Mutual Work

MUTUAL W0R EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT What Prominent People are Doing for the Era That the plan of combining the Improvement Era and Young Wom- an's Journal is meeting with great favor and that all are determined to make the magazine a success is evident from the letters received in almost ev- ery mail. The following, taken from a communication addressed to Business Manager Melvin J. Ballard, is self-ex- planatory: "Accept my congratulations that the Improvement Era and the Young Woman's Journal are to be combined. "Wishing to be among the charter subscribers to the new Improvement Era, I am enclosing my check for $28.00 to pay for subscriptions for myself, each of my ten daughters, and each of my three married grandchil- dren. Please send the magazine to the addresses shown on the list enclosed. "Sincerely your brother, "Heber J. Grant." President John W. Hart, of the Rigby stake, who, by the way, was the first person to hand in a subscrip- tion to the new Era, writes as follows: "Dear Brother Ballard: "Attached is chashier's check for $32.00. This is in payment of sub- scriptions to the new Improvement Era and you will kindly enter the fol- lowing names on your subscription list, and we understand they will re- ceive Charter Subscription Certif- icates." Then follows a list of sixteen names. The letter continues: "For your information, will state that all members of the stake presi- dency, the high council, the stake clerk, stake superintendent and secretary of M. I. A. are now charter subscribers. "We feel that this magazine should be in the homes of the people, and in order to lend our support and encour- agement to the same, we ourselves felt to set the example and therefore all members of the high council were glad to respond, and as a result we are pleased to send this list to you." President A. H. Park, of the Gun- nison stake, is pushing this work vigorously and is determined to put over the slogan, "The Era in every home." That this is not an impos- sibility is shown by the results ob- tained in the Clarion ward of that stake, presided over by Bishop Peter L. Frandsen and his counselors A. H. Lund and Hyrum Domgaard. This ward has a Church membership of 26 families and it has sent in thirty- one subscriptions. From appearances other wards in the stake will equal this record. An interesting meeting was recently held in the Church office building. It was made up of members of the Gen- eral Boards, men and women who are devoting hours and hours of their time gratuitously to the Era and Journal and the M. I. A. work generally, but each person present without exception expressed a willingness to give his or her check for $2.00 for the new Era and did so before the meeting ad- journed. Opening of Mutual Season Officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. will please note that the date set for the opening of the season is September 10. It is hoped that preliminary ar-

Sept., 1929 MUTUAL WORK 959 rangcmcnts have already been com- pleted and that from the first meeting every member will recognize a well de- fined purpose in all that is done by stake and ward officers. To Officers of the Y. M. M. I. A. The measure of leadership is not what is done for people but what they are led to do for themselves. The thing that is most self-supporting is the most successful. The association that can supply interest and advance- ment with the least dependence on out- side help is the most fortunate. Outside ability is to be appreciated and to a judicious extent utilized, but not to the neglect of the inside energy and efficiency. It requires much less effort to get a local lecture than to pre- pare a program for a monthly joint session. But following this line of least resistance is rather an expensive indulgence. If listening is the most desirable thing, then the M. I. A. meet- ing is unnecessary for the star radio speeches which one may hear at home has first claim on our interests. The program that enlists the efforts of the M. I. A. workers lifts "mutuality" more nearly to its apex than can any importation of talent. What is true of individuals is true of organizations. And, with apologies to St. Paul, we may say to officers, Neglect not the ability in your asso- ciations. If you will assign in time, if you will secure acceptance of assign- ments, if you will hold a rehearsal of the principal parts under the direction of some officer, your monthly joint meetings will sell M. I. A. interest. To Members: When you are assigned a part on a program accept it as an opportunity, prepare it as an advertisement of your dependability and present it as an event of your life. Dread "donkey bridges" or make-shifts, remember that "He who excuses himself, accuses himself." Study your part, learn your part, re- hearse your part. Prepare it as though you were going to broadcast over K. S. L. or some other radio. Live an M. I. A. life worth living, a progres- sive life and make the presentation of your M. I. A. assignment an outstand- ing feature of the occasion. Suggested Program for Conjoint M. I. A. Meeting The Program for October is one of a series of seven, each having for its central theme one of the Presidents of the Church. Joseph Smith (In modern psy- chology there is but one Joseph Smith.) I. His Character — a. Courage: Time devoted to this topic, eight minutes. Read or recite from memory from Essentials of Church History, by Jo- seph Fielding Smith, pages 32-38, selecting judiciously the material that can be effectively presented within the time limit, or tell the story recorded in the History of Joseph the Prophet, by his mother, Lucy Smith, pages 60- 63. b. The Majesty of His Person- ality: Time for this topic, seven minutes. Relate the events recorded in "Es- sentials of Church History," pages 243-245, and Autobiography of Par- ley P. Pratt, pages 228-229. reciting from memory the material contained in paragraph "Majesty in Chains." c. High-minded Estimates of His Character: Time for this topic seven minutes. The following material is taken from chapter 48 of Life of Joseph Smith, by George Q. Cannon:

960 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sept.. 1929 "A writer for the New York Herald has visited the Prophet and in 1842 that paper said: 'Joseph Smith is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters of the age. * * * In the present infidel, irreligious — animal-magnetic age of the world, some such singular prophet as Joseph Smith is required to preserve the principle of faith, and to plant some new germs of civiliza- tion that may come to maturity in a thou- sand years. * * * Joseph Smith is creat- ing a spiritual system, combined also with morals and industry, that may change the destiny of the race. * * * We certainly want some such prophet to start up, take a big load off the public mind — and stop the torrent of materialism that is hurrying the world into immorality and crime.' "The Pittsburg American, declared that Joseph Smith could not be denied the attribute of greatness." * * * "Probably the most comprehensive view taken of the Prophet by a man not inti- mate with him was that of Josiah Quincy, who, in company with Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the senior, visited Joseph Smith at Nauvoo on the 15th day of May, 1844, just forty-three days before the Prophet's martyrdom. Among many things descriptive of Joseph, Quincy says: " ■* * * What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destinies of his countrymen? And it is by no means impossible that the answer to that in- terrogatory may be thus written: Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet. And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious com- mon-place to their descendants. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High. ' '* * * Who can wonder that the chair of the National Executive had its place among the visions of this self-reliant man? He had already traversed the rough- est part of the way to that coveted posi- tion. Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without book-learning, he bad made him- self at the age of thirty-nine a power upon earth. * * * From Adam down (Adam of the 'Wealth of Nations,' I mean), none had so won human hearts and shaped human lives as this Joseph. His influence, whether for good or for evil, is potent today, and the end is not yet." "A writer in Chamber's Encylopedia speaking of the Prophet says: " 'From his early years he was regarded as a visionary and a fanatic: a fact which is of the utmost importance as affording a clue to his real character. * * * A mere impostor * * * would have broken down under such a tempest of opposition and hate as Smith's preaching excited.' The foregoing opinions quoted from the Prophet's contemporaries and observers — his opponents * * * are as favorable as could be looked for in a skeptical, materialistic age. * * * * The author of the book, George Q. Cannon, writes: "The Prophet was only a man; but he was a good man, an inspired man, a better man than he could have been without the inspiration of his Master, Christ. In all his actions he was fearless as an angel of light. Not in all that has ever been writ- ten or said of him by friend or foe is there one word to impugn the magnificent physical bravery and moral courage of Jo- seph Smith. Withal he was as meek and gentle as a little child. Disciplined by the Spirit of God, which was his constant monitor, he put away from him alike the fear of men and the ambitions of this world. These were things which a remote or casual observer would not be likely to discover." II. His Contributions — Time, eight minutes. a. He gave to the world pre- scientific facts, up-to-date in- vestigation has proved the truth of the "Word of Wis- dom." b. He produced three new vol- umes of scripture that have not only survived ridicule

