Mutual Work

MUTUAL,

WORK

M. M. I. A. Bean and Corn Contests

There were 715 entries in the M. I. A. Corn and Bean Contest; about

500 boys entered the Bean Contest, their work resulting in an estimated

yield of 125,000 pounds. There were 215 entries in the Corn Contest and

the yield is estimated at 43,000 pounds. About thirty stakes were repre-

sented in this work. Most of the entries were in stakes lying between Pres-

ton, Idaho, and Richfield, Utah. Field Secretary Oscar A. Kirkham had per-

Field Secretary Kirkham with Boys in the Field

sonal supervision of the work, delivering seed, and giving instructions to

the boys on how to grow, care for, and harvest the crop. Richard W. Sloan,

son of Mr. R. W. Sloan, accompanied Field Secretary Kirkham, furnishing

an auto for this purpose, for which the General Board Y. M. M. I. A express

their thanks and appreciation. The winners in the contests are as follows:

Winners in M. I. A. Bean Contest

Amt. Beans

Produced

Name per % acre. Prize. Address.

Chas. A. Brown 447.6 lbs $25.00. .Springville 4th Wd., Utah stake

Vernal Facer -412 lbs 20.00 Brigham, Box Elder stake

Walter Toggant 400 lbs 15.00 .. Lewiston, Benson stake

Hyrum Leavitt 385 lbs lO-OJ-^wiston, Benson stake

Jesse Meldrum 325 lbs 5.00 ...Provo, 5th Wd Utah stake

Leonard Hall 308 lbs 2.50 .Paradise Utah, Hyrum stake

Llovd Forsgreen .285 lbs 2.50. ..Preston, Idaho Oneida stake

P elley TimoAy L_ 284% lbs 2.50... Roosevelt Utah, Duchesne stake

TrTM Will 284 lbs. 2.50. Payson, Utah, Nebo stake

ReynoHsHarmer::::!?* Ibs.l 2.50. .Springville, WW Utah stake

Olhello Bird 274 lbs 2.50 Springville, Ulan slake

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Jos. Peery Peart 266 lbs 2.50. ...Richmond, Utah, Benson stake

Glen Walter 262 lbs... 2.50. ..Richmond, Utah, Benson stake

Richard A. Madsen 260 lbs... 2.50. Dewey, Utah, Box Elder stake

Lola Stephenson 260 lbs. .... 2.50. ...Lewiston, Utah, Benson stake

Winners in Corn Contest

Amt. Corn

Produced on Cob

Name. per Vs acre. Prize. Address.

