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Show Y. M. M. I. A. CONFERENCE. The conference of the Y. M. M. I. A. of Cache Valley Stake of Zion convened in Logan Tabernacle at 10 a. m., Sunday, October 11th. Present on the stand: Presidents Wm. [William] B. Preston and C. O. Card; Superintendent Lyman R. Martineau, and Elders S. A. Langton, R. S. Campbell and B. F. Cummings, Jun., of the Stake Central Board; Elder James F. Wells, of Salt Lake City. Opening exercises. Prayer by Elder Langton. Presidents and representatives of associations were invited to the stand. Roll call by the secretary of the Central Board. Superintendent Lyman R. Martineau addressed the congregation. This conference is called in order to give the work of mutual improvement throughout the Stake a start, or a "send off" for the season. As there are no reports to be read of the work of associations during the last six months, the presidents of societies will be invited to express their views and intentions regarding the work of mutual improvement. Vice is spreading in our midst and our youth are being led astray from the paths of virtue and chastity, and it is very important that we as workers in the cause of mutual improvement, do all we can to stem vicious influences in our midst. We should set our faces firmly against the use of intoxicating drinks among our young people. May God bless us, and bless this conference, and may our meeting thus together serve to refresh us in the work of mutual improvement. Elder N. W. Crookston, president of the society of the Fourth Logan Ward, said the young men of that ward were beginning to inquire when meetings would be resumed. He gave notice that meetings of the society of that ward would begin on Tuesday evening, October 3d, and continue on each succeeding Tuesday evening for the season. Elder Jos. [Joseph] E. Wilson, president of the First Logan Ward society, reported that it had been re-organized throughout on last Sunday evening. One meeting had been held with but a small attendance, though it is hoped that the interest will be increased. Meetings will be held on Wednesday evenings until further notice. Elder - represented the Fifth Logan Ward society. Meetings will be commenced this present week. We have a library containing some very good books and they are read with great interest and benefit by our young men. The Contributor is a most excellent magazine for our young men to read. I shall start on a mission in about two weeks and shall not have the privilege of being with the association. Elder Jos. [Joseph] A. Smith was pleased to meet in conference to represent the association of Providence. I feel gratified to be deemed worthy to represent a body of young men in Israel. I consider the presidents of our associations have a great responsibility placed upon them. I have not had the opportunity of doing much in the work of mutual improvement. Some three weeks ago, when the society at Providence was reorganized and I was made president, I resolved to do the best I could, and I am here to-day to be instructed in and receive of the spirit of the work. Our young people should be very careful in selecting the books they read. There is a great deal of literature in our midst which is bad, and should be avoided. It should be the aim in all associations to increase and build up faith among the youth. Elder Robert Daines, of the Hyde Park society, said: We expect to commence our meetings immediately. I know that this is the Church and kingdom of God, and all our young men should gain this testimony and study the principles of the Gospel. Last winter we established a manuscript paper, and expect to keep it up, to get practice in writing. Elder Jackson represented the society at Richmond: It has seemed to be my lot to labor among the young, and I have always tried to do them good, and induce them to forsake evil. The adversary is at work among our youth, and he knows that if he can lead them astray he will destroy the main-stay of Zion. I hope and pray that the spirit of improvement may increase among us. Elder H. M. Robbins of the Lewiston association: The majority of our young men are on the railroad, and this hinders us. Our association is fully organized, and we shall begin meeting shortly. The president of the association at Smithfield said: We had an organization last winter, which is still perfect. We had excellent times last winter. We have some excellent young men in Smithfield, and we want to take care of them. I feel like going ahead in teaching our young people the principles of the gospel. Elder S. A. Langton, of the Central Board, addressed the conference. I am pleased to have the opportunity of speaking as I may be led upon the work before us. The primary object of our associations is to lead the youth to obtain a testimony of the truth of the gospel. If we can get a young man to seek earnestly for a testimony of the truth, we know that he will obtain it. If we ever secure such a testimony, it will make us better young men, and will lead us to shun vice. How can a young man obtain such a testimony? Can he obtain it while constantly violating the principles of the gospel already made plain to him? In the south where I labored on a mission - a tobacco raising country - fewer people use tobacco than use it here in Utah. Can we expect the spirit of God to enlighten our minds, while we are smoking, drinking, and doing other things in violation of the commands of the Lord? When I was very young, I was led to begin the use of tobacco. The first time I ever smoked a cigarette I felt very badly, and that I was doing wrong. But the compunctions of conscience were silenced after a short time. At length, however, I was led to see the evil of the practice, and ceased it. Probably the reason why many of our young men do not receive a testimony of the truth in answer to their prayers is because, after praying for a testimony, they immediately proceed to take a smoke, or a drink of liquor. When you are invited by a companion to take a drink or indulge in any other vice it is your duty to refuse, and to fight a moral warfare with him to win him from his evil ways. When you act thus towards a companion who has invited you to join him in vice, he will respect you far more than if you yielded. We should chose [choose?] our company, for if we associate with those who drink or do wrong, we will be branded with them. We can never hope to enter the kingdom of heaven until we have overcome these petty vices of smoking, drinking, &c. Elder J. W. Dawson of the society of Weston, said: We intend commencing meetings this week. We desire to improve, and follow in the footsteps of our fathers, that we may give them joy in their old age. If we are in possession of the Spirit of the Lord we cannot be led astray. A representative of the society at Newton said: Many of your young men are away from home, and will not return for some time. Most of the members at home are boys. I expect soon to start a mission to Europe. I think we should labor to suppress the evils that are spreading in our midst. Singing. Conference adjourned until 2 p. m. Benediction by Prest. [President] C. O. Card. Two P. M. Opening exercises. Prayer by Elder James A. Leishman. The sacrament was administered. Minutes of the conference of Y. M. M. I. A. held April 1st were read and approved. Officers of the Central Board, namely, L. R. Martineau, Superintendent, S. A. Langton, Asst. [Assistant] Superintendent, H. E. Hatch, corresponding