Sepr., 1929 MUTUAL WORK 96; and misinterpretation but have steadily grown in recog- nition. The last edition of the Book of Mormon had a more ready sale than any other edition. The Pearl of Great Price is studied as it never was before and the Doctrine and Covenants is adopted as the book to be studied by nearly one hun- dred thousand M. I. A. stu- dents. c. Joseph Smith founded the first American Religion. The editor of the Forum of Octo- ber, 1926, says in an Introduction: "Some readers will be shocked to find included among our confessions of Chris- tian creed that of the Mormons. To them the Mormons seem but a strange folk given over until lately to the pagan practice of an abhorrent polygamy borrowed from the followers of the Koran. Yet a creed that claims a half-million earnest Americans is surely worth a hearing. To the .Mor- mons plural marriage seemed no more re- lated to unchastity than it does to certain scientists who approve of it today. It was their patriotism, their recognition of the ethics of the social contract, that made them give up this custom and secure the admission of Utah, the state that their pioneer energy had developed, into the Union. "In fact, Mormon preachers today claim that their people are the most Spartan, the most ascetic of our American religionists. They point out that coffee, tea, and nar- cotics are forbidden in all Mormon homes. They need no Volstead Act. Tobacco is likewise banned. The Mormons of Salt Lake City exhibit the highest American municipal health statistics. Their venereal record in the World War was clean as a whistle. Their elimination of personal waste leads to savings and economic wealth, and like the Quakers and the Jews they produce outstanding captains of finance. One of these experts in national economy is spokesman for the Mormons in this issue of the Forum, — United States Senator Reed Smoot. The visitor to Salt Lake City is a little disturbed by the Mor- mon over-emphasis on the material side of living. This hard practicality, however, is relieved by the beauty of the Tabernacle organ recitals and the legend of the miracle of sea gulls that saved the pioneer farmer of Utah. "The Mormon faith satisfies the crav- ing of large numbers of Christians for continuous revelations from on high. They are not content with a Bible closed and sealed forever in the first century, A. D. The Church of Rome has always recog- nized this craving, and the candles of St. Peter's celebrated only a few months ago new saints' lives added to authentic in- spiration. The Mormons, for their part, claim one new revelation after an interval of eighteen hundred years. They are con- vinced that on September 21, 1823. the Angel Moroni delivered the plates of the Book of Mormon to their Prophet Joseph Smith in Ontario County. New York. And their new books of the Bible are American; they deal with pre-Columbian Christianity among the Indians. The Mormons have rebuilt their Temple of Zion at an altitude of four thousand feet near the shores of the Great Salt Lake. In answer to our European critics we can put on the credit side of the American imagination two new religions. Christian Science and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." III. The Prophet's Personal Ap- pearance— ■ He was just six feet in height, stand- ing in his stockings, and was grandly proportioned. In his mature years he weighed about two hundred pounds. His eyes were blue and tender; his hair was brown, plentiful and wavy; he wore no beard, and his complexion was one of transparency, so rare as to be remarkable; the exquisite clear- ness of his skin was never clouded, his face being naturally almost w.ithout hair. His carriage was erect and grace- ful: he moved always with an air of dignity and power which strangers often called kingly.

962 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sept.. 1929 IV. His Good Will to Men — Recite, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," said to be his favorite selection, sung in Carthage Jail just before his martyrdom. The song, "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning," by the congregation is suited for the opening hymn. The invocation could be followed appropriately by the singing of "The Seer," as a solo, and "Praise to the Man" by the congregation would fit- tingly precede the benediction. MUTUAL HOUR ON THE RADIO Radio Talk Over KSL Sunday Afternoon, July 28, 1929 By Dr. George H. Brimhall I desire to introduce to you two special references for information on the big subject of this little talk, — first, an article, "Our Liberties in Dan- ger," by Professor N. L. Nelson, pub- lished in the July number of the Im- provement Era, and second, an article, "Our New Slogan," by Melvin J. Bal- lard of the Council of the Twelve, in the August number of the same mag- azine. This is the slogan: "We stand for the preservation of our heritage through obedience to law." Who is this we? It is a co-ed group of nearly one hundred thousand "Mor- mon" Mutual Improvement workers. What is meant by the word stand in this slogan? What does the word stand stand for? It stands for an at- titude, a