Priesthood Quorums’ Table

EDITOR'S TABLE. 1039 Robinson, of Linton, Indiana, who was the first elder ever called from Indiana as a regular missionary, and R. S. Reid. FIRST LATTER-DAY SAINT SUNDAY SCHOOL'rIN LINