L. M. I. A., in Assembly Hall; 2 p. m., Gen- eral joint public meeting, M. I. A. and Primary, Salt Lake Tabernacle; also at same place, 7:30 p. m. We stand for thrift and economy, for home and country; for modesty in 'dress and dancing; and for spirituality in teaching. M. I. A. Scouts and the Services they May Render in this Pres- ent Crisis The following resolution was passed by the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A., April 11, 1917: "Inasmuch as our country is in a state of war, we, the General Board of

750 IMPROVEMENT ERA the Y. M. M. I. A. recommend that the civic services of the M. I. A. scouts he offered to the authorities of our cities and villages." Suggestive letters have been sent to the M. I. A. stake superintendents, to be forwarded to the M. I. A. ward authorities explaining what services the scouts may render. The following offer has been made to mayors of cities and village au- thorities: "In this hour of our country's need, we, the M. I. A. Boy Scouts of Amer- ica and Scout officials, pledge to you, and through you to the citizens of our city, our loyalty and hearty support in emergencies which may arise. "Because of our training we are prepared to do many things of practical value. We are not soldiers, but are ready to render civic service such as first aid to the injured, and to do signalling and serve as messengers, be- sides many other duties that may be useful to our country. "We offer our good will and loyalty and express our desire to do our duty." It should be noticed b^ parents and Scout officials that the duties of Boy Scouts will in no way be changed. They will simply continue to do the work prescribed for Scouts, and their daily good turns. The only effect of war will be that they may be able to do some scouting work, suited to their years, for the city or village, and some local good turns for the Red Cross. An offer to do such work will be made all over the United States by 250,000 Scouts and Scout officials, probably taking the form of local rallies in the presence of the civic authorities so that the boys may feel that they are do- ing something for their country. In the warring countries the Boy Scouts mobilized for civilian service at the outbreak of the war, and since then it is reported that they have car- ried out relief measures, helped the families of men who were sick or wounded, established first aid stations, soup kitchens, etc., performing all sorts of work when workers were away, harvested crops, transported bed and hospital furniture, kept waiting crowds in order, collected material for wounded soldiers, made straw mattresses for rough field hospitals, opened letters, done office work, distributed food, acted as temporary nurses, mes- sengers, pages, and guides, handed out notices, and have done many other things useful to their country. It is hardly necessary to repeat the assurance you received when boys became Scouts that this is a non-military organization, and that it will re- main so. "Be prepared." "Do a good turn daily." Wanted The Improvement Era for January, 1913, volume 16, number three is wanted. Send the copy to the office; we will return 25c to you; address 20 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Era Story Contest The Era story contest for April resulted in the choice of "His Word of Honor," by Elsie C. Carroll, for the first place; and "The Lady of His Dreams," by Amy W. Evans, Salt Lake City, for the second place. Twenty- two stories were submitted. The decision for May, which closes the contest for the present, will be given in the July Era.