Mutual Work

oJWutual Work Leadership Schools for Recreation A course in Recreational Leadership was given in the Deseret Gymnasium beginning October 31 and closing December 19. Two hours were spent from 8 to 10 o'clock p. m., on each Wednesday evening. Eleven stakes were interested, as follows: Ensign, Liberty, Salt Lake, Pioneer, Granite, Cot- tonwood, Jordan, Oquirrh, Tooele, North Davis, and South Davis, and there were six hundred and ninety representatives who attended these ses- sions. The purpose in giving this course was to promote the organization of recreational work, to train the officers in the work assigned them, and to give those directing this work a clearer vision of the entire movement. The di- visions and those in charge were as follows: Dramatic department, Joseph F. Smith III; Music department, Evangeline Thomas Beesley and B. Cecil Gates; Dancing department, Emily Brinton and Datus E. Hammond; Special Programs, Charlotte Stewart and J. R. Griffith. The program con- sisted of two periods each session, the first period being held in Barratt Hall where the entire conference assembled and where lectures were given on some of the fundamental phases of recreation work, after which they sep- arated into the departments. In all the departments instruction was given by experts in their respective lines. Throughout the entire conference great interest and enthusiasm was manifested in all of the departments by both instructors and members. The aim has been — not more recreation, but better recreation. Much credit is due to those who had these departments in charge for their excellent labors which were enthusiastically devoted, without charge, to the large company of students who had gathered from the stakes named. The company con- sisted not only of recreation leaders and their committees, but of executive officers of the wards in the stakes named. A fee of $2 each was charged the participants which covered the expenses of the course, cost of books, bulletins, etc., which were distributed in the various departments to all who attended. In some cases this expense was met by the stake and ward recrea- tion funds. The closing evening under direction of Superintendent Melvin J. Ballard, was celebrated on the 19th of December at which time the com- pany of 700 enjoyed themselves in a banquet which had been provided from the funds received from the tuition. Aside from the banquet there were excellent demonstrations from each department, conducted by the depart- ment leaders and carried out by the recreational students. There were pres- ent at this entertainment, President Heber J. Grant, President Anthony W. Ivins, a number of the Council of the Twelve, besides the General Super- intendencies of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A., the presidents of the eleven stakes, and members of the General Boards. All the demonstrations were well presented. The dancing was splendid, the music was excellent, the special program was novel and attractive, and the dramatic presentation "The Dear Departed," was well acted and well received. The entertainment showed rapid advance in the matter of proper recreation, and we believe, will serve a good purpose towards advancement in recreational affairs in the stakes and wards that were represented. A similar school was held by the four stakes of Weber county, at Ogden, beginning Nov. 24, and continuing for eights sessions; also at the Brigham Young University of Provo. In twenty other stakes special short term courses have been conducted. Prpgress in recreational affairs are being made in all the stakes of tb,e Churchy

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392 IMPROVEMENT ERA We are informed by Gus Wright that the Ogden stakes held a banquet as a closing feature of their recreational training course, at which 400 people were present. It was a fine affair — good food, excellent community sing- ing, and short, humorous speeches were made by four stake presidents. A one-act play and a one-act comedy were presented by the dramatic depart- ment. A dancing party, conducted according to recreational standards was held on Dec. 20, with 500 people in attendance. It was voted a most successful affair. Monthly Message to the "M" Men By Thomas A. Beal, Member of the General Board XIV. — Looking Forward Perhaps there is no time in the year when one should have a more optimistic spirit than at the beginning of the New Year. While it was proper to look upon the year that is past with a feeling of pleasant remem- brance for its bountifulnes, and also with a spirit of benevolence, yet we should be ready to hail the new year with confidence and courage and with a determination to succeed better because of the experience of the past. To a certain extent every one is a forecaster, i. e., everyone likes more or less to comment on the future, especially is that characteristic of the American people. In that we are particularly different from the Europeans, and people of the older countries — -they look too much, doubtless, upon the past, that is. they are always looking bickward. Here the majority of peo- ple are looking forward. We have more faith, more optimism, more con- fidence than peoples of the old world, and that is one reason no doubt why we do greater and bigger things. It is a gift to have a spirit of optimism, to feel, "all's well with the world and God's in his heaven." It makes life more bearable, more encouraging. While it is true that our forecasting does not amount to much unless it is based upon facts, nevertheless it helps to give us confidence and courage to carry on and do the best we can. But as forecasting based upon