Mutual Work

CyVfutual Work Changes in Ward and Stake Efficiency Reports The ward and stake Efficiency Reports for 1925-26 will continue as heretofore with two or three exceptions: In the first place, in the Advanced Senior Class the average attendance will be computed for the month by a count each evening of total number of persons present whether enrolled members or visitors. To compute the average attendance, take the total number present at all meetings during the month, and divide by the number of meetings. The slogan, item six, will be substituted in the wards by Monthly Joint Programs, as follows: 6. Monthly Joint Programs. If the series of programs outlined by the Gen- eral Standards Committee (or substitutions approved by the stake boards) are followed; if these programs are in keeping with the Sabbath day and consists of at least one religious address with appropriate music and other exercises; and if three or more M. I. A. members participate, place ten in the proper space. Notice that in the wards there are no nearest actual percentages in this item, but in the stake report, item six, will carry the figure nearest the actual percentage and will read as follows: 6. If the monthly joint programs outlined by the General Standards Com- mittee (or substitutions approved by the Stake boards) these programs being in keeping with the Sabbath day and consisting of at least one religious address with appropriate music and other exercises with three or more members participating, have been followed in all your wards, place ten in the proper space. If not in all wards, give figure nearest the actual percentage. In addition to these changes, item 2 will read: 2. "If the total average attendance in your ward in class work is two-thirds or more of your total enrolled membership, place ten in the* proper space; if less than two-thirds, give figure nearest actual percentage of the total enrolled membership." Sunday Evening Joint Monthly Programs (See Item No. 6 in the Monthly Efficiency Report) We Stand for an Individual Testimony of the Divinity of Jesus Christ. I — His Divine Birth and Mission Foretold (October) "The fact that the predictions of the Old Testament prophets had reference to Jesus Christ and to him only, is put beyond question by the attestation of the resurrected Lord." (Luke 24:44, 46.) Jesus the Christ, p. 48. Prophecies — ■ A. Concerning His Advent. Deut. 18:15. (Acts 3:22; 7:37.) Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 11:1-4.

.188 IMPROVEMENT ERA B. Concerning His Mission and Kingdom. Isaiah 40:11; 32:1; 35:5, 6; Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:19; Psalms 50:1-6; Dan. 7:13, 14; Isaiah 2. C. Concerning His Crucifixion. Isaiah 53:9, 12; 53:3-8; Psalms 22:18; 69:21; Daniel 9:26; Psalms 40:6-8; P. of G. P., Moses 5 :5-8. D. Concerning His Resurrection. Job. 19:25; Psalms 17:15; Isaiah 25:8; Hos. 13:14. Note: These prophecies will be more interesting and vital to the con- gregation if the speakers briefly point out their fulfilment. It will be illuminating to turn to the Bible Concordance and note the great number of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ. II EVIDENCES OF HIS DIVINITY IN HlS NATIVITY AND EARLY YEARS (November) A. The Announcement to Mary. Luke 1 :26-38. B. Mary's Visit to Elizabeth and Song of Thanksgiving. Luke 1:46-55. C. The Announcement to the Shepherds. Luke 2:1-17. D. The Testimonies of Simeon and Anna. Luke 2:25-38. E. With the Doctors and Lawyers. Luke 2:41-52. F. Acknowledgment of the Father at the Baptism. Matt. 1 :1-12. G. Announcement to the Nephites. Ill Nephi 2-17. Ill — His Divinity Proved in His Ministry (December) A. By His Teachings. The Sermon on the Mount. Matt. 5. 6, 7. His Parables. Matt, chapters 13, 25; Luke 15:4-7. His Dis- course to Nicodemus. John, chapter 3, With the Woman of Samaria. John, chapter 4. B. By His Miracles. He was obeyed by the elements. Matt. 14:22- 23; Luke 9:13-17. He healed the sick. Matt. 9:8-1; 20:30- 34; Mark 1:40-44. He raised the dead. Matt. 9:18-26; Luke 7:11-17; John, chapter 11. C. By His Power Over Satan. The temptations. Matt. 4:1-11. The evil spirits. Mark 3:11; Luke 4:33-37; 8:26-35. D. By the Authority Accorded Him. John 7:16; 15:16; 20:21; Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Eph. 2:20; Luke 9:32-36. IV — His Divinity Shown in His Death. Resurrection, and Ascension (January) A. The Crufixion. Conditions of the Sacrifice. Voluntary. John 10:14-18. Inspired by Divine Love. John 3:16; 15:13; Luke 23:34. Necessary that one outside the law should atone. Jesus the Christ, p. 2 1 . B. The Resurrection. The story of the Resurrection. Matt., chapter 28; John, chapter 20. Proofs of the Resurrection. Luke, chap- ter 24; John, chapters 20. 21; I Cor. 15:3-9: Jesus the Christ. p. 699. Effects of the Resurrection on mankind. Romans 5:12, 18:1 Cor. 15:21, 22. C. The Ascension. Acts ] :9. 1 ] ; Luke 24:50. 51.

