--- 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, "The June M. I. A. Conference", *Improvement Era* 26, no. 8 (June 1923): 756–762.' 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: 756 end_page: 762 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. --- # The June M. I. A. Conference The June M. I. A. Conference A very excellent program has been prepared full of vital interest to officers and workers in the M. I. A. At the first meeting Friday, June 8, 10 o'clock a. m., General Superintendent George Albert Smitn and President Martha H. Tingey will deliver welcome addresses. The new slogan for 1923-24, We stand for individual and family prayer, will be presented with scriptural references. The Advanced Senior class titles of study lessons, and an explanation of the very interesting text will be presented by Sister Augusta W. Grant, and a stirring address on leadersnip by President Nephi L. Morris. At 2 o'clock on Friday, there will be general and departmental sessions. Scout and Bee-Hive work will be featured at the general sessions, and there will be department meetings for the Recreation and Senior work department, each presenting to the workers vital helps for the work. On Friday evening a social for the stake officers will be held, and on Saturday morning, the general session will feature Senior and Junior work, while department meetings will be held for Recreation, Scout, and Bee- Hive work. The programs for this particular session, as well as tne depart- ment meetings for recreation and other work, are well worth while. At 2 o'clock on Saturday, a joint session will be held where recreation will be featured in subjects such as Church organization for recreation, objects in the recreational program, putting over the recreational program, and training for recreational leadership. Elder Melvin J. Ballard, Profes- sor Ephraim E. Erickson, Charlotte Stewart, Oscar A. Kirkham and others, will speak followed by a general discussion. Three phases of recreational music will be demonstrated, including community singing, quartette singing, and instrumental music. While the general session is being held, department- al meetings will be held for the Advanced Senior, Senior, Junior, Scout and Bee-Hive departments. A joint session is programmed for Saturday eve- ning, in the Assembly Hall at 7:30, at which fathers and sons' outings and mothers and daughters' day will be featured; also an original M. I. A. song and color song will be given. The reading course will be demonstrated and orchestral instruments discussed, also there probably will be a presenta- tion of a Pioneer pageant. On Sunday, June 10, at 8:30 in the morning the usual testimony meet- ing will be held in the Assembly Hall. This meeting will be exclusively for M. I. A. officers. None but officers are to participate in the meeting. At 10 o'clock following the testimony meeting the joint session will be held in the Tabernacle at which our summer responsibilities, campaign for membership, and the M. I. A. slogan, will be discussed respectively by Mary E. Connely, Superintendent Richard R. Lyman, and Elder Melvin J. Ballard. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the usual general session will be held under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church, and in the eve- ning at 7 o'clock a great gathering will be held, at which the theme, "The Faith of our Fathers," will be presented, in appropriate words and picture. Every stake should be represented by workers, and invitation is partic- MUTUAL WORK 151 ularly extended to the department workers, enough from each stake should be present to carry the messages to the wards and stakes of the Church. Representatives who can explain details in their home towns should be sent to attend the conference. Department leaders of the Advanced Senior, the Senior, Junior and Scout departments are especially urged to attend. Among the speakers at the department meetings will be Eugene L. Roberts, Dr. John A. Widtsoe, Dr. George H. Brimhall, Professor Thomas A. Beat, Thomas Hull, besides a number of others, members of the General Boards. Monthly Message to the "M" Men By Thomas A. Beal, Member of the General Board VIII.