Morris Gottfredson .1080 lbs $25.00.. Manti, N. Wd., So. Sanpete stake

Dean Baum 930 lbs 20.00... Timpanogos Wd., Utah stake

Gilbert G. Heaton 862 lbs 15.00. ..Moccasin Wd., Kanab stake

Bryant Tingey 838 lbs... 10.00... Brigham Wd., Box Elder stake

Harlow Boyer 770 lbs 5.00 ...Springville, 1st Wd., Utah stake

Oakley Noakes 615 lbs 2.50. ..Springville, 2nd Wd., Utah stake

Leonard Heaten 600 lbs 2.50.. ..Moccasin Wd., Kanab stake

Thalmah Hasler 540 lbs 2.50....Provo, 6th Wd., Utah stake

Mariner Cox 496% lbs 2.50....Bunkerville Wd., Moapa stake

Clarence Durrant 496 lbs 2.50.. ..Pioneer Wd., Utah stake

Albert Anderson 182 lbs 2.50....Provo, Utah stake

Walter Mann 100 doz 2.50. ..Brigham, Box Elder stake

Efficiency Reports for December

We call attention of Stake Superintendents and Ward Presidents to the

efficiency report for December published in this number. Study it over a

little, and see how your stake stands in comparison with others. Note also

the stakes that have not reported. These efficiency reports are not only use-

ful guides for the stake officers, as to how their wards stand in our various

activities, but they are a sure indication to the General Board of how the

stakes stand. They are being studied very carefully. There is evident need

in many of the stakes of greater energy, more push, promptness and effort,

to make our associations efficient in many divisions of our work. A study

of the report will show where this is needed. We regret that a number of

slakes have not reported at all, and hope that for January we may receive a

complete report from every stake of Zion. There appears to be difficulty in

many stakes in getting the reports from the wards. This ought not to be the

case. Secretary Lloyd O. Ivie, of Taylor stake, writes, as many others have

done, that the reason the stake report fails or is delayed is, that the ward

officers are neglectful in reporting to the stake. He says on this matter,

however: "We are going to hit the affair harder than ever, until they want

their reports in promptly on time." We trust that this resolution will be

adopted as a slogan by every secretary in every stake of Zion, so jhat we

may have a complete report for January, by the 10th of February. No re-

port will be carried over.

War Savings Stamps and Certificates

The General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. recently passed a resolution

pledging the support of all Mutual workers to the sale of thrift stamps and

war savings certificates. In a recent circular sent by Supt. Heber J. Grant,

all M. I. A. officers are asked to do service for this movement. All officers

are urged also to purchase, and to lend their best endeavors to sell, thrift

stamps and war savings cretificates. This movement of savings and thrift

has been highly commended to presidents of stakes and bishops of wards

by the First Presidency. In carrying out the campaign, officers are asked to

co-operate with their county committee in charge of this work, who have all

MUTUAL WORK 367

the necessary government circulars explaining the wisdom and purpose of

the movement which is to encourage thrift and at the same time help the

government in the war.

Work is the word, constant work counts. Read poem on "WORK"

found in January Era, page 273. Blanks are promised to be sent to officer*

for making monthly reports to be published in the Era, showing number

of Y. M. M. I. A. purchasers and the amount purchased in each stake. The

campaign is now on. Let our slogan be, "Work, Work, Work. Every

Mutual Member to Purchase a War Savings Certificate."

Associations are requested to this end to set aside the regular progra'n

for the monthly joint meeting evening in February, and devote the time to

carrying out the following suggestive program for Sunday evening Feb. 3 on

Patriotism and Thrift

1. Singing "America."

2. Prayer.

3. "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean." (Quartet or Mixed Double

Quartet.)

4. Talk: "Why We Are At War" (15 minutes). References: Addresses

to Congress, by President Woodrow Wilson {Era, May, 1917, p. 639, and

February, 1918).

5. Solo: "Keep the Home Fires Burning."

6. Talk: "War Savings Stamps and Certificates; What They Are and

Why We Should Buy Them" (See Government circular, "War Savings

Stamps and Certificates.") (15 minutes).

7. Solo: "Sons of America;" or, "Meaning of the U. S. A.;" or, "My

Dream of the U. S. A."

8. Talk: "How to Save to Buy War Savings Stamps" (15 minutes).

9. Singing: "Star Spangled Banner."

10. Prayer.

How to Make a Better Mutual

Bulletin No. 3 of the Salt Lake Stake Y. M. M. I. A. comes to hand

showing excellent progress in the season's work up to the close of last year,

the efficiency report showing special activities, attendance at stake and ward

officers' meetings, and social work well in hand, with scout work, vocations,

fund and Era, coming close up. The big problem for January was the in-

crease in membership and attendance. The report gives some suggestions

on how to make a better ward mutual: "Adopt system and an order ot

business, use discipline, have reverence, pray and work for success. Open

and close on time, adopt high ideals, use social and vocational work to help

win members. Have better programs at regular and Sunday night sessions.

Advertise, give your work publicity, keep a strict record of everything, see

that a second invitation reaches every young man in your ward this month

to attend mutual."

Ethics of the Doctrine and Covenants

Lesson Thirteen— Temperance in Various Things

While a consideration of temperance is usually limited to a discussion

of the control of the appetites, in a broad sense it would include restrain-

ing and refraining from and exercising discretion in both physical ami men-

tal activities. The book of Doctrine and Covenants is very specifi. and

elaborate in pointing out rules of conduct in various lines ot lite.

Avoid excess, section 59:20.

368 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Be temperate in work, 10:4.

Be temperate in sleep, 88:124.