substantial data helps society to avoid some of the pitfalls, of the past, so does looking forward, weighing the consequences, measuring the results, help us to avoid mistakes and finally to triumph successfully. Faith in ourselves and in the future gives us confidence. Noth- ing was ever accomplished, after all, by a doubter, notwithstanding what may be said to the contrary. Things worth while have been done by the believers — by the persons of confidence — by those who believe in them- selves, in nature, and in their fellow men — who practice looking forward — keeping their eye on the ball and everlastingly working. Only those who have faith in the future, believing that the harvest will be reached at last, will continue on to success. So, the moral is, look forward — keeping in mind the value of a good reputation — of service, of work, of faith, and "all will be well with the world." Wonders and Miracles In view of the Advanced Senior lesson which treats of this subject, the following by Dr. George H. Brimhall is helpful in its consideration, and will be read with interest, not only by students of this class, but by all who believe in prayer, and in the interposition of God in the affairs of man: "Men accomplish wonders: God performs miracles. The flight of the airship is a wonder; the ascension of Elijah was a miracle, both natural, one under laws known to man and forces under the management of man; the other, under laws known to God only and performed by forces under his command only at the time. Wonderful cures are effected by medicine and surgery. Miraculous healings result frpm the interposition of divine power.

MUTUAL WORK 393 Bringing back into action a stilled heart by the injection of a stimulant is a wonder. The restoring of Lazarus to life is a miracle. The moving picture is a wonder. Joseph Smith's vision was a miracle. Shakespeare's writings are wonders of literature; the revelations of God are miracles of knowledge. The unerring predictions of astronomers are wonderful; the utterances of the prophets of God are miracles. Just to the extent that the super-human mind or power enters into an event, that event is a miracle. Where God has not interposed there is no miracle, and where he has interposed there is a miracle. Is not the assumption that there are no miracles a denial of the interposition of God?" Successful Opening in St. George Marion L. McAllister and Zora S. Jarvis, presidents of the East St. George Mutuals of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A., report that a very successful open- ing party was held in that ward on the 12th of October at which nearly all the yearly fund was collected. The meetings began the following' Sunday evening with a fine attendance. The associations are well organized and everything points to a successful season's work. The picture shows the East ward fruit display in the fruit festival held last September in St. George. The East ward Young Men's and Young Ladies' Associations won a prize of $25 and a silver cup. An excellent activity for Mutuals. Statistical and Efficiency Reports for January Superintendent George Albert Smith has sent a letter to each of the stake superintendents in which he specifically asks : "Will you make a special effort to see that every ward secretary of the Y. M. M. I. A. in your stake shall make a report for January, by Feb- ruary 1, to your stake secretary and have him compile your stake report and send it to the General Secretary, Moroni Snow, on or before the 10th of February? "We wish in this way to get a complete view or survey of our activ-

394 IMPROVEMENT ERA ities, and our membership and attendance, for January, 1924. Kindly aid us in this matter, and let there be no excuse from any ward or from your stake." We trust that the ward and stake secretaries will take notice of this request and be prompt in sending in their reports for January by the date specified. Movies Suitable for Ward Presentation In addition to the number of pictures recommended on page 251 in the January number of the Era, the joint committee on recreation of the M. I. A. General Boards have previewed the following pictures and have found them also suitably adapted for wholesome recreation in the wards of the Church: The Man Who Played God — 6 reels. George Arliss. Story of re- demption through charity. The Appletree Girl — 5 reels. Shirley Mbson. An entertaining picture in which Shirley Mason takes the part of an appletree girl, who tried to do three things: make everybody happy, make herself famous, and marry a millionaire. The committee has also issued, besides bulletin No. 1, a second circular. ihe complete text of which was published in the Improvement Era for Janu- ary, on page 265-7, containing suggestions on methods of financing recrea- tion, which bulletin, with No. 1 , should now be in the hands of all com- mittees. The "Scout Wigwam" in Millcreek Canyon Presented to the Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts by Russell L. Tracy; located on a tract of land consisting of eleven hundred acres, a gift to the Scouts from Alvin V. Taylor. The Wigwam is only four miles from the street car and bus line, or about a two hour's hike up the canyon. There will be a constant caretaker at the premises. The Wigwam has every convenience for cooking, eating, and playing. It has a large open fire place where the boys may relate their experiences and tell stories. We doubt whether Mr. Tracy and Mr. Taylor can even modestly appraise the value of these wonderful gifts to the com- munity and to the Boy Scout organization. The service which they have rendered by this liberality cannot be measured by ordinary standards.

