--- 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: 26 number: 8 published: 1923-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Editors’ Table", *Improvement Era* 26, no. 8 (June 1923): 744–751.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2608unse 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: improvementera2608unse start_page: 744 end_page: 751 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1923-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2608unse 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. --- # Editors’ Table Educational Comparisons Speaking of the educational statistics presented by Presi- dent Heber J. Grant at the General Conference, a very illumi- nating comparison was made by Dr. John A. Widtsoe, chairman of the commissioners of education, who, referring to the figures given by President Grant, said. "We have in this Church 8.6 young people attending college out of every thousand members of the Church; whereas, in the whole United States there are only 4.9 per thousand of population attending college. In this Church we have nearly twice as many college students per capita as" in the country at large. _~ - "I was interested also in the high school figures. There are 60.6 in- dividuals per thousand attending high school in this Church; whereas, in the United States as a whole, there are only 20.8. That is, nearly three times as many young people are attending high school in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as are attending high school, on the aver- age, in this great land of ours. "In the elementary schools, the difference is not so great, for in our Church there are 223.3 students out of each thousand of membership, attending the elementary schools, as against 204 in the country at large. Nevertheless, this is also a substantial increase, though not so great, because of the fact that elementary education is usually required by law in the states of the Union; but as soon as the high school and the college periods are reached, when men's free agency above and beyond the obligations of the law are manifested, then at once this great Church leaps forward far beyond the average of the people of this country. I have no doubt that there may be other communities in the United States with probably nearly as high a college and high school attendance, but I doubt whether any survey that may be made will show a higher attendance of college and high school students." He then drew this conclusion: "It shows how 'Mormonism' functions in the life of humanity, and how thoroughly it works. Education is placed as one of the great and foremost activities of a civilized world; and here a despised and sometimes more than despised, people makes a survey of its educational condi- tions and finds that the spirit of education is stronger within this group of people than in any other, perhaps, through the EDITORS' TABLE 745 country, and stronger than the average within the country as a whole." In this connection, it must be remembered that the Church is expending great additional effort toward the education of its members in the auxiliary organizations, the Sunday Schools, Mu- tual Improvement Associations, Primary, and Religion Classes, which are very active throughout the whole Church. The edu- cation, therefore, of the Latter-day Saints should be well bal- anced and practical, in its application to every-day life and labor, without which education may not always be advantageous. Elder Charles W. Nibley, the presiding bishop of the Church, called attention to the right kind of education, and to the danger of over-educating in certain lines. In the course of his remarks, he said, in substance, among other things: "I am a friend of education; so I am proud when statistics are read, as they were here the other morning by our President, showing the excellence of the work of our schools and the large number of children attending our colleges and universities. But sometimes I think that even as there is reason in working, so also there is reason in schooling. "We ought not to go school-crazy. When a boy goes through the eighth grade and then the high school, then three or four years in a university, and then in a finishing off school, the boy is twenty-five years old. There is a quarter of a century of his life spent in educating him. Somebody else has worked for the food he has eaten, for the clothes that he has been supplied with, for a full quarter of a century, which has been all spent in giving him education. He comes back home and he knows a lot, he can tell you pretty much about everything, but he scarcely knows how to do anything. I believe it would be better if our children had a little more practical knowledge of hard work, and be taught how to do things. If tl»ey knew how to make an acre of land produce double what it has hither- to been producing, wouldn't that be something to be proud of? We can increase production. President Grant emphasized the fact that the pro- ducer, the man who produces something, is the man to be looked up to, and we take off our hats to him. The man who merely makes his living by speculating and never produces anything is not the kind of man, after all." Elder Charles H. Hart, of the First Council of Seventy, in speaking upon education, made the very apt remark: "I think the underlying secret of effective education will be found to be the wise commingling of theory and practice, such as obtains in our missionary system. The young missionary is applying in his life and in his teachings the principles of truth as he learns them. I am not making a plea for less preparation at home, but am trying to show the advantage of learning and having the practice at the same time." 746 IMPROVEMENT ERA General Statistical Information In the general statistical information which President Heber J. Grant presented at the late annual Conference, com- piled by the Presiding Bishop's Office, there are many items that are of great importance and significance showing the expenditures of the tithes of the people, the great mission work of the Church, as well as a number of statistics showing the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the social status, missionary activities, temple work and educational statistics. We present them herewith because many excellent lessons may be drawn from their comparison witn the statistics of the nation on similar subjects, showing an apparently favor- able margin for the Church: EXPENDITURES FROM THE TITHES OF THE CHURCH FOR THE YEAR, 1922 STAKE AND WARD PURPOSES:— There has been returned from the tithes to the stakes and wards for their maintenance and operation ...