mental, a moral, a spiritual attitude towards a definite purpose, a clear objective. And what is this def- inite purpose, this clear objective? It is the preservation of heritage — a three-fold heritage: First — the heritage of life, physical life, intellectual life, moral life, spirit- ual life, all in rich abundance. Second — the heritage of liberty — the liberty of an abiding faith, the liberty of high hope, the liberty of lasting love. Third — the heritage of the pursuit of happiness. A pursuit that leads on and on through heaven — seeking tc heaven-making. The slogan might have ended with the word heritage and still have been strong but it would not have been complete. It is a double declaration — it de- clares what is to be done and the method of doing it. It proclaims a stand for preservation and that this preservation shall be through obedience to law, law that lifts to higher levels, law that provides for the greatest good to the greatest number, law that keeps indulgence within the circle of safety, physical safety, moral safety, spiritual safety. The slogan is a challenge for cour- age, loyalty, for sincerity, for self-con- trol and social leadership; it is a self- imposed obligation resting upon every M. I. A. member that cares to think, dares to speak, and wills to work for the preservation of his or her heritage. The slogan is an echo of the Declar- ation of Independence. It is an up-to- date exponent of the Constitution. It is an emphatic expression of the first law of nature — self-preservation. It is an eloquent advocate of the first law of Heaven — obedience. The slogan is entitled to presenta- tion, acceptance and application. It merits a prominent place on the pro- gram of the M. I. A. ward monthly joint session. It deserves to be featured at the joint Priesthood-M. I. A. ses- sions of the stake conferences. You M. I. A. officers — preach it. placard it, and put it over. You mem- bers— think it, talk it, transmute it into character.

Sept.. 1929 MUTUAL WORK 963 Objectives and Leadership in Recreation (For September 17 and September 24.) Text: M. I. A. Handbook, chapters 2 and 4. Also new Hand Book Supple- ment. 1. In what year and under whose direction was the Y. M. M. I. A. estab- lished? The Y. L. M. I. A.? Read the assignments of President Young to the two organizations. 2. What is the dual purpose of the M. I. A.? 3. Name some aims which might be accomplished more completely through activities than merely through study and discussion. 4. Discuss briefly, as activities which give abundance to life, the fol- lowing: Worship, Service, Study, Rec- reation. (What Men Live By, by Doc- tor Richard Cabot, is a delightful book dealing with this subject.) 5. Discuss three ways of reaching M. I. A. Objectives. (Hand Book, page 18.) 6. Name and discuss objectives in our Church leisure-time program, and list ten reasons for attending the M. I. A. (Hand Book, pages 19-21.) 7. What do you consider pre-re- quisites of (a) leadership; (b) M. I. A. recreational leadership? 8. Of what value to a leader is a clear understanding of the psychology of various age groups. Discuss briefly the outstanding characteristics of early, middle and late adolescence, and adult- hood. (Hand Book, pages 36-38.) 9. Consider methods in leadership, including points for the leaders, pro- gram-planning, and putting the pro- gram over. (Hand Book, pages 42- 43.) 10. What is the tional Program for Hand Book Supplement, page 4.) Dis cuss and decide details of education and method which would be of help to your group, taking into consideration local conditions and problems. M. I. A. this year Educa- ? (See DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Junior Seminaries Readers of the Era will recall that in the July number was published a letter of the First Presidency to stake presidencies notifying them that here- after religion class work for elementary grades — 1 to 6 inclusive — would be incorporated in the program of the Primary Association for these grades. Further, the letter stated, religion class work for grades 7, 8, and 9 of the public schools would go forward un- der the name of Junior Seminaries, and under the general supervision of the General Church Board of Education. Heretofore no week-day religion class work has been provided for the 9th grade of junior high schools. The new plan fills this "tragic gap" — the 9th grade. The Junior Sem- inaries will be conducted under the supervision of stake boards of edu- cation, following plans and outlines prepared by the Church Department of Education. Heretofore religion classes have been held after school. An interesting thing in connection with the new plan is that in some places Junior Seminary classes

964 IMPROVEMENT ERA Sept.. 1929 will be held — just as Senior Seminary classes are held — during the school day, the pupils being released one period a week by the junior high schools to go into nearby classrooms to receive instruction in religion. This plan will completely eliminate the problem of after-school bus transpor- tation. When school is out the chil- dren will be ready to go home, for they will already have had their Junior Seminary class. Gold and Green Ball, Jackson, Wyoming By Albert W. Burton, President Y. M. M. I. A. of the Jackson Branch Although we were late in putting on the Gold and Green Ball in the Jackson branch, Teton stake, the out- come was so successful that we feel you should be told something about it. Our tardiness was due to continued sickness here, which caused a disor- ganized condition in the M. I. A. Jackson is only a small branch of the Church, so it was necessary to ob- tain the support of the entire popula- tion of the town, which is estimated at 500. Advertisements were run in the local paper and clever posters, painted on green paper with gilt paint, were placed in the windows of the business houses, which created a great deal of curiosity and enthusiasm among the inhabitants of the place. It was learned that neither the Gold and Green waltz nor the Gold and Green cotillion had ever been demon- strated here, so a request was made for participants to learn these dances. The call was readily accepted by so many couples that there was not enough room in the hall for them to practice, and it was necessary to choose 1 2 couples from the group to learn the dances and demonstrate them at the "Ball." The waltz was comparative- ly easy to learn, because one or two couples had seen and danced it and could show the others how, but the cotillion had neither been danced nor seen by anyone in Jackson Hole. How- The Hall at Jackson, Wyoming. Dfcorated for the Gold and Green Ball

Sept.. 1919 MUTUAL WORK 965 ever, it was our desire to learn it. so we followed the instructions in the Handbook as best we could and, though we hardly think we would take the grand prize, we do feel that the dance was fairly well demon- strated. There is an interesting side-light here in connection with the Gold and Green waltz. When starting to prac- tice the dances, we found it impossible to get a record with "Springtime in the Rockies." The dealer, however, im- mediately ordered some and says that he has never had such a run on a record here as he has for that. He estimates that at least 75 percent of the people in Jackson, owning a phono- graph, have bought this record. The hall here is of the old Western frontier type. The walls are dingy with dirt, etc., and to try to decorate it to look well at all seemed discouraging. However, the committee responded faithfully and the results were gratify- ing. Owing to lack of Gold and Green material for decorating, it was found necessary to add other colors. Lattice work was built across the entire front of the hall and artificial cherry blos- soms were made and wired to twigs and placed in the lattice work. In one corner the lattice work formed an arbor for the Queen and her maids, while in the other corner the lattice work formed a refreshment booth, where ice cream and punch were served. The decorations were completed by placing an M. I. A. monogram, in colors, over the center light in the hall and from this monogram streamers of Gold and Green were strung to four umbrellas, one in each corner of the hall. These umbrellas were decorated in Gold and Green and hung upside down from the ceiling. The decora- tions, according to the "old-timers" here, were the most impressive and beautiful ever seen in the old "Club- house." The queen for the "Ball" was chosen by popular vote at the Amer- ican Legion Carnival dance, held a week previous to the Gold and Green ball. Six girls were nominated and ballots were cast for them at this dance. The voting was very close and the queen received only one more vote than two of her competitors, who were tied for second place. The queen chose these two girls to be her maids. Though the evening of March 1 proved to be one of storm, the house was packed, principally with people not belonging to the Church. Shortly after the dance commenced, the 1 2 couples, who were chosen to demon- strate the dances, and the queen and her maids participated in a grand march, forming an "M" at the con- clusion of the march, with the queen and her maids making the center point of the "M". While in this position a flashlight picture was taken, but be- cause of the necessary nearness of the camera part of the dancers were cut out of the picture. After the selected couples had demonstrated the Gold and Green waltz and the cotillion, danc- ing by all was continued. It is believed that a very favorable impression was made, through this dance, upon the people in Jackson Hole. The Story Book Wedding It is suggested that the wards pro- ducing "The Story Book Wedding" at the opening social, need not go to extra expense. Three large pieces of paper bearing the inscription "Era" "Journal" "New Era" will suffice for the facsimiles. Costumes can be made of crepe paper or other cheap material, or the whole dramatization can be taken from the fanciful and put into a modern setting.