Y. M. M. I. A. Efficiency Report , December, 1923 STAKES s i i c * < _ £ v c re P- O & © GO c OS o 53 •Z3 .S oj e £ •££ OS .&■< 59 . ll 02© " «9 SB 1 js O Eh Alpine _ 6 6 7 5 7 5 3 6 6 4 55 Bear River 10 6 9 10 10 9 8 10 10 8 90 8 10 9 10 6 8 10 9 9 7 5 9 10 10 10 8 8 10 8 7 6 10 9 9 8 9 10 8 6 9 87 79 Box Elder 89 9 10 10 10 6 10 8 10 9 10 7 8 10 10 9 10 5 9 3 7 10 8 10 9 10 5 9 8 5 8 86 75 Cottonwood 91 10 9 9 8 8 10 6 10 5 10 3 8 5 9 10 4 7 5 3 79 Duchesne . 60 Emery 8 10 5 4 6 5 3 6 6 5 58 Ensign _ 6 10 10 10 10 7 6 9 10 7 85 Garfield 5 6 4 2 4 1 3 4 2 2 33 7 10 10 10 10 7 10 4 10 10 9 8 5 8 10 10 10 7 7 7 88 Gunnison 81 Hyrum ._ . 7 7 10 9 9 7 10 7 7 6 79 Juab _ _ 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 100 Kanab 10 10 10 5 10 8 7 10 10 10 90 9 10 10 9 10 10 9 10 10 9 96 9 • 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 9 10 10 10 10 9 9 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 6 10 6 6 96 Millard 85 Morgan 87 Mount Ogden 8 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 95 Nebo 6 9 7 8 7 7 4 8 8 4 68 No. Davis 8 7 7 10 10 9 7 10 10 8 86 North Sanpete 8 10 9 9 10 7 7 10 10 10 90 North Sevier 10 10 10 2 10 7 2 10 5 10 76 North Weber .. 8 9 6 6 8 9 6 7 10 8 77 Ogden 7 6 7 9 10 9 7 10 9 10 84 Oquirrh 8 10 10 8 10 10 9 10 10 8 93 Pioneer 8 10 10 6 10 9 7 9 10 8 87 Roosevelt 10 10 9 6 10 9 9 10 10 7 90 St. George 10 10 7 5 9 8 8 9 6 4 76 Salt Lake 6 10 10 10 10 10 8 9 9 9 91 San Juan 10 10 10 6 10 9 4 10 10 8 87 8 9 9 10 10 9 3 10 10 10 9 10 8 5 10 10 7 10 9 9 83 South Sanpete 92 South Sevier 6 8 4 1 6 4 5 7 6 6 53 9 9 4 9 10 6 7 8 10 5 3 5 7 10 10 8 10 5 6 8 7 10 10 10 5 10 10 7 10 73 88 Tooele ._ 67 Uintah 9 8 9 10 10 9 6 6 10 10 8 10 6 7 8 9 10 10 6 5 • 82 Wasatch 84 Weber 8 8 9 6 10 10 10 5 10 5 9 4 10 7 10 4 10 3 96 Bannock 4 | 3 49 Bear Lake 10 8 9 | 8 8 7 9 6 6 5 76 Bingham 9 6 6 8 10 9 6 9 7 7 77 Blackfoot 8 5 6 5 9 7 7 9 8 5 69 4 4 4 6 10 3 2 3 5 3 4 4 4 4 4 2 10 4 3 3 50 Burley 36 10 7 10 6 10 2 8 2 10 2 10 4 10 4 10 4 10 2 9 1 97 Curlew 34

