--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Beal, Thomas A. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 26 number: 6 published: 1923-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Thomas A. Beal, "Monthly Message to the M Men: Happiness—How Obtained", *Improvement Era* 26, no. 6 (April 1923): 574–581.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2606unse 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: improvementera2606unse start_page: 574 end_page: 581 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1923-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2606unse publication_year: 1923 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 1923, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Monthly Message to the M Men: Happiness—How Obtained MONTHLY MESSAGE TO THE M MEN VI — Happiness — How Obtained By Thomas A. Beal, Member of the General Board Twenty years or more ago, Dr. David Starr Jordan wrote a little book on The Strength of Being Clean. The principal plea of the book was for a sober life, and was based upon two facts: "To be clean is to be strong;" and "No one can secure happiness without earning it." These thoughts need to be repeated to every generation, and their importance cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of young men. "The pursuit of happiness is an art in itself. To seek it is not neces- sarily to find it, and failure may destroy both liberty and life." So long as man is alive and free he will in one way or another seek that which gives him happiness, which means life and liberty. "It is one of the laws of life that every acquisition has its cost. No organism can exercise power without yielding up part of its substance." No one can obtain success in any line of activity without giving forth energy; without toil, and hope, and faith. That is, we must work for what we get to enjoy it. Usually that which is obtained without effort is illusion and in the end deception, failure and misery. The religion which another man would give us we cannot take as a gift. We must work for the faith our- selves. "There is no Christliness without endeavor." He who would be wise must daily earn his wisdom. He who adds not effort to power will soon lose it. Each must learn in life his own responsibility; i. e~, his own individuality and its meaning, and by it work out his own salvation. Nothing worth while is given away in this world. There is no royal road to happiness. Like every other good thing in this life, it must be earned, and it cannot be held for long when not properly earned, that is, without paying an honest price for it. "The choicest gifts lie not on bargain counters." Reward, which is success, comes only by honest effort — by being willing to work and to wait believing that the harvest will be reaped at last. To succeed in life a certain amount of adversity must be encountered too. But adversity is not always a bad thing. Only by overcoming ob- stacles do we grow strong and powerful. Every wind and sto? i makes the sturdy oak dig its roots deeper into the ground, so that it may be able to withstand more surely the tempests and storms of the future. So it is with mankind. Strength comes with struggle. Only through resistance can man conquer adversity. The arm which is not used be- comes palsied. Strength comes from use, and victory from strength. Tempta- tion has its part to play in the development of life, and of character.