Monthly Message to the M Men: Duty

Monthly Message to the "M" Men By Thomas A. Beat, Member of the General Board X.—DUTY "Your first duty in life is toward your afterself," says David Starr Jordan in his autobiography, The Days of a Man. By that he means that one should so live that the afterself — the man one ought to be — may in time be possible and actual. Every boy has in his own hands his body, his brain and his soul, and it is up to him what he will make of them. He can have a body strong and healthy; a mind keen and active; a soul clean and pure, or he can have a body filled with lust and dissipation, a brain distorted and dis- eased, a will untrained to action, and a system grown full of the weeds of destruction. What we will be depends largely on what we want to be in these days of great opportunity. We are, with God's help, the archi- tects of our own fortunes. "There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." Whether we miss it or take it at the flood depends on what we have left in our boyhood to our afterself. If we have made use of our time and our talents, as the Creator designed that we should, and have taken our place in life, gaining by our experi- ence and our friendships, and our joys and sorrows, building upon them as our own, we are prepared for our afterself. On the other hand, if we have flung away our opportunities, dissipated our time and talents, sold our birthrights for a mess of pottage, then what we might have been can never be. One of the greatest spiritual levers with which to pry up the ob- stacles in your pathway, and to open the door of opportunity, is gratitude. To him who it; grateful for little things shall be added many blessings. But being grateful does not simply mean being idle and complacent, but rather it means making use of those blessings with which we are endowed and utilizing the powers and opportunities that we have and being grateful for them. In other words, gratitude, itself, is a duty. There are certain obligations and responsibilities that one may have to perform because of one's promise which may have been created by circumstances. But duty arises from the nature of things. One is bound by nature or by a legal or moral law or obligation to do certain things. In other words, being dutiful, i. e., respectful to others, conscious of one's position and responsibility, and loyalty to it, is a duty. However menial one's task may be, it can be elevated by the way we look at it and by the attitude we take toward it. Even the street cleaner is necessary to the health and comfort of our modern civilization. And he that is faithful with little shall be intrusted with much. Happiness is a question of the heart and not of money. It is our duty to ourselves to meet our opportunities, to magnify our talents, and to be dutiful and grateful for that which we have and that which is intrusted to us; and upon that will depend our reward. Duty is an obligation as well as a matter of conduct. From the Jewish and Christian conceptions it is an obligation; from the Greek, it is an appropriate or fitting conduct. There

MUTUAL WORK 941 is a certain conduct due to one's parents, or one's superiors, which is con- duct of reverence and respect. A certain duty is required of one with respect to the station or occupation one holds. What might be permis- sible in some places would not be good taste in others, i. e., the conduct would not be fitting and appropriate. One's attitude toward one's self, and one's conception of his duty toward others will be determined largely by his fundamental conceptions of ethics. Every young man must sooner or later decide for himself what his duty towards life is, whether he in- tends to pay one hundred cents on the dollar for what he gets or not. Some, I fear, harbor the idea that they can get out of society more than they put into it — that the world owes them a living. In this they are mistaken. All debts are for value received. Wbat has the world done that it becomes one's debtor? True the world owes every man a chance to get a living by patient industry and wise economy, but likewise every man has a duty to perform toward the world, namely, that he gives to it the full measure of his ability. Those young men who succeed best are those who have come to realize this duty toward life, toward their occupations, toward their comrades, toward their fellow man. If this conception of duty and fair play is well grounded and they have coveted wisdom, and under- standing, and strong will power, and they have learned what it means to do one's duty not only to one's fellow man but to one's self for the benefit of the afterself, then they may expect a destiny of great reward. What is worth having comes at the cost which corresponds to its worth. If the end of life is to enjoy life, we must so live that enjoyment is pos- sible to the end. Young men do your duty. Do not believe for an instant that idleness brings rest, or that unmeasured rest brings pleasure. It does not. You must resist corrosion. Work is the only infallible thing in life. Whether you use your gifts and talents and opportunities wisely, or fool- ishly, young man, is the problem of greatest importance to you. It is the problem before you today, and everyday, and upon your decision will rest your destiny. i Convention Dates and Program The dates of conventions for the auxiliary organizations are the same as the dates for the conferences to be held July 28-29 and August, Sep- tember and October, and were published in The Dcserct News of July 12, except where conventions are held separately. Conferences of the follow- ing stakes will be held after the general October conference when the dates will be given. These stakes are: Benson, Hyrum, North Sevier, Tooele, Wasatch, Weber, Cassia, Tintic, Woodruff, Yellowstone, Moapa, Maricopa, Juarez, St. Joseph. The program for the convention for the various organizations during the two days is as follows: Saturday 10:00 a. m. to 11:20 a. m.: Quarterly Conference Session. 11:30 a. m. to 12:45 a. m.: Joint Auxiliary Stake Board Meeting, in- cluding Stake Presidency, High Council, and Ward Bishoprics. 12:50 p. m. to 1:50 p. m.: Relief Society Stake Board (Luncheon Meet- ing.) Quarterly Conference Session. Auxiliary Stake Board Meetings for Relief Society, Sunday School, M. I. A., and Pri- mary Association. Note: The Y. M. M. I. A. and Y. L. M. I. A. 2:00 p. m. to 3:30 p. m. 3:30 p, m. to 5:30 p. m.