Y. M. M. I. A. Efficiency Report (Continued) STAKES Pi 3 £ st a S3 S B 3 f* a. < SB £ . O Eh Franklin ... Fremont _ Idaho Lost River . Malad Montpelier _ Pocatello Portneuf Rigby Yellowstone Alberta Juarez Lethbridge .. Los Angeles Maricopa Moapa St. Joseph San Luis Star Valley Taylor Union Young 10 5 9 10 9 7 10 6 10 6 8 5 10 6 5 9 9 6 10 10 10 6 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 6 10 8 9 10 9 5 10 10 10 9 10 10 6 6 10 8 8 4 8 10 10 8 6 10 7 10 10 8 9 2 4 10 7 8 10 1 5 5 6 6 6 5 10 8 10 5 7 3 10 10 7 10 10 7 10 10 6 10 10 10 4 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 2 9 10 10 8 7 7 7 4 7 10 6 ID 10 10 9 9 10 10 10 2 9 10 10 5 10 9 9 1 6 6 5 10 5 10 7 5 10 10 5 1 9 10 10 10 10 8 9 10 9 8 9 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 2 7 10 8 8 10 6 8 10 9 10 10 10 8 5 5 10 8 10 2 5 9 4 6 8 5 7 6 5 5 10 10 8 10 6 7 10 4 10 9 1 75 93 77 86 92 60 82 79 78 55 75 87 91 94 87 87 81 76 94 95 90 24 Y. M. M. I. A. Statistical Report December, 1923 STAKES 0 §E coed •a 3 c Z ■a M 5.S o _• o, Z« J 1 o C as Sis Eg ©_j .2 c •a £ a ■1 1 .si § 3 3 o 6-i 8 £ £ 1 B-3 a ■a S e w •< 5 J .X u § 3 e •a" S << S a •a a t ~ c c M .2 a a ~ o 717 488 289 562 800 520 360 662 418 555 980 271 1950 280 500 354 222 1243 608 338 18 12 5 13 13 8 9 10 11 11 7 8 16 7 10 5 6 11 11 9 1 12 1 12 5 1 13 I I2 1 8 8 10 f 10 7 7 3 15 6 8 5 5 11 11 9 96|101|158 99| 19 l! 140 |237 181 1 75 223 204 204 123 252 143 168 260 44 551 86 135 144 89 431 239 113 | 592 611 246 709 737 474 488 655 516 428 591 129 1153 273 414 384 241 1063 582 387 1 81 73 37 | 84 72 65 | 40 81 56 46 48 10 133 34 41 41 28 98 95 55 50 i 165 104 76 136 124 139 77 181 86 142 192 23 461 63 95 110 70 301 147 71 385 102 65 61 162 52 84 70 116 39 54 6 81 47 61 67 51 157 58 108 77 56 103 108 76 76 118 62 104 98 32 224 51 69 68 34 190 96 70 356 40| 71 103)200 104|278 90| 60 541186 100J1 19 80| 198 58| 54 58J 1 05 14| 19 156|165 48| 70 64| 108 48| 95 35| 70 111J235 108J107 671123 | 60 1 1 83 1 1 5 1 1 1 20 125 184 95 148 1 1 68 61 281 69 107 97 47 286 128 84 734 Beanson ' Box Elder Cache _ Carbon 384 466 332 277 450 370 Emery 331 39? 71 Granite .. 899 195 766 786 183 746 396 Millard 304

