--- 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: 25 number: 4 published: 1922-02 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* 25, no. 4 (February 1922): 370–376.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2504unse 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: improvementera2504unse start_page: 370 end_page: 376 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2504unse publication_year: 1922 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 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mutual Work Advanced Senior Department Are the officers continuing their efforts to get a large attendance in this class? If not they are missing an opportunity to strengthen the Mutual and to uplift the people. It is a splendid thing to get and keep the stu- dent attitude toward life — always learning by thinking, by asking and an- swering questions. Those who participate in this department will keep growing and will be better able to solve the affairs of every day life. All are seeking joy, hence this year's course, "Sources of Joy and Fac- tors of Happiness" has a universal appeal. Cleanliness, Health, Helpfulness^ Ideality, Leisure, Suspended Judgment, Sincerity, Art, Literature, Music, Science, Optimism, Self Correction, Thrift, Work, Opposition, Obedience, Agency, Home Coming, Neighborliness, Patriotism, Large Families, Broad Mindedness, Many Sidedness — what an inviting galaxy of subjects! Who can afford to miss the development that will come to those who study and dis- cuss them? This course is a boon to young parents who feel that they need so much help in their home making and child-rearing problems. Then, too, it is an excellent thing for parents, whose children are grown, to mingle with them in their study and in their play. The fathers and mothers who attend Mutual with their sons and daughters are tightening the bonds of love and understanding, and are welding several links in the chain that binds them together. The topics discussed in this class point out the way for making more beautiful and happier homes and opens new fields for improved conversational power. Constant effort should be put forth to bring in all who can and should be members, and to get all who attend actively to participate in the discussion of the subjects. Junior Department Every wide-awake boy is keenly interested in a good dog story. There is such a story in this year's Junior manual, Lesson XII, wherein is told how a kind Providence saved a good man's life through the means of a dog. If there is any boy-scout leader, or any teacher of the Junior depart- ment who has not given to the boys in his charge this story with all that it teaches, he has missed a rare opportunity. There are other stories, too, in this Manual which may and should be used to carry to the boys a love of the outdoors, to acquaint them with the spirit of the Pioneers of this western country, to show them the no- bility of faithfulness to trust, and to prove to them the protecting care of our Father in heaven over his children. Every story in this manual has a message which should be delivered to the boys. Surely, no boy leader is justified in neglecting this material, provided for him by the General Board, and which is so readily to his hand. New M. I. A. Superintendent in California The Christmas number of the California M. I. A. Booster announces the release of Elder Claude C. Cornwall as Superintendent of the M. I. A. of that mission, and the appointment of Gustive O. Larsen to succeed him MUTUAL WORK 371 as Superintendent of the California mission Mutuals. We quote from the Booster: May the New Year bring joy and prosperity and continual growth and development within our organizations. We have reason to be proud as we review the progress of the past year, and happy as we look forward to the eventful future which awaits us. I believe our Mutuals have caught the true M. I. A. idea: the spirit of service. In our organization is the opportunity to bring expression from our young people; to cultivate their talents; and to get to establish them with a