secretary, B. F. Cummings, Jr., Treasurer, were presented and unanimously sustained. Elder N. W. Kimball, president of the society in the Logan 2d ward said that he expected soon to start on his mission and that that society would be re-organized two weeks from to-day. Elder Wm. [William] Niels of the society at Millville briefly reported the same. It was the intention to resume meetings this week. Elder J. E. Cowley reported the association of the Logan third ward. I desire to do all I can to forward the interests of the young men and I desire the co-operation of parents in he [the] work. Something more is required to improve the young men than to have them meet together once a week. Their homes should be made pleasant and they should be kept and taught at home. A representative of the society at Hyrum said: Meetings have not yet begun but will commence soon. Last winter the society numbered 100 with an average attendance of 76. The young men of Hyrum took much interest in the work. Elder Jens Jensen, president of the Association at Mendon, said: We have commenced our meetings and have a good attendance of young men who show a good deal of interest in our society and work. After our society was organized last fall we kept up meetings until summer vacation. We are so scattered that it is difficult for us to meet together but from our meetings we have derived much benefit. Our young men are improving and I hope they will continue to do so. Elder N. Graham of the association at Mink Creek said: Two days ago we reorganized our society. No time was set for our meetings to begin, but think we will hold them on Saturday evening, commencing this week. I realize the necessity of mutual improvement and am willing to do all I can in the work. Elder W. D. Williams of Benson: When we discontinued our meetings last spring we had a large attendance and much interest was shown in our meetings, and on resuming now I am sure will have a good society. The young men of our ward are interested in improving themselves and developing the gift that is within them. Elder S. C. Parkinson of Franklin said: Last winter there was much interest taken by the young men in our association meetings, which were well attended. We have many temptations in Franklin as elsewhere, but I suppose they are necessary in order that our young men may be tried. Elder Wm. Henderson of March Valley said: We are greatly scattered. Some members live from 10 to 15 miles from the place of meetings. We have regular times of meeting but sometimes members fail to come on account of the long distance or bad weather. Elder Junius F. Wells then addressed the conference: I have listened with pleasure to the reports of the Y. M. M. I. A. of this Stake of Zion. To see such a good representation of the societies at a conference at the commencement of our season's work indicates that great interest will be taken in it. At the commencement of our work this winter we should have it distinctly out lived, with a definite object in view. Our associations are recognized by the priesthood and authorities throughout the Church as aids and helps in accomplishing the purposes of God. I do not know that all associations should be conducted exactly alike, or that they should be governed by unchangeable rules. But good officers should be chosen and the work of the society be so conducted that the greatest amount of good will result from the season's work. Such exercises and programmes should be carried out as will result in the greatest good to the greatest number. The notion that a large attendance is the greatest object to be attained, should be abandoned. If there are not more than ten or even six members who meet to carry out some definite study or object it will result in greater good, as a whole, than if many come together without a definite purpose, or for amusement only. Societies should be so conducted that the members will be refined in manner and be impelled to seek after the Spirit of God and a testimony of the truth rather than to cause them to reflect that they have had simply a good time. There is nothing that will give our organization so much influence and our meetings so much interest, as the Spirit of the Lord in our midst. If any young man thinks that the Lord is more willing to bestow a testimony upon one person than upon another, let him begin his search for it by reforming his life, and leaving off his vices, as smoking, drinking, etc. He will soon learn that the Lord is no respecter of persons. The associations of this Stake should conduct an earnest inter-missionary work, and your reports next spring should show that hundreds of such appointments have been filled during the winter. If the elders we send on missions in future are educated men, well versed in science and the scriptures, they will be able to reach classes of people who have not heretofore heard it. This is illustrated by the recent experience of a young elder in Germany. Because he was well educated and well posted, he was able to reach professional and educated men, and had baptized a number of them. To-day our homes and liberties are threatened, and most dishonorable means are being resorted to to destroy our rights, but if we cultivate faith and put away unbelief, we will be able to withstand and triumph over our enemies. If we would make our way successfully in the world, we must acquire intelligence and an extensive knowledge. Our educational facilities are far better than they were a few years ago, and all our young men now have an opportunity of at least gaining a common school education. I understand that it is the intention to hold district meetings of societies in this Stake, and I would recommend competitive programmes for such occasions. They would strongly tend to increase emulation and interest in the work. President Wm. B. Preston said: The reports presented at this conference are very gratifying and it is very pleasing to hear our boys from different parts of the Stake speak as they have. Some reflections have been suggested to me regarding the discontinuance of meetings in the summer. The absence of many members in the canyons and elsewhere in the summer is given as a reason for taking a summer vacation. What proportion of members are absent? So many that meetings cannot be held? I do not think any good argument or reason can be shown why meetings should be discontinued in the summer, though I have not objected to it, because it seems to have become a custom. It is very important that young men, working in the canyons in the summer should organize mutual improvement associations there. This summer many members of societies have worked in the canyons, and if they had held meetings on Sundays it would have been far better than to spend the Sabbath in fishing or hunting. In the conduct of their meetings, the societies need not be governed by cast-iron rules. The meetings should be so conducted as to keep in view the acquirement of a knowledge of of the principles of the gospel. Superintendent L. R. Martineau said - I am very much pleased with the results of our conference. It has always been the teaching that the president of a society is under the direction of the Bishop of his ward, and this should be distinctly understood. I hope the young men who have attended this conference will be profited by it. Singing. Benediction by Elder B. F. Cummings, Jr. |