— LEADERSHIP Never before has there been greater need of leadership than at the present time. In almost every line of human activity there is a demand for a leader — one who can bring together those factors that make lor success. For instance, if in business, the man is wanted who can bring together most effectively land, labor and capital, in other words the competent organizer. To succeed in life, and thus become a leader, depends to a large extern on one's ambition, capacity and opportunity. It also depends on the motive and desire of men. Purpose, motive, and desire are spiritual factors and are all important. Land, labor, and capital, and even education, are more tools to be used either for good or evil. Education unless guided properly, is a very dangerous possession. Most colleges for educational purposes were founded by a group of God-fearing, praying men. As long as they stand on that ground they will render society a great service and produce leaders. To be a leader requires a great deal of hard work. The reason why some become leaders and others do not is because they apply themselves more diligently — and they have the opportunity and the capacity for work. Work is the only infallible evidence of capacity either in a machine or in man; the absence of work in either labels it for the junk heap. There are certain essential qualifications necessary for leadership, namely: 1. Initiative — the alibity to rely upon one's self and not be afraid of new tasks. The world bestows its big prizes, bom in money and honors, on the man of initiative; the man who does the right thing without being told, and does it without asking questions, in other words, carries the message to Garcia. 2. Human sympathy — the power to love one's fellow man and to be loved by him in return; in other words, to cooperate with peojple. 3. Faith — Belief in the world, in oneself, in others, and in God. 4. Knowledge — without this, the initiative spirit is blind. 5. Progressivesness — able to make careful selection of new ideas — able to inspire and to hold others — able to stimulate and promote. All of these are essentkl to leadership. A leader must not only be a man of thought, but also a man of action. It is not sufficient to be able to think only, but one must know how to put one's thoughts into operation. Faith without works is dead. Today vision is necessary, if ever, for great leadership — the power to see ahead, to create, to do. Right now the country is suffering from an acute shortage of big men — high priced experts, if you please — men capable of earning, if in business, from $15,000 to $50,000 a year. There is a great demand for re- sourceful, enterprising men — men of initiative and integrity. In otnei 758 IMPROVEMENT ERA words, there is a dearth of leaders in almost every endeavor. To be a leader, two qualifications especially are essential, namely, personality and technical skill. The absence of either of these may mean failure. One must be able to get on pleasantly with his fellow men and then one must know his business. Other things equal, these will go a long way in making for success. Every organization must have its leader. Organization, itself, implies leadership, and no institution can be any bigger than its leaders. As a matter of fact, institutions are measured by their leaders. In the book of Edward W. Bok we see the struggle for leadership. There is an old saying that "ihere is plenty of room at the top." In fact, the top is shrieking for leaders. Opportunity often makes the man, but the mantle of leadership may fall upon a man without making him a leader unless it is in him. If it is there, responsibility coupled with work and intelligence will bring it out. To be a leader, too, one must have faith in his work, in his ability, in the cause that he represents, in his superiors; and in addition, he must love his work. And "blessed is he who has found his work, let him ask for no other blessedness." The Good Book gives us a list of the great leaders of biblical times, and our Church works and history, of modern