Among the Wonderful Inventions of Our Day

Among the wonderful inventions of our day is that of the amplifier and the radio. This morning I am grateful that I have the assistance of this device in speaking to you in this great building. ¶

Yesterday we had as visitors men from afar, one of whom addressed us, calling attention to our particular position in the world of Scouting. His remarks reminded me of an experience I had recently, at least it is not many months ago, while in San Francisco attending a regional meeting of the Scout organization. We had spent the day in session. At the close of the meeting, when it was ready to adjourn, I asked the chairman for permission to say a few words on the Latter-day Saint plan of taking care of boys. My request was cheerfully granted. I asked those who were present, first, if they would pay attention to what I had to say, with the thought that they might add to our program, and give us the benefit of their thinking, because they were all experts in taking care of boys. ¶

The Mutual Improvement Plan

I said first of all, we have a fathers' and sons' outing manual. I had it in my hand. This is an invitation to the fathers and sons of our country. We have in our Church ninety-nine ecclesiastical divisions known as stakes, and this program is suggested for fathers and sons, with the thought that if they can go out together into the open spaces and camp in the mountains or plains of God's great out-of-doors, and become better acquainted, both fathers and sons will be greatly benefited thereby. I went through the program, of course, in a little more detail than I shall do here today. I said: We have a Junior Manual. This is intended to inspire in the boys faith in God. There is a lesson for each week during the Mutual Improvement season, and we feel it is a fine program. I called attention to some of the features of the plan, some of the experiences of our missionaries and early Scouts, and the feeling that it would engender in the heart of the boy in appreciation of the heroism of these individuals. ¶

I said: We have an advanced Junior group in the Mutual. For this group we have a manual prepared to call attention to the fact that courage is an important thing, not only courage in the face of ordinary danger, but courage to do right when evil is present. We feel that at this age our boys should be stimulated with the courage to do right. Scouting is an important part of the program of these Junior groups. ¶

Our next age is our senior group, and we have a manual prepared for them. While men are quarreling about the differences between science and religion, we prepare a manual and put it into the hands of our advanced adolescent youth, calling attention to the fact that there is no conflict between true science and true religion ; that the truth, no matter from what source we derive it, all originates with our Heavenly Father. We place a manual in their hands that calls attention to the fact that instead of trying to find a conflict between science and religion we do well to understand them both, to the end that we will be able to harmonize them. ¶

While I was talking I noticed several individuals in the house nodding to one another, calling attention to the fact that that was a good thought. ¶

Now, I said, we have an advanced Senior group. For this group we have taken for this year's study short biographies of men who have been prominent champions of liberty throughout the world, such as Moses, Confucius, Gotama the great Buddha, Justinian and other philosophers and religious leaders. Then we call attention to the fact that in this group were Oliver Cromwell, George Washington, Joseph Smith, Abraham Lincoln, Brigham Young, Benito Juarez, etc. In the life of each of these men we have found that which we feel ought to inspire men and women with a desire to do better things. In addition, we have our Mutual Improvement Era, that is published monthly, containing articles that are intended to inspire in the growing young men a feeling of reverence for God, and a desire to know of his purposes. ¶

At the conclusion of my talk to them I said : Now, gentlemen, I have told you what we are trying to do for our boys in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I shall appreciate it if you will now give me your reaction and any suggestions for improving our plan. ¶

One of the leaders of the group, without hesitation, said: "Mr. Smith, we are at your feet." Another man spoke up and said : "There is no other program like that, for boys, in the world." The Superintendent of Schools of San Jose. California, said to me: "There is no church in all the world doing for its young people what you are doing," and he said, "It is remarkable to me that we, in San Jose, work our heads off to put over the Boy Scout program with the thought that we are doing the most wonderful thing in the world for boys, and you come here and tell us that that is only a little part of your program, that Scouting is a part of your Junior work." And he said: "I want to compliment you." There were quite a number of those present who gave me their cards and asked if we would supply them with our manuals for this year. ¶

