Priesthood Quorums’ Table

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE.

The Resurrection. — Will the wicked be resurrected, and have immortal bodies that can never die? Ttris question is answered plainly in the Book of Mormon. The resurrection of all men u to take place, whether they be just or unjust. Amulek, the prophet of the Lord and friend of Alma, the younger, taught this truth to Zeezrom, the distinguished lawyer of the corrupt city of Amonihah. He uttered these words to Zeezrom:

"Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death: and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death; "The spirit and the body shall be re- united again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. "Now this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous: and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost, but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall b<* brought and be ar- raigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. "Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you

that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body; that is, from death: even from the first death unto life; that they can die no more, their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided", thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption." — Alma 11: 42-45.

When Amulek had finished, Alma took up the subject, and in reply to a ques- tion from Zeezrom unfolded the scriptures on this point beyond what Amulek had done. Zeezrom asked : "What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken con- cerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God, to be judged according to their works?" In reply Alma said:

"And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works.

"Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch, that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned; "For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us, to hide us from his presence. ''But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame, that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name, and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance. "And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things per- taining unto righteousness; "Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brim- stone, whose flame ascendeth up for ever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan; he having subjected them according to his will. "Then I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God's justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption." — Alma 12: 12-18.

The last verse quoted, fully answers the question of our correspondent, and plainly in the affirmative. As to the sons of perdition, it is not known nor ever will be to man, except to those unfortunates who are made partakers thereof, what the end or place of their torment will be.

Quorum Meetings Necessary. — Reports received from the quorums of Seventy indicate that quite a number of the quorums that have a district cover- ing more than one ward, have failed to carry out the instructions given by the First Council regarding the holding of quorum meetings. Presidents of quorums are again reminded, that every Seventies quorum that embraces more than one ward should meet on the last Monday of each month in a quorum meeting. This means that the members who meet for class work in the wards each Monday even- ing, are to come together in one body once a month for a full quorum meeting. The last Monday of the month is suggested as the time for holding the quorum meetings; wherever the holding of this meeting at the time mentioned will come in serious conflict with other duties or meetings, the presidents should arrange with the local authorities for some other Monday night and hold regularly once a month a quorum meeting. At these meetings such business as properly belongs to the quorum should be presented, after which the regular lesson should be con- ducted as far as the time will permit. Quorums that are widely scattered, par- ticularly those covering an entire stake, are exempt from this rule, and are in- structed to hold a quorum meeting every three months at the time of the quarterly conference. It may be an advantage for some quorums to hold the monthly quo-

rum meeting in connection with the stake priesthood meeting. Stake conference

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and stake priesthood days are suggested to avoid multiplying days for meetings. It should be no hardship to attend a quorum meeting at such times; as it is the duty of the Seventies always to be present at these stake gatherings. When a quorum is in a single ward the members will not be in any way affected by the above instructions, but will continue meeting every Mondav evening for class exercises as heretofore.

Seventies Weekly Meetings Should Continue. —In some of the wards the weekly priesthood meetings have been adjourned for the summer months. The attention of presidents of Seventies quorums is directed to the faet that no such adjournment should affect the holding of weekly meetings among the Seventies. The Year Book now being studied by the Seventies has lessons for almost every week throughout the year excepting stake conference weeks. It will be impossible to finish the lessons within the year if the work be discontinued for the season. The Seventies should feel that an understanding of past gospel dispen- sations is essential t) a proper comprehension of the present dispensation, the greatest of all. A little extra effort and determination now will enable the brethren to complete the Year Book within the prescribed time, and make them masters measurably of the important lessons therein outlined, thus rounding out their understanding of the hand-dealings of God among his children in the past.

Such knowledge will enable them to better comprehend those portions of his mar- velous work yet to be brought to their attention. A temporary adjournment means the cutting out of some part of the work, and only obtaining a partial

grasp of the lessons as prepared. At the beginning of the year another course of study will be ready. There

is no time for adjournment. Presidents, be in earnest, urge the brethren to con-

tinue the meetings weekly, complete the course you are now studying; and be prepared to take up the next Year Book at the appointed time.

believe that raffling in the Raffling.— To those who are still inclined to church pur- churches is a legitimate means of raising money for benevolent and a charge by the grand jury to Judge M. H. Willis of New poses, a synopsis of given May will be interesting reading: Mortinsville, West Virginia, 5, societies and church Judge Willis instructed the grand jury to indict all church workers who obtain money through the medium of raffling. He said that persons who secure money in the manner indicated should be treated the same as ordi- to this decision, in its issue nary gamblers. The Chicago Herald calling attention of May 6. 1909, says: "As numerous raffles have been conducted recently, it is

called to stand trial. possible that many prominent church men will be