General Young Men Organization

Associations for the spiritual and cultural growth of the youth began in the early days of the Church. In February 1843 President Joseph Smith authorized the formation of a Young Gentlemen's and Young Ladies' Relief Society and in 1854 Elder Lorenzo Snow organized the Polysophical Society. However, it wasn't until 10 June 1875 when Brigham Young, aware of the lack of unity and structure across these organizations, established the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA). The goal of this organization was to was to help the young men develop the gifts within them, stand up and speak, and bear testimony. In December 1876 a central committee was established (later known as a general board) to oversee all ward YMMIA's. In 1880 Church President John Taylor proposed that a YMMIA super intendency (later known as the general presidency) be formed. Until 1900 the YMMIA met separately from the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA), when these associations joined they were simply known as the Mutual Improvement Association (MIA). In 1974 the group that had once encompassed single men ages 12 and up, split into two groups, the Aaronic Priesthood-MIA and the Melchizedek Priesthood-MIA, with a focus on service projects, and activities centered around their respective quorums. In May 1977 the name changed to Young Men and a general presidency was reinstated. Learn more