MUTUAL MESSAGES 1189 V — His Divinity Testified to by His Disciples (February) A. By John. John 1:1-5; Doctrine and Covenants 93. B. By Peter: In his great declaration. Matt. 16:16. In his ministry. C. By Stephen: Testifies and is stoned to death. Acts, chapters 6, 7. D. By Philip: Testifies to the eunuch. Acts, chapter 8. E. By Paul: Testifies to the Gentiles. Much persecution but in- creases his ardor. Acts, chapters 13 to 28 inclusive. F. Barnabas: With Paul is stoned, will not deny testimony. Acts, chapter 14. G. By Silas: Silas and Paul, whipped and imprisoned, rejoice. Acts, chapter 16. Note: The speakers should elaborate on the incidents leading up to these testimonies. VI — His Divinity as Evidenced by the Book of Mormon (March) A. The Book of Mormon a Special Witness for Christ. One of the three great purposes of the Book of Mormon is "to the convincing of the Jews and Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God." Roberts, New Witness for God. See flyleaf of Book of Mormon; also 2 Nephi 26:12-13; Mor. 5:13-15; 7:5-10; also Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 3:16-20. B. Prophecies Within the Book. Early prophecies: Redeemer of the world. Nephi 10:4-11; chapters 11, 12; Mosiah 3:8. Of Jewish race. I Nephi 10:4- 10. The Lamb. I Nephi 12:6. Creator of all things. Mos. 3:8. Need of the Resurrection. II Nephi 9:6, 7. Atoning power of the Resurrection. Mos. 15:8, 9; Alma, chapter 40. Later prophecies. Samuel the Lamanite. Helaman, chapter 14. The inspiring story. Ill Nephi, chapter 1. C. His Appearance and Ministry Among the Nephites. Ill Nephi, chapters 11, 19, 20, 27, 28. VII — His Divinity as Proved by the Testimony of Joseph Smith (April) A. The First Vision. Events preceding — Joseph's preparation. His prayer. The answer. Writings of Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, pages 81-101. B. Joseph Smith's Testimony. Pearl of Great Price, p. 85-87. C. The Vision in the Kirtland Temple. Incidents connected with the dedication. History of the Church, Vol. II, pages 428, 435. Visitation of Moses, Elias, Elijah. Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 110. D. The Last Testimony. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76. VIII — A Testimony Meeting (May) We Stand for an Individual Testimony of the Divinity of Jesus Christ The Joy Afforded by a Personal Testimony of the Divinity of Jesus Christ. A. Gives assurance concerning the great questions of life. Whence came man? See Articles of Faith, by Talmage. pages 197-199. Why is he here? II Nephi 2:19-30. What is his destiny? I Cor. 15:21-22; John 12:32; 32:14-15; Job 19:25-27; John 5:28-29; 12:32; II Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:31-46.

1190 IMPROVEMENT ERA B. Inspires to correct living. Christ by his life and teachings marked the path and led the way. John 14:6. C. Brings freedom, peace, and joy. John 7:16; 8:31, 32; Col. 2:2; Heb. 10:19-24; Phil. 4:7; John 14:27; Nephi 28:13-15. Brigham City, 1st and 3d, Reach Top in Era Subscription We have received from the First ward, Brigham City, Box Elder stake, thirty subscriptions for the Era, Volume 29, with remittance for the whole amount, $60. The ward has a Church population of 600. We congratu- late the organization officers. They have received their rebate of $7.50. They are through with their Era work for the year, except such new sub- scriptions as they may pick up voluntarily during the season, which we hope will be many more. The officers decided to comply with the sug- gestion of the General Board with reference to obtaining subscriptions and so divided the ward into districts and made a careful canvass, and very easily secured five percent of the ward population as subscribers without overdoing or embarrassing any people by soliciting. We are informed that the canvass was a pleasure, and it is believed by the officers that the following benefits will be derived: 1. A real Latter-day Saint magazine will be put into these homes for each month of the year. 2. Outlines for the Advanced Senior class will be provided for thirty fatheri and thirty mothers with an invitation to them to join, a real school and partake of genuine and practical food. 3. The officers feel they have placed in the homes of many good people the crgan of the Priesthood Quorums; the Y. M. M. I. A., and the Church Schools: with many valuable articles each month. 4. In taking early care of this work, and collecting the subscription price before the magazine is issued, they have done their part in making permanent the official organ of the Y. M. M. I. A., thus avoiding any unpleasantness of collecting during the year; and annoying experiences associated with the former method of securing subscriptions, on time, are avoided. 5. Also, by this method, they are holding up the hands of our M. I. A. leaders and showing appreciation of the splendid Improvement Era. The editors and managers of the Improvement Era highly appreciate the labors of these officers and hope there will be thousands following their example. Later, Jesse W. Hoopes, President of the Third ward Y. M.M.I. A., Brigham City, forwarded advance payment for sixty-three subscriptions for this ward, paid by the subscribers in advance. The order reached the Era office on the 21st of September. The rebate has been forwarded to Brother Hoopes and the Third ward people are congratulated upon the achievement, which is a good example for other wards to follow. Thank you. South Sanpete Scouts On June 29-30 and July 1, 1925, the scouts of the South Sanpete stake enjoyed the most pleasant and the greatest outing at Fish Lake that they have ever held. Only Second class and higher rank scouts took part in the outing. The excursion was under the direction of Chauncey Harmon, scout com- missioner. District Scout Comissioner B. W. Hawkins, President L. R. Anderson, and Mutual Superintendent C. G. Braithwaite accompanied the boys, as did scout leaders from the various wards. After pitching their camp at Twin Creeks they held a camp meeting with a program of speaking, story telling, recitations and songs which kept up the interest until bedtime, The

