Young Men Organization Timeline
Young Men Organization Research Guide
Providing definitive dates for firsts can be challenging. It is important to note that many of the activities associated with the Young Men or youth programs initially began in wards and stakes and were later adopted by the general Church.
This timeline is not comprehensive but provides a basic understanding of how the Young Men organization started and has evolved to meet the changing needs of a global Church.
1874 The first Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association organized in the Salt Lake Thirteenth Ward1
1875 First central YMMIA committee organized; Junius F. Wells was named president2
1876 Beginning of full-time YMMIA missions3
1877 Bishops encouraged to ordain most young men to the priesthood4
1879 The Contributor first published
1880 First General Young Men’s Superintendency called5
1888 First MIA General Annual Conference6
1891 Young Men organization manuals printed and distributed by the Church7
1896 The Contributor discontinued
1897 The Improvement Era first published
1898 Central Committee renamed to General Board
1901 YMMIA separated into two grades (juniors and seniors)8
1901 YMMIA changes focus of study to include theology.
1905 Full-time YMMIA missions discontinued9
1909 General Board created eight committees to help run the Young Men Organization10
1913 YMMIA becomes affiliated with Boy Scouts of America11
1920 YMMIA changes grades to juniors or MIA Scouts (12-16 years old), seniors or M-Men (17-21 years old), and advanced seniors or adults (22 years old and older)12
1921 M-Men and Gleaner departments introduced in the MIA worldwide to meet the needs of those young men and young women aged 17 to 23 years old13
1924 First roadshow presented in the Granite Stake14
1925 MIA Jubilee15
1928 Priesthood quorums meet during Sunday School hour for gospel instruction as part of a correlated experiment. It lasted until 1938. Tuesday nights were reserved as an activity night for MIA.16
1929 Young Woman’s Journal merged with (“married to”) The Improvement Era17
1931 First Presidency announces Aaronic Priesthood Correlation Plan18
1932 Senior Department created to address the needs of men aged 24-35 years old19
1937 First Presidency officially adopts practice of ordaining young men into the Aaronic Priesthood at specific ages20
1939 M-Men and Gleaners to include young women and young men up to 30 years old; Senior Department discontinued21
1940 Special Interests Department formed for members over 25 years old22
1952 New Senior Aaronic Priesthood program introduced for men over the age of 2123
1955 Duty to God award introduced24
1962 Worldwide Youth Conferences begin
1962 Correlation between Scouting and Aaronic Priesthood established25
1965 For the Strength of Youth pamphlet first published26
1969 Bishop Youth Councils held in each ward27
1970 The Improvement Era discontinued
1970 Aaronic Priesthood Personal Achievement Program introduced28
1971 Youth magazine The New Era introduced
1971 “All Church” sports tournaments and festivals discontinued29
1972 Melchizedek Priesthood took over adult groups of 18 and older (including M-Men and Gleaner groups)30
1974 Presiding Bishopric to direct the youth of the Church; Young Men Presidency released31
1974 The name Mutual Improvement Association (MIA) is retired32
1975 June Conferences discontinued33
1977 New Young Men’s presidency is announced, and the organization’s name is changed to the Young Men Organization, under the direction of the Priesthood Executive Committee34
1978 All worthy young men could receive the priesthood, regardless of race35
1980 New consolidated Sunday meetings for Church; a meeting dedicated to Young Men is part of the “Sunday block”36
1997 Special Aaronic Priesthood Sesquicentennial Fireside broadcast “Faith in Every Footstep”37
2001 Aaronic Priesthood Achievement program introduced38
2001 New For the Strength of Youth pamphlet introduced
2004 Young Men Presidency members no longer composed of General Authorities39
2010 Fulfilling My Duty to God booklet introduced40
2011 For the Strength of Youth pamphlet updated41
2012 Young Men can be called as missionaries at age 1842
2013 New youth curriculum introduced43
2018 Priests can officiate for baptisms for the dead at the temple44
2018 Change in ages for advancement and ordination: young men are now ordained to priesthood offices at the beginning of the year they have an important birthday (i.e. 12, 14, or 16) rather than having to wait until their birthday arrives.45
2019 Church ends partnership with Boy Scouts of America46
2019 New Young Men’s theme announced47
2019 Ward Young Men presidencies discontinued; Bishopric Youth Committee changed to Ward Youth Council48
2020 Church starts news Children and Youth Program49
2020 For the Strength of Youth conferences introduced in conjunction with stake youth conferences50
2021 New youth magazine For the Strength of Youth replaces New Era51
Notes
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 (1 December 2020).
