Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-12
AMONG THE YOUNG MEN.

Prior to the commencement OF the
present winter, statistical reports
had been rendered showing that from
5000 to 10000 young men. all or nearly
all of whom have at least nominal
membership in the Church. are found
In the various wards of the several
Stakes OF Zion. whose names did not
appear on the membership rolls of
the Young Mems Mutual Improve
ment association. Nearly all of them
were sons of Latter-day Saint par
ents, yet were not manifesting, by
any works of their own. active faith
In the Gospel They We're rapidly ap-
preaching mature manhood without
the taking place within them of any
spiritual development.
1t IL wholly Inconsistent with the
genius OF the Gospel to allow such a
host of the children of the king.
dom" to grow to maturity In such a
state' and during the fall plan that
had for its purpose their spiritual re-
ciamatlon was maturod by the proper
authorities of the Church The chief
feature Of this plan was the distribu
ton, under proper organization.
throughout the several Stakes. of
sufficient number of missionaries.
whose special labor should be to
search out and enlist within the ranks
OF the Y. M. NJ. l. Attic young men
belonging to the class referred to.
Eariy In the winter these
missionaries began to he dis
tributed, until at the present time
about one hundred and twenty of them
are In active service. Some of them
nre laboring In every. or nearly every
organized Stake of Zion. and the re-
ports they render show that the move
ment In which they are engaged Is re-
ceiving the blessing OF the Almighty and
the cooperation of the heavens. In one
STAKE alone about seven hundred young
men have been induced to Join the
Mutual" and the winters work of the
missionaries In that Stake Is by no
means complete. In one town I'm
another stake, not n large town either.
the Bishop loosely said to the mis-
sionaries: You will have to cease
your labors here. or else we will have
to build n larger building for the young
mems meetings" The enrolment In that
place was one hundred and sixty.
II Is gratifying to the Saints gener
ally to learn OF the progress the worl,
of the Lord is making among the ma
tons of the earth. and to hear. from
various pnrts of the world the urgent
and repeated calls for more mission
aries, which reach the general author
tiles of the Church every day, but can |
be responded to only in part; In many |
Instances not half as many mission |
aries can be furnished as are asked
Tor But II Is far more gratifying to
parents In Zion to witness the progress
of a movement that is lnfusing their
own sons with lively faith in the
Gospel; for this means that their sons
are to be saved, and to become saylors
of multitudes OF the earth's inhabitants.
The Gospel harvest In many of the
nations is very great. and the number
of harvesters Is inadequate. But God
has His own methods Of increasing the
ranks Of the workers In His cause. The
young men. born among these noun
tains under the covenant which makes
them heirs of the blessings of the Cos
pei, are the Instruments He has chosen
in advance for the accomplishment OF
His purposes; and in His own time and
way He will enlist them in His work.
without however interfering with the
exercise of their own agency. Enroll
ment into the Young Mems Mutual I'm
provement association means entrance
INTO a school in which young man
Will be instructed in the principles Of
us ana salvation, and trained and