--- 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: 29 number: 5 published: 1926-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “The Home: A Study for the Advanced Senior Class, M. I. A., 1925–26,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 5 (March 1926): 498–501." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2905unse 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: improvementera2905unse start_page: 498 end_page: 501 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2905unse publication_year: 1926 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 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Home: A Study for the Advanced Senior Class, M. I. A., 1925–26 THE HOME A Study for the Advanced Senior Class M. I. A., 1925-26 LESSON XVII— HOME HARMONIES I. The Lecture: Super-importance! of Home Harmonies. — It is pleasing when musicians render harmonious strains, and artists paint in harmonious colors, but of more lasting joy and benefit are the harmonies that are made in the home when father and mother and children live in sweet accord. It is more vital that home makers know what will produce harmony in the home than it is that the musician shall know what combinations will produce harmonious music; or, that the artist shall know what colors blend, for the home where harmony prevails becomes a heaven on earth "a place that one's feet may leave but not his heart." How Attained. — Harmony in the home comes not by chance, but by observing the laws that make for it and by avoiding the things that make for discord. Love — love for the home and its inmates — is the chief corner-stone of the home harmonious. Seeing eyes and an understanding heart are most necessary. Those who enjoy the comforts of home should realize how much it costs of time and thought, of labor and money to have such a haven of rest and refresh- ment. Realizing this each living one will want to share in the labor, bear part of the burden, lift some of the loads, make some of the sunlight. Even the little children can be active participants in this. They should have their definite tasks to do and a set time in which to do them. A desire to serve sweetens not only the character of the individual, but radiates its sweetness to others. Voicing one's appreciation for the home, expressing love for father, mother, children, telling mother or sister or wife or daughter how good her cooking is. saying, "Father, what a good provider you are" — these are harmonious notes that bring music in the home, light to the eyes, and buoyancy to the step. Harmony demands a give and take policy. One must sacrifice his pleasure in order that another may have his desire. Unselfishness must flower. Toleration must abound. Young and old view things differently. Each needs to bear and for- bear and try to understand the other's viewpoint. This brings a spirit of comradeship between parents and children. All like to be understood. Sympathetically listening to the dreams and aims of another, and helping him to further his plans bring people together in the strongest bonds of fellow- ship. Order and cleanliness are requisite for harmony in the home. The spirit of God cannot dwell in unclean tabernacles. An orderly home invites the spirit of the Lord. Having a place for everything, and everything in its place avoids loss of time and temper. It is desirable to have harmonious furnishings and decorations and desirable colors for wood-work and wall coverings, for these things do affect the people who dwell within the home. Keeping the family well by living the laws of health, well-balanced meals served on time with everyone there to eat when they are ready, promotes harmony in the family. Sickness brings strain, worry, over-work and very often destroys harmony. THE HOME 501 Thinking alike religiously brings unity of purpose and effort. Prayer, a coming together of the family before the Father's throne, makes for harmony, peace, and love. Enemies of Harmony. — Enemies of harmony are nagging, criticising a member of the family before others, holding up some idiosyncrasy to ridicule, losing one's self-control, speaking the harsh, hasty word, shrinking one's duties and obligations. II. Thought Exchange: Problems 1. Name and discuss eight things that make for home harmony. 2. Name eight things that should be avoided by those who desire harmony in the home. Show why each will bring discord. 3. What effect does harmony in the home have on the health and disposition of its inmates? , 4. Discuss nagging as an arch-enemy to home-making. 5. Discuss the effect of pouting or sulking: a. On the individual, b. On the family. 6. What two bears should be in every home to preserve harmony? 7. Discuss the value of cultivating in one's self "the funny bone" as a means of disposing of trivial home discords. Problems suggested by the class. HI. Suggestions for the Social Period. jV. Announcements and Assignments. LESSON XVIII THE HOME ON SUNDAY I. The Lecture: A. Why the home should be interested in Sunday: 1. Because the Sundayless home like a Sundayless community is de- ficient in one of the essentials of Christian civilization. Who would choose for a home town, the place where the question, "What do you do on Sunday here?" was answered, "This is not a Sunday town." Who would consent to have the front door marked? "No. Sunday here!" 2. Because, as the foundation of society, the home needs the elevating influence of the Sunday spirit which radiates and adds to the life even of unbelievers. It was an honest man who said, "I do not profess to be what is called a devout man but I must confess that I am a better man on Sunday than on any other day of the week." Even home-makers who care little for Sunday may con- sistently say, "We do not profess to have a Sunday home, but we must confess that ours is a better home on Sunday than on any day of the week." Is not the community a better one on Sunday than on any other day of the week? B. How can the home add to the value of Sunday? 