Show 4 I 1 L A conference address of the general superintend lency dy to the young people on thursday evening october fit ta h 1887 the salt lake assembly hall was crowded to its utmost capacity the occasion being abeln g the general conference of the mitt mutual al improvement associations the meeting was called to order by elder junius F wells who presided the sinking singing was done by the tabernacle choir who rendered selections from the mutual i improvement association song book the opening prayer was offered by ulder ed ward H anderson rider kider junius F wells announced tae business of the meeting and presented the general oft officers leers of the organization fl a niza tion elder neph Nephi i WC W clayton layton lor merly secretary of the YM MIA had resigned owing to his time being occupied witti other business X THE UrE GENERAL OFFICERS I 1 were unanimously sustained as fol tows wilford woodruff general superintendent tel ident of the young mens mu mutual improvement associations joseph F smith and moses thatcher his counselors se loril junius F wells milton H hardy rodney C badger and joseph A west assistants to the general geor george 9 e 0 lambert secretary william S burton treasurer i elmina taylor staylor S general superintendent of the young ladies mutual improvement associations maria Y dougall and matt mattia iH 11 STin gey her counselors if mary alary E cook secretary fanny Y thatcher Tb atcher treasurer elder george C 0 lambert then read the statistical REPORT showing that twenty stakes had bad reported a total of associations wit with h a membership of cache kanab oneida san juan and st george stakes had not reported on the bais of the last report from these places there would be shown a grand total of associations with a membership of nearly ELDER RODNEY C BADGER said that while the associations were doing good they might be bb greatly improved the state of perfection to which the work was brought depended on the diligence of the members of the organization and the character of tile the h young men chosen as officers the stake superintendents should see that each association was progeny provided 0 for in this regard the object in view was not only to acquire knowledge but to disseminate it for th the e good of mankind that men and women might have a stronger love jor or all that was praiseworthy it was necessary to devote time outside of the meetings n 8 in preparation no position would b bring ieng greater honor than that af being a good latter day saint an efficient worker in the cause of truth SISTER E 8 TAYLOR superintendent of the young ladies L mutual improvement association W said she knew of no grander work in ia life performing the will of god the young are learning to more fully comprehend the principles of the gospel pe and many of them have since uniting wibb the associations I 1 obtained t T a testimony e tm on y 0 of f the h truth through f faithfulness ful nes ness a and d are preparing fo for r the beat great mission si it of b building bildin u up t the e K kingdom ing of god if the youth of srael israel would seek the lord earne earnestly 7 he would give them strength to fulfill fulfil the duties of life elder eider george C lambert thi then an read the following ADDRESS of the general to the officers and members of the young mens mutual improvement associations throughout zion dear brethren while regretting the existence of circumstances depriving us of the satisfaction and pleasure of mingling personally with you in your general conference gathering 91 we are delighted with the privilege of addressing dressing 1 g you in writing our hearts are full of gratitude to our heavenly father and we rejoice exceedingly in tile the blessings of life and liberty so abundantly bestowed upon the youth of zon zion upon you dear young brethren the hope of israel largely rests be ye therefore worthy of your holy calling trust in the X lord oP of hosts give eive your hearts to god J and fail not in a your mission of im be watchful prayerful obedient for the eyes of heavenly hosts are upon you honor your parents that your days may be many venerate those grown gray in the service of the god of heaven and earth and the aa t ordinances of the gospel shall be your r portion the salvation of god your A part and the holy priesthood with the powers thereof your inheritance A GREAT WORK is before you thrust in your sickles and reap for toe the harvest is ripe though laborers are few be not satisfied rest not content until every young man professing the name ol of saint in zion is enrolled in the cause of mutual improvement civilization so called with a tide of evil and corrupting influences is sweeping the land with temptations calculated to lead the young into paths of vice and destruction these must be resisted and overcome because at war with peace and purity be ye r y W V r YA r sy if lovers of men rather than lovers of pleasure using wisely the gifts giffe and graces with which the almia Alini gaty city has endowed you yoa rescue from the allure ments of saloons beer halls and other haunts of vice those whom god has designed should move on a higher and purer moral plane HUMAN redemption i from the effects e cf the fall is the grandest work in which god and man can be engaged those who would be successfully employed