^ To yield weakens us, and our strength is turned against us. To conquer is to succeed, and the strength of adversity goes over to us and makes us more able in the future to withstand the temptations of life. In every walk of life, strength comes from effort. It is the habit of self-denial which gives men power to succeed. No one has ever succeeded until he has conquered temptation. The strength of being clean cannot be overestimated in the battle of life. In itself, it is more than half the vie- MUTUAL WORK 575 tory. Without it all is lost. It gives power to the person which in itself brings success. Sooner or later in everyone's life there comes a time when one must meet temptation. To those who have practiced the habit of self- restraint, of self-denial, the power to resist will be easy, because they have learned to resist wrong and the resistance has given them strength. On the other hand, to those who have been given everything, who haven't earned their strength, the conquest of temptation will be difficult. He who has learned the value of money, has usually learned how to wiselv spend it; he has learned to say "no" and to say it at the right time. In conclusion, then, to be happy, in the biggest sense of that term, not merely pleasure, but effectiveness, we must learn the true worth of hap- piness, the strength of being clean both in thought and action, the power to say no, the power to conquer temptation, and the power to choose that which is best. "Not what we have, but what we use, Not what we say, but what we choose, These are the things which mar or bless The sum of human happiness." A Schedule for Y. M. M. I. A. Work Suggested schedule of Y. M. M. I. A. activities for the different months of the year, 1923-24: June — Annual Conference. This year on June 8. 9, and 10. July — Fathers and Sons' Outings. August — Checking on Organization, Annual Stake Conventions, and Life Memberships. September — Membership, Manuals and Class Study, Hand Book. October — Improvement Era. November — Fund. December — Recreation, Monthly Special Meetings, Dancing, Drama. January — M. I. A. Standards, Joint Social Entertainments, Slogan, Read- ing Course. February — Advanced Senior. March — Senior M Men. April — Junior, Scouting. May — Secretaries' Work. The New Recreational Program The Presidency of the Church have sent out a letter to the presidents of stakes throughout the Church assigning to the General Boards of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations super- vision over the general recreational activities of the Church, to establish and maintain proper standards in this field through their organization. In carrying out this assignment the General Boards suggest the following steps in perfecting the organizations: Stake Organization: — -The M. I. A. stake board, in consultation with the presidency of the stake, are to select four persons, two brethren and two sisters, one to be chosen as chairman, the ablest in this field of work to be found in the stake. These should be made members of M. I. A. stake boards, where they are not already members, and are to be known as the M. I. A. Stake Committee on Recreation, and are to take the place of the present Social Committees now organized in the stakes. Ward Organization: — Like action is to be taken by ward M. I. A. officers, in consultation wnth the bishopric and stake M. I. A. officers. The Ward Committee on Recreation so formed should then carry out the gen- eral leisure time and recreational program. The personnel of the com- 576 IMPROVEMENT ERA mittee should be of a high moral and spiritual character, well informed on the recreational needs and opportunities of the communities and able to give supervision and direction in the work assigned them. This work should have the first consideration of those who are best qualified to do it. In cooperation with the bishopric, or the presidency of the stake, the committees on recreation should hold a meeting with the heads of all the respective auxiliary organizations at an early date to correlate a year-round program in recreation and leisure time, giving each auxiliary organization an opportunity to particpate in the year-round program. Monthly M. I. A. Special Activity Program Home Totvn Day The general purpose of the activity for April, 1923, is to stimulate in the hearts of the young men and women of the community a greater love for their home town, in order that they may take greater pride in making it beautiful and more attractive. The General Boards desire that a program be given in each association, embodying some of the following suggestions: First Division of the Program A. Local History. 