To the officers and members of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association we extend greet ings a sincere wish for a Happy New Year.

As we stand upon the threshold of the year 1922 the outlook for the future of the Y. L. M. I. A. is more than usually encouraging. Judging from reports brought from the various stakes by members of the General Board attending conventions and other gatherings, as also from written expressions from many Stake of ficers, the close of the year 1921 finds the organizations in very good working order, the membership increasing, and a live interest manifested. This is as it should be, it is what is expected. The work must go forward, it cannot go backward. In the M. I. A. work "there is no such word as fail." Its influence is just as necessary today as when it was organized fifty-two years ago. The same enemy is knocking at the doors, seeking admission into the homes and lives of the Saints. He is using three powerful weapons with which he hopes to break down the defenses of the Gospel. They are a species of infidelity-a lack of rev

No. 1

erence for God and sacred things, the allurements of pleasure in its many phases, and the call of Dame Fashion to extremes in dress and many social customs.

The Saints of God must withstand and overcome these destructive agencies, for they strike at the very root of the tree of knowledge and successful growth and of the home and spiritual life. Let all those who are called to be officers and teachers in the M. I. A. thwart these subtle influences by inspiring in the hearts of the youth of Zion the love of God and a better understanding and appreciation of the high standard of life which He has revealed to us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must "overcome evil with good." If people learn to love that which is pure, refining, and elevating in its nature, the allurements of vice will be repulsive to them. These are the strongest weapons that can be used to vanquish the enemy.

There is one regrettable feature in our work and that is the frequent reorganization of our working forces. In every field of activity it takes time to get acquainted with the business, to comprehend the work necessary

to make it successful, and to plan and systematize and arrange all forces to best bring about the desired results, before much effective work can be accomplished. It requires the first year's experience of officers in our organization to get things well in hand, grasp the possibilities of Mutual work and be prepared to carry it out to a successful issue. Therefore when officers are changed each year it retards the progress of the work, is like beginning all over again.

It is a great blessing to any person to be called to take an active part in any office in the Church, however humble, if he accepts it with a determination to put forth his very best effort with a prayerful spirit to perform the work allotted to him. It brings him in closer touch with his Heavenly Father, gives him a keener appreciation of His great plan of redemption and a broader view of the true purpose of life.

When a person is called to an office he should accept with the understanding that he remains in that office until he is released by the proper authority. Where conditions arise, such as ill-health, care of the sick or aged parents, etc., which makes it almost impossible to attend properly to the duties of his office, he can be honorably released.

We appreciate very highly the splendid work of our officers during the past year, and earnestly pray that our Father will bless their efforts and give unto them and to all our Mutual girls the sweet spirit of love and good will for each other, that their associations together may give them true happiness.

Sincerely your sisters,

MARTHA H. TINGEY,
RUTH M. Fox,
MAE T. NYSTROM.

A New Year's Resolve

Never since the days of the revolution has there been a greater need for American citizens to sustain by deed and acclamation our slogan, "We Stand for Loyal Citizenship" than at the present time.

The Latter-day Saints have been trained always through weal or woe to submit to the laws of the land they live in.

One of their Articles of Faith taught to every man, woman, and child reads:

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

The Church proclaims that the Constitution of our country was framed in accordance with the will of God who raised up "wise men for this very purpose" and that laws and governments are instituted by Him "for the benefit of man and that He holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, either in making laws or administering them for the good and safety of society."

Evading and breaking the laws of city and state are common occurrences these days. Time was when a violator of the law was careful to hide his misdemeanor, but now, many citizens of all classes openly-in the very eyes of the public and with no apparent compunction of conscience exhibit an utter disregard for law and lawmakers.

This last is worse than the first in

that the former may injure no one but himself, who must perforce suffer soul-shrinkage in consequence of his act; the latter not only suffers with him in this respect but he proclaims his defiance of law and contaminates the thoughtless with the idea-if one person breaks the law why not an

another may be.

The strength of a state or nation lies in the moral fibre of its people. Wealth, intellectual attainments. extensive boundaries, magnificent resources, all combined can not com

hand and as a frontlet between his eyes, the following noble injunction by one of the greatest Americans who ever lived.

"Let every American, every lover of

in its citizens.

The responsibility of America is great. "A choice land, choice above all other lands" she stands exalted

among the nations holding aloft the standard of justice and liberty. All peoples are looking to her to point the way and dire disaster shall be hers if she fails in this leadership. If she is to withstand the perplexities which are besetting her and solve the problems pressing about her she must arm herself, not with the accoutrements of war but with the armor of integrity. Every American citizen should resolve on this New Year's day to become a real patriot, not only should he be willing to die for his country but what is much more worthy and difficult, to live for it.

From this time forth let every citizen do his duty and lend his utmost endeavor to the sustaining of good officers and the enforcement of law. Let him incorporate into his life, or in the language of an ancient proph

swear by the blood of the Revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others. Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap; let it be taught in the schools, in the seminaries and in colleges; let it be writ

ten in primers, in spelling books, and in almanacs; let it be preached from the pulforced in courts of justice. And, in short, pits, proclaimed in legislative halls and enlet it become the political religion of the Nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay of all sexes and tongues and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars."-Abraham Lincoln.

New Books

"Dorian."

"Dorian," by Nephi Anderson, is an interesting story with a big major message and several minor messages. It shows the lives of simple village folk, their hardships and joys, their yearnings and achievements. It leaves the reader better for having read it. Price $1.

-Harold Goff.

If it be true that there is more enjoyment in pursuit than in possession, then science offers the greatest field for enjoyment, for there the search for truth is limited only by the capacity of the searcher, and at the outset it should be understood that theology, the science of God, is to be included in the great ever-increasing group of sciences.

What Science Is. Science is defined as classified knowledge, ordered knowledge of natural phenomena. It is the discovery of nature's laws or the finding out of the uniform way in which nature acts. When Newton discovered the law of gravity he simply found out nature's way of handling fallen bodies. The finding out that individuals and groups in spite of themselves are moved and controlled by their interests or bias is the discovery of a natural social law.

History of Science.-Astronomy is said to be the oldest science; and eugenics, including euthenics, is said to be the youngest science. The first concerns itself with knowledge relating to heavenly bodies, the second consists of investigation concerning improvement of the human race and the extension of longevity. The following is a quotation from Applied Eugenics, by Popenoe and Johnson, "The problem of eugenics is to make such legal, social, and economic adjustments that (1) a larger proportion of superior persons will have

children than at present, (2) that the average number of offspring of each superior person will be greater than at present, (3) that the most inferior persons will have no children, (4) that other inferior persons will have fewer children than now."

In giving names to the animals before the Fall, Adam must have made some observations sufficiently close, and some comparisons sufficiently careful, to make it possible for him to give other than names to individuals, and just to the extent that he classified the creatures he was a scientist. (Genesis 2:19-20.)

Abraham studied the stars, not simply as separate objects but as groups, and groups of groups or systems, and made such advancement with his investigation that his knowledge of astronomy was used by the Lord to explain to him (Abraham) the great social science of the spirit world. Abraham's scientific findings formed the point of contact in the lesson where God was the teach

er.

Science and Invention.-Science discovers the power, invention makes the harness for it; science gave us the law of combustion, invention gave us gun-powder and the gun. Inventions are devices for applying the laws of nature.

Hertz discovered the wireless waves, Marconi invented the wireless telegraph machine; the former is a pure scientist, the latter an inventor.