Y. M. M. I. A. Stat istical Report (Continue* i) STAKES 55£ t © Z c •o £ If < &3 1 § ■ll ■2 a e3 J3 E3.| 12 -2* 3 < Si T3 3 j 2 v ■a *5 < < - "§ Q g SO < a 03 o - 204 529 968 435 764 275 686 818 460 760 322 645 1078 198 468 285 421 249 360 387 394 658 257 336 590 533 339 208 100 441 705 213 120 362 392 412 360 500 248 345 120 223 367 420 187 500 206 353 332 175 103 8 6 15 8 10 6 17 10 5 10 14 15 12 5 7 7 12 5 9 9 9 8 8 11 11 10 10 6 6 11 13 12 4 8 12 10 13 15 10 11 5 10 12 9 7 16 4 11 6 6 5 7 6 12 7 10 6 15 10 5 10 11 13 12 5 7 5 8 4 4 7 7 8 6 11 10 9 4 4 2 11 10 7 4 8 10 10 5 12 9 10 4 8 10 9 4 11 3 11 6 6 1 53 93 60 81 49 120 84 55 93 85 114 122 36 57 37 73 29 31 52 46 76 44 81 79 77 26 34 17 103 90 59 31 66 65 102 35 94 53 77 28 25 85 76 33 81 33 93 57 51 11 91 78 109 56 85 99 69 100 87 96 81 228 87 66 99 52 85 67 46 68 95 88 74 83 160 130 51 69 1 3 1 100 177 47 64 63 89 86 25| 91 95 125 70 70 139 182 52j 98 59 70 91 68 20 61 122 149 67 149 63 164 192 111 90 91 118 130 49 127 40 102 59 35 117 94 147 51 93 108 109 22 32 30| 162 197 39 25 116 75 148 69 105 83 105 30 60 172 115 32 124 57 101 87 36 13 85 205 225 1 39 1 307 81 231 215 116 203 118 224 300 87 124 38 133 78 49 108 96 184 51 153 155 103 47 69 8 1 22 1 188| 50 51 120 128 no; 52| 155 89 159 55 80 152 143 69| 145 45| 101 126 58 20 237 458 576 322 622 292 584 591 369 582 375 684 639 238 407 167 393 233 161 345 331 495 220 410 502 419 146 204 68 487 652 195 171 365 357 446 181 445 320 466 183 235 548 516 186 448 194 365 361 213 64 37 65 45 68 27 93 60 52 77 59 75 101 30 48 26 39 23 23 35 41 57 32 59 50 49 20 26 13 68 76 42 19 49 46 78 25 79 57 61 24 15 76 53 23 63 25 71 37 39 7 51 37 58 23 52 46 31 48 80 45 51 132 62 48 53 25 48 47 13 49 59 41 42 42 98 54 31 45 4 46 103 34 40 32 41 43 13 50 73 62 55 60 90 97 22 62 21 43 55 45 8 50 62 74 38 116 42 96 119 95 138 53 123 90 38 78 31 65 37 27 77 69 77 30 56 62 65 14 25 12 85 137 18 9 64 36 87 38 68 48 56 21 70 115 68 14 73 17 67 55 23 7 60 89 142 86 243 66 137 136 95 155 76 166 223 59 82 25 71 59 34 68 60 126 33 89 95 63 23 43 9 59 144 31 30 77 67 65 30 75 67 110 44 30 107 82 40 94 28 66 72 42 13 161 Mount Ogden Nebo . 225 339 19? North Sanpete 479 181 North Weber 357 Ogden — 363 3?? 415 739 St. George _. 496 476 175 South Sanpete 261 107 ??3 166 97 Uintah . - - ??9 Wasatch ??C) 301 137 Bear Lake 246 305 Blackfoot 731 Burley 88 139 38 758 460 175 98 Malad ??5 190 Pocatello Portneuf - _ Rigby Yellowstone 273 106 272 745 Alberta 789 Juarez 144 Lethbridge . Los Angeles 175 388 Maricopa 300 99 St. Joseph 79? 91 Star Valley 747 Taylor 719 Union 149 Young 35