$ 928,859 EDUCATION: — Expended for the maintenance and operation of Church Schools 771,490 TEMPLES: — Expended for the construction, maintenance and operation of temples 168,371 CHARITIES: — For the care of the worthy poor and other charitable pur- poses, icnluding hospital treatment 273,657 MISSIONS:^For the maintenance and operation of all the missions, and for the erection of places of worship and other buildings in the missions 615,461 TOTAL: — which has been taken from the tithes and returned by the Trustee in-Trust to the Saints for the maintenance and operation of the stakes and wards, for the maintenance and operation of Church schools and temples, for charities and for mission activities $2,757,838 OTHER CHARITIES:— In addition to charities paid out of the tithes, (as above stated) there have also been disbursed the fast offerings and Relief Society charities, amounting to $328,638', which added to the $273,657 paid from the titthes, makes a total of Church charities $ 597,295 MISSIONS: In addition to the large sum paid out of Church funds for mission purposes, amounting to $615,461, we estimate that there has been sent to missionaries by their families and friends, the sum of $887,500. Estimating the value of the services of 1,775 missionaries at $1,000 each per year, vis., $1,775,000, makes a total expenditure for the missionary work of the Church for the year 1922 $3,277,961 STATISTICAL REPORT COMPILED FROM THE RECORDS OF THE YEAR 1922 Church Growth: — Children blessed and entered on the records of the Church in the stakes and missions 19,703 Children baptized in the stakes and missions 14,440 Converts baptized and entered on the records of the stakes and missions 6,376 There were at the close of the year 87 stakes of Zion, 883 wards, 61 independent branches connected with the stakes, 24 missions, and 733 branches in the missions. Since the first of the year the Los Angeles stake has been organized, making 88 stakes today. Social Statistics: — Birth rate — 36 per thousand. Marriage rate — 14 per thousand. Death rate — 8.3 per thousand. There are 155,606 persons in the Church who are married; of this num- ber, there were 243 persons divorced in the year 1922. Families owning their own homes — 75 per cent. EDITORS' TABLE 747 Misionary Activities: — Missionaries laboring in the stakes of Zion 2,552 Number on foreign missions 1,775 Total number performing special missionary labors at home and abroad 4,327 Books of Mormon and other Church works distributed in stakes and missions 286,702 Gospel tracts distributed in stakes and missions 6,601,132 Gospel meetings held in stakes and missions 153,437 Temple Work: — There were 43,207 persons recommended to the temples during the year 1922. Ordinances for the living and dead performed in the temples in the year 1922 768,546 Educational Satisfies: — Attending colleges and universities 3,845 Enrolled in high schools 27^230 Enrolled in district schools 100,513 Total attending schools 131,588 Nearly every child of school age is attending school, except 480 physic- ally unable to attend, and 2,497 who, in consequence of distance from school, and other conditions, are not attending. There are only 535 adult persons in the stakes who cannot read the English language. Occupations: — There are 113,000 Latter-day Saints employed in all kinds and varieties of occupations. Of this number 86,780 are employed in produc- tive occupations. "Productive occupations" means those that the Govern- ment classes as productive. Announcements We take pleasure in announcing to our readers that Roger W. Babson's Fundamentals of Prosperity, What They are and Whence They Come, will be printed in the Improvement Era. The editors have received permission from the author, and from the publishers, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, to print the text which we have no hesitancy in pronouncing a splendid diagnosis and prescribed remedy for the turmoil and selfishness now existing in the business and social world. The book has been upon the reading course of the M. I. A. since last June, and yet we believe there are thousands of our readers who have, perhaps, not yet had the privilege of reading it. We are de- lighted to say that the publication will begin in the July num- ber and finish during the four months before the end of the present volume. Subscriptions may begin with the July number, and we invite those desiring to read this text to subscribe in time for that number to reach them — four months 70c; six- teen months, including Vol. 27 complete, $2.50. Besides the Fundamentals of Prosperity, other excellent reading will appear in the July number. Among other very attractive papers will be a richly illustrated, well told, pioneer story on the "Old Spanish Trail," by President Anthony W. Ivins. Albert R. Lyman, author of The Voice of the Intangible, will discuss "Old Posey as I Knew Him." The "Mormon" pio- neer colony settled at Bluff, San Juan county, Utah, in 1880, and 748 IMPROVEMENT ERA Mr. Lyman was still very young when he first made Posey's per- sonal acquaintance. He stood around the "smoky fire to look and listen with Posey's own half-clothed children, inbibing the strange fancies of their wild freedom." He is well qualified to describe the closing chapter of Posey's life and vividly picture the pain and anguish of the dying hours of that misguided old chieftain, and the suffering which he must have endured. The August Era will be a story number. Many interesting at- tractions will appear from time to time, not only in the remain- ing numbers of this volume, but in the new volume which begins on November 1. Messages from the Missions Persecution Rife