3. “As will be seen by the following letter, the committee is authorized to call missionaries, which it has already done to some extent. Salt Lake City, U. T., February 16, 1877. To the Central Committee of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations: Junius F. Wells, President; John Nicholson, Secretary. Dear Brethren:—It is very desirable that you call missionaries from the associations under your direction, as often as possible, to visit the various wards and settlements throughout the territory; in this way giving to our young brethren the great privilege of bearing testimony to the truths of the gospel and enjoying its spirit, while they gain an experience as teachers of its divine principles. Praying the Lord to abundantly bless all your labors amongst the youth of God's people, We remain your brethren in the gospel, John W. Young, Daniel H. Wells.” 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 17, 2020)
4. “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 (1 December 2020).
5. The Improvement era; 1920-1930 (Volumes 24-33); 1924-1925 (Volume 28); 1925 September (No. 11); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=938c53fc-e3c9-4aac-8700-c959caa00a28&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 17, 2020)
6. The Improvement era; 1920-1930 (Volumes 24-33); 1924-1925 (Volume 28); 1925 August (No. 10); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=4cad9e98-20d7-43e6-a9de-e39be2cbcfd4&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 17, 2020)
7. 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 17, 2020)
8. The Improvement era; 1897-1910 (Volumes 1-13); 1900-1901 (Volume 4); 1901 August (No. 10); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=e704a6f2-11af-4ca6-8ea3-3d7f7a654ada&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
9. The Improvement era; 1897-1910 (Volumes 1-13); 1904-1905 (Volume 8); 1905 July (No. 9); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=7c845a8e-b661-43dc-a6b7-2295d5036877&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
10. The committees created were class study, athletics and fields sports, music and drama, social affairs, library and ready courses, conferences and conventions, missionary work, and debate and lecture. The Improvement era; 1897-1910 (Volumes 1-13); 1908-1909 (Volume 12); 1909 October (No. 12); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=d5edc698-b698-4b51-81c6-0d1a4f73e4a9&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
11. The Improvement era; 1910-1920 (Volumes 14-23); 1912-1913 (Volume 16); 1913 September (No. 11); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=416dc554-ecc7-41da-8dc6-e5d3a9edd34c&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
12. The Improvement era; 1910-1920 (Volumes 14-23); 1919-1920 (Volume 23); 1920 September (No. 11); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=486db126-8f70-4900-bfdc-9c1c590322e3&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
13. Deseret News Church almanac / prepared and edited by the staff of the Church News ... in cooperation with the staff of the Historical Department of The Church ...; 1981-1990; 1981; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=a939fbd7-9366-485a-a844-2741b9f36e7d&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: January 8, 2021)
14. Granite Stake Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1909–1969, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
15. 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 17, 2020)
16. Deseret News Church almanac / prepared and edited by the staff of the Church News ... in cooperation with the staff of the Historical Department of The Church ...; 1981-1990; 1981; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=a939fbd7-9366-485a-a844-2741b9f36e7d&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: January 8, 2021)
17. “Wedding announcement: Mrs. Y.L. General Board announces the marriage of her daughter Miss Young Woman’s Journal and Mr. Improvement Era on Saturday, June the eighth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine,” June 1929, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
18. “Young Men Organizations,” Church History Topic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
19. The Improvement era; 1930-1940 (Volumes 34-43); 1931-1932 (Volume 35); 1932 September (No. 11); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=a304ca0b-6703-4e61-b46a-5a09d01d464d&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
20. Deseret News Church almanac / prepared and edited by the staff of the Church News ... in cooperation with the staff of the Historical Department of The Church ...; 1981-1990; 1981; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=a939fbd7-9366-485a-a844-2741b9f36e7d&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: January 8, 2021)
21. The Improvement era; 1930-1940 (Volumes 34-43); 1939 (Volume 42); 1939 May (No. 5); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=7274c5ea-98f9-460c-b977-49ce1a53ded5&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
22. The Improvement era; 1930-1940 (Volumes 34-43); 1940 (Volume 43); 1940 September (No. 9); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=defe51ed-9d24-4e4c-8b3d-931c7cd81d31&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
23. Deseret News Church almanac / prepared and edited by the staff of the Church News ... in cooperation with the staff of the Historical Department of The Church ...; 1981-1990; 1981; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=a939fbd7-9366-485a-a844-2741b9f36e7d&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: January 8, 2021)
24. “’Duty to God’ Award Set Up For Youth of Church,” Church News, 8 January 1955.
25. “Plan Outlined to Correlate Boys’ Program,” Church News, 10 February 1962.
26. The Improvement era; 1961-1970 (Volumes 64-73); 1965 (Volume 68); 1965 September (No. 9); Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=61770fe0-31ea-4475-ab9f-01b79df01a73&crate=0&index=0 (accessed: December 18, 2020)
27. “New Bishop’s Youth Council,” Church News, 3 May 1969.
28. “New A. P. Program is Outlined,” Church News, 19 December 1970.
29. “Big Changes in MIA Programs,” New Era, September 1971.
30. “FYI: For Your Information,” New Era, January 1973, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
31. “Priesthood to Direct the Youth of the Church,” Church News, 29 June 1974.
32. “Priesthood to Direct the Youth of the Church,” Church News, 29 June 1974.
33. “Report of June Conference,” Ensign, Aug. 1975, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
34. “Youth programs are refined,” Church News, 21 May 1977.
35. “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topic, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
36. “Church Begins a New Era,” Church News, 8 March 1980.
37. “Aaronic Priesthood Satellite Fireside,” Ensign, August 1997
38. “Fulfilling Our Duty to God,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
39. Deseret News Church almanac / prepared and edited by the staff of the Church News ... in cooperation with the staff of the Historical Department of The Church ...; 2011-2013; 2013; Church History Library, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=9856555a-9c77-4011-bd76-7dc267e2c41c&crate=0&index=172 (accessed: January 8, 2021)
40. “Fulfilling My Duty to God: for Aaronic Priesthood Holders Manual,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
41. “Message to the Youth from the First Presidency,” in For the Strength of the Youth (2011), i–iv.
42. Thomas S. Monson, “Welcome to Conference,” October 2012 General Conference.
43. Church Announces New Youth Curriculum for 2013,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-announces-new-youth-curriculum-for-2013?lang=eng (accessed 11 December 2020).
44. “Ordained Priests Who Serve in the Temple Will Be Blessed, Young Men General Presidency Says,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/ordained-priests-who-serve-in-the-temple-will-be-blessed-young-men-general-presidency-says?lang=eng (accessed 11 December 2020).
45. “Age Changes for Youth Progression and Ordination Announced,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/age-changes-for-youth-progression-and-ordination-announced?lang=eng (accessed 11 December 2020).
46. “Joint Statement: Church and Boy Scouts of America,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/joint-church-bsa-statement?lang=eng (accessed 2 November 2020)
47. “Read the New Aaronic Priesthood Theme for Young Men,” 17 November 2019, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/read-the-new-young-men-theme?lang=eng (accessed 11 November 2020)
48. “Ward Young Men Presidencies Discontinued, Other Organizational Changes for Youth Announced,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/ward-young-men-presidencies-discontinued-other-organizational-changes-for-youth-announced?lang=eng (accessed 11 December 2020).
49. “Children and Youth,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth (accessed 2 November 2020)
50. Find an FSY Event, ChurchofJesusChrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/fsy.
51. “For the Strength of Youth: A New Magazine for Youth,” Gospel Library, 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 31 December 2021).