testimony of the truth. An- other element of equal importance is the spirit of sociability. The motto suggested by Miss Anderson of Oakland, "More Intelligent Amusement," is an excellent guide. We have in our care the young men and women who will be our leaders in a few years. We must prepare them to be real leaders, to be clean, intelligent, loyal citizens, and true Latter-day Saints. The close of the year brings with it the completion of a great task of organization. Over three states today stretches a system which spells op- portunity for thousands of young people. In the growth of the system one figure has been outstanding — Superintendent Claude C. Cornwall. His task has been that of pioneering. His reward the joy that comes from achieve- ment, his mission has been one of restless activity; every talent and energy has "been devoted to the upbuilding of the Organizations in the Mission. After thirty months of service he has been released to retNrn home. Our well wishes go with him. May his talent and leadership find like oppor- tunity elsewhere is the desire of his many friends in the California mission. It is with pleasure that we announce the appointment by President McMurrin, of Gustive 0. Larson as Superintendent of the California Mis- sion Mutuals. Elder Larson is a capable leader and particularly well fitted for this responsibility. He has been associated with Mutual work since his youth. In his college days he was a prominent debater. He came to the Mission from the faculty of the Weber Normal College. It is inter- esting that he should be selected to succeed Elder Cornwall. He has done that all his life. A number of years ago when Elder Cornwall was a scout master, Elder Larson was a member of his troop. Elder Cornwall was appointed to stake work and Elder Larson became Scout Master. When Elder Cornwall came to the Mission Elder Larson was called to work in the stake; and now he has become his successor in the Mission appoint- ment. We wish him every success. Official notice is here given that all questions, reports, and matters regarding the M. I. A. be sent to Superintendent Gustive O. Larson 153 West Adams St., Los Angeles, Cal. A Meritorious Record George H. Crosby, Jr., Attorney-at-law, Mesa, Arizona^ is mentioned by a correspondent as being one of the members of the Y. M. MIA who has always prepared his Mutual lessons, and who has diligently for riie past thirty years made use of the Y. M. M. I. A. manuals and ou - LedP lessons Y The correspondent adds that: «It is thirtv f year. ; last fall, since the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association first started hav- ng manuals and outlined lessons of their work. The first winter that we had manual George H. Crosby, Jr., was student at the L. D. S. College in Salt Lake City, and George Albert Smith, now Superintendent was the President In the spring Brother Smith said to Brother Crosby, If I am Sofmistaken you have never come to Mutual, all winter, without having your lessons prepared.' The reply of Brother Crosby was that he had prepared ever? lesson, so Brother Smith said, 'That is good, keep it up, 372 IMPROVEMENT ERA and Elder Crosby has kept it up; and though it is thirty years now since that time, he has never gone to Mutual without his lesson prepared. Some of his friends, and Elder George F. Richards is mentioned as one of them, think that this is a Church record." We are wondering whether there is anyone else in the Church who has that record. In any event, we think it is something that is worth while in Mutual Improvement work. M. I. A. Means of Advancing the Truth Conference President William H Wilson, Norwich, England, reports that the Mutual Improvement Association of the Lowestoft branch is a growing organization of which the Norwich conference is proud. "It is a splendid means of advancing the truth to both old and new members in the Church. Elders Joseph Coulam and Jesse R. Peterson have been labor- ing for some months in this fishing town, and are seeing results from their labors. Speaking for the elders, I must say that we appreciate the