times, i. e., ot men great in a religious and political way. But the greatest leader of all times — the most worthy of emulation — is the Master himself. If we keep his teachings uppermost in mind we will become leaders. Activities in Juab Stake In forwarding the monthly report for April, Superintendent Thomas H. Burton reports that the M. I. A. organizations of the Juab stake have tried a new experiment in the way of holding a rousing program in each ward for the month of April. It turned out that meetinghouses could not hold those who attended, and the following are the results of the meetings held in April : The whole stake went to Mona on April 15. The meetinghouse could not accomodate the crowd. On the 22nd, a similar meeting was held at South ward in Nephi, crowding the house to overflowing; and on the 28th, the North Ward in all its history had never seen such a crowd as was pres- ent. The ward has a population of 802, and 750 were crowded into the building, in the halls and on the outside. During May, the South ward took a program to Levan on the 6th; and on the 13th, the stake boards gave a Mothers' Day program in the Juab stake tabernacle. On the 20th, the Nephi ward provided a program for Mona; on the 27th, the North ward, a program for the Nephi ward; and on the 3rd of June, Mona will come to the Nephi South ward with its program. On June 8 everybody will go to the annual M. I. A. conterence in Salt Lake City. Several of the cemeteries were fenced, cleared, and planted with trees; in one town five hundred turned out and cleared four acres of sage, and planted one hundred trees. The June Conference and Committees on Recreation Under date of May 4, 1923, Supt. George Albert Smith sent the following appeal to Presidents of stakes: The annual M. I. A. June Conference will be held June 8, 9, and 10, «t Salt Lake City. For the past three months committees of the General Boards have been busy working on the program. We are making every MUTUAL WORK 759 effort to be prepared to give both information and inspiration to our workers. Will you kindly assist us by seeing that our organization in your stake is perfected? We would greatly appreciate it, if you anticipate any changes, that they may be made at this time in order that the men who will be expected to carry our work may attend the annual conference in June. In many stakes the M. I. A. Committee on Recreation hasn't as yet been organized. We are preparing special help for them, and will greatly appreciate, where conditions will permit, having a representative from this committee attend our convention. We will be delighted to hear a word from you in relation to our work. With grateful appreciation for your cooperation and assistance, I remain, sincerely your brother. "M" Men in Canada S. I. May, Senior leader "M" Men of Cardston, Alberta, Canada, reports a social which was held by them, March 16, at which the picture herewith was taken. "We certainly have enjoyed the "M" Men manual this year, and the activities have attracted boys who were unable to get in any other way. Out of a possible enrollment of 38, we have 34 on our roll, with an attendance of between 22 and 28, and quite often, 32 or 33. The "M" Men organization is filling a long-felt want, and we are interested and encouraged in our work. We have held two socials this year and in this way, have become better acquainted with one another." Names of boys, left to right, back row: L. Card, K. Lee, C. Walker, H. Eldredge, B. Card, C. Atterton, C. Weeks. Third row: W. Hansen, O. Rollins, V. Pilling, K. Williams, F. Atterton, F. Pitcher, secretary of "M" Men; R. Card. Second row: S. I. May, Senior class leader; J. V. l^ard, 2nd counselor in bishopric; G. L. Woolf, assistant superintendent of Alberta 760 IMPROVEMENT ERA stake Y. M. M. I. A.; B. J. Wood, president of Second ward Y. M. M. I. A.; L. Webster, 1st assistant; L. Jacobs, 2nd assistant; L. Leishman. Front row: R. Workman, D. Thorpe, Matual chorister; D. W. Card, Jr., president "M" Men; A. Franks, vice president; H. M. Bates, ward secretary, Y. M. M. I. A. Beaver Stake M. I. A.HIield Day Draws Large Crowd More than 