--- 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: 27 number: 2 published: 1923-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Mutual Work", *Improvement Era* 27, no. 2 (December 1923): 176–183.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2702unse 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: improvementera2702unse start_page: 176 end_page: 183 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1923-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2702unse 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. --- # Mutual Work QyVLutual Work A Dance Director in Every Ward The General Boards of M. I. A. have adopted the following in relation to stake and ward dancing parties: All dancing parties are to be conducted by a director who has been instructed in all the M. I. A. dancing standards. The Mutual Improvement executive officers in the various stakes and wards will transmit this information through the Committee on Recreation of the stakes and wards to all concerned: THE DANCE DIRECTOR BEFORE THE PARTY 1. Should know the type of dancing party — its particular needs. 2. Should cooperate with committee in selecting music. 3. See to the condition of the hall in regard to lighting, cleanliness, heating, ventilation, seating, water, toilets, etc. Cooperate with janitor. 4. Should have a definite understanding and full cooperation with the group giving the party. 5. Should make personal preparation, look right, feel right, do right. 6. Should cooperate with parents and ward leaders, and occasionally invite them as guests. Also encourage chaperonage. 7. Should meet with other dance directors and cooperate in bettering condi- tions. AT THE PARTY 1. Should meet committee early and check on details and have definite under- standing as to their cooperation. 2. Do little personal dancing. 3. See that everybody has a good time— much is to be done while the dance is going on. 4. Maintain proper environment about the building. Cooperate when neces- sary with peace officers. 5. Should be the constituted judge as to what is proper and improper in danc- ing and deportment. Be constantly on the alert to prevent difficulties which may arise. 6. Do private personal work with both crude and cultured. AFTER THE PARTY 1. Adopt business-like method in paying for music and other help. 2. Cooperate with chaperons and bid all a hearty "Good-night." 3. Make careful review of the evening's events and make notation of con- structive future program to be approved by committee. Remember, You are not only directing a Dance — You are training men and women. Monthly Message to the "M" Men BY THOMAS A. BEAL, MEMBER OF THE GENERAL BOARD XII. — Efficiency Perhaps no word in the English language has in the last few years been more overused, and yet less understood, than the word "efficiency." Few really stop long enough to analyze its meaning — not merely in the sense "of its derivation — but in its true interpretation- %-> - T mutual work 173 To be efficient, and thus to have efficiency, means to be effective, to possess skill and knowledge and proficiency in the execution of that which one undertakes. Efficiency tells us how good men have won their battle with fate — how they have succeeded by study, perseverance, application and am- bition; in brief, it shows us what other men, similarly placed, have learned and done. Efficiency is the result of self-management. Few, if any of us have attained it. We constantly do things which common sense tells us not to do. We have never learned how to use ourselves, and for our ignorance we pay dearly sometimes. It is estimated that about 73 men out of every 100 are in the wrong job; that most men utilize only about a third of their mental and physical forces; that we waste more than we use — more money, more time, more strength, more thought, more opportunity. We must learn con- servation and direction, through efficiency. The difference between a hod carrier and the head of a great corporation is that the one works with his hod and the other his head. To get ahead, we must get a head, that is, we must train our brains as well as our muscles. No matter what our trade may be, to succeed at it we must apply ourselves — both muscle and brain. But effi- ciency is more than simply speed and economy. No worker is efficient until his work becomes a pleasure to him; therefore efficiency means the reeduca- tion and reconstruction of men. It sets the table for the man who is going to be a mental, financial and spiritual leader. "Efficiency is the power to do one's most and best, in the shortest time and the easiest way, to the satisfaction of alt concerned." This definition is almost all inclusive. It is not sufficient that one does his most and best, but he must do it in the shortest time, in the easiest way, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Why is it that we often find two young men pursuing the same occupation — banking for instance — who have graduated from the same college, both from respectable families, both with an equal amount of knowledge, and yet the one may be getting $20,000 a year and the other $2„000? Why bave some classmates attained much more generous measures of success than others? What was the controlling factor? Doubtless it consists in the ability to influence the actions of others; in the ability to see the other's point of view and get him to see his point of view. This is efficiency — the ability to deal with people in such a way as to get their satisfaction. To comply with this requirement is no easy task, but it is not impossible. It may be accomplished by observing the following rules: First, analyze yourself, i.e., discover yourself through self analysis and by study of the family tree. Second, study your possibilities and limitations, physical, mental and spiritual. Third, read the lives of great men who have been leaders and emulate their example. Fourth, get a position in your chosen field, no matter how lowly, and make the most of the job. Fifth, if handicapped by ailments, study their causes and remove them. Sixth, if you are inclined to be pessimistic, cultivate opti- mism, faith, tact, patience, courtesy and other mental factors in efficiency. Seventh, arrange to get the best counsel and advice and training available and follow it. Eighth, discover the specific moral qualities needed to produce leadership — i.e., courage, will- power, and inspiration. Ninth, select a help-mate that will assist you to reach the ideal and wisdom of a great man. Hundreds of other ways might be suggested which would contribute to make for efficiency, in the broadest sense of that term, but doubtless these will suffice for this short paper. Carefully observe these suggestions, get the proper spirit of your work, and then, as Lloyd George said in his recent visit to America, using the language of golf: "Follow through, and keep your eye on the ball." Mutuals and Sunday Schools in Oregon The Oregon conference the Lord has abundantly blessed. The sincere and humble missionary workers and the Saints are doing a commend- 1 >4 IMPROVEMENT ERA able work in furthering the gospel. With a scarcity of missionaries, due to so many being sent to European countries, a great share of the missionary activity is going to rest on the various organizations of the Church. We realize the value of such organizations, and look to the Mutual organization as one which is invaluable, due to the assistance it renders to the missionary activity. Surely such must be the case when both activities are striving to bring the individual to a higher point of vision and greater purposes. We find the lessons are of a most valuable character and help in spreading the gospel, and the reading material in the Era is of the highest order. The missionary surely appreciates his copy of this publication, and has many calls from the investigators for a loan of the same. We have recently organized a Sunday School, at Bend, Ore., and Elders Amasa Reynolds and Junius Wil- son desire another organization if sufficient will attend. That organization will be the Mutual Improvement organization, if conditions warrant it. At Hood River, Ore., Elders Ferron Lamb and Hyrum Oakey report that the people can support a Mutual and we expect to see it a success. Elders Arthur Sawyer and Milton Morrell, doing county work in the vicinity of Kelso, Washington, report splendid success in their labors. Laboring in Portland we have four lady missionaries, namely, Velma Nebeker and Kinnie Caine her companion, and E. Nellie Jordan and LaVanda Peterson, her companion. Elders Vernee G. Halliday and Grant Ellis and President Orson P. Wright and Eugene Sloan complete the missionary personnel. For the benefit of those who anticipate attending the Oregon University at Eugene, Oregon, or the Oregon Agricultural College, at Covallis, Oregon, I wish to give the informa- tion that Church services are going to be held in these localities so they won't be deprived of their Church work. — Orson P. Wright, Pees., Box 295, Port- land, Oregon. Camp Stewart Under the date of Sept. 10, 1923, Scout Executive A. A. Anderson of the Utah County Council, B. S. A. gives the account of Camp Stewart. The daily program and the camp rules contain suggestions of careful consideration by all who conduct hikes, outings, and camps. Reserve them for reference: The Timpanogos District Council training Camp closed after three weeks sucessful operation. , 22 Troops from Alpine, Utah, Nebo, Tintic and Wasatch stakes, under their own leadership, each in its own individual camp, apart yet adjacent to other troops and headquarters, under the supervision of the Timpanogos District Council, B. S. A., spent one week in camp arriving early Monday morning, leaving Saturday evening. Each day activities commenced with impressive flag raising ceremonies at sun- rise. Every waking moment of the Scouts' time was filled full of constructive activity. They were taught the useful out-of-door scoutcraft which builds for character, under the personal guidance of experts in Campcraft, Woodcraft, Map- making, Cooking and Nature Study. In the campcraft section the Scouts learned how, and made from native material, camp coveniences and handy articles which make for comfort in the woods. The Woodcraft and Cooking section taught Nature's compass markings, im- provised shelters, the different types of fires, their purpose and how to build them; how to cook ani1 serve wholesome and appetizing food with and without cooking utensils. In the Map making section the Scouts were taught to take field notes and ■draw maps from those notes, by actually going out into the rough uneven country and doing so. , Nature Study was made intensely interesting by the unique presentation of each individual animal, bird, tree and flower; its haunts, habits and history, by Prof. J. H. Paul of the U. of U. The evening colors at sunset followed by the varied evening programs, each in a class by itself, including Troop night. Stunt night, Indian night, Game night. Court of Honor F)ight angf Story night, put a fitting climax to each. 4ay's activities. MUTUAL WORK 175 Three wholesome meals were served each day a la army style. The excellent morale and discipline of the camp created through patrol com- petition, scoring for points, kept each official and scout "on his toes" to do the right thing at the right time. As a camp trophy, each scout took away with him a Blue Spruce Cone embelished with the Camp Stewart monogram. TIMPANOGOS DISTRICT COUNCIL DAILY PROGRAM CAMP STEWART Monday Arrive in Camp. Register. Assignment to Quarters. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday First Call 6 A. M. Assembly, Flag Raising, etc 6:20 B rea k f as t 6:50 Wash Dishes, Clean Up Camp, Inspection 7:00" to 8:30 Instruction Period for Groups as follows 8:30 to 12:00 A. Compass, and Map Making. B. Fires and Cooking. C. Woodcraft. D. Nature Study. 5 A. M. 5:20 5:35 5:50 to 6:15 Hit the Trail 6:20 H I K E Group No. No. No. No. A. B. C. D. No. No. No. No. B. C. D. A. No. No. No. No. C. D. A. B. T O Saturday 5 A. M. Same as first of week. No. No. No. No. D. A. B. C. 12 Noon. Grouping and Patrol For- mation. Hike to Stewart Cascades. Dinner I M 1:30 Selective Activity. P Exploration Hike. A Tracking. N Estimating O First Aid the Game Way G Games. O Use of Library, Reading S Passing of Tests. Woodcraft. M. Supper M. Retreat M. Inspection, Recording of Days Points M. Campfire Program as follows: Troop Fire Patrol Stunts. Indian Dance, at Each Story. Songs. Indian Story. Camp. 6 :00 P 6 :45 P 7 :00 P 8 :00 P. Leave for Home. Buffalo Hunt. (Night Games) . Court of Honor The Scout Oath and Laws will be the guiding rules of this camp. Leaving Camp. No scout or group of scouts may leave camp without permission of their leader, who will get permission from camp director. Washing. Scouts will not wash their person or dishes in the creek, but in the tubi provided for that purpose. Cutting trees. Scouts will not cut any Hying trees, either with ax or knife. Latrines. /ml «i" J\ Upper: Each Friday was Timpanogos Day. All climbed the mountain and slid the glacier. This was taken on the glacier. Center: There were eight troop camps like this at Camp Stewart apart from each other under their scoutmaster or patrol leader. This is Camp No. 4. Lower: The woodcraft section. One of the five sections of scout training at Camp Stewart. ] MUTUAL WORK 177 Latrines must be properly taken care of by each scout using them. Information. Scouts will get information from Headquarters through their patrol leaders. Store Hours. The camp store will be open from 1 P. M. to 1:30 and from 4:30 to 6:00. RULES ON CAMP CONTEST Discipline — 10 points for each boy who does the right thing at the right time. Inspection — 10 points for each boy of each patrol who passes inspection as to appearance and quarters. Activity — 5 points of each scout who attends each constructive afternoon activity. Advancement — 5 points for every second class test passed, except tests 1 and 9 7 points for every first class test passed, except tests 2, 1 1 and 12. Working on merit badges to be counted under activity. Contests — Points to be determined by the contest. First to Report South Sanpete stake was the first stake in the Church to submit its efficiency report for October, 1923. Seven wards, and seven wards reported; 316 enrolled, 212 in actual attendance, and 86 points in efficiency. Charles A. Braithwaite is the new superintendent. Advanced Senior Class, Attention! The following topics are suggested as suitable for consideration during the social unit period: "All About Radium," "The Advance of Surgery," "The Evolution of Trans- portation," "The Struggle for Sanitation," "Eating to Live," "Cotton as King," "The Steel Industry," "The Relative Producing Value of the Cow, the Sheep and the Hen," "The Battleship and the Highway as Rivals," "Our National Pleasure Resorts," "Our Forestry System." This list, of course, may be added to indefinitely. The handling of these topics should be arranged for far enough in advance to make it possible for careful concentrated preparation. In every community there are persons who are more or less specialists and the class may have the benefit of their knowledge by simply soliciting their help on some special subject at a specified time and place. It will be remembered that the effect of an invitation often depends upon the formality and courtesy with which it is extended. Our motto: A good time, socially, intellectually, and spiritually. Lamanite Genealogical Society Officers On the evening of October 13, 1923, in Barratt Hall, this society cele- brated its fourth anniversary; they elected officers for the ensuing year, under the supervision of Elder Melvin J. Ballard, of the Council of the Twelve, as follows: President, Horace H. Cummings; vice-presidents, Junius Rom- ney, Elizabeth C. McCune, all of Salt Lake City; Margarito Bautista, Mex- ican mission; Jackson Galbraith, G. Gordon White, Canadian mission. Gen- ealogist and recorder, Mrs. Annie W. Holdaway; assistant recorder, Castulo Martinez; assistants in typing and index work, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Torrez and Mrs. Rafael Torrez; secretary, Miss Mary Campbell; assistant secretary, Mrs. Fern R. Wheeler; treasurer, Mrs. Martha Cox. This broad foundation for work indicates the building of a wonderful future, and the "dawning of a brighter day," for the Lamanitish races. The North Dakota, Southern States, Arizona, and other missions embracing Lamanite territory, are to have a vice-president each, appointed by the president of these missions, who will cooperate with the parent association at the Utah Genealogical Library, thus linking together in a most substantial manner this splendid effort. All lists coming in from whatsoever source in this way can be compared with the index of work already done, and so eliminate duplication. 178 IMPROVEMENT EkA Y. M. M. I. A. Efficiency Report, October, 1923 STAKES < .si M S3 f s u s= 5 £ En *3 £ SB fl E o 03 u T3 &* coO & 0 Bear River . . Beaver Box Elder Cache Carbon Cottonwood . . Deseret Emery Hyrum Liberty Logan Moapa Mount O'gden Nebo North Davis North Sevier North Weber Ogden Oquirrh Pioneer Roosevelt St. George . . Salt Lake .... Sevier South Sanpete Summit Tintic Uintah Wayne Bingham .... Burley Fremont Idaho Lost River . . . Malad Pocatello .... Lethbridge . . St. Joseph .... Star Valley . . Young 10 7 8 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 9 10 10 8 10 9 10 10 I 10 10 10 10 6 10 10 7 10 2 6 3 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 