Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table.

Bishops will Select Seventies for Missionary Service. — For several years it has been the rule for all seventies chosen for mis- sionary service abroad, to be selected and recommended under the im- mediate authority of the First Council of Seventy. Bishops have been restricted in the filling of requisitions made upon them, for missionaries, to the elders, high priests and the quorums of the lesser priesthood. The reason for introducing this double system of making recommenda- tions for missionaries was to do away with occasional misunderstandings, and more or less confusion that had been arising, through Bishops, and Presidents of Seventies, now and then sending in the name of the same individual for a missionary call. To avoid this duplicating of names, the presiding authorities of the Church decided that seventies should be sought after for missionary service, through the First Council and local Councils of Seventy, and missionaries from the other quorums of all

priesthood, through the various bishoprics. At a special priesthood meeting held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, Wednesday, April 7, 1909, it was decided that the bishops of the various wards should recom- mend brethren for missionary labor from the quorums of seventy, just as they have heretofore done from all other quorums of priesthood. Presidents, and members, of the quorums of seventy, will therefore understand that requisitions for missionary calls from thair ranks will hereafter come from the bishops. The word of the Lord is:

The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. It is the duty of the traveling High Council to call upon the seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and ad- ministering the gospel, instead of any others.

The bishops are urged to keep in mind the doctrine here set forth, and in filling the requirements made upon them for missionaries to choose, if possible, from the ranks of the seventy and fill the requisitions wher-

ever it is consistent from their numbers, instead of any others, as the

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Lord has said. When bishops come to scan the quorums of seventy for missionaries, if they find there are not sufficient men of missionary cal- ibre to meet the demand, let this lack of proper material be an incen- tive to them to use their influence towards having the quorums of seventy filled with the right class of men; that the quorums may become what the Lord intended them to be; that is, the missionary force of the Church. Bishops, the First Council again urge you to recommend from the seven- ties as many men as possible for missionary work abroad.

A Hypothetical Question. —If all persons holding the Melchize- dek Priesthood, excepting one elder, should in some way or other be taken from the earth, could or should he reorganize the Church again?

This question is purely hypothetical and of little consequence or in- terest. Such a contingency is not likely to arise, but if it did -arise, no man on earth can now tell what wouli be done. The action taken would depend largely on the inspiration of the Lord to that one elder, or upon what the Lord would call him to do; because calling in the Priesthood is quite as important as authority. A man holding the Priesthood has authority to do many things that he will not do until he is called to do them. The lone elder would certainly have authority to go ahead with the work, to ordain other elders, and to fill up the quorums and build up the Church, because he would be in possession of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which is greater than any office in it. The Church would scarcely need reorganization, but growth. That is what he could do; what he should do is a matter about which he would properly consult the Lord and learn of a surety that he was called to actin whatever steps

might be taken. In the meantime, the Church of Christ is established never more to be overthrown nor given to another people.

Time for Completing "Second Year Book" Extended. — At the time of inaugurating the present system of weekly meetings among the seventies of the Church, the first Sunday in November was selected to commence the work. The "First Year Book" commenced in accord- ance with the plan on the first Sunday in November of the year 1908. gome of the quorums have completed the line of study as outlined in the "Second Year Book," and are now prepared to take up another course of lessons. In very many wards the weekly priesthood meetings were dis- continued for the summer months by order of the various bishops; owing to this temporary discontinuance of work many of the quorums of seventy have not succeeded in completing the year book for 1908-9, within the time originally designated. It has been decided by the First Council

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that a change be made in the time for completing the study of the "Second Year Book" and the time has been extended until the end of the present year. This change will bring the quorums of seventy into more complete harmony with the recent priesthood movement, as all other quorums will complete their first year outlines on the last Monday in the coming December. The quorums of seventy that have completed the "Second Year Book' ' can undoubtedly spend the time that will be at their disposal be- tween now, and the first week in January, 1910, in a most interesting and profitable manner in reviewing some of the lessons that have been under consideration during the past two years; or in introducing such other items as the presidents may feel will be for the best interests of their respective quorums. Those quorums that have fallen behind in their lessons through a discontinuance of weekly meetings, during the summer season, are now urged to give all possible attention to' the work that has been prepared, and have all the lessons completed by the end of the year. Elder B. H. Roberts is now busily engaged in the preparation of the ' ' 'Third Year Book, ' and all quorums of seventy will be required to take up this new line of work the first week in January, 1910. The change of time in commencing work for the year, from the first week in November, to the first week in January will make the starting point for the seventies the same as that of all other quorums. This change in no way affects the time for holding the annual seventies meet- ing; that is to be held the first week in November, of each year, as out- lined in the Era last month.

Get Started, Hold On, and Finish.— A business magazine gives this good advice: "Get the thing started. That is one half of success. The other half is —get the thing done. Starting the idea into operation and doing it to a complete finish — that is the only road to results. " How well this applies in religious work, also, and to our Priesthood quorum work! Get it started, push it through, initiate and finish. Anl that implies holding on persistently and with purpose and zeal, to make a suc- cessful season. The new outlines will soon be announced. Have you finished the old ones? Are you working to be ready for the new? If you have failed once, try again. Remember the old colored preacher's definition of perseverance: "Firstly, take hold; secondly, hold on; third- ly, nebber let go." We must persevere and be persistent if we would succeed and finish, as well in religious work as in business.