No question but that the lack of sleep is responsible for the existence

of much disease, and the habit of night prowling and day sleeping is found

by criminologists to be clearly related to crime. Late sleeping in the morn-

ing is a very bad habit for young people. Obedience to the commandments

found in the Doctrine and Covenants 88:124 would emancipate society from

these evils. The venerable teacher, Dr. Karl G. Maeser, emphasized the

thought of this paragraph, by saying to his students, "One hour of sleep be-

fore midnight is worth any two hours after that time."

Be temperate in speech. Avoid railing and boasting. Section 50:31-33.

Let slanderers cease perverseness, 112:9.

Avoid contentions, 136:23.

The poet Charles W. Penrose preaches a most eloquent sermon on this

theme in his inspired song, School Thy Feelings.

See L. D. S. Hymn Book, page 405.

Be temperate in recreation. Avoid much laughter. Sections 15:

88:69,121.

We are here reminded of Oliver Goldsmith's famous line, "And the

loud laugh bespeaks the vacant mind," and ignorance is sin?

Be temperate in desire, 19:25; 63:16; 63:12.

Problems and Review Questions.

Justify the injunction against loud laughter on the grounds that all ex-

cesses are evil.

What conclusion might be drawn from these two statements: "The

loud laugh bespeaks the vacant mind," and ignorance is sin?

Show that covetousness is mental theft.

General Review Questions.

Wherein is it unethical for one who professes to believe in Christ to

seek a sign, on which to base faith?

Wherein does the book of Doctrine and Covenants provide for carrying

duty of children to parents further than any code of human ethics can do?

See Era article, September, 1917, page 1002.

How does the great world war now on give evidence of the inadequacy

of ethics?

What part of the first article of faith provides for an acceptance of all

the ethical teachings of Jesus?

If no end to a punishment can be seen by the one punished, what kind

of punishment is it to him?

What state of mind may be called mental or psychic eternal life?

Wherein is it unethical to unnecessarily destroy life of any kind?

Quote the book of Doctrine and Covenants on this subject.

Lesson Fourteen — Individual Fortitude

Fortitude is courage plus patience, plus forbearance. It is first, the

habit of standing courageously and patiently at one's post of duty; second,

the habit of bearing affliction uncomplainingly ; third, the habit of forbearing

from imposing unnecessary penalties. These three habits constitute in ful-

ness the virtue — fortitude.

Fortitude is not only temperance, but it is something more, in that it

not only restrains but holds on and propels. It is perfect self-mastery.

There is much of fortitude depicted in the poem in our last lesson. Kip-

ling's "IP' is strikingly illustrative of fortitude.

MUTUAL WORK 369

It would seem that the fates have declared that in every individual, forti-

tude must be developed either through doing his duty or forbearing to do

evil, or in the bearing of consequences.

The youth who unflinchingly faced an unbelieving world with a illu-

sion, and who as a man unfalteringly, in obedience to divine command,

established the Kingdom of God on earth, and then gave his life in testi-

mony of his loyalty to the cause of truth, was fortitude exemplified.

The fortitude of Lincoln, it is said, saved the Union.

That princely character, still our leader, who for years, without retali-

ation, suffered the merciless, unjust ignominy of being daily cartooned

by a press that later eulogized him, is a world example of fortitude.

Towering above all other examples of fortitude is He who said, "Put

up thy sword; thinkest thou that I can not now pray to my Father, and he

shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"

To have the power of deliverance at hand and suffer on for duty's sake

is fortitude in its highest form.

The chief of all sources of fortitude is found in a reliance in something

superhuman. Every character to which reference as a type of courage,

patience, and forbearance has been made, was possessed not only with a

belief in the triumph of right for right's sake, . but this belief was rein-

forced by an unfaltering trust in a conscious power that would not permit

a sparrow to fall unnoticed.

Our divine text furnishes guidance for both the development and en-

joyment of this great virtue — fortitude, for the cultivation of courage and

patience. (Doc. and Cov. 11:18, 21.)

Continuity of a virtuous life is set forth in Sees. 46:33 and 67:13.