in i n it must se s e cure the testimony of the holy spirit spir i t make virtue the jewel of the soul purity of thought the guide of the heart hear t and honor integrity and truth ce companions in of daily life conforming your exercises to the organizations of the all your deac teachings aings harmonize therewith boere with so shall all y your our w works I 1 und under erthe the proper use of the priesthood which you bear be sanctified to the honor ond 0 nd glory of god the general authorities of the church and those of the wards and stakes will give you yon encouragement and help wherever seeded needed half yearly conferences of the various varius us young mens mutual improvement associations may be held in the stakes throughout zion ut at such times and places as may be determined by the stake presidency and of the associations these con ferencek feren ces may occupy two days including one sunday and should be made occasions for receiving g reports and giving mutual instructions that will tend to harmonize the manner of conducting the associations and achieving the most satisfactory results A GENERAL conference W t the associations will be held about tile the of june 1888 and annually thereafter the exact date and place to be hereafter named by the the associations should endeavor to continue their regular weekly meetings until about the time odthe of the annual conference before taking their summer vacation at the general conference full statistical and other necessary reports will be required and time will be given for the consideration of the best means and methods of promoting the education and welfare of the young men and women ot of zion the primary and sunday schooler school organizations mutual improvement associations and relief belief societies have been instituted for a wise purpose they are helps and governments calculated in their nature and design to accomplish much good among tile the saints each has a 9 special field ol of usefulness not occupied by the others and no man in this church filled with the holy ghost will lay a straw in the way of either of them neither will he find occasion for manifestations of petty jealousies by which to fos foster t er one at the expense of another the sunday schools have gradually and almost universally come to occupy the forenoon of each sabbath have the interests of gods church or the welfare of his people suffered thereby certainly not what in indeed is of more vital im importance important e to us than the PROPER RELIGIOUS TRAINING 0 of four our children childred what the primary associations begin bebin let the sunday school and mutual lm improvement associations ciati ons continue each has its mission arid and special field upon which no servant of god humbly trying to do his duty will seek to enO encroach roach the cont iby tor as the orsan organ of the mutual improvement associations is a medium of instruction and enlightenment axim ent how except by judicious exercise of the faculties shall we develop the talent with which the creator may have endowed us few fe w things if any are better calculated to mind und and give it paw er ot of concentration than the frequent use I 1 of the pen in writing for publication and what agency is more potent for good than the press the contributor whose articles are largely furnished by home authors is a magazine of which all israel have reason to be proud its circulation should be wi widely d ely extended and to this end eaid we invite the operation cooperation co of wil all saints its editor brother juliuo junium af wells has been singularly blessed in his bis management of the magazine h heretofore his fa election selection and arrangement of matter maiter have been remarkably fortunate and the lord has been with him in his responsible labors but notwithstanding the degree of excellence rea reached thed it should be our constant effort to improve and atie young youn g men and women of talent among am ong us Is can DO GREAT SERVICE in this direction by furnishing regular contributions to the magazine magazin e to this desirable end we very respectfully invite their hearty operation cooperation co libraries and reading rooms should be established throughout zion and lectures on various subjects should be encouraged thus may you become acquainted with the customs laws and languages of various countries while seeking to graduate in tile science of all othir other sciences correct th theology in this connection we W would um suggest that it will be well in all the stakes for the associations ciati ons to take the initiative in establishing tat tab lishing libraries aties and reading rooms ruis inis is a labor peculiarly adapted tp our organization and has been enjoined I 1 upon us ua frum from the beginning we deprecate any disposition on the part of our young men especially those who have had lupei opportunities for acquiring an education to draw away from the improvement associations and to form a mong among themselves es separate a societies of an exclusive nature would it not be bettler better if they would lend their talent ani efforts to make the improvement associations more successful there is no worthy wortlie object they can desire to obtain that the improvement pro associations does not contemplate and hope to reach we therefore