To the Officers of the Y.M.M.I.A.:
DEAR BRETHREN. At the late con-
ference of the Y.M.M.I.A., much
instruction was given, relating to the
organization and government of the
Associations, which you no doubt heard
or have since read. Pursuant to these
instructions and with a view to harmo-
nizing the labors of all officers and
members during the approaching sea-
son, we feel it opportune to direct your
attention to some points that are de-
serving your especial consideration. In
the first place, we would like the officers
to read the lectures and addresses that
were delivered at the conference. (They
can be found complete in the June and
July numbers of THE CONTRIBUTOR.)
If you carefully read and reflect upon
these, you will better understand the
import of this communication.
As soon after the October conference
as convenient, it is expected that the
officers of each Association will get to-
gether in council, arrange for the time of
holding meetings and call the members
of their respective Associations together.
At the first meeting the old roll will be
called, and the names of those who
answer present entered as the com-
mencement of the new roll for the year.
Other names will be entered as they
come in at subsequent meetings. The
present officers will continue in office
until such time as appointments are
made by the Stake Superintendency, for
the annual election in each Asssociation
when others may be chosen, if a change
is thought desirable. At your first meet-
ings you should lay before the Associa-
tions the general outline of work pro-
posed for the season; and you will be
aided in doing this, by reference to the
conference lectures. The President and
his Counselors, constituting the pro-
gramme committee, should be prepared
at the first meeting to announce ap-
pointments for the next, so that no un-
necessary delay may occur. As a basis
for the earlier programmes, we suggest
that you draw from the subjective Scrip-
tural headings, published in the ninth
volume of THE CONTRIBUTOR. In the
November number of the Magazine,
subjective titles to Doctrinal, Historical,
Scientific and other subjects will be
given, from which you will make assign-
ments for brief lectures to be delivered
in your regular meetings.
We wish to impress upon you the im-
portance of thorough organization and
mutual effort, not only for the improve-
ment of those who voluntarily join with
you, but for the reformation of those
who are indifferent. This is your mis-
sion; to look after the young men of
your respective wards: and we wish it
understood that the counsel of the
Priesthood is that every young man in
Zion should join and take part in these
Associations. You will please see that
this message is delivered to as many as
possible. We hope that you will make
the influence of the Associations felt this
season, more than heretofore, in the
saving of the wayward. As officers,
you should feel an anxiety for the refor-
mation of such, and be found extending
the helping hand. The Associations are
also appealed to, to improve the tone of
our social parties, and to popularize the
observance of counsel as to the regula-
tions to be observed in them.
There is a great deal of lightminded-
ness and idle conversation indulged in
by our young men, which you can do
much to correct. Place the books of the
Mutual Improvement Association Course
o[f] Reading in the hands of as many of
the young men as you can get to take
them, and encourage conversation upon
the subjects they treat of. Especially we
would advise that you do not neglect the
crowds of young men and boys, who
loiter upon the streets or congregate
about the stores, the sunny sides of the
meeting houses, barns and other places
in the winter, and indulge in levity and
vulgar conversation. Try and break up
such gatherings, by persistently leading
into habits of reading, as many of their
number as you can influence. This
Course of Reading, which we have
adopted, is designed to help you in the
work of interesting and saving the young.
It should be taken up by every officer
and member and pursued faithfully to
the end. You can make this a great
success; but it will depend upon your
interest in it, as manifested by your
energy in advocating and example in
pursuing it. If you do not take these
books and read them you cannot expect
others to. We desire your prompt and
cheerful assistance to introduce this
Course of Reading, and rely upon your
support to maintain it.
We realize that the matters involve
the employment of your time and
means; but if you, the representative
young men of Zion, are not interested
in them, how do you expect that Zion
will be established? Our testimony is,
that the time has come for the young
men of Israel to give serious attention
to the reformation of their lives, and to
the improvement of their minds. The
Lord requires this, and as His servants,
we enjoin it upon you. We shall watch
with deep interest the work of the
Associations, during the coming season,
and shall take occasion to promote it, by
our counsel, as opportunity is presented.
Be energetic and faithful and the Lord
will be with you. We shall pray for
you continually that you may be pros-
pered and blessed, in the name of
Jesus.
Your Brethren and Fellow Laborers,
Wilford Woodruff,
Joseph F. Smith,
Moses Thatcher,
General Superintendency Y.M.M.I.A.