The Improvement Era
The Improvement Era was a magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1897 to 1970. “Joined officially to the Young Men Mutual Improvement Association, the Era immediately became the premier adult periodical of the Church through its General Authority sponsorship and its focus on theology, history, contemporary affairs, and life in the Church. Its name reflected its sponsor's goal to be for the intellectual, moral, and spiritual mutual improvement of its readers in a new Church era just one year after Utah achieved statehood.”[1]
“The Era soon served more than the YMMIA. It was the publication arm of the Seventies in 1908, of other priesthood quorums in 1909, and of Church schools in 1913. It merged with young woman's journal, the publication of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA, which became young women in 1977) in 1929. By 1936 it had become the arm of the music committee, ward teaching, and other agencies of the Church. Beginning in 1942, the Era printed all General Conference addresses (it had previously printed selected addresses).”[2]
Beginning in 1960, The Era included a section entitled “The Era of Youth,” which was edited by Elder Marion D. Hanks of the Seventy and Elaine Cannon, who served as Young Women general president from 1978 to 1984.
- The Era 's preeminence from 1901 onward for more than half a century was in part due to the participation of the President of the Church as its principal editor; thus, its pages were often used to voice concerns important to Church leadership and to respond to queries concerning Church doctrine and LDS lifestyle.[3]
The Improvement Era was succeeded by the Ensign Magazine in January 1971.