ask the co cp operation of all such young men arid alid trust that it will be gladly given as we feel sure sere the results of a united endea vt under proper organization and direction will be most satisfactory in all your struggles in acquiring knowledge seek wisdom in all your efforts to improve SEEK TO KNOW GOD and jesus whom he bath sent for in that knowledge is found life eternal the irbey priesthood that you bear is i 8 the key to unlock that door see that you do not misuse it and thereby tail fail ask and ye shall I 1 receive knock aua and i it shall open in returning home from this conteri conference ance we e trust that you will carry with you the split spirit thereof and renewed determination to labor diligently and earnestly for improve improvement in the interest ot of purity and holiness remembering always the the hope within you y on make the love of your god and of your fellows thel the foundation of your work and moving forward steadily and prayerfully and earnestly you cannot fail in accomplishing chat which b brings r inga peace happiness and salvation praying that the lord may serve guide guidd and prosper you in all your works of love iove we remain your fellow laborers in the cause of mutual improvement WILF ORD WOODRUFF josuph JOSEPH F SMITH MOSES THATCHER ELDER JUNIUS V F WELLS said that it depended on the young men to make the general suggestions of practical value va lue there never was a time when the young people of israel should try to more more fully comprehend their attitude towards their heavenly father aud and their fellowmen fel biti witness e ing as they did the strange events of the present day they were passing through b a valuable school the isolation which in earlier years bad protected them from the vices of the world was past and the warnings they had had aad of trials that would woula come were being verified today to day they were ha having ving an opportunity to prove their fidelity to the lord in living in the midst of babylon and withstanding its evils in order to successfully resist evil influences they must be alive to their auti s and at work in the cause of df salvation the s sins 1 n 8 their fathers fled from have follo followed w e d in the wake of civilization and with them has come the persecution of meb of honor and purity who are driven from home or cast into prison for the gospels sake the young people are asked to disregard the counsels of those men whom they know to be virtuous and honorable but those who endeavor to induce them to turn from the church seek to enthrall them in the chains of siti sin and death there is not hot shown a better or holier life but the appeal is made rather to the baser passions A better way than the service of the lord did not exist the object of the associations is to start the young people in the path that leads to success in time and in eternity nl ty they have homes in these valleys le y s consecrated to the saints of god and it is their duty to maintain them against those who fight the trusting in the almighty for the victory the morality of the youth of I 1 srael israel was as far above that of the world as the I 1 church af pf f god was above the churches I 1 of if men and bp looked for the time when they would receive the credit they were entitled to some have yielded to temptation and are falling short of their inheritances thi temptation tempi aaion should be resisted and tile the young rescued from evil there are no better organizations than those connected with the church for the elevation and training of the youth with the th e proper order wonderful results could be ac achieved bievet if the members of the associations tooka proper course they could make smoking sm drinking and kindred vices unpopular the offic officers ers of each organization should proceed at once to carry but ut agthe the instructions of the general that by next conference they could report the condition of every young man in the wards as was now done in utah county they should devote their energies to uphold all good there was no HO more glorious field than that of laboring tosane to save the souls soul s of men the destiny of the youth of Z zion on is ane highest and the victory to he given them the grandest vouchsafed to iffy any community that of preparing a people to meet the savior of the world exhorted them to purify and perfect their lives and follow the inspiration of the spirit of god ELDER ANGUS M CANNON president of the salt lake stake of zion spoke of tile the high principles ples enjoyed by the saints no people in this age were so favored as they in having the gospel and the holy priesthood with power to act in tile the name of the lard they should devote their time to flim and not to worldly pleasures they should strive to perfect themselves in righteousness it was a good plan to keep a journal and to record faithfully their actions action S this would serve as a check on wrong doin doing as it would afford no pleasure to record evil i 1 l deeds the young ladies could also exercise their good with the young denby all evil habits atle speaker exhorted the young to so order their lives that they could render a rood good account at the judgment seat of christ he would give them all the assistance within his bis bower power to do good they should puri fy |