Era, both for its splendid sermons and also for its interesting stories. Our numbers are passed on to friends that they might also profit by this good work. There are now nine active missionaries laboring in this east end of England. One year ago there were but two traveling elders in the conference. God has not forgotten his people. May our heavenly Father prosper the work of all his servants is my wish." Members of the M. I. A. Lowestoft branch: (left to right, back row) Jesse R. Petersen, Joseph Coulam, Branch President Charles McColeby, Da- vid Chenery, Jack Ellis. Center row: Alice Sansom, Fay Upson, Dorothy Coleman, William Walker, Gertrude Neave, May Coleby, Violet Coleby. Front row. Lily Walker, Saberia Copling, Madeline Walker. Membership and Organization Reports from the various stakes show that the committees on mem- bership and organization, in most of the stakes, have been alert in their MUTUAL WORK ■m calling. The committee of each stake is asked to analyze the report as given in this number of the Era and to locate the weak spots in its stake, and then make the same application to the wards in its stake, with a view to strengthening the organization all along the line. Out of 58 stakes we note an enrollment of eighty-four per cent of what it should be to meet the requirements of the efficiency report, and sixty- five per cent average attendance of those enrolled. This is very com- mendable. However, the committee should not rest satisfied with a good beginning. You will note the splendid opportunity for service. The way- ward boy may be the man of tomorrow, and a great many men of tomorrow may be among the sixteen per cent who are not enrolled, or perhaps some of those who are not in regular attendance in the M. I. A. The ques- tion confronting us now is — How can we make our organization more ef- ficient, in increasing and safeguarding the enrollment? The following is suggested for your serious consideration: 1. Personal missionary work by well selected brethren who under- stand that faith and brotherly love are the need of every hour, and who can and will tell the boys the greatest story of all, the story of "Mormonism" and how it teaches a live faith, a Godly repentance, a cleansing baptism, and the preparation of the body as a fit tabernacle for the indwelling of the holy Spirit, and the adoption of a pure Christian life. 2. Efficient class leaders. 3. The best special activity and scout program. 4. Everyday example of righteousness by the officers. Y. M. M. I. A. EFFICIENCY REPORT, DECEMBER, 1921 STAKES Bear River... Beaver Benson Box Elder Cache Carbon Cottonwood Deseret Emery Ensign Granite Hyrum Jordan Juab Kanab Liberty Logan Millard Morgan Nebo North Davis 10 8 10 10 10 7 10 10 8 6 7 7 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 7 7 . B v bo PL, 2 7 10 10 10 10 8 7 9 10 9 10 10 10 10 7 9 9 4 8 10 o o a a a bo u _o W t/3 *J1 u • bd tj« 1- £8§ V c join ■sll-g 10 10 10 5 10 9 9 10 10 10 9 9 7 8 10 5 7 7 9 10 8 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 4 10 7 8 9 7 9 51 63 89 87 89 82 73 66 64 80 75 86 77 100 90 86 90 76 66 74 70 374 IMPROVEMENT ERA Y. M. M. I. A. EFFICIENCY REPORT, DECEMBER, 1921 (Continued) STAKES North Sevier . North Weber Panguitch Pioneer Roosevelt St. George Salt Lake San Juan Sevier South Davis... South Sanpete Summit Tooele Uintah Utah Wasatch Wayne Weber Bannock Bear Lake Bingham Blackfoot Blaine Burley Cassia Curlew Franklin Fremont Idaho Lost River Malad Montpelier ... Oneida Pocatello Portneuf Raft River Rigby Shelley Teton Twin Falls Yellowstone Maricopa St. Joseph Snowflake Big Horn Star Valley Woodruff 10 8 9 5 10 10 8 7 10 10 9 10 9 9 7 9 9 8 10 10 i 1 ■a* (jl) w o o a < tSi ti rt i— i m % o u C £ Ph 4 10 5 6 2 7 6 10 9 10 4 8 8 9 3 8 10 10 10 10 3 7 6 9 4 9 3 10 8 9 6 10 4 8 10 10 4 8 8 10 6 9 6 10 5 10 6 9 9 10 4 10 2 10 10 10 6 8 5 10 7 9 6 7 7 10 9 10 4 10 3 7 7 8 8 10 7 8 5 10 7 10 6 10 8 10 7 10 5 9 4 5 5 8 „ V, i- > <f he Si c n 72 U l- rt M-* en . O.CH ■hS-5 £ Er. 6 9 10 5 5 6 10 7 10 8 8 5 10 8 8 4 10 9 10 8 3 4 5 6 8 7 10 8 8 7 3 5 10 10 8 4 6 6 7 5 10 5 5 9 6 7 6 5 5 10 5 10 9 6 4 5 5 6 3 6 3 9 5 8 6 10 5 4 2 9 4 9 6 6 4 5 3 10 7 9 9 5 5 5 6 8 5 4 5 5 MUTUAL WORK 375 Y. M. M. I. A. EFFICIENCY REPORT FOR DECEMBER, 1921 (Continued) a n u u o *s* i ! c CO -a rt i-i cti T3 u ™. en n °u < STAKES 6 <0 rt .S'l o o 60 O CO u W 3 IS 2 |o3 41 O H O H s U co-g n *5 u CO H San Luis 10 10 10 5 10 5 5 10 10 5 80 Young 10 9 4 6 6 4 6 4 2 51 Taylor 10 8 10 10 6 10 8 6 8 5 81 Union (Ore.) 