MUTUAL MESSAGES 1191 following day President Anderson gave all the boys a motor boat ride and the remainder of the trip was spent in hiking, fishing and games. Had it not been for the rain another evening program would have been held. Top: South Sanpete Scouts Bottom: Mirror Lake, near Fish Lake. South Sanpete Boy Scouts Outing A Ten-Day Outing at Fish Lake Troop 33, Boy Scouts of America. Albert Elvin, Scout Master, and Irving Beesley, Senior Patrol Leader, with twenty-five boy scouts, members of the troop, took a vacation trip at Fish Lake, leaving Salt Lake City, July 21, and returning July 31. By conducting movies in the ward under the direction of the recreation committee and through the sale of paper, the boys were able to finance the trip. Troop 33, it is believed, was the first of the Salt Lake Council to journey so far and have so good a time, under their own initiative. Several fathers took advantage of the date set apart for the Fathers and Sons' Outing of the Salt Lake stake and ac-

1192 IMPROVEMENT ERA companied the boys on this trip of 440 miles through portions of Southern Utah. The major part of the distance was covered by motor transportation. Hikes were made to various points of interest from established central camps, the main encampment being on the shores of Fish Lake, where stories, ex- periences and instructions were given every evening around the camp fire. From that point the boys hiked to Mirror Lake and other adjacent scenic spots. On July 26, Sunday services were held at Bowery Creek under the direction of Wilford A. Beesley of the Salt Lake stake presidency, Thirteen tents were erected for the party. In the fishing contests, Orson Beesley won the first prize when he landed a trout 25% inches long. Martin McKone and Shirley Brunner won the hobby prizes by finding a pair of deer antlers and a skeleton of a porcupine respectively. TROOP 3 3 SALT LAKE COUNCIL READY FOR THE FISH LAKE OUTING Grant Stake Fathers and Sons' Outing One hundred fifty sons and fathers who participated in the Grant stake Fathers and Sons' Scout outing in a trip made by auto to the head of American Fork canyon, July 24, 25, 26, 1925, under direction of William E. Nelson, Stake Scout Master and William A. Thompson, Stake Recreation Director. The trip to the canyon was made on the evening of July 23rd. On arrival all turned in for the night to make ready for the activities for the next three days. Friday, July 24th was spent in various activities in camp, including a ball game between fathers and sons, in which the sons walked away with the game. On Saturday, 140 of the group, including nearly all the fathers, made the long but interesting climb to the top of Mt. Timpanogos and beheld one of the most beautiful sights in the country From the top of the peak the descent was made via the Glazier route for

MUTUAL MESSAGES 1193 "THE BREAKFAST LINEUP" one end one-half miles. A most interesting Sunday School session was held Sunday morning in a quaking asp grove, near camp, conducted by Bishop Kasper J. Fetzer, of Jefferson ward, after which dinner was served, camp broke up, and all journeyed home thus ending a most successful outing. — W. A. Thompson. The Era received a beautiful set of photographs with this account. Thank you. - 1 I ■Iff*-" V 1 tnLL ^ ■■ "l; to & — . yW . > 3^ i 5 jH \ $i^M • ••" ^v.^-<,>H- ■ 91 -- - - A FINE "CATCH" Lovers of the out-of-doors and of the art of fishing will delight to see this picture of President A. W. Ivins and companions at Sheridan Lake, Idaho, on August 29, 1925. It is safe to say that in the inter-mountain country there is no one more expert with the fly and rod than President Ivins, and he does not let a summer pass by without getting his "catch." From left to right; Frank J. Hagenbarth, President of the National Wool Growers Association; O. W. Adams, vice-president of the Utah State National Bank; President A. W. Ivins.