I mention this because only yesterday you heard from one of the chief Scout men of the United States, the statement that we lead in ¶

Scouting, that Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are in the forefront in the world of Scouting. In the case of the people I have mentioned, their lives are set on that one department. ¶

Other Departments of the Church

When this man from San Jose said: "We find that this is only a little part of what you are doing for boys," I did not enlarge upon the program by saying, this is only one of the departments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We start with our Primary children, and they are surrounded by the love and tenderness of the best women in the world. Our children are taught to pray ; in the organizations with which they are identified they are taught faith ; they are led along the pathway of constructive thought. They are carried on in that department until they are twelve or fourteen years of age. I did not tell of our Sunday Schools — no other Sunday Schools in all the world compare with ours. We take our boys and our girls in their tender years and lay a foundation for an understanding of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the history of the Church ; so that when they are old enough to come in contact with individuals in the world they have a fund of information by which they are not only able to defend their faith, but are qualified to advocate their faith in such a way that others may be inspired and interested in it. Then we have the Mutual Improvement organizations, that have developed both boys and girls to become orators, musicians, writers and thinkers. We have our Relief Society, the great national organization, than which there is nothing in all the world better, an organization that contributes, not only to the intellectual and spiritual welfare of its members, but also to the desires in their hearts to reach out and benefit and bless those who are in need, as the name implies. I did not tell these men that when our boys are young they are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, and ordained to the Priesthood ; that as Deacons, as Teachers and as Priests, they are taught, while in youth ; that as Elders they become members of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and may be ordained Seventies, and High Priests, going upward through the various ages of their lives. I did not call attention to the fact that we have our ward meetings where, once a week, we are brought together and where we may partake of the Sacrament. I did not call their attention to the fact that we have our quarterly conferences which afford the opportunity for the people to come together in the various larger districts, under the influence of our Heavenly Father. I did not tell them of the great annual and semi-annual conferences that are held in the Church, attracting people from all parts of the world, affording opportunity for the reuniting of families, the bringing together of friends and renewing acquaintanceships — all these things, a regular part of the program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ¶

Opportunity for Development and Growth

I haven't touched all the things that are in my mind, but I have mentioned enough to call your attention to what I would like to have you remember, that when our Heavenly Father established his Church upon the earth, he established it on such a broad plane that there is afforded in this organization, by means of its priesthood and its auxiliary organizations, an opportunity for the development of every living soul, under the influence of his Holy Spirit. He organized his Church on so broad a scale that all are invited to search the scriptures and understand them for themselves. On such a scale we are invited to go into the great schools and universities of learning of the world, seeking for the things that the world has been able to uncover and explain; and these all, as far as they are true, to become a part of our thinking, to be made a part of our lives. When we analyze these things and realize what God has done for us, we would be an ungrateful people if in the depths of our souls we did not worship him day by day, with thanksgiving in our hearts for the mercies that are extended unto us. No other people in all the world are so. cared for and cultured, no other people in all the world are so tenderly taught and so carefully advised and counseled as are the Latter-day Saints. And if we will only take advantage of our opportunities and avail ourselves of our privileges, this Church will continue to grow and spread, there will be less opportunity for evil to come into our communities ; we will continue to be a tower of strength for righteousness, as I believe we now are among the people of the world, not only in keeping the ethical ideals of this world before the people, but also in instilling in mankind a living faith in our Heavenly Father, which is at the foundation of all real progress and all that is really worth while. ¶

A New Plan

I am grateful for my standing in this Church. I am thankful to be associated with my brethren and sisters in a department of service. And now today, inasmuch as there is a new plan in operation, affecting the Priesthood and the Mutual Improvement Associations, following upon that of the Church Sunday School, let us all desire to carry forward this mighty work of our Heavenly Father, put our shoulders to the wheel and cause this department to function for the benefit and blessing of the youth of Zion, and for the uplift of every man, woman and child, to the end that each may in due time be found worthy of a place in our Father's celestial kingdom. That we who have part in this glorious work may rejoice in it, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