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 5 10 80 Remarks The following stakes did not report fpr December: Alpine, Duchesne, North Sanpete, Ogden, Parowan, Tintic, Boise, St. John, Alberta, Moapa, Juarez. We are looking for a complete report from every stake for Jan- uary by February 10. Please cooperate with us to this end without fail. Y. M. M. I. A. STATISTICAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF DEC„ 1921 STAKES CO' ■°T2 2* 03 b0 •2 v Eds > u •O O <a V CO Bear River..... Beaver Benson Box Elder Cache Carbon Cottonwood Deseret Emery Ensign Granite Hyrum Jordan Juab Kanab Logan Liberty Millard Morgan Nebo North Davis.. North Weber Panguitch .... Pioneer Roosevelt .... St. George 496 287 761 770 520 360 749 398 555 921 1720 500 914 352 210 598 1040 338 210 912 407 626 276 933 315 643 12 7 13 12 8 9 12 11 9 7 16 10 16 5 7 11 11 6 9 14 7 16 6 14 10 15 9 6 13 12 8 5 12 10 9 7 16 8 7 5 5 11 11 6 5 11 6 14 6 8 10 13 223 83 228 362 149 75 227 213 54 135 324 140 154 171 123 212 350 97 78 164 68 101 74 117 99 189 .2 6 cs V o cog W 87 97 313 245 214 76 273 106 183 181 337 99 93 .2S w 108 56 I 2981 282 252 102 1 305 1 136 | 199 258 519 141 128 418 236 839 889 615 253 805 « v c 2 > ™ 380 375 103 154 | 97 73 193 252 221 426 126 102 88 64 147 285 102 121 222 180 102 96 142 186 94 120 290 255 657 997 325 230 503 272 445 313 27 58 118 207 83 53 94 ; bo g ; v c > v O CD « g (0 c 3 > 11 455 138 436 1 33 574 77 1180 175 4281 120 223 56 130 184 49 41 5961 112 291 36 734| 107 10 67 204 150 110 41 120 74 119 98 182 61 40 74 21 120 125 70 62 113 49 115 19 64 53 195 13 49 198 181 187 60 178 98 143 168 367 93 97 119 47 207 269 59 33 191 66 100 21 97 86 181 50 173 520 538 380 154 392 310 295 343 724 245 187 313 124 457 578 178 136 416 151 268 67 213 206 483 376 IMPROVEMENT ERA Y. M. M. I. A. STATISTICAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF DEC„ 1921 (Continued) STAKES o c Cfl -a o u u o C Cfrl u J! .2 B V o <e w V * O ■*-» ,-5< S u c ■is-S g 1> c 3 > v < Salt Lake San Juan No. Sevier Sevier South Davis... South Sanpete Summit Uintah Utah Wasatch Wayne Weber Bannock Bear Lake Bingham Blackfoot Blaine Burley Cassia Curlew Fremont Franklin Idaho Lost River Malad Montpelier ... Oneida Pocatello Portneuf Raft River Rigby Shelley Teton Twin Falls Yellowstone .. Maricopa St. Joseph Snowflake Big Horn Star Valley Woodruff San Luis Young Taylor Union (Ore.). 1026 260 276 360 476 440 210 409 1399 375 201 1060 257 384 564 474 460 395 181 147 649 437 218 153 398 | 392 370 358 300 160 550 354 299 182 276 368 500 250 281 334 425 196 99 320 148 288 80 120 95 130 89 11 95 222 82 18 257 156 147 196 182 103 160 102 38 276 132 98 75 67 144 92 160 33 103 140 185 52 78 138 194 110 80 116 94 112 86 51 156 103 223 49 95 131 159 203 152 117 290 125 98 291 40 154 111 90 51 124 65 77 216 150 82 87 169 157 83 110 184 51 50 109 136 28 69 126 200 59 132 105 77 51 30 149 29 342 63 80 151 235 131 136 145 459 116 68 305 73 169 134 82 61 123 84 54 290 130 92 58 84 142 66 154 115 61 126 113 67 43 90 134 177 60 84 853 192 295 377 524 423 309 357 971 323 184 873 269 470 441 374 215 407 251 169 783 412 272 220 320 443 261 424 332 215 316 407 255 149 297 454 487 199 332 126 325 108 49 41 108 41 297 186 122 413 173 178 137 48 31 88 58 69 112 87 81 64 159 4 100 54 74 132 215 58 88 8 52 129 169 78 20 91 96 118 55 100 64 59 31 72 64 73 46 20 40 180 159 85 87 61 43 35 57 58 93 80 96 47 50 110 74 23 119 59 32 62 24 120 72 43 104 45 16 110 40 120 85 84 114 60 32 72 72 51 72 79 55 83 21 27 24 86 87 65 19 207 42 50 116 131 109 106 102 365 85 45 200 41 105 81 41 50 68 51 32 216 76 50 44 71 101 44 98 90 43 99 69 47 25 54 90 120 28 60 77 62 20 33 54 38