Elder Paul B. Cragen, Launceston, Tasmania, March 15, reports from Van Demonsland that they had a very enjoyable conference on February 25, attended by President Don C. Rushton, of the Australian mission, and Elder John E.Hipwell, both of whom gave good counsel and advice in well attended meetings of the Saints and friends. "We are happy to report that the Lord is blessing our efforts with success and that as we are making friends. Since we are engaged in Sunday School, Mutual and Priesthood work, we find the Improvement Era very helpful and instructive and wish it continued success. Persecution is raging against us at present, but we know the Lord is on our side and truth is sure to win; and hence we go on serving the Lord and our fellow men to the bsst of our ability." Elders, left to right: John E. Hipwell, presi- dent of the Vic- torian confer- ence ; Earl R. Hansen, presid- ing elder ; Paul B. Cragen and President Don C. Rushton Conference in San Diego Alia N. Jensen, reporter of the San Bernardino conference, writes under date of May 3: "The semi-annual conference of this district was held in this city, April 20-22, with many people present. President Joseph W. EDITORS' TABLE 749 McMurrin, and a number of mission authorities and missionaries of the conference were also in attendance. President Wayne C. Gardner, who has presided over this conference for the past six months and labored as a missionary for thirty months in this mission, was released to return to his home in St. George, Utah. Elder Ira M. Bay of Junction, Utah, was sustained as conference president to succeed President Gardner. He has labored for the past year in the San Francisco conference. Elder Arch F. Clifford was also released, having labored here for 26 months, and will return to his home in North Ogden very soon. Doctrinal subjects were discussed by the speakers, and beautiful musical selections were given during the sessions." Missionaries, top row, left to right: Truman V. Rollins, Irvin B. Jan- son, Russell Robertson of Los Angeles, L. Brooks Abbott, F. Millan Peck. Second row: Hazel P. Spachman of Los Angeles; Jesse P. Coombs, Dr. "Williams E. Hawkins, Logan, Utah; J. Claud Surrage, Ira M. Bay, incoming conference president. Third row: Lula Brown, William W. Toombs, Pearle Madsen, Kenneth F. Farnsworth, Lucille Brown, Derondo V. Farnsworth. Front row: Verna Lindquist, Alta N. Jensen, Wayne C. Gardner, outgoing conference president; Joseph W. McMurrin, mission president; Arch F. Clifford, Agnes A. West. Seventy-Eight Baptized The elders of the Kauai conference, Hawaiian mission, March 31, re- port that the people are susceptible to the gospel and that the elders are enjoying* rich portion of the Spirit of God, enabling them to deliver their message, both in actions and words. "We find that the examplary lives of past missionaries and our own living has done a great deal to break the prejudice everywhere seeking to bar our way. During the past year, 78 persons were baptized, as compared with 20 the year before. Many friends have been obtained and we are seeking to teach the people the real truth and purpose of Christ's mission on earth. Two new branches of the Church have been established at which Sunday Scbool and general meetings are held every Sunday with fairly good attendance. This, along with raising money to build new chapels and repair old ones, has kept us busy, which we think is the secret of our happiness." 750 IMPROVEMENT ERA Elders, front row, left to right: Maxwell B. Olsen, Brigham City; Leo Van Wagener, retiring conference president, Midway; Ferrin B. Harris, Portage, Utah. Local: David K. Kailimai, Hilo, Hawaii. Back row: Henry J. DeHaan, incoming conference president, Ogden; Don G. Nelson, Preston, Idaho; William Mortell Hodson, Salt Lake City. A Wave of Indifference Elder Terah L. Black, West Gaba, Brisbane, Australia, January 16: "Elders laboring in the Queensland conference, Brisbane: Ira J. Page, Kamas, Utah; Robert H. Andrus, Ucon, Idaho; Arlie V. Bean Richfield; Conference President Terah L. Black, Richfield; Mission Presi dent Don C. Rushton; released conference president, Gerald O. Billings Delta, Utah. Elders Page and Billings have been released from the Queens land conference to continue their work in the New South Wales confer ence. On the 10th we held a conference here which was attended by our esteemed president, who gave the Saints many timely instructions and EDITORS' TABLE 751 brought nearer to our hearts the principles of the gospel. We are enjoy- ing the Spirit of the Lord in our work, but are not having very ready response to our labors, since a great wave of indifference appears to be upon the people. We appreciate the Era as a great factor in providing higher aims of life." The Lord Blesses the Saints Clarence L. Giles, president; and Kimball Meller, conference clerk, of Sheffield conference, England, report that the missionaries in that district are meeting with good success, due to the united efforts of the traveling elders and the Saints of the conference in exerting their faith and works in the gospel cause. "Sheffield is noted for its steel and cutlery factories, and at present the trade is not very brisk. The people here notice this very keenly and many are very much discouraged. However, it is re- markable how the Lord is blessing the honest Saints in many ways." The following missionaries were present at the conference, March 25, 1923: Left to right, back row: James Brook, Brigham City; Joseph Coulam, Pleasant Grove, Fielding; K. Smith; Salt Lake City; Ernest K. Freckleton, Eureka; Homer Taylor, Marysvale; George C. Midgley, Salt Lake City; Milford M. Mills, Woods Cross; James R. Williams, Grantsville; Vernon P. Cole, Preston, Idaho; William Blackburn, Lovell, Wyoming; G. Kim- ball Mellor, Manti. Front row: Hyrum Sutcliffe, St. Joseph, Arizona; (j. Osmond Hyde, recent president of the Hull conference, Downey, Idaho; J. W. Ernest Tomlinson, recent president of the Sheffield conference, Salt Lake City; Mission President David O. McKay; Conference President Clarence L. Giles, Salt Lake City; Melvin T. King, Raymond, Alberta, Canada; and Ervin Rawlings, Preston, Idaho.