The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-06-03
FIRST CONFERENCE
Of the Young Mems Mutual
Improvement Association.
RADICAL RELIGIOUS REFORM
Elder Junius f. Wells, Asst. Sup.
III. III. Hardy, Prof. stephens
and Others Speak.

Yesterday in the Tabernacle con
vened the first general conference Of
the Young Mems Mutual improvement
Associations. Assistant Superintendent
Junius +. Wells presided, and fair
sized audience was present. After tbs
usual opening exercises,
ELDER JUNIUs F. WELLS
made the opening address. He re-
viewed the work of mutual improve
ment, dating back to the organization
of society for the cultivation of liter
airy talent, requirement of knowledge
pertaining to theology, etc., under the
direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith
and presided over by Apostle Heber G.
Kimban, in Nauvoo. AlIusion was also
made to the organization of literary
and debating societies among the
young men and retrenchment societies
among the young ladies, which in
time gave way to young mems and
young ladies' mutual improvement as
sociations, organized under the direc-
ton of President Brigham Young,
and which within period of two
years gained a foothold in almost
every ward throughout the Church,
and had steadily increased in
numbers and influence for good. There
were present today representatives
from about twenty-five Stakes. 1t was
matter of regret that the general
SUPPLEMENTARY were not able to at
tend the Conference, as is would be
enjoyable TO them and comforting to
all in attendance for them to be present.
However, it was expected that they
would be heard from by epistle before
The Conference closed. Prayed that
the spirit of God might attend speakers
ami hearers, that all said and done
might rebound to the glory of God and
advancement of the cause in which the
assembly were engaged.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT N. H. HARDY
expressed pleasure at having the privi-
Iege of presenting a few observations
on the government of the associations.
Contrary to a very popular idea life
antedates organization. A thing is
organized because it is alive and does
not live simply because organized. An
| organization was some tina since eff
fected, but the spirit of the work ex-
listed previously. The history of that
organized might be Rad with profit.
| II must be that many details
have to be encountered and over
come. He then followed at some
length on the matter of organizations
and said the officers of the associations
should properly be the leaders of toe
recreations engaged in by the young
people of the community. The ansly-
ses of the subjects published ia past
volumes of the Contributor would afford
an outline for the study of the scrip
lures and the delivery of al interesting
series of progressive lectures. The pure
basic studies of theology, history, liter
AZURE and science TO be engaged in by
the associations wers outlined in the
analyses referred to, and upon these
the associations must build if they
hope to progress.
PROFESSOR EVAN STEPHENS,
who had been selected to lecture upon
the subject of Music" having severe
cold, Superintendent q. Il. Anderson
was called upon to read his lecture for
him. 1t was brilliant effort. Among
other things he said, a few of its
uses in. the associations should be:
A means of worship, to bring tbs
minds of those assembled into
a proper state for the exercises
which follow; to bring a happifying
feeling into the heart by its soothing
and ennobling influence; to draw the
minds of all into one purpose. by either
all joining in the same song or partaking
of the same feeling. by concentrating
the minds on the same subject; to en-
terrain (no. to amuse); to improve each
individual member in general, and
those in this respect talented in par
ttcular, in this refined accomplishment
by a hearty encouragement of every
point of excellence, to give practice, ex-
perlence and training; to aid by its in
fuence in ennobliag aud refining the
tastes and feelings of youth. Its abuses
generally consist of Indifferent, poor Tor
worse) renditions of the musical ex-
ercises, and IN making Inappropriate
selections. Both are generally the re-
suit of an erroneous idea that it
matters but little what is sung
amount of singing is INDUCED in. As
we / think that it matters not. what
kind of water we battle in-filthy or
cleanse long as We battle. He dis
eountenanced the popular songs of the
day, and regretted that nobler ones
were not oftener found on the concert
programmes. The material for fresh
grand, vigorous young choir of 5000
voices is to-day ready for use among
the associations within 100 miles of Salt
Lake, and he CONCLUDED as follows
Begin aud continue right, and the
grand final result is assured, and iu-
d ed the little results to each Individual
member of each individual association
are the greatest of ell. Let Us go to at
once and let music fulfil her noble mis-
sion of good in the great work we are
engaged in.
APOSTLE HEBER j. GRANT.
1t was gratifying to him to listen to
such instructions and suggestions as
were heard this morning. Realized
that but little benefit would be derived
from listening to them, however, unless
reduced to practice. Believed that a
great deal of the time of Mutual I'm
provement Associations was uDprofit-
ably consumed through an effort tn