1 . By keeping the home in harmony with the Church. Sunday is the Lord's day. Take away from it the religious element and it has lost its savor. It is like salt that has lost its savor. Sunday without God would soon go underfoot. First, in the heart of man, then in the home, then in the community. The Church is God's instrument for giving man a more abundant life. The home harps kept in tune with the Church organ will always produce heaven-ward harmonies;. 504 IMPROVEMENT ERA 2. By providing an abundance of spiritual activities on Sunday. (a) By effectively encouraging attention to Church activities, Priesthood and auxiliary. (b) By providing for recreation, permissible recreation at the home. Permissible Sunday recreation does not include any form of recreation that is void of Sunday propriety, such as: dancing, feasting and the playing of games, and attendance at public movies, but it does include conversation of spiritual char- acter, reading, reciting, story telling of simple order, musical exercises, walks, and radio. (c) By glorifying Sunday self-restraint as hero exercise. Sunday is for man it is true and it is for the making of the man. Men are made by resisting as well as by persisting. The decalogue is still in force. To make Sunday abstinence ultra easy would rob it of much of its hero-making power. He who gave us Sunday as his resurrection birthday practiced resistence in the dawn of the first Sunday. (See John 20:17.) C. A day of spiritual activity. 1 . The first Sunday was a day of wonderful activity. An angel of authority and power sped from heaven to earth and prepared the sepulchre for the event of the ages. He shook the earth, rolled away the stone and sat down on it. The redeemer of the world returned from his mission of establishing a gospel dispensation among the spirits in prison. He passed victoriously over death from the second to the third through the resurrection. He conversed with Mary and sent her as a messenger to "the brethren." (See John 20:17.) He walked into the country with two of his disciples and apparently ascended to his Father. (See Luke 24:15-31.) In the evening of this first Sunday Jesus attended a meeting of his apostles. (See John 20:19-25.) On this first Sunday, faithful women visited the sepulchre to finish the embalming of the body of Jesus and were made messengers to announce his resurrection. (See Mark 16:1-6.) Some of the twelve visited the sepulchre and a quorum or council meeting was held in the evening. These are only some of the activities of the first Sunday but they are enough to point out that Sunday is not a day for idleness and the nature of these activities indicate that Sunday is a day for spiritual activity. A day on which spiritual consideration should be paramount. II. The Thought Exchange: A. Discuss the suggestion that there be a survey made of: 1. How Sunday is spent in the homes. 2. How the home people would like to spend Sunday. 3. How home people think Sunday should he spent. III. Sociability. A. Confession: 1. What Sunday is to me. 2. What I would like Sunday to be. ■ IV. Assignments. Benediction. LESSON XIX— THE HOME ON HOLIDAYS I. The Lecture: 1. Historical background relative to establishing holidays: THE HOME 503 a. Religious, b. Political. 2. Object of Holidays: a. Holidays afford an excellent opportunity for creating in the loves of the family greater love for God; loyalty to country; respect for public officials and companionships in the home. Our national flag should be properly displayed on public holidays. Give proper display. See Y. M. M. I. A. Hand Book for instructions, 121-22. b. Recreation: 1. Free from routine work. 2. Parents acting as directors. 3. Children plan activities for the day. 4. Simplicity of preparation so that it will be a holiday also for father and mother. i [ 3. Way of emphasizing message of the day: a. In family prayer. (Suggest family prayer appropriate for oc- casion.) b. At the table. i c. Enroute to picnic, festivity, or celebration? II. The Thought Exchange: 1. How can we create greater respect for the purpose of holidays both religious, and political? a. Discuss some fundamental events leading up to the religious and political emancipation of America, b. Relate events and promises made in reference to America being a promised land. Give scriptural passages relative to the same. Days pertinent to such events: Columbus day, Fourth of July, Flag day, Constitution day, Armistice day. 2. Both spiritual and cultural, and educational advantages are obtained by reviewing the lives and achievements of great men and women who have made possible religious, scientific and political freedom in our great country. We have the opportunity of making of these great characters our companions through a study of their achievements and application of the truths they teach. Relate briefly outstanding events of one or more of the lives of the following characters: Joseph Smith, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Ann Hutchinson, John Jay, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson. a. Discuss the possibility of spending more holidays in the home that it may more often be a place to abide in, rather than go out from. I b. Have the family select a day during the year which is commemora- tive of some historical event in our Church and fittingly observe the same. c. Give suggestions for observing some of the following holidays at home: Arbor day, Mother's day, Flag day, Constitution day, Thanksgiving day, Christmas, New Years. Prove that the Latter-day Saints have more cause for celebrating the Fourth of July and Constitution day than any other people. (See Doc. and Cov. Sec. 101 and Book of Mormon II Nephi concerning this land of liberty.) III. Sociability: Relate personal impressions of our recent M. I. A. Jubilee or interesting narratives of other important events, i. e., Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg speech or Patrick Henry's speech at the house of Burgesses. (Patriotic song, music, "My Country 'Tis of Thee.") Suitable prayer. IV. Assignments. Benediction.