942 IMPROVEMENT ERA Stake Boards will meet together for one hour and then separately for one hour. 7:00 p. m. to 8 p. m,: Meeting of the Stake and Ward Recreation Com- mittees together with Executive Officers of the M. I. A. 8:00 p. m. to 10 p. m.: Social for Priesthood authorities and Stake and Ward Officers and Teachers of all Auxiliary Organizations, under the Supervision of the M. I. A. Stake Committee on Recreation. Sunday 9:00 a. m. to 10:30 a. m.: Separate Auxiliary Meetings of Stake and Ward Officers and Teachers. 10:30 a. m. to 12 noon: Joint Sunday School and Primary Session — General Public Invited. 12 noon to 1:00 p. m.: Stake and Ward Music Committee Meeting. 2:00 p. m. to 4:00 p. m.: Quarterly Conference Session. Sunday Evening: Mutual Improvement Association Meeting — General Public Invited. Conventions of the M. I. A. that will be held separately are as follows: Alpine, Box Elder, Cache, Cottonwood, Ensign, Granite, Jordan, Liberty, Logan, Mt. Ogden, Nebo, North Davis, North Weber, Ogden, Oquirrh, Pio- neer, Salt Lake, South Davis, Utah, Weber, and a separate program will be furnished to stake superintendents giving the details of the proceedings. For the two-day sessions, programs will also be furnished to the officers in ample time and notifications given of the convention. The officers are requested to be sure that all interested are notified and that 100% of the officers and workers are present; also to make pro- vision for ample rooms where meetings are to be held. Changes in Superintendents Y. M. M. I. A. The following changes have been reported for June in the stake superintendents of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations throughout the Church: Boise, Franklin B. Smith; Juarez, Miles A. Romney; Bear River, C. R. Welling; Blackfoot, Phillip B. Dance; South Sevier, Harold Anderson; Garfield, Joseph A. Griffin; Franklin, George H. Blood; Yellowstone, Asel C. Lambert; Oneida, Harley Greaves. Church Music Committee In connection with the Group Auxiliary Stake Convention, a depart- ment for Stake and Ward Music Committees will be held Sunday from twelve to one o'clock. Preparations are under way for an interesting department meeting. Come prepared to offer suggestions. A member of the General Music Committee will have charge of this department if present at the Convention, if not the program will be for- warded to the Stake Chorister and Organist and they will have charge. This brief notice is all that can be made at this time and the Church Music Committee invites every member to make the necessary arrange- ments to insure a large attendance. Manuals for 1923-24 Advanced Senior Class — Life's Visions and Purposes. Senior Class — The Young Man and his Social World. Junior Class — Stories of Faith and Courage. The Junior and Senior Manuals will be on sale at the Era ofice, price

MUTUAL WORK 943 25c each. The advanced senior text will be printed in the Improvement Era, and Young Woman's Journal. > Kanab Stake Mutual Outing The Mutual Improvement Associations of the Kanab stake held their annual outing at Three Lakes, eight miles north of Kanab, Utah, May 26. There were present about 450 members from the associations representing the wards of Alton, Glendale, Orderville, Mt. Carmel, Kanab, Fredonia, and the branch at Moccasin. A choice program was conducted in the morning between ten and twelve followed by a luncheon on the grass. Games of baseball were the chief sports of the afternoon. The Boy Scouts hoisted the Flag on a cliff nearby, and a large banner inscribed with the slogan was in a conspicuous place. Stake President C. C. Heaton conducted the celebration, and the Kanab band furnished the music. — H. A. Fitzgerald. Scouts in the Beet Fields Victor Lindblad, Scout Executive Cache Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, reports scouting in a flourishing condition in the Cache Valley Council. There were, at the time of writing, June 16, some 550 boys

944 IMPROVEMENT ERA under scout leadership in the beet fields of Cache county, thinning beets. It is intended that the boys shall continue throughout the year with weed- ing and harvesting the crop. They are very successful in doing the work and it will mean that approximately a quarter of a million dollars will be kept in the county which heretofore lias been taken out by foreign labor. So far as I have been able to learn, this is the first instance of the scout organization turning out en masse for an entire summer to care for and help harvest an entire crop — a crop which an entire community depends upon for its support. The whole business district, the faculty of the Utah Agricultural College, and of the Brigham Young College, and the towns- people are wholly back of the scout program. As a result, 85% nearly, of the boys of scout age are enrolled as scouts. Liberty Stake Barbecue The Liberty stake M. I. A. held a barbecue and campfire outing, Saturday, June 23, near the old paper mill, Big Cottonwood canyon. In- cluded in the program was a barbecue, tug-of-war, folk dancing, out-door demonstrations, girls' chorus and campfire songs; also a speech from General U. G. Alexander. The outing was a big success. Over 1,500 peo- ple attended, and 3,000 hot roast beef sandwiches were served. The ward presidents of the eleven wards of the stake gave every possible cooperation, and arranged transportation for all members of the wards. The Tug of War, Y. M. M. I. a. Presidents vs. Bisbops The mammoth campfire lighted the entire canyon. The community sing- ing, the tug of war between ward bishops and ward presidents, and other sports, and the patriotic address by General Alexander were greatly en- joyed. Hundreds of people attended who had not been to a canyon for years, pronouncing it the time of their lives. Verner O. Hewlett was chairman; Ether Anderson, in charge of program; George Manwaring, bonfire; Herbert Maw and E. J. Kearns, barbecue; Alma Clayton, sports; and Jasper Fletcher, serving. M. I. A. Clean-up Campaign in Salt Lake Stake The M. I. A. set out to paint and clean up twelve chapels in their district. To raise the money for the undertaking a splendid road show was presented which proved a great success in every way. A little over $500 was received, and every dollar was used for cleaning and painting in the ward in which it was obtained.

MUTUAL WORK 945 The amount secured and work done in each ward is as follows: 14th Ward. Population 382. $29.50. Completely cleaned the inside of chapel and amusement hall, washing the woodwork and benches and cleaning walls and ceiling, planting trees. 15th Ward. Population 1262. $17. Money turned over to bishop, who already had plans laid for clening about middle of June. 16th Ward. Population 929. $65. Painted chapel and amusement hall outside. Painted iron fence. Leveled empty lot in rear preparatory for making tennis courts. 17th Ward. Population 1077. $45. Painted chapel outside, planted lawns Cleaned yard of stumps and leveled vacant lot adjacent to church, and prepared for playground which, when finished, will be equipped with tennis court, swings and teeters for kiddies. 19th Ward. Population 1090. $40. Planted lawns and cleaned around church Are contracting to have chapel painted. 22nd Ward. Population 1177. $70. Cleaned woodwork and repaired walls in amusement hall. Planted lawns, flower beds and built iron pipe fence around same. The painting of the chapel was let out on contract. 23rd Ward. Population 349. $23.85. Painted chapel outside. Com- pletely cleaned and kalsomined inside, repaired roof, put on new screens, planted trees and lawn. 24th Ward. Population 1015. $47. Painted chapel outside. Cleaned all woodwork inside, oiled floors and benches, planted lawns. 28th Ward. Population 1265. $32. Painted chapel and amusement hall outside. Remodeled inside, cleaned woodwork and kalsomined, in- stalled new lighting fixtures, removed old tree stumps from grounds and planted lawns, parked and planted along both streets of corner lot. 29th Ward. Population 838. $55. Painted chapel outside, removed old outside staircase to be replaced by cement steps. Repaired benches, cleaned up grounds. 34th Ward. Population 997. $56.75. Thoroughly cleaned wood- work inside chapel and amusement hall, kalsomined, built fence around Ghurch, planted lawn and sod, leveled vacant lot adjacent to church and prepared for making tennis courts. Center Ward. Population 288. $27.65 Painted chapel and amuse- ment hall outside, kalsomined, painted floors and varnished woodwork. Did repair work on walls and floors in chapel and amusement hall. All the work in the wards, with the exception of painting the 19th and 22nd ward chapels, was done by ward members under the direction of the M.- I. A. and bishoprics. The 14th ward has been spending about $200 annually for the same cleaning that was done by the Mutuals this year for $28. In Center ward a few years ago, the kalsomining, painting and varnishing and general cleaning of the chapel cost the ward $400. This year the Mutuals did it for $50. Using these two wards as examples, the saving in labor throughout the stake may be conservatively estimated at between $2,000 and $3,000. Is it worth while? Resignation and Promotion George A. Goates, Scout Executive of the Ogden Council, Boy Scouts of America, resigned and his resignation was accepted on June 9. He was the organizer of the Ogden Council, including six counties in Utah and Nevada. He has been asked to continue the scouting work as execu- tive in charge of new territory under the direction of the National Council. He was chosen executive of the Ogden Council in July, 1899; was former ex-officio probabtion officer for the juvenile courts of Utah, and assistant superintendent of the State Industrial School. He served four and one- half years on a mission for the Church in the Samoan Islands. He is author of several books on social welfare problems among the Samoans. Lehi is his home city, where he was president of the Board of Education in the Alpine school district, also city recorder. He was with the Lyman Construction Company, and has been instrumental in installing several water work systems throughout the state.