Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table.

Song Book for the Quorums.—The Committee on Course of Study for the Priesthood Quorums, in reply to many solicitations from the quorums for a suitable song book, has decided to recommend, and do recommend, the use of the Songs of Zion. We believe that this book will meet the requirements of the members of the quorums more generally than any other publication. It may be obtained from the Improvement Era, or from the book stores, or may be ordered direct from the Northern States Mission, No. 110 South Paulina St., Chicago, Illinois. Price, single copy, cloth, 35 cents, or $4.20 per dozen, postpaid.

— Angels. In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 129, we read that an angel is a resurrected being of flesh and bones, and the Bible declares that Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection (see I Cor. 15: 23; Acts 26: 23). If an angel is a resurrected being of flesh and bones, how can Christ be the first fruits of the resurrection? We have many accounts of angels visiting the earth long before Christ was crucified and resurrected (Gen. 19: 1; Dan. 6: 22; Gen. 32: 1).

We think our correspondent misapprehends the statement in the 129th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. We read it to mean that there are two kinds of angels; (1) resurrected personages having bodies of flesh and bones, and (2) spirits of just men made perfect, who are not resurrected; both are angels. An angel is a ministering spirit or mes- senger, and, as the Prophet says, there are two kinds of messengers or angels or beings in heaven. Now, those who visited the earth prior to

Christ's resurrection were evidently spirits of just men made perfect, for Christ was the first fruits of the resurrection, and angels with re-

surrected bodies and pertaining; to this earth, could not have existed prior to his resurrection.

First Council Located in Bishop's Building. — Through the courtesy of the First Presidency and the Presiding Bishopric, the First

186 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Council of Seventy are now located in the Bishop's Building, at 40 North Main Street. For a couple of years past workmen have been busily engaged erecting this beautiful and artistic building. It occupies the south corner of Temple Avenue and Main Street, opposite the Salt Lake Temple. The result of the labors of the past two years is a most beau- tiful, substantial and commodious building, which is an ornament to the city and a credit to its builders. The First Council of Seventy were very agreeably surprised when offered office room in this splendid structure.

At no time since the organization of the Church have they occupied quarters so commodious and comfortable as those now placed at their disposal. In addition to the comfort of the rooms, there is the added pleasure of being in a building that is entirely occupied by Church organizations. The general offices of the auxiliary organizations are housed in the same building and altogether should constitute a most har- monious and happy family. It is the hope of the First Council that as a Council they are at last permanently housed. They feel sure that none of the occupants of the new building will appreciate the change of quarters more than they do. To all concerned in bringing about such a desirable improvement, the Council extends most hearty and sincere thanks.

What Makes Life Livable. — A correspondent writing to Har- per's Weekly, complains that as a nation we have no use for genius, and explains that the measure of a nation's real greatness in "the history of civilization is the genius it produces." For "genius is the advance guard of civilization. Comfort, ease, physical products, are but the means to produce more genius, more beauty, more spiritual joy in the world." Then the writer pens this truthful paragraph:

For it is not clothes and food and drink and motor cars and furni- ture and rooms that make life livable, but it is the eye to see, the ears that hear, the heart that rejoices in beauty and nobility, that make life bearable, despite the inevitable evils. The nation that above all others discourages all spiritual delights is the nation that will lead, too, in race suicide, the nation that will be most branded with despair of life.

If that exalted intellectual power which we call genius can so sat- isfy the spiritual in man as to make life more livable, what shall we say of the power of the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which not only does all that genius accomplishes, but in addition "cheers in darkness, relieves in perplexity, supports in adversity, stands steadfast in prosper- ' ity. ' and leads the enquirer to that exalted harmony with his Maker, which insures unbounded hope for the future life, and complete enjoyment in the present!

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The mission of our Priesthood quorums is to create and develop in the lives of our membership the full glow of the spirit of the gospel, and to prepare the brethren to reveal to others the principles of life, the healing balm that shall make their lives more livable.

Seventies' Course in Theology— Third Year Book.— The quo- rums of Seventy throughout the Church are expected to take up the study of the Third Year Book at the first quorum or class meeting in January, 1910. There may be some of the quorums that have not completed the Second Year Book; if this be so, the members of all such quorums are instructed to finish their study of the work, privately at home. It is the desire of the First Council that all the quorums commence consideration of the Third Year Book at the same time. The adoption of this recom- mendation will give uniformity to the work in all the quorums, and en- able the brethren who may be under the necessity of moving from one locality to another, to continue their studies without interruption, as they will find the same lessons being considered wherever they may go. The Doctrine of Deity will be the subject of the Third Year Book. It will contain much information bearing upon this all-important subject, as made known in the revelations of the Lord in this latter dispensation. In addition to the "Mormon" view of God, a mine of valuable informa- tion will be found in the work, presenting the views that have been held regarding the Creator by various peoples, in different periods of the world's history. The coming year should be a time of very great inter- est among the Seventies. Elder B. H. Roberts is preparing the lessons on the Deity, and this is a guarantee that it will be thoroughly and intelli- gently handled. The work is now in the hands of the printer, and will be ready for distribution by December 10. Presidents of quorums should at once ascertain how many copies of the new year book will be required in their various quorums, and orders for the work should be sent in as early as possible. Every Seventy in the Church should be persuaded to purchase the year books as they issue from the press. All year books should be carefully preserved when pur- chased, as frequent references will be made to them from year to year as other text books for the Seventy are prepared. The number of year books ordered should be limited only by the number of Seventies in each quorum.