Forgiveness, a high form of forbearance, commanded, as enjoined in

Sec. 64:9,10.

Patience, here and now, an element of soul possession — Sec. 101:38.

Divine presence promised through personal fortitude — Sec. 24:8.

Joseph the Prophet in prison, a special lesson in fortitude — Sec. 121.

Adversity accelerates the fortitude of courage — Sec. 127:4.

Some sayings for the development of fortitude:

"Don't give up the ship."

"Sail on."

"Do the best you can, and leave the rest with the Lord." — Joseph F.

Smith.

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to him

that endureth to the end." (See Eccl. 9:11.)

"A soft answer turneth away wrath." — Solomon.

"Danger lurks in rash judgment."

"Overcome evil with good." — Jesus.

"Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but once being in, bear it."

Some day I hope that, without thought,

I'll do the very thing I ought,

In keeping on with duty's work,

Without the tendency to shirk.

I'll hold my tongue and stay my hand,

Without the need of Will's command,

And automatically incline

To others' welfare as to mine.

Froblems:

(See Doc. and Cov. Sec. 98.)

1. On what conditions is divine aid promised in warfare." (Uoc. and

Cov. 98:22.) , „ , „ „ • 099

2. What is meant by the words "revile" and "revenge in verse 23."

Illustrate.

370 IMPROVEMENT ERA

3. Show the justice of the Lord's withdrawal from the contest as pro-

vided for in verse 24.

4. Where is the hundred fold to come from as mentioned in verse 25?

5. How many hundred fold of compensation for loss is promised in

verse 26? Wherein are the provisions of verse 27 good?

6. Why would it be a good thing for the unrepentant enemy to be pro-

vided for in verse 27?

7. What is meant by escaping the vengeance of the Lord?

8. Correlate America's peace policy with the Germans, with verses 28

to 38, and also 41-48, and 43, 44.

9. What is the mental condition of a person entitled to forgiveness

under the provisions of verses 39 and 40? See also Matthew 3:7-9.

10. What is the penalty pronounced upon an invader who repudiates

indemnity obligations? Verses 4446.

11. To what extent is the estate and the heirs of the invaders held respon-

sible for the payment of the indemnities? Verse 47.

12. Show the unrighteousness of the social grudge holding. Verse 48.

13. Note the special inducement to leave vengeance to the Lord (verse

45), and show wherein social fortitude is especially provided for by this

doctrine.

14. What is there in this revelation that would form a good basis for a

world peace conference program?

Lesson Fifteen — Social Fortitude

In this: lesson we deal with fortitude as a virtue of the family as a

social unit, and the people as a social unit. The absence of fortitude in the

family group as a social unit results in family feuds. The absence of forti-

tude in the larger groups, nations and peoples, inevitably terminates in the

terrors of unnecessary war.

The problem of the ages has been peace, and it is still unsolved. This

vexatious question once disposed of, productiveness will take care of itself.

Evidently human wisdom has found no solution of this problem. Hu-

man conduct has gone away from, rather than towards, the desired goal.

Today the human family is looking in vain for a remedy for the direst

calamity that ever befell mankind.

The cry, war — war — war — reverberates around the earth. Civilization

seems to stand on the brink of self-destruction. Let us turn to the word

of God and consider the ethics of warfare from the standpoint of social

fortitude, recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 98:23,48.

Problems:

1. Show that it takes fortitude to be loyal.

2 Wherein is fortitude more than temperance?

3. In which division are you strongest?

4. Give illustrations of the value of adversity in the cultivating of

fortitude.

5. W at is the difference between habitual forbearance and willed

forbearance? Illustrate. Which of these forms of forbearance is prefer-

able? Why?

6. Illustrate the value of music in developing fortitude.

7. From your point of view, where does the word of the Lord to the

Prophet Joseph reach its climax in Section 122?

8. Bear your testimony as to how the reading of this revelation

affects you.

9. Compare the spiritual sublimity of the lesson on fortitude in Sec-

tion 121:7-8, with the ethical strength of Kipling's "If."

10. What is meant by the expression, Many are called but few are

chosen?