Priesthood Quorums' Table

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE. The new Movement Among the Priesthood Quorums of the Church has been desired for many years. It appears from the way the Presidents of Stakes and Bishops generally are receiving and adopting the instructions and the Courses of Study that the important and long-needed movement will be a success from the beginning. What is the new movement? It is a system of providing the High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons' quorums of the Church with a uniform Course of Study. It contemplates that each quorum or part of a quorum shall meet in each ward of the Church on every Monday evening for instruction in the formal study of the doctrines, principles and history of the gospel. The Seventies were the pioneers in the matter, beginning their uniform weekly study in the fall of 1907, and they have so far issued two year books, and made splendid progress in qualifying themselves for the work of the ministry abroad among the nations of the earth, which is their legitimate calling. At the April, 1908, general conference of the Church, President Joseph F. Smith highly commended the efforts of the Seventies. He also sounded the key note for similarly organizing all the other Priesthood quorums, with uniform courses of study, for the purpose of formally studying the doctrines and principles of the gospel, and for qualifying themselves in the active duties and labors of their several callings. Give the Lesser Priesthood something to do, was his admonition to the bishops, that will interest them in the work of the Lord, and direct their energies in such a way that they will be helpful to the needy, the poor, themselves and the Church— in the line of discipline, instruction, and practical experience. (See Conference Report, April, 1908; also Improvement Era, Vol. XI, pp. 547-50.) Soon after this date, a special committee on Course of Study for the Priesthood consisting of Elders Rudger Clawson, and David 0. McKay, both of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles; with Bishops Charles W. Nibley, Orrin P. Miller, and David A. Smith, the Presiding Bishopric of the Church, were chosen to take the initiative in carrying out the instructions, and to prepare courses of study for all the quorums, except the Seventy who already had their manual. The committee set to work upon the subject with energy. A system of work for the priesthood quorums had already been inaugurated in a number of the stakes, notably in Weber and Granite. These were investigated and finally a three-year course was decided

398 IMPR 0 VEMENT ERA . upon. The original committee then selected the following additional names: Edward H. Anderson, Nephi Anderson, Stephen L. Richards, Sylvester D. Bradford, John M. Mills, Joseph B. Keeler, David 0. Willey, Jr., Charles C. Richards, Henry H. Blood, Joseph J. Cannon, and P. Joseph Jensen. During the summer and fall of 1908, the committee met regularly once each week, organized the membership into sub-committees, decided upon a three-years' course for each quorum, and set to work upon the five manuals for the first year's study. As the manuscript was prepared it was submitted to an editing committee with Elder David 0- McKay chairman, and finally printed under the supervision of a printing commitee with Bishop David A. Smith, chairman. The outlines were distributed from the office of the Improvement Era to all the wards of the Church in early January. At the Priesthood meeting, at the general conference in October, the commitee by Chairman Clawson presented the whole subject to the assembled Priesthood, and the plan outlined was considered and unanimously adopted. It was decided that presidents of stakes and bishops of wards should get every worthy member ordained to the Priesthood and enrolled in the quorum where he could do the most efficient service to the Church ; that in every ward a weekly Priesthood meeting be held on Monday night, beginning on the first Monday night in January, 1909; and that commencing November 29, and continuing to December 27, a special stake conference of the Priesthood be held in every stake in the Church, at which representatives of the General Authorities were to attend to present and explain the movement. (For a copy of this report see Improvement Era, Vol. XII, p. 78-9. ) This arrangement was carried out universally, as nearly as circumstances would permit, and by the middle of January, the movement was making commendable headway in nearly all the wards of the Church. The bishopric, ward clerk, and quorum officers, and all the Priesthood of the ward compose the membership of these quorum meetings. They meet together conjointly, have opening exercises, roll call of officers, a singing practice of fifteen minutes, give general instructions, then separate into quorums. Here in the classes there is a roll call of members, minutes, then the regular lesson as out. lined in the Course, which should occupy one hour. In some wards the quorums reasemble for adjournment, in others not; this and the hour of meeting is left optional with the authorities, but the time of meeting should not exceed one hour and forty-five minutes, one hour of which should be devoted to quorum work. Thirty-six lessons for each year are provided, the balance of the time is to b« filled in by the different quorums as they think best, under direction of the Presidency of the different stakes. This movement to give the Quorums of the Priesthood a progressive Course of Study is meeting everywhere with hearty approval. Its ultimate success will, of course, depend upon the selection of good class instructors, the energy and spirit of the authorities and officers, attention to details, regularity, punctuality, preparaMor of lessons, and the selection of capable and energetic men to supervise the bors.