10 I 10 I 10 1 10 9 10 10 10 10 7 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 9 8 10 10 6 10 10 3 7 4 10 10 10 9 8 10 9 10 6 9 7 10 8 4 5 5 6 7 10 9 8 4 5 8 9 5 10 7 10 4 3 6 7 5 9 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 8 10 8 7 10 8 10 10 10 10 7 10 10 6 9 10 9 10 7 10 10 9 6 9 10 2 5 3 10 10 10 10 7 10 9 10 10 81 78 83 86 75 82 69 72 80 89 86 95 90 59 83 70 61 79 83 82 86 72 75 80 86 49 85 80 49 55 24 90 75 75 96 67 78 75 92 54 Notice to Secretaries — For October, 1922, 45 stakes reported; for the same month in 1923, 40 reported; 319 wards, for 1922; 271, for 1923. We can do better than that. Is your stake or ward reported? If not send your report for No- vember, not a day later than December 10. Be dependable; and please, if you are a vard secretary see that the stake secretary shall receive your ward report the day following the last meeting of each month. Be prepared. Minnie Huick, president of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, Marysville, Idaho, Yellowstone stake — the Y. M. M. I. A. being disorganized — can- vassed for th Era in kehalf of the association, and sends us twenty-three subscriptions paid up. She says they will work hard for more, though they have the 5% allotment and have received their rebate for their treasury. Thanks, we appreciate the labors of Sister Huick, and trust that the boys will wake up in that ward and get their organization going. toufuAL WORK iH Y. M. M. I. A. Statistical Report, October, 1923 STAKES o>j rata >K g, g n ■o .2 *< 3 y s ceo s •a <n eg ■d ti S'S ©,j << "*& 44 78 49 39 60 40 77 140 60 70 40 48 22 46 23 70 45 79 52 88 53 14 23 32 43 40 24 96 111 149 85 50 58 13 12 12 45 51 69 72 52 68 55 24 38 30 45 26 68 29 83 67 59 78 40 46 38 79 44 96 56 56 37 73 174 101 74 51 65 31 50 54 57 33 51 24 14 41 31 27 23 Bear River Beaver .... Box Elder Cache Carbon .... Cottonwood Deseret . . . Emery .... Hyrum .... Liberty Logan .... Moapa .... Mt. Ogden Nebo No. Davis . No. Sevier No. Weber Ogden .... Oquirrh . . . Pioneer . . . Roosevelt . St. George Salt Lake . Sevier So. Sanpete Summit . . . Tintic Uintah Wayne . . . Bingham . Burley .... Fremont . . Idaho Lost River Malad Pocatello . Lethbridge St. Joseph Star Valley Young .... 488 289 800 520 | 360 653 418 555 | 500 1204 | 608 187 I 617 I 968 I 436 I 270 I 686 | 823 I 393 760 326 I 606 1080 I 366 469 420 | 215 I 614 190 590 399 581 213 154 359 412 235 500 353 103 12 5 13 8 10 10 11 10 10 11 11 6 6 15 8 5 17 10 5 10 11 15 12 6 7 12 4 91 6 12 I 10 1 13| 12 1 4| 8 10 10 13 11 5 5 12 8 4 10 9 2 8 11 11 2 6 11 8 5 13 10 1 51 10 11 12 10 6 7 5 4 6 !] 4 io I 71 4 63 40 98 90 28 87 70 19 73 104 107 21 49 85 68 37 87 87 56 87 77 97 85 46 70 30 34 37 21 50 33 116 54 114 69 183 60 84 82 129 25 87 138 74 24 73 77 33 67 46 92 62 65 74 202 73 100 67 23 40 511 10 101 I 39 I 204 I 32 I 68 54 99 80 36 114 85 41 82 206 76 21 91 86 59 39 128 124 87 123 50 148 75 100 89 65 40 85 | 17 65 27 185 19 307 233 540 380 195 508 394 114 348 738 | 428 114 369 101 | 349 128 I 288 50 193 169 | 430 200 I 503 I 79 I 284 62 70 160 150 47 225 110 29 106 290 171 48 156 161 112 200 198 130 90 73 36 319 647 431 376 316 191 66 I 51 76 I 38 20 62 91 23 119 70 15 86 80 20 27 | 141 89 | 262 43 65 99 100 29 171 81 25 30 207 109 33 109 67 72 36 101 129 214 204 376 258 120 365 274 94 137 563 302 70 274 259 189 137 281 333 55 | 179 107 76 171 156 100 71 45 20 39 87 39 209 44 113 74 10 115 74 87 303 138 714 149 349 258 67 328 301 33 I 118 21 4 I 43 24 90 42 326 225 519 346 235 212 124 101 32 2 66 28 121 23 57 3 42 19 106 13 52 | 162 18 45 25 129 33 196 96 446 111 244 222 44 248 240 84 "/ congratulate you upon the very excellent character of the November issue of the Era. The selection of articles and contributions evidences wisdom of choice and discrimination. The editorials and editorial comments are choice, both in subject matter and diction. May the Lord bless you for the great good you are doing." — Joseph A. West, Logan, Utah. Vernal R. Steffenson, writing from Rostock, Germany, October 27: "Please accept our appreciation for the Era which we receive regularly. We recognize it as a potent factor in the advancement of missionary work and a source of inspiration and help to us in the performance of our duties, and express our gratitude for the Era. We pray the Lord to bless its publishers and all who are aiding in its circulation among the people."