Changes in the General Superintendency and General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A.

Changes in the General Superintendency and General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. Elder B. H. Roberts, having been called to preside over the Eastern States Mission, was released as first assistant to the General Superintendent at a meeting of the General Board held May 24, 1922, at which a large number of the members of the Board gave brief remarks of appreciation for the good work and splendid life of Elder Roberts. Elder Junius F. Wells, on behalf of the Board, made a presentation to Elder Roberts of a pocket portfolio and contents. President Heber J. Grant was present and notified the Board that the First Presidency, on account of Elder Roberts' new missionary labors, had released him as one of the superin- tendency. On motion the action of the First Presidency was unanimously approved. Elder Roberts gave thanks to the Board for the token of re- membrance, and made a happy speech of good will to the members of the Board. He still remains a member of the General Board. At the annual conferences of the M. I. A., it was announced that the following members of the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. had been released on account of other Church duties and labors with appreciation for their splendid services in the past: Roscoe W. Eardley, B. S. Young, James E. Talmage, J. Golden Kimball, Thomas A. Clawson. Elder Richard R. Lyman, formerly second assistant, was made first assistant to Superintendent George Albert Smith and Elder Melvin J. Ballard was sustained as Second Assistant Superintendent. The following new members were presented and sustained at the con- ference to fill the vacancies on the Board: German E. Ellsworth, formerly president of the Northern States Mission; James Gunn McKay, a former missionary for many years in Great Britain; Thomas A. Beal, of the Uni- versity of Utah; Nicholas G. Smith, late president of the South African Mission; Axel E. Madsen, formerly President of the Los Angeles Con-i ference; Heber C. Iverson, late president of the Northwestern States Mission, and Ephraim E. Erickson, of the University of Utah. The ad- dition of these new members of the Board should be a strong impetus in the forward movement of the Y. M. ML I. A. The M. I. A. Slogans The M. I. A. slogan for 1922-23 is, "We Stand for a Pure Life through Clean Thought and Action." This slogan should be presented and read regularly at the meetings of the Improvement Associations. A passage of scripture, fitting the slogan, might be read by one of the members each time, such as: Ps. 24:3, 4, 5; Gal. 6:7, 8; Matt. 5:8; Prov. 15:26; Ps. 51:10; Doc. and Cov. 97:21; I Cor. 3:16, 17; Thirteenth Article of Faith; Luke 6:45; Prov. 21:8; 22:11. Slogans for the past years are: "In the name of our God we will set up our banners." Ps. 10:5. We stand for: A Sacred Sabbath and a Weekly Half Holiday.

850 IMPROVEMENT ERA A Weekly Home Evening. State- and Nation-wide Prohibition. Thrift and Economy. Service to God and Country. Spiritual Growth through Attendance at Sacrament Meetings. The Non-use and Nonjsale of Tobacco. Loyal Citizenship. A Pure Life through Clean Thought and Action. M. I. A. Reading Course, 1922-23 Vitality of Mormonisnv — Talmage, price $1. If Winter Comes — Hutchinson, $2. Fundamentals of Prosperity — Babson, $1. Feet of the Furtive — Roberts, $1. Strength of Being Clean — Jordan, $.75. In case these books are ordered by mail, add 10c for postage for each book. A full set will be sent postpaid, if cash accompanies the order, for $5.25. The Strength of Being Clean, by Jordan, has been on the Reading Course before, but is especially adapted for this year's reading owing to the study of the Senior Class Y. M. M. I. A., entitled "Health as a Means of Achievement." It is recommended by the Advanced Senior Class Com- mittee that The Americanization of Edward Boh, price $3, be read by the members of that class as a fitting supplement to the lessons of this season, treating on "Doi/ig Common Things in an Uncommon Way." First Mutual Improvement Association in the Swiss-German Mission Members; left to right: front row: Alfred Lippold and Kurt Fach. Second row: Sisters Boogh, Schreiner, B. Henschel, Bachmann I, Elly Henchel, Bachmann II. Standing: Karl Khen, Leisel Gaudig, president of the young ladies), Hermann Wachsmiuth, Sister Seifert, Karl Schellen- berger (president and leader of the young men), Sister Brunnert, Fritz Teubner, Sister Rabbin, Fritz Berndt.