1. Music — Here songs may be sung which were favorites of the peo- ple of this community many years ago. 2. The first settlements in this community; the Indians; the first meet- ing house; the old time school. 3. Recitation — "The Builders," by Longfellow. 4. High spots in the history of the community, introducing how folks lived 40 years ago. 5. Reading, "The Old National Road," by Naylor. It will be interesting to have an exhibit of old household and farm articles, and Indian relics. Second Division of the Program B. Making Our Home Town a Better Place in Which to Live. 1. Making the home beautiful with shrubs and flowers. 2. Labor-saving devices in the home. 3. Music and art in the home. 4. How to spend leisure hours at home. 5. What a scrubbing brush in action, and paint mean to a building. 6. Report of a special committee assigned to work out a community pride activity in which the entire association may particpate, such as: a. Improvement of meetinghouse and grounds. b. Improvement of city cemetery. c. Improving streets and walks. d. Erecting community flag pole. e. Preparation of public play grounds for weekly half holidays for M. I. A. Day, etc. f. Making a community "Swimming Hole." g. Taking steps for securing Public Parks. 7. A special slogan might be adopted and a banner placed in the meet- inghouse. C. Address: "Why I Love my Home Town." Note: Decide to do some work that will make your town more beauti- ful and create a greater love for it. Make your town famous and noted for something. MUTUAL WORK 577 A Unique Program From Superintendent D. H. Elton of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, writing to Superintend- ent Richard R. Lyman, it is learned that a joint meeting of the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Associations was held there on the 18th of February on the evening of the quarterly stake conference. A rather unique and interesting program on "The Aim of the M. I. A." was presented. The slogan was conducted by two-year-old John Dalton Elton, correlated with the anthem, "A little child shall lead them." He was dressed in pure white and stood on the pulpit before a packed house and without a tremor repeated the slogan and called upon the large congregation to arise and repeat it with him, which they did. Purity was certainly sym- bolized, crystalized and vital- ized in the scene. The roll call of the stake officers was re- sponded to by sentiments on the slogan. Boy Scout and Bee- Hive girls in uniform repeated the Scout Law and the Bee Keepers' Promise, etc., and unitedly sang, "True to the faith." Contributions were given by the M Men and the Senior girls, who are doing splendid work. The work was demonstrated and there were no long speeches or sermon- izing. The reading course was especially treated by a review of one of the splendid books. Incidentally, it is learned from Superintendent Elton that the thermometer registered 30 degrees below zero at the time, which had a tendency to curtail the attendance to some extent. A reception for ward officers and bishops was prepared for the Friday night preceding. The Lethbridge stake succeeded in getting a report from every ward, notwith- standing the scattered condition of the wards in that stake, and the average, as per the efficiency report published in the March number of the Era, shows 96 points. Fiftieth Annhersary Jubilee A jubilee