PRIES1H00D QUORUMS1 TABLE. 399 It only remains now to say a word about the study itself. Each lesson is in two parts : the theoretical and the practical. The first is for information, the second for application in the students' life. In other words, the object is to learn dnty; to act in performance of duty. It is hoped that the Deacon will learn not only the theory of his work, but how to apply that knowledge; and so with the Priest, and Teacher; as well as the Elder and High Priest. Great stress is laid upon the practical calling and duties of the members, and upon the need there is for all who hold the Priesthood to magnify and honor it. To this end division two of each lesson takes up practical work, assignment of duties f 3r the week, etc. Following are the titles of each Course for the first year: High Priests, "Church Organization and History;" Elders, "Book of Mormon; Divine Authenticity;" Priests, "Restoration of the Gospel and Church History;" Teachers, "Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price;" Deacons, " Old Testament." Beginning February 1st, the Seventies met with the other quorums, instead of on Sunday mornings as heretofore. Delay in the Course of Study — Unfortunately the Committee were unable to judge properly of the number of manuals needed to supply the priesthood and the result has been that the manuals on hand were exhausted about the 1st of February. The committee authorized a reprint of the manuals that were sold out, and the orders which came in too late for the first edition will be filled by the second. There are now plenty of manuals to supply the wants of all. Orders sent to Alpha J. Higgs, Improvement Era office, will receive prompt attention. Monday Night the Time of Meeting. — One of the stakes of Zion has requested that the deacons of that stake be permitted to bold their priesthood class meeting on Sunday morning as a part of the Sabbath School instead of attending the regular priesthood meeting on Monday night. The Committee on Course of Study, to whom this matter was referred, have unanimously decided that the meeting of any of the quorums of the priesthood at any other time than Monday night, the time now fixed for all the quorums to meet, be discouraged. If one quorum is permitted to meet at a separate time from that appointed, it would give license for other quorums to do the same, and the result would be a lack of uniformity, which is one of the principle advantages in the present arrangement. Having one evening for the quorums to meet, enables everybody to so arrange their affairs as to set that night apart for that purpose, and every person holding the priesthood should make it a point to be present on every Monday evening, and make that a uniform rule throughout the Church . Selecting Class Leaders— It is understood that the Elders and the High Priests shall select their own class leaders with the sanction and approval of the presidency of the stake, and that the class leaders for the Lesser Priesthood shall be chosen by the bishops. In choosing class leaders for the Lesser Priesthood quorums, it is wisdom for the bishops to avoid selecting all the teachers from any one quorum, but rather select them from alLthe higher quorums to avoid the disruption of any one quorum. Wisdom and judgment exercised in these matters

400 1MPR 0 VEMENT ERA . will prevent ill feeling and keep each quorum in working order. As far as the Seventies are concerned, it is understood that the selection of their class leaders shall be left with the presidents of the quorums, subject to the approval of the First Council of Seventy. On Re-assembling After Adjournment of Classes. — The question has been asked as to whether the Seventies should return and reassemble with the other quorums after their exercises, so that all the quorums may adjourn together. Whether the quorums or parts of quorums reassemble before the adjournment of the meeting is to be left to the discretion of the presiding authorities. It would be well for the officers of the quorums and the bishopric to meet together and have an understanding in regard to this matter. Where quorums desire to continue their class work longer than the time stated in the outlines, and they can do so without seriously interfering with the other classes or quorums, an arrangement to this end might be made. It is not well to be too strict with the higher quorums in this matter of re-assembling for dismissal, as they naturally require more time than the other quorums for the consideratiou of their lessons. Priesthood Quorums' Organ. — Now that the quorums of the Priesthood are engaged in the formal study of theology, and meet weekly with this commendable object in view, there arises a need for a means of communication between the general officers who have the study and the direction of the quorums in hand, and the members and teachers of the quorums. This need, it has been decided by the Presidency of the Church, the Committee on Course of Study, and the General Board Y. M. M. I. A., will be supplied by the Improvement Era which becomes the organ of the Priesthood Quorums and the Y. M. M. I. A. A department in the magazine will be devoted to the interests of the quorums, in which methods of teaching, answers to questions, and other instructions and information will be given. Presidents of stakes, bishops, and quorum officers and members are invited to take notice of this arrangement. All correspondence for this department should be sent to the editor of the Era, Salt Lake City, Utah. All subscriptions to the Era, and all orders for Priesthood Courses of Study and M. I. A. Manuals should be sent to Alpha J. Higgs, 214 Templeton Building, Salt Lake City. Presidents of Stakes, Bishops and Officers of Quorums, will please take notice that the Y. M. M. I. A. Board has Priesthood Quorum Courses of Study, which are now ready for distribution. All orders for these should be sent to Alpha J. Higgs at the Improvement Era office, No. 214 Templeton Building, Salt Lake City. All subscriptions for the Era should be forwarded to the same address. (Signed) Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund.