For most of the 20th century, all of the Church auxiliaries held annual conventions or conferences for stake and ward officers (and sometimes teachers) of that auxiliary. Most of these were held in the weeks just before or after April conference. Exceptions to that schedule were the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Associations, which held their conference in June – called “June Conference.”

I don’t know without some hunting that I have not done just when June Conference began, and whether there was originally some purpose for holding it in June instead of April, or whether it was merely a matter of convenience in the early years that simply became habitual. June was a good month for MIA conferences, though: June usually offered great weather for outdoor activities, like those related to Scouting. Because the MIA was also responsible for activities like dancing, which takes a lot more space than a sermon does, June Conference often used outdoor facilities, like the football stadium at the University of Utah, to stage demonstrations.

With changes to the youth programs, June Conference went the way of so many old-time Mormon traditions, and its programs – even its existence – may be unfamiliar to most of us. What follows are some questions and answers provided in 1967, while June Conference was still in full bloom, by the YMMIA’s general superintendent G. Carlos Smith, Jr., and the YWMIA’s general president Florence Smith Jacobsen, explaining June Conference to Latter-day Saints who had never participated.

Question: Since most members of the Church have never attended a June Conference, would you explain what it is all about?

Jacobsen: ((In case you wonder: The original report does refer to the two presidents as “Smith” and “Jacobsen,” without title or honorific.)) Most members have never attended June Conference because it is designed to give instruction and inspiration to MIA leaders and workers. It is a leadership conference wherein we present the coming year’s program. MIA leaders are invited to come and enjoy the festivals, programs, and workshops that have been prepared for their use.

Question: What are some of the activities and programs to be presented this June Conference?

Smith: We will outline in workshops the programs of each department— M Men, Scouts, Mia Maids, Laurels, and so forth— for the entire year. We will also have such major productions as the dance festival— held every other year — quartet festival, and roadshows.

Question: How do you obtain participants for this year’s dance festival?

Jacobsen: — Approximately 9,000 young people will participate this year. We send to all stakes application forms asking if any wish to participate in the festival. When the applications are returned, selections are made, usually by accepting persons from areas that have never before participated.

Question: What do you do about props, housing, costumes, and chaperones?

Jacobsen: Participants are responsible for these themselves. They are responsible for their own transportation, costumes, housing, and chaperonage within established requirements.

Smith: We pay the expenses of the actual production, such as rental of the stadium.

Question: What goes into preparing for a Church-wide dance festival?

Smith: Let me say first that preparation for a June Conference is quite an undertaking. Immediately after this June Conference the general board dance committee will start thinking about the next festival two years from now. They try to determine the needs of youth and then make up, or choreograph, original dance steps. As the program takes shape, our committee members actually make blueprints of every step and movement, so that when about 9,000 participants arrive at the University of Utah stadium, these leaders will know exactly what each person will be doing at any given moment.

Jacobsen: Thought must also be given to costume design, whether the costumes are for an all-girl dance, a ballroom number, or a folk dance. Decisions must be made on the number of boys, girls, and couples that will be needed. Then bids are put out for hundreds of thousands of yards of material and thousands of spools of thread and zippers. The costume materials are then sent out to each participating stake in individual packets.

Smith: We also make filmstrips of each dance, keying them in with the music to be used, and send both filmstrip and record to each stake so the participants may learn the dances before coming to Salt Lake City. When 9,000 youth arrive here to participate, they must know what they are going to do.

Question: What about contemporary American dances? Do you use them either in the dance festival or in MIA?

Jacobsen: Some contemporary American dances are acceptable, dances that are not grotesque, sensual, immodest, or suggestive. But this is one of our problems— to find dances that are peppy, alive, and fun. Actually, we do teach youth in MIA to dance some of the contemporary dances, but to dance them in a modest way.

Question: What are some of the other activities of June Conference?

Jacobsen: We have a quartet festival, winning roadshows, and this year a new musical, “All in Favor,” written by Latter-day Saints. The latter is designed so that every ward or branch may be able to put it on.

Question: Are the influences of June Conference observable upon the entire MIA program?

Smith: We can almost draw a line and determine whether the Saints have been to June Conference or not by their performance of the year’s program. The difference between a stake whose leaders have attended conference and a stake whose leaders have not is almost like day and night. Enthusiasm, know-how, and adaptability reveal themselves immediately.

Question: What is the philosophy behind the entire MIA program?

Jacobsen: MIA gives young people an opportunity to mingle socially in a recreational, activity, and cultural program under a spiritual atmosphere. For example, we try to teach honesty, good sportsmanship, and teamwork in our sports programs. Many values that are principles of the gospel may also be taught in recreation or on the athletic field. For the girls, we are able to mix adventure and spirituality in the camping program. The girls often hold testimony meetings around the fireside, and learn to help others at camp who may not be as well-adjusted.

Many of the MIA activities in which girls engage are for self improvement. They have lessons helping them to dress properly and to handle money wisely. Virtues of cleanliness, modesty, and integrity are taught. We hope this training will help each girl become a mature, well-adjusted woman.

Question: How extensive is the youth camp program?

Jacobsen: We encourage camping for both boys and girls, but we do not encourage the procuring of camps, although about 30 camps are owned by stake groups. Most stakes use camps on a rental basis. All camps are under the direction of the priesthood. All girls must have adequate insurance. We have an award certification program in which the girls may participate. About 62,000 girls go to MIA camps each year.

Question: What are the expectations for a young man who participates in MIA?