600 people gathered at Minersville, Saturday, April 28, for M. I. A. Field Day celebration of the Beaver stake. Field sports and track meets commenced at 2 p. m., with all six wards represented. Contests were held in track and field events between Junior and Senior boy scouts and "MM Men. Then there were races and contest between Senior girls and racing on the green by Bee-Hive swarms. Between events the girls braided the May pole, music being furnished by the "portable" M. I. A. orchestra, located on the co-op truck. Perhaps the most sensational events were the high jump with a record of 5 feet, 10 inches, and the broad jump at 21 feet, 11 inches, made by Wilford Murdock of Beaver West ward; and the relay race, won by tiu> speedy "M" Men's team of Milford. Alter the field events luncheon was served on the green by the young ladies of Minersville. The day's celebration concluded with the production of a play by the Beaver stake dramatic club, at the high school auditorium. More people participated in the affairs of this day than any M. I. A. Field Day for many years. Superintendents Chase Murdock of the Young Men, and Laura Shepherd of the Young Ladies, with the committe, are to be con- gratulated on this most successful outing. Flagpole on the Mountain Some weeks ago the Boy Scouts of Mink Creek, Idaho, Troop 1, and myself, made our way across the snow into the mountains and cut a flag- pole fifty-seven feet in length. As soon as the weather will permit we will erect the pole on the top of a nearby mountain, where we are planning to celebrate Flag Day, June 14, 1023. — Christen Hansen. New M. I. A. Superintendent of the Tongan Mission President Mark V. Coombs of the Tongap mission informs us that Walter J. Phillips has been appointed general secretary of the joint Mutual Improvement Associations of the Tongan mission. His address is Nukua- lofa, Tongatabu, Friendly Islands, via San Francisco. The president informs us that he is not yet able to effect complete organizations of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. separately, but that they are having much success in the joint Mutuals in all the branches of the mission. MUTUAL WOftK 761 Y. M. M. L A. Efficiency Report, April, 1923 STAKES B.-3 1^ 5 ■ E 6 2 O^j bo 2? o t. ■ •- PL, -5 C o be !" U - ^ £ 4J U O x Alpine Bear River . . . Beaver Benson Box Elder . . . Cottonwood . Deseret Ensign Granite Hyrum Juab Kanab Liberty Morgan Mt. Ogden . . . Nebo North Davis . North Sevier. North Weber Ogden Pioneer Roosevelt Salt Lake . San Juan Sevier South Davis . South. Sanpete Summit .j.. . .'. Tint^^U ,. . . Wasatch Bingham Blackf oo,t Burley Cassia Curlew Franklin Fremont, Jdaho Lost River . Malad Montpelier . . . Pocatello Portneuf Rigby Shelley Teton Twin Falls . . Yellowstone . Juarez Lethbridge . . Moapa Maricopa . . . St. Joseph . . . Snowflake . . . Star Valley . , Union Young 8 6 5 10 7 10 111 6 10 7 7 5 10 8 7 7 5 10 8 6 10 6 8 9 10 10 10 10 6 8 10 8 10 10 10 8 9 9 10 6 5 10 9 7 9 8 5 5 9 6 I 91 10 8 10 10 10 8 10 10| 10 | 10 | 81 8 10| 10| 10| 10 10 10 101 10| 10 I 10 I 8 I 10 1 3 I 8 I 10 10 I 101 10 I 10! 9! 10| 91 6 6 5 4 6 10 4 3 6 6 3 6 4 . .6 41 5! 9 I 6 I 6 I 8 I 4| 6 I G I 61 7] 10 1 5 10 10 5 1 9 6] 61 4| 41 51 71 5| 91 10 1 10 1 10 1 10] 10 10 I 6 I 4 10 I 10 4 10 6 | 10 10 5 I 10| 9! 6 I 10 I 61 8| 7) 7[ 10 8 10 I 71 6 91 10 1 10| 6! 101 10 3 I 5 5 t 9 I io : 9i 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10- 104. ioi 10 1 5| 7| 4 4 10 8 ( 6 9 7 4 6 10 10 4 10 6 10 10 10 10 6 10 's° 10 10 10 1 ■?l 101 8 10 I 10 I 101 10 10 10 5 9 9 6 91 8 in 7 10 9 10 9 9 6 10 2 9 I 10 9 10! 10 10 9 9 5 8 7 7 7 10 8 9 10 8 10 6 10 7 9 4 10 10 9 10 1 10 6 I 9 91 7 9 10 I 10 1 9 9 6 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 5 5 10 7 10 10 7 7I 8 9 10 6i 5 I 10 I 51 7| 7J 10 5 1 10 10 7 10 6 7 in 9 91 10 8 10 6| 10 10 6 9 5 8 9 10 91 10! 91 71 ?l 9 10 5 8 9 5 10 U 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Q 5| 81 l\ 91 9! 10 in I 101 8] 4! 10 1 *A '."I 10! 10 1 91 101 6! 10 1 in] 7 1 10| 10 I 10| 9! 7 I 9 ' "J 1 0 ( 10 I 101 10 » 10 I 10 I 6 I 91 10 1 9 10 2 8 10| 71 51 10 i 10 1 10 10 1 81 101 8| 10 1 10 I 91 5| 10! 