Historical Details
Young Men Organization Research Guide
Like many organizations within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Young Men organization began in wards and stakes prior to becoming part of the general Church organization. The Young Ladies’ Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association was formed in 1870 as a way to help the young women in the Church to retrench and focus their thoughts, actions, and dress on the gospel. The organization also advocated for spiritual and intellectual growth. Similarly, the leaders of the Church were finding ways for the young men to improve. Included in these early attempts are the Instructive Association (1873) in the Salt Lake Utah Sixth Ward and the Young Men’s Literary Association (1874) in the Salt Lake Utah Tenth Ward. The first Young Men’s Association was organized in 1874 with the Salt Lake Utah Thirteenth Ward.1
In 1875, Brigham Young tasked Junius F. Wells to create an organization for the young men of the Church.2 This organization’s leadership would include a superintendent, first assistant, and second assistant.3 According to Junius F. Wells, when he was asked to organize the young men, Brigham Young advised him:
We want to have our young men enrolled and organized throughout the Church, so that we shall know who and where they are, so that we can put our hands upon them at any time for any service that may be required. We want them to hold meetings where they will stand up and speak—get into the habit of speaking—and of bearing testimony. These meetings are to be for our young men, to be composed of young men for their improvement—for their mutual improvement—a society of young men for mutual improvement. There is your name: The Young Men's Mutual Improvement Soci — Association.4
As the Young Men’s program developed, its leaders found ways to communicate lesson plans, spiritual and intellectual development, and uplifting content through official magazines. The Contributor began to be published in 1879. It ran until 1896, when The Improvement Era began to be published. The Young Woman’s Journal was “married” to The Improvement Era in 1929.5 The Improvement Era became the official magazine of all of the youth until 1970 when The New Era began to be published. In 2020, a new youth magazine was introduced, For the Strength of Youth, which was designed to better meet the needs of the global Church.6
1. The Improvement era; 1920-1930 (Volumes 24-33); 1924-1925 (Volume 28); 1925 June (No. 8); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=bada5af9-91d6-4efb-82d9-c2f272272c6f&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 10, 2020)
2. “Young Men Organizations,” Church History Topic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/young-men-organizations?lang=eng (accessed 10 December 2020).
3. “The following year [1972], Brother [Russell M.] Nelson discussed with President [Harold B.] Lee the fact that the presiding authorities in priesthood quorums, the Relief Society, the Primary, and the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association were called 'presidents' and 'counselors.' In the Sunday School and the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, however, the leaders were called superintendents and assistant superintendents. Shortly thereafter, the Church decided that the leaders of all Church auxiliaries should uniformly be called presidents and counselors.” Condie, Spencer J., Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle. Deseret Book, 2013. Pg. 166-67.
4. The Improvement Era; 1920-1930 (Volumes 24-33); 1924-1925 (Volume 28); 1925 June (No. 8); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=bada5af9-91d6-4efb-82d9-c2f272272c6f&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 10, 2020)
5. Wedding announcement [Salt Lake City]: [publisher not identified], [1929], https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=43361005-9d8e-4ace-a2dc-c133a6690455&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 10, 2020)
6. “Introduction to New Magazines: For the Strength of Youth,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth-magazine/for-the-strength-of-youth-a-new-magazine-for-youth?lang=eng (accessed 10 December 2020)