--- 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: 24 number: 5 published: 1921-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 5 (March 1921): 456–460.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse 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: improvementera2405unse start_page: 456 end_page: 460 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work Subscriptions for the Era It will be noted that quite anumber of stakes have not more than half canvassed for the Era. While we are very grateful for the good work done, we should be pleased to have the canvass finished. The subscriptions may start at any time. We have no numbers back of February, except a few for December. We should like more such energetic agents as Mr. S. L. Smith, of the First ward, Benson stake, Lewiston, Utah, whose quota was 43 subscriptions, and he has sent in to the office 68, 66 of which are paid up. We congratulate Brother Smith and commend his energy and enthusiasm to those agents who are living in stakes where only half the families have been visited, as per efficiency report printed in this number of the Era. How to Ask Questions There are particularly three kinds of questions: the "review' question, which is simply a going over the text to ascertain the memorypower of the pupils; the "fact" question, which must be answered from the pupil's knowledge; and the "thought" question, which is so put that it causes the pupil to think. Of course, the following are "direct" questions, that may be answered by "yes" or "no," which kind are seldom suitable for class work: 1. Do I call mystudents to recite in fixed order, according to alphabet, or seating, so that they are warned not to attend until their turn? 2. Do I name the pupil who is to answer before I put the question? 3. Do I ask direct or alternative questions which can be answered without knowledge or thought? 4. Do I ask chiefly "fact" questions? 5. Do I ask leading or suggestive questions? 6. Do I repeat my questions? 7. Do I ask questions that can be answered by yes or no? 8. Do I answer my own questions? 9. Do I ask confusing, changed questions? 10. Do I ask fool questions that no one can answer? 11. Do my questions make pupils think? 12. Do my questions follow up answers and lead to new organization of knowledge? 13. Do I repeat the pupil's answer? 14. Do my questions reach all the members of the class? 15. Do I make the recitation an inspiration, or do I pursue a slow pupil and listen while pupils express themselves freely and naturally? Missionary Dies in California Vernon and Mrs. Christopher Clayton, Jr., of C. Clayton, son of Mr. Kaysville, Utah, born February 12, 1896, died in San Diego, Cal., February 8, 1921. Elder Clayton left on his misssion, May 28, 1919, and had done good service in the field. Taken ill about seven weeks before his death, he was removed to the San Diego hospital, where he died. His brother, Christopher B. Layton and his fiance, Miss Lola Smith of Centerville. were at his bedside when the end came. MUTUAL WORK 457 Y. M. M. I. A. EFFICIENCY REPORT, JANUARY, 1921 , S v bo o <"u £ -a. STAKE U «J o o C8 a" u u u w_> ** Oh :&h t. [/tab Alpine 10 5 80 Bear River 10 5 85 Beaver 5 5 60 Benson 10 5 65 Box Elder 10 5 85 Cache 8-11 10 5 20 Deseret 10 10 10 10 80 Duchesne 10 10 5 10 60 Ensign 5 10 5 10 85 Franklin 10 10 10 10 85 Granite 5 5 10 5 70 Hyrum 10 5 10 5 75 Kanab 10 10 10 10 85 Liberty 5 5 5 5 70 Logan 10 10 5 5 65 Millard 5 10 5 10 55 Nebo 10 10 10 5 10 95 North Davis 7-8 5 5 5 5 5 5 45 North Sanpete 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 90 North Weber 5 10 5 5 10 5 10 75 Ogden 5 10 10 5 10 5 10 80 Panguitch 10 10 5 10 5 10 55 Parowan 5-9 10 10 5 5 5 5 50 Pioneer 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 85 Roosevelt 10 5 10 5 5 5 10 65 St. George 10 10 5 5 10 10 10 70 Salt Lake 5 5 10 5 10 5 10 75 San Juan 10 5 5 5 10 5 10 55 Sevier 10 10 5 5 10 5 10 75 South Davis 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 75 Summit 10 10 10 5 10 5 10 75 Tintic 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 85 Uintah 10 10 5 10 5 10 65 Wasatch 5 10 5 10 10 5 75 Weber 5 10 10 5 10 5 10 80 Idaho Bear Lake 10 5 10 10 5 10 60 Bingham 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 80 Blackfoot 10 10 5 10 5 10 60 Boise 10 10 10 10 10 10 5. 10 90 Cassia 10 10 10 5 10 5 5 10 85 Fremont 10 10 10 5 10 5 5 10 80 Idaho 10 10 10 5 5 5 5 10 70 Lost River 10 5 10 10 10 5 10 75 Malad 10 10 5 5 5 5 5 10 65 Montpelier 10 10 10 5 5 5 5 10 70 Oneida 10 10 10 5 10 5 5 10 80 Pocatello 5 5 5 5 10 10 10 10 75 458 IMPROVEMENT ERA "(« 1 6 be rt- at (J u STAKE o O o 2H vu tt-ao 8 n t/5 (1 Portneuf 10 10 10 5 10 65 Raft River 10 5 5 5 10 60 Rigby 10-15 5 5 5 5 5 60 Shelley 7-8 10 10 10 10 5 80 Twin Falls 5 5 10 5 10 70 Yellowstone 10 10 10 5 10 85 Arizona Maricopa 10 5 10 10 10 90 St. Joseph 10 5 10 5 10 60 Wyoming Big Horn 10 10 10 5 10 75 Star Valley 5-11 10 5 10 10 10 5 60 Woodruff 5 10 5 5 10 55 Colorado San Luis 5 5 10 5 10 5 65 Young 3-5 10 10 10 5 10 60 Canada Alberta , 10 10 10 10 5 10 75 Taylor 10 10 10 5 10 5 70 Union (Ore.) 10 10 10 10 10 5 70 Stakes Classified as per Points Nebo 95 Weber 80 Granite 70 Blackfoot 60 North Sanpete 90 Bingham 80 Liberty 70 Bear Lake ....60 Boise 90 Fremont 80 St.George ....70 Duchesne 60 Maricopa 90 Oneida 80 Idaho 70 Raft River .60 Bear River ....85 SheUey 80 Montpelier ...70 Rigby 60 Box Elder 85 Hyrum 75 Twin Falls ...70 St. Joseph 60 Ensign 85 North Weber 75 Taylor 70 Star Valley ...60 Franklin 85 Salt Lake 75 Union 70 Young 60 Kanab 85 Sevier 75 Benson 65 Millard 55 Pioneer 85 South Davis 75 Logan 65 Panguitch 55 Tintic 85 Summit 75 Portneuf 65 San Juan 55 Cassia 85 Wasatch 75 Roosevelt 65 Woodruff 55 Yellowstone ..85 Alberta 75 Uintah 65 Parowan 50 Alpine 80 Lost River ....75 Malad 65 North Davis .45 Deseret 80 Pocatello 75 San Luis 65 Cache 20 Ogden 80 Big Horn 75 Beaver 60 Not Heard From Bannock St.Johns Cottonwood South Sanpete Blaine Snowflake Emery Tooele Burley Moapa Jordan Utah Curlew Fuarez Juab Wayne Teton Carbon Morgan Comments The Cache stake secretary says his report in no way represents the work done, because three out of the eight wards did not report. The five reporting were none below 85 percent. MUTUAL WORK 459 The efficiency report from the Logan stake, while it shows only 65 points, averages over 90 percent efficient. The report contains the last signature of our departed friend and brother, Stake Superintendent George B. Hendricks, who died, February 3, 1921, in his 40th year, having been born November 25, 1881. The Bingham stake reports 80 points, with three wards perfect; one, 95, and none of the other wards under 80. One ward did not report'. ¥e suggest to superintendents that where wards do not report, some'stak? official be immediately sent to the ward to stimulate action. The Yellowstone stake reports, for January, the Parker ward perfect in efficiency, having 10 in every division. The Tintic stake reported 90 for December^ too late for publication in the February number. They had held enthusiastic meetings against tobacco and had extensively distributed buttons containing the slogan of the M. I. A., "We stand for the non-use and non-sale of tobacco." The Blaine stake reported for December, too late for the February number, with 70 points. The Teton stake, likewise, with 40 points. Big Horn, with 65 points, also Juab, with 65 points, all for December. Stake officials will please secure the reports for February by the 5th of March. Please brush up on time, brethren. Do not let the last months of the season lag; keep up the interest until June. We print in this number the beginning of some most interesting lessons for Part 2, for students of the "Problems of Life," or by he whole Association, in class, if so desired. Let us keep up the interest until the close of May, and have the reports promptly on hand at the appointed time, each month, so that we may have a clear record of the actual work of the Association for the season. Summit Stake Y. M. M. I. A. Superintendent Robert A. Hillier, of Hoytsville, Summit stake, Utah, writes encouraging words of the Y. M. M. I. A. in that stake: "We are still on our way to the top, having gained 15 more points giving us now 75 points. Special work was taken up on the Scout Work and the result is that several of the wards have troops to register. The Fund is the next, and all our efforts are this month for the raising of the Fund. We probably will not get this till the end of the month, but you can rest assured that Summit stake will have theirs in along with the others. "The slogan was taken up with stress last month, and we are also after it again this month. Placards have been printed and are up before the people's eyes everywhere throughout the stake. Merchants have been visited and tobacco advertisements are rapidly disappearing from the stores and buildings throughout the stake. Special meetings have been held in practically every Mutual to abandon tobacco and both 'Mormons' and non-'Mormons' alike are strong for the non-use and non-sale of the weed. "Am enclosing herewith a pamphlet that we are using in the stake for Community Singing. This paper contains about one-fourth of the songs that have already been made up by people residing in this stake Non-members also have contributed, and in all cases these composers have become active workers in the M. I. A., where before they took no part whatever in our work. You will notice that our slogan is printed at the top of the pamphlet and by this means, in connection with the placards on the wall of every meetinghouse in the stake, the people have learned the slogan so well that anybody, young and old can repeat it any time. In many cases, smokers have given up their habit. "Every ward in the stake gave a Special Activity event last month. Our membership and class work are splendid." — 460 IMPROVEMENT ERA Scout-Institute, and Mid-Season M. I. A. Convention, Fremont Stake A three-day institute for scout masters and prospective scout masters was held in Rexburg, Idaho, January 28-30. Dr. John H. Taylor, Church Scout Commissioner, conducted the work. About 40 men participated in the scout-craft exercises and preparatory training for ward leaders. At the close of the Course a scout rally was held with about 200 boys in attendance. Oscar A. Kirkham, Utah Scout Commissioner, and Y. M. M. I. A. Executive Director, related many incidents and experiences of his famous trip to London with the Boy Scouts of America. He inspired the boys for scouting, so that they haven't quit talking about it yet. With such a start with the boys, and with trained leaders to "keep the ball rolling," we feel confident that scouting in this stake will take on a new impetus. We have six registered troops at present, and hope to have a troop in every ward before long. On Sunday following the Scout Institute, a Mid-Season M. I. A. Convention was held, with Oscar A. Kirkham and Dr. John H. Taylor of the Y. M. M. I. A. General Board in attendance. Many helpful suggestions and words of encouragement were given. All in all, we feel that the institute and convention each was a great success. We appreciate, especially, the help of the visiting brethren, in putting scout work to the front in Fremont Stake. Dilworth Walker, Stake Secretary. Books The Y. M. M. I. A. Boy Scout Bulletin, has just been issued. In it are forty-five pages of instruction to scout leaders, on leadership, how to organize scout work, examinations, scout standards and requirements, ceremonies, courtesies, salutes, yells, and a variety of other instruction on what scout work is and how it should be conducted in connection with the Y. M M. I. A. It will be especially helpful to officers who contemplate the organization of troops in their associations, as it gives all needed directions in this line. The General Superintendency, in the opening announcement, say, "It is our wish that a boy scout organization be effected and maintained in every Mutual Improvement Association in the Church, in order that every lad of scouting age may have this advantage of scout training."' Price 15c, order from General Secretary, Y. M. M. I. A., 67 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. The House of the Lord in Hawaii The Era is in receipt of a beautiful brochure of forty pages giving a description of the Hawaiian temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, erected at Laie, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. It contains also a statement concerning the purposes for which the temple was built. It is written by Elder D. M. McAllister, temple recorder, whose experience in temple work is exceeded by no living person. The little book, which is richly illustrated with pictures of the temple, will be of great value in informing visitors, other enquirers and our own young people, as to the temple and its purposes and ordinances.