MUTUAL WORK 851 The above organizations are known all over the Swiss-German Mission as "Improvement" and "Concordia." The first is the name of the Y. M. M. I. A. and the latter the name of the Y. L. M. I. A. The young men were first organized, in 1919, by Karl Schellenberger, a very active, energetic and bright young man who wanted his associates to cultivate their talents and enjoy the Spirit of the Lord not only in Sacramental meetings but also in their amusements and recreations. He had no idea, that there was already an auxiliary organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in Utah. The beginning was small and met with quite an opposition on the part of the elder brethren in the Leipzig branch. They could not comprehend an organization which could combine religion and amusement, but the Branch President and a few of the Priesthood were in favor of it, and thought it was worth trying. The association proved to this branch that the words of our Savior were true : "By their fruits ye shall know them." They were growing rapidly in numbers, ability and accom- plishments. All the young men hold the Priesthood and are always willing to fulfil their obligations to the leaders of that branch. The training embraces a broad field, such as training for leadership, public speaking, literature, music, science, and the study of the scriptures, in all a full knowledge of the gospel of Christ. The young men are preparing them- selves to be worthy to be sent on a mission. In addition to their regular study they included a class to study the English language. They pay their own expenses; they buy good books, and are in possession of quite a library, which is a big help to the Sunday School and the whole branch. They aim to buy all the maps, books, and other material the Sunday School needs for its object teaching and otherwise. Therefore no other Sunday School in that mis- sion can boast of such a wealth of books and pictures, especially enjoyed during the hardest time which Germany ever experienced. Another practical and most interesting study was added last year to the Mutual Improvement work; that of the study of genealogy. They are en- deavoring at present to enrich not only their knowledge along this art, but trying to help to enrich the German section of the Genealogical Society of Utah, by classifying paper^ clippings of a genealogical nature, and copy- ing other registrations such as burials, etc. They are trying to encourage members in the line of temple work, and act in the place of a genealogical committee and are in constant touch with the Genealogical Society through the courtesy of Sister Gertrude L. Baird. Through the influence of the associations, other branches are taking up the same course, and encourage their members to do likewise. They have also a time for recreation and play as the above picture shows, and of late some of the sisters have joined the sports. The reader should be reminded that circumstances are different (especially among the female sex) along the sporting lines in Germany than in other countries, particularly America. A few years ago, the Saints were glad to hold a meeting now and then without the interruption of the Government officials and could there- fore give only the most essential help in the establishment of the true Church of Christ. The youth, could not progress much under such circumstances, but since the great war, people begin to see that youth needs recreation in the line of sports, etc. The younger people, in join- ing the true Church of Christ need it, in replacement of clubs and societies which they leave in order to follow the Lord. Youth is like an unextinguishable fire, and needs the right occupation. This thought was neglected in the past, but now other branches in Berlin, Basel, Stettin, Dresden and lately Chemnitz, have followed the example of the Leipzig associations. The Young Ladies were organized eighteen months later, as the first

852 IMPROVEMENT ERA Y. L. M. I. A. in the Swiss-German mission, through the untiring efforts of Sister Gaudig (now president of the young ladies) who enjoys the full confidence of her co-workers and is held in the same high esteem by every member, as is Brother Schellenberger, from the day they were voted in as presidents respectively, until the present time. They meet in the Assembly room regularly every week, and once a month they hold joint meeting, and the brethren bring their different musical instruments (purchased through their organizations) and after first discussing business and news items, they have a program and social. This insures harmony, and the branch presi- dency is very proud of their younger members. — F. Homberger, President of the Leipzig Branch. ..(Translated by Sister G. L. Baird.) M. I. A. in the New Zealand Mission Richard G. Andrew, superintendent Ml. I. A., Box 72., Aukland, New Zealand, writes under date of May 1, reporting the activities of the M- I. A. of the New Zealand mission: "There are seventeen organizations in this mission, six of which were organized during the past year. Two of these are among the white people, Aukland and Thames. Most of the organiza- tions are joint, and only one is strictly Y. M. M. I. A. This is at the Maori Agricultural College. There are not enough people to separate them into two organizations, one for the young men and one for the young ladies, and in some branches the entire organization is made up of two or three families. Separate records have not been kept, so that statistics are not obtainable now, though we hope to make a record for next year. We have some difficulty in assigning a definite course of study for the organ- izations, and have given studies according to the conditions in the various places. The Maori Agricultural College organization is the only one taking the Manual for 1922. The Booh of Mormon is a very valuable aid for discussion among the members, it being interesting because of its account of the forefathers of this people. The Advanced Senior course given in the Improvement Era, is rather difficult for this mission, but we encourage the use of the Improvement Era to all the organizations, and as mission- aries, we find the Era a most val- uable aid. The M. I. A., as an organization, is doing a good mis- Superintendent and Assistant SupeSin- sionary work in ,this lan^ .By tendent, M. I. A. efforts of the elders laboring in the Wellington conference, the Porina M. I. A. has presented programs, playlets and concerts, in their own and nearby towns, thus making it pos- sible for the elders to get a hearing and an opportunity to preach the gospel, and so have allayed a great deal of prejudice where they have gone. With the receipts of their entertainments they have enabled some five or six boys to attend the Agricultural College. We are pushing the work as much as possible, and are striving to get our members to stand for the principles of the great M. I. A. organization. Elder Arthur W. Gudmundson was ap- pointed assistant superintendent at our April conference."