Smith: I would hope that when he has completed the MIA program, he would have begun his scouting | career as a 12-year-old and ended it as an Eagle Scout; that he would have received his “Duty to God” award and progressed in the Explorer and Ensign programs; and that he would have gone on to the M Man program and become a Master M Man. He would now be nearing 30 years of age and would be well grounded in the gospel. Our program is designed to take youngsters from obscurity through participation, involvement, and good fellowship until each can stand on his own, a man of character and intelligence before God and man.

Jacobsen: We also try to inspire both young men and young women to seek temple marriage.

Question: How widespread is the MIA program?

Smith: Wherever you find the Church throughout the world, you find MIA, even in military camps. In Saigon, for example, our three thousand to four thousand Latter-day Saint men meet in servicemen’s groups in a modified MIA activity program.

Question: Is the MIA program different in the various cultures of the world?

Jacobsen: Nearly all of the Saints use the total MIA program with little adaptation. I’ve seen MIA in Iran, Japan, and European countries, and it is’ amazing how Western many want to be. For example, we have suggested that different cultures use their own dances or dramas in the activity programs, but they usually prefer to use the same dances and dramas as the Saints in the United States. I went to a dance activity in Japan expecting to see a beautiful Japanese dance, but instead I saw the youth dancing the “Blue Danube.” The Saints in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, and Bavaria, however, often prefer to use their own dances.

Question: In the U.S., MIA basketball is famous, but considering the world-wide cultural differences in the Church, do all MIA’s play basketball?

Smith: No, we encourage flexibility in sports. For example, in England our Saints love to play soccer football and volleyball, often with a team of both boys and girls. In Australia, it’s tennis— even table tennis. In many parts of Europe they like soccer and swimming, and they particularly enjoy track and field. I have seen men and women contending with one another in the 100-yard dash, for example. I’ve seen English girls run the 100-yard dash in a rainstorm, but it was all part of the fun.

Question: In a world Church that has many cultural differences and social mores, how do you establish a personal standards program?

Jacobsen: When one becomes a member of the Church, regardless of the customs, social mores, or practices of his country, he agrees to accept and live the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is especially true with personal standards. For example, the standard of modesty in dress is the same the world over as far as Latter-day Saints are concerned. Standards of moral conduct are also the same.

It is thrilling to realize that we have a worldwide community of youth who have and follow a high code of personal integrity.

Question: The Church is hearing more and more about youth conferences. What is this program?

Smith: Most missions and many stakes conduct annual youth conferences. It is a rather new program for the stakes, but one that is becoming increasingly popular. Youth conferences may be conducted either by a single stake or by a group of stakes. Most of the conferences are of two or three days’ duration and are usually terminated with a testimony meeting. They usually begin on a Friday with registration and activities. Throughout Saturday, dancing, music, drama, sports, and other activities are presented. A party or ball is held on Saturday evening, featuring a floor show of youth talent. The conference climaxes on Sunday with a priesthood meeting for the boys while the girls hold a special meeting. Then a testimony meeting follows. This is the usual format. We have a booklet, “Let’s Hold a Youth Conference,” that outlines a suggested approach. Local MIA people work with their priesthood leaders and decide on the type of program needed in their area.

Question: How do you obtain lessons and activities for the MIA program?

Smith: Members of our general boards are carefully selected from the Church for their talent, spirituality, and availability. We expect board members to visit the Saints, to attend MIA, Sunday School, and priesthood meetings, to get the pulse of the Church. We expect them not only to participate in the Church but also to participate in community affairs, so that they are well-balanced individuals and will know the kind of world in which we live and for which we are preparing the youth. The board is divided into age-group and activity committees, and the members’ assignments are to devise programs that will appeal to certain age groups within the Church.

Question: How much time do committees have to come up with a year’s program or manual?

Smith: Some of our programs are projected to 1970, but usually we are working on programs to be used two years hence.

Jacobsen: Many general board members have children of MIA age and are going through the experience as parents in learning what youngsters need and want.

Question: How is the yearly MIA theme chosen?

Smith: Board members are asked to submit themes and then we try to correlate them with the correlation program of the Church.

Jacobsen: Let me add that much prayer goes into the theme selection. Each theme selected is the appropriate one for its day.

Question: Sometimes Church members hear reports of other faiths and groups and their interest in the MIA program. To what extent is this true?

Smith: Let’s take our young men’s basketball program here in Utah as an example. After the Church started this program, some of our neighbors in other churches started similar sports programs. Another example: the Explorer Scout program of the Boy Scouts of America was adopted several years ago from the Church’s program that was called the Vanguard program.

Jacobsen: We have had requests for our girls camp certification program, for lessons from our Young Marrieds manual, and for our music program.

The YWMIA executives belong to the National Council of Women, and recently we met with education, civic, and religious leaders in a national seminar. Interestingly enough, at the conclusion of this three-day conference it was decided that the most helpful note that had arisen was the Church’s family home evening program that we as an MIA had presented as part of our way of life. Also, when I was in Iran a year ago attending the International Council of Women conference, many inquiries were made concerning our youth conferences.

Question: What is the future of MIA?

Jacobsen: More wonderful than ever! We hope to bring youth into increasing roles of responsibility. We have allowed leaders in the past to become too responsible for the program and have not given youth sufficient responsibility. Youth are very capable of carrying out, with some adult supervision, a program that fits their needs. We have also tended to be group oriented, and we are now recognizing the need to concentrate on the individual. We are trying to make it possible for the talented as well as the untalented youth to receive encouragement and development in the MIA program. In the coming year we will have a cultural art exhibit in which all young people can exhibit their talents— whether it be stamp collecting, bug collecting, sculpturing, painting, ceramics, or sewing.

Smith: I know there is a greater need for MIA in the world today than ever before, and I feel sure the MIA program will be enhanced and developed more vigorously than ever.