celebration of the Twentieth Ward Institute, an organization established, January 20, 1873. and which continued to exist until it was finally absorbed a number of years later by the Y. M. M. I. A., was held in the ward chapel on Sunday evening. March 4. The meeting was well attended, and a number who were members of the institute at its organiza- tion were present. W. H. Tovey, the first secretary, called the roll of 86 people who were charter members, and among them the following were present, Reinhard Maeser, W. H. Tovey. Oliver Hodgson. Joseph F. Sim- Master John Dalton Elton. Two-year- old son of Supl. I). II. Ellon, who con- ducted the slogan at the M. I. A. joint meeting, Sunday evening, February 18, 1923. 578 IMPROVEMENT ERA mons, Nephi Howarth, and James Y. Moffat. Quite a number of charter members who were unable to attend were represented by relatives. Bishop C. C. Neslen conducted the meeting. A picture of the first president, John Nicholson, was hung on the wall; also pictures of Charles R. Savage and George M. Ottinger of the board of directors, and the old adobe school house was likewise displayed in the building. A number of visitors from the Legislature and other prominent men and women were present. The following program was rendered: History of the Institute D. J. Watts A Life Sketch of John Nicholson By his grandson, John C. Nicholson Reminiscent Talks — Mrs. Lucy Savage Clark, Oliver Hodgson, Joseph F. Simmons, David R. Lyon, and Reinhard Maeser. Old time songs were sung by Mary Romney Ross, John James, Royal W. Daynes and J. Willard Squires. The invocation was offered by Harold Reynolds, and the benediction was pronounced by Edward H. Anderson of the Y. M. M. I. A. General Board. The membership of the institute during its life was composed of many of the leading men of the Church in Salt Lake City. The Nephi M. I. A. Scout Band On March 4, 1923, the Mutual Improvement Associations of the three wards of Nephi held their musical at the stake tabernacle. Each ward furnished ten numbers for the program, including a number of selections from the Boy Scout band. The large tabernacle was filled to overflowing. The program had been worked out by the officers of the M. I. A. Boy Scout band and committees from the Mutuals of the three wards. One of the purposes of the musical was to raise funds to support the Boy Scout band. The contributions were left at the door as the people entered the tabernacle. The sum of $206 was collected. The Boy Scout band was organized six months ago. There are 45 members, and the instruments which have been furnished by the parents of the boys, cost $2,500. This commendable band organization has come about from one of the expressions in an Advanced Senior Class lesson of last year: "A band in every town and a choir in every ward." Camp Roosevelt — Boy Builder Was founded by Major F. L. Beals, U. S. A. supervisor of physical education in the Chicago public high schools. This camp is held during the summer vacation months and is a great out-door school where boys may spend a healthy, enjoyable life, roughing it, and at the same time, receive a thorough course in citizenship training and other splendid activities. The camp is located on Silver Lake, Indiana, sixty-five miles from Chicago on the New York Central lines. Inquiries sent to Major Beals, 460 S .State Street, Chicago, concerning boy problems and the camp will receive con- siderate response. Scouting The monthly report of Scouting in the Y. M. M. I. A., ending March 10, 1923, shows that there are 64 stakes which have M. I. A. scout troops not belonging to councils. There are 641 wards in which 254 M. I. A. scout troops not belonging to councils are organized. There are 3,795 tenderfoot scouts; 826 second class scouts; and 155 first class scouts; and 47 merit badge scouts, making a