9 9 I 71 9] 10 1 10 1 10 f 51 5| 10 I l\ 81 61 6! 10 I 6 ! 9] 4! 10 I 10 ! *l 9 I *i 10 ' 5 I 7| 10 ; R| 10| 10! 10, 10 I 6 I 10 1 61 9 • 13 1 9 5 7 9 5 6 10 10 8 10 7 10 41 7 6 7 5 6 9 9 6 9 10 8 9 7 2 8 7 4 S 4 5 4 87 94 51 86 90 61 81 90 92 87 100 78 97 85 94 80 88 47 77 84 90 PS 89 90 91 98 53 92 S« 64 Jfo fiO S3 SQ 78 9° 54 83 9fi 65 86 75 78 83 68 7R "81 9?. 90 85 9t 76 83 58 S8 R3 762 IMPROVEMENT ERA Y. M. I. A. Statistical Report, April, 1923 STAKES So o c T3 u CD 6 ■3 Sf B u C a g W V fc ■iiJS o P S " c — JHW o B • - v Se cos . u •a c <W a U V .2 E v O W q .11 §| w "3 o H lis « S « 4,1-1 C u V O U 'c c S a cnH V « V o i- C o a ■jrs cfl£ < (i o V. C o a < "rt o Alpine .... 891 IS 18 146 227 204 345 922 111 138 120 220 589 Bear River 509 | 12 12 96 253 159 204 712 73 92 64 89 318 Beaver .... 287 1 6 3 27 59 | 46 1 82 214 21 50 42 76 189 Benson .... 841 1 13 13 113 129 | 250 1 328 820 72 40 94 185 391 Box Elder . 805 | 13 | 13 105 | 328 | 184 | 271 888 82 197 97 142 518 Cottonwood 789 12 | 8 69 I 87 175 1 245 576 47 35 96 156 334 Deseret . . . 454 11 | 11 89 | 190 110 170 550 55 105 50 90 300 Ensign .... 980 7| 7 57 1 164 216 | 283 720 4.8 4u 78 209 375 Granite . . . 1885 16 1 16 172 1 230 365 1 650 1417 140 118 200 420 878 Hyrum .... 500 10 | 7 37 1 68 80 1 109 294 35 36 44 48 163 Juab 358 5 | 5 49 | 100 106 | 146 401 34 69 72 100 i 275 Kanab .... 222 6 | 6 44 | 62 40 | 102 248 25 35 25 52 137 Liberty . . . 1191 11 1 11 175 | 306 307 1 496 | 1284 87 177 158 297 719 Morgan . . . 165 | 9 | 9 • 64 | 57 84 | 121 326 43 37 63 84 227 Mt. Ogden 507 | 6 6 49 | 89 120 | 214 472 38 81 76 154 349 Nebo 948 15 8 62 | 136 108 | 224 530 44 41 54 123 262 No. Davis . 446 8 7 63 1 69 90 1 209 431 37 41 35 DO -| 233 No. Sevier 275 6 3 20 1 81 78 | 53 232 U 37 . 40 37 | 125 No. Weber 644 17 15 97 | 56 252 | 235 | 640 56 i9 109 97 | 281 Ogden .... 800 | 10 1 10 87 | 93 235 | 240 655 49 35 99 134 | 317 Pioneer . . . 972 | 13| 13 113 | 177 241 | 363 894 81 79 109 221 490 Roosevelt. 336 | 11 11 81 | 95 81 | 129 386 46 •fV 53 71 217 Salt Lake . J067 |12|12 120 j 184 177 | 412 | 893 90 90 76 239 495 San Juan . . 270 I 4 4 31 | 75 73 1 106 285 20 33 21 44 118 ■Sevier .... 363 6 6 54 1 122 120 I 152 | 448 40 46 45 76 201 So. Davis . . 494 8 8 69 1 87 162 | 229 547 56 94 104 170 424 So. Sanpete 734 11 8 58 1 118 206 | 191 573 42 51 72 70 235 Summit 359 11 4 83 I 60 139 | 165 447 16 17 -1-. 25 72 Tintic 230 5 5 30 1 76 57 ! 124 | 287 16 20 7 53 | 96- Wasatch . . 386 9 8 51 1 75 107 | 120 I 353 34 32 55 53 174 Bingham . . 500 12 5 83 | 212 114 | 156 565 33 56 34. 42 165 Blackfoot 514 | 13 8 85 I 129 95 1 151 453 58 80 55 71 264 Burley .... 399 | 10 6 48 | 93 80 | 92 313 31 44 33 35 143 Cassia .... 208 | 6 6 40 i 76 57 1 83 1 256 32 40 31 39 142 Curlet" , . . 130 | 10 3 27 I 41 27 | 42| 137 12 20 14 23 69 Franklin . . 357 | 11 10 8fi | 122 185 | 181 574 62 49 87 78 | 276 Fremont . . 682 | 13 13 116 | 199 219 | 228 1 762 82 121 122 136 | 461 Idaho 1-17 | 12 7 58 1 42 | 52 [. 58 I 210 39 22 24 29 I 114 Dost River 127| 5 5 82 | 73 42 1 78 1 275 35 68 28 36 167 Malad .... 360 | 8 8 61 1 60 157 | 132 410 45 36 92 68 241 Montpelier 372 | 12 9 68 ! 124 71 1 152 | 415 34 45 27 69 175 Pocatello 432 10 10 78 1 76 121 I 141 | 416 53 32 70 75 230 Portneuf 1 348 | 13 1 4 I '-' Rigby 543 I 15 8 1 64 1 143 119 I 126 1 452 .")0 74 61 56 I 24 Shelley . . . 348 8 8 62 j 130 108 | 114 414 42 63 52 66 | 2->3 Teton 300 8 1 3 1 16 | 10 38 1 17| 81 | 131 81 30 1 14 1 65 Twin Falls 204 7 5 35 1 52 29 | 49| 165 13 20 11 45 89 Yellowstone 234 9 9 68 | 67 91 [105 | 331 65 60 53 63 ( 241 Leth bridge 221 10 10 78 | 116 95 1 89 | 378 51 53 41 51 | 196 Moapa .... 179 7 I 4 47 | 60 57 1 99 1 263 34 29 34 61 Li.' 8 Maricopa . . 390 9 1 8 64 | 152 115 1 152 483 48 82 62 78 1 270 Juarez .... 120 5 5 24 I 60 30 | 33 147 18 40 18 20 | 96 St. Joseph 500 13 [ 7 68 I 58 92 | 108 | 326 32 40 62 70 | 204 Snowflake 258 7 1 6 | 1 I Star Valley 334 11 |. 8 72 ] 61 85 1 96 314 35 18 33 36 | 122 Union .... 160 6 I 6 44 1 75 | 46 | 39 | 204 | 27 | 33 1 25 | 19 i 104 Young .... 103 5| 2 16 | 31 28 | 18 1 93 14 22 15 12 | 63