Mutual Work

MUTUAL WORK 365

their social work, and other activities of the organizations will measure up in full with those reported. Blasphemy Why not have this subject presented to your association at the joint meeting, Feb. 1? The reading of Exodus 20:7, at each opening exercise during the month might follow with good effect. It will take little time, and do much good. Here is an outline for a pertinent talk on the ls,t:

Profanity and Blasphemy

1. What it is.
2. Effect on the individual.
3. Effect on others.
4. The Commandment of God on the subject: a. In the Bible: Ex. 20:7; Heb. 7:12; Gen. 14:18-20; 1 Peter 4:17; James 5:12; Matt. 5:34-37 Levit. 19:12. b. In modern revelation: Doc. and Cov. 112:24-26; 136:21; 63:61- 64; 121:18-22.
5. Condemnation before the court of God. (See article Dec. Era, pp. 173-4, Vol. 23, 1919.)

M. I. A. Summer Work The General Boards of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A., offer the following general plan of summer work for 1920: 1. All stakes and wards are urged to hold regular monthly sessions on the evenings of Fast Sunday. These meetings shou^ 1 not be merged with the other meetings of the ward, but should be held as a distinctive M. I. A. evening under the immediate direction of M. I. A. officers. 2. It is desired that a series of weekly meetings be held during the nine-week period from April 1, to the June Conference. Lessons will be provided for joint classes composed of all members above the junior age, and these lessons will appear in the Improvement Era, and Young Woman's Journal. 3. It is recommended that the junior boys and girls continue scout and bee hive work during the entire summer period, and that special emphasis be given to out-door activity. 4. On the first Sunday in May, the M. I. A. will commemorate, with appropriate exercises, the one-hundredth anniversary of the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 5. During the months of July and August, four M. I. A. rallies will be held, two of these are to be carried out. by the Stake Board as M. I. A. stake rallies, and two by the ward associations as M. I. A. ward rallies. It is intended that these be held in the open air as far as possible, and in a convenient place in the vicinity, and that they shall be of a nature suitable to the young people. To assist in making the stake rallies especially successful, a number of leading speakers and musicians may be secured to attend them, in willingstakes that desire their assistance, provided the stakes express a ness to defray the expenses of the visitors. The General Boards will be pleased to assist in this work. It is requested that the wards submit their programs to the stake 6. officers, and that the stake officers forward their stake programs for summer work, to the General Boards, no later than May 20, 1920. ^

7 The Y. M. M. I. A. are requested to feature a Father and Sons outing, in addition to the foregoing, to be held in ea<-h stake, and it is

366 IMPROVEMENT ERA

suggested that July 24th, is a suitable time for such an outing in the stakes of Utah. 8. M. I. A. ward organizations that have held their regular meetings on Sunday evenings, and that will continue these weekly meetings during the summer months, will be provided with suitable programs for such meetings.

Executive Director, Y. M. M. I. A.

The young men of the Church have cause to congratulate themselves on the appointment of Elder Oscar A. Kirkham to the office of Executive Director of the Y. M. M. I. A. The official appointment follows, in a letter directed to the stake and ward officers of our organization: — Dear Brethren: This will notify you of the appointment of Oscar A. Kirkham to the office of Executive Director of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The selection of Brother Kirkham was made by the General superintendency of the Y. M. M. I. A. by and with the approval of the Presidency of the Church and the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. Of the fitness of Brother Kirkham for the position to which he has been appointed, it will not be necessary for us to speak, since his service for many years in our organization has been universally recognized, and we are sure his appointment will receive unanimous approval. The distinctive sphere which Brother Kirkham, under his new appointment, will fill, is that implied by his title, Executive Director. His office will cover supervision alike, both in the general offices of the in-

stitution and in the field. He will be the direct representative of the General Superintendency, and of the General Boaid, in both departments; and we ask that he be received in this capacity by all our stake and ward officers.

Brother Kirkham was chosen by the Local Council of the Boy Scouts of America to act as the Scout Executive of Salt Lake City. By special arrangement with the Council, however, he will continue to supervise, in a general way, the Boy Scout activities for Salt Lake City, and at the same time he has ben so far released from the details of that work as to make him available, for the new position to which he has been chosen in our M. I. A. organization.The General Superintendency has, of course, complete confidence in Kirkham and his ability to fill the Brother position to which he is chosen, and we pray that God will abundantly bless him in his calling and give to him the hearts of the youth of our people. Respectfully your brethren, Anthony W. Ivins, B. H. Roberts, Richard R. Lyman, General Superintendency Y. M. M. I. A.