total of 4,823 scouts in the Y. M. M. I. A. not belonging to councils. MUTUAI WORK 579 Activities in Raft River Superintendent J. Henry Thompson of the Raft River stake, Malta, Idaho, reports the Mutual Improvement Associations in that stake are do- ing splendid work. They have had some activity aside from the regular program this winter. Three wards are active with basket hall teams. "Almo and Malta Senior teams were to go to Grouse Creek, Utah, on the week of March 11, a distance from Malta of seventy miles. They were to go by team. The Grouse Creek mountains had to be crossed on foot, as the snow is very deep and the pass is out of question for horses and sleighs. They took a drama from Malta to Sublet, Elba, Almo and Yost, on the week end- ing March 3, leaving home in February and returning the next month! after a five days' absence. There is some scout activity in Grouse Creek, Almo and Elba. Malta is already registered. Almo has had their tender- foot examinations." Y. M. M. I. A. Statistical Report, February, 1923 STAKES 2 o O C i% C «J c «T3 u O C •- 41 u v U 41 "2 c 1- tl C <J ii u (I u d » i- -* o o. ? in C t B T3 P .2 B 4J o .2 E 3 O • C 3 o » 8 « "0 tl c r: II o « El t/3 14 <w W W << < < Alpine 891 | 18 18 146 | 22 7 201 | 345 922 111 138 120 220 589 Bear River 509 12 12 100' 259 151 193 703 81 135 77 113 406 Beaver . . . 287 6 3 26 52 40 71 189 21 32 28 49 129 Benson . . . 841 13 13 113 129 250 328 820 94 61 120 209 484 Box Elder. 750 13 12 101 304 176 241 822 80 243 L25 177 625 ('ache .... 520 8 8 104 91 175 252 622 • 68 56 106 178 408 Carbon . . . 360 9 4 68 124 76 176 444 32 48 2 1 52 156 Cottonwood 789 12 8 69 67 149 215 500 50 32 94 154 330 Deseret . . . 454 11 9 84 196 119 176 575 59 113 61 104 2,2,7 Emery 555 10 7 5S 94 176 181 509 46 62 106 134 348 Ensign . . . 959 7 7 58 143 197 260 658 49 37 94 206 386 Garfield . . 271 8 4 16 7 97 80 200 8 7 57 54 126 Granite . . . 1866 16 16 172 244 333 615 1364 136 140 230 469 975 Hyrum . . . 500 10 8 76 111 127 147 461 57 71 80 99 307 356 5 5 49 110 114 146 419 36 74 85 105 310 Kanab 213 6 6 43 63 40 95 241 28 46 25 63 162 Liberty . . . 1215 11 11 101 297 316 480 1194 81 190 181 326 778 Logan .... 608 11 11 106 92 164 253 615 87 63 99 195 444 Millard . . . 338 7 6 44 164 94 90 392 38 62 46 61 207 Morgan 210 9 9 64 58 84 121 327 45 35 58 80 218 Mt. Ogden . 516 6 6 49 S7 118 212 466 38 40 63 161 302 Nebo 946 15 10 72 145 114 220 551 55 63 61 131 310 No. Davis . 446 8 8 64 58 103 198 423 41 27 60 141 269 N'o. Sanpete 802 13 IS S6 114 228 2,111; 734 61 59 127 215 462 No. Sevier. 156 6 6 39 128 94 102 363 29 68 74 79 250 No. Weber 644 17 15 105 71 226 . . j . > 624 66 °7 104 127 324 Ogden .... 750 10 10 78 88 2 2 8 24 9 643 62 37 111 150 360 Panguitch 273 6 1 24 62 102 102 290 19 45 52 67 1>3 Pioneer 960 13 13 99 168 238 360 st;:, 87 91 139 217 534 Roosevelt 334 11 11 IS 103 84 12C 391 57 :,s 53 76 244 St. George. 549 14 10 117 168 311 252 848 68 82 124 133 407 Salt Lake . 1067 12 12 128 188 169 377 862 105 86 97 254 542 San Juan . 270 4 4 33 83 71 84 271 21 2 7 40 71 159 Sevier .... 363 6 6 53 115 117 153 438 36 60 54 100 250 So. Davis . 494 8 8 69 89 166 2 23 547 58 69 98 154 379 So. Sanpete 734 11 9 73 141 236 195 645 61 59 109 105 334 Summit 359 1 1 11 83 60 139 165 447 54 23 63 70 210 Tintic .... 230 5 5 30 76 56 111 273 22 45 24 68 159 Uintah 614 9 9 58 51 155 130 394 55 53 117 94 319 Wayne . . . 189 6 4 26 15 44 56 141 18 6 23 41 88 Weber 630 8 8 59 98 175 184 516 46 40 74 120 2 SO Bear Lake 395 11 | 11 83 101 125 182 491 54 4 5 64 106 269 580 IMPROVEMENT ERA Y. M. M. I. A. Statistical Report, February, 1923 s •«"„ 13 £ <u u a ■3 & o c c U V ° £ a ° £ WTJ c m s 2 o o u C o a u u C o a STAKES So o B d CX is Jul CO^= o . u <u O CflT.R o CO c V •-T3 o E-i w fc <W W w °u « < < Bingham 50 0 12 10 83 212 114 15(T 565 59 87 99 loo 345 Blackfoot 514 12 10 85 122 95 151 459 58 72 60 74 264 330 8 8 54 114 96 99 363 35 62 55 54 206 Burley 399 10 8 60 114 111 109 394 41 68 56 64 229 Curlew 130 10 5 40 49 3o 59 186 31 28 28 38 125 Franklin 357 11 10 92 119 207 176 594 73 50 116 110 349 Fremont . . 680 13 13 116 184 223 235 758 85 116 149 147 497 Idaho .... 117 12 8 54 35 53 52 194 41 17 36 26 120 Lost River 127 5 5 60 80 49 75 264 36 46 43 36 161 Malad .... 317 8 8 62 59 195 128 44* 48 40 107 73 268 Montpelier 372 12 12 90 136 | 119 179 524 63 64 50 102 279 Oneida 315 11 9 62 105 85 130 382 43 47 46 69 205 Portneuf 348 13 8 84 105 111 115 415 57 51 58 68 234 Raft River 160 11 10 54 114 50 52 270 49 58 26 36 169 Rig-by .... 543 15 14 111 174 123 198 606 76 100 87 125 388 Shelley . . . 339 8 8 61 112 103 116 392 40 51 55 65 211 Teton 300 8 5 33 42 82 36 193 28 25 66 22 141 Twin Falls 204 7 7 36 67 20 78 201 30 25 21 45 121 Yellowstone 248 9 8 56 88 103 101 348 49 60 65 66 240 Alberta 341 11 11 79 178 136 178 571 62 106 71 123 362 Big- Horn. . 340 7 6 30 102 120 90 342 25 69 82 58 234 Juarez 120 5 5 30 60 15 47 152 25 50 10 40 125 Lethbridge 216 10 10 53 125 93 86 357 54 74 53 60 241 Maricopa 389 9 8 65 155 115 144 479 51 80 63 85 279 Moapa .... 179 7 6 43 54 58 89 244 30 24 33 61 148 San Luis . . 210 5 5 40 75 74 62 251 36 51 55 45 187 Snowflake 258 7 '7 44 114 42 118 318 24 54 14 54 146 Star Valley 334 11 10 89 81 118 115 403 60 42 71 68 241 Taylor 332 6 6 51 143 119 152 465 43 76 80 94 293 Union .... 160 6 6 44 68 39 50 201 33 30 23 21 107 Woodruff . 425 8 6 60 80 68 95 303 45 65 50 75 235 Young .... 103 5 4 27 31 40 35 133 22 22 27 31 102 Y. M. M. I. A. Efficiency Rep ort, February , 1923 a M .>8 u 0< w T) <U Ml "in . tn l* S V V ° w STAKES QQ U V £ o tn nl U u "raPn co-ti O u CO c nl ' to "nl u w c 3 Participat in M. I. Program Stake an Ward Offic Meeting ° «i m 3 o Eh Alpine Bear River Beaver Benson Box Elder. Cache .... Carbon Cottonwood Deseret . . . Duchesne . Emery .... Ensign Garfield Granite . . . Hyrum Juab 10 10 1 81 10 10 10' 6 4 5 10 9 10 9 10 10 10 7 10 10 3 10 6 10 7 10 10 7 10 8 6 9 9 10 7 6 10 7 9 5 7 10 10 9 9 7 10 10 10 81 10 5 10 10 10 10 7 6 8 9 8 8 9 7 10 10 9 5 5 5 3 5 9 8 10 8 7 8 8 10 10 9 8 6 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 4 6 6 7 6 4 7 7 6 5 4 3 6 10 5 4 9 8 10 9 9 7 10 10 10 7 4 3 5 3 3 10 7 10 10 10 8 9 10 10 7 I io 10 10 10 10 83 93 48 90 93 88 85 66 72 62 88 87 47 94 87 100 MUTUAL WORK Y. M. M. T. A. Efficiency Report, February, 1923 581 STAKES i £ St "ca Ph 1*4 1 .2- •-" o n -~ c u Kanab Liberty , Logan Millard Morgan Mt. Ogden. . . . Nebo North Davis. . North Sanpete North Sevier . North Weber . Ogden Panguitch Pioneer Roosevelt St. George . . . Salt Lake .... San Juan Sevier South Davis. . South Sanpete Summit Tintic Uintah Wayne Weber Bear Lake. . . . Bingham .... Blackfoot .... Blaine Boise Burley Curlew Franklin .... Fremont Idaho Lost River . . . Malad Montpelier . . . Oneida Portneuf .... Raft River . . . Rigby Shelley Teton Twin Falls . . . Yellowstone Alberta Big Horn Juarez Lethbridge . . . Maricopa .... Moapa San Luis Snowflake . . . Star Valley... Taylor Union Woodruff Young in in 10 10 Hi 9 6 9 9 in 9 9 10 9 in in 8 10 10 in 7 Ki 10 6 8 9 10 10 8 10 Ki 10 10 1(1 10 10 to 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 111 9 10| c 111 111 9 9 8 10 7 6 7 6 7 2| 10 9 | 10 10 | 10 lo 10 9 3 5 5 10 5 4 10 6 10 I 8| 8 6 7 8 9 10 I 10 I io 9 9 9 8 I 10 I 10 I 6 in 10 10] "7 lo 10 9 6 7 10 9 6 s Ki 2 9 1 10 9 10 2 5 9 8 2 10 7 B 8 9 7 1 8 6 6 7 8 10 10 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 5 9 6 10 3 6 9 7 5 6 8 9 7 4 to 10 10 10 8 10 8 6 4 10 2 2 3 8 5 86 98 95 71 M 95 85 94 85 81 7: 87 57 88 94 57 90 88 91 98 64 79 92 74 48 94 84 88 83 71 70 67 74 76 94 60 86 89 80 90 69 71 79 88 81 83 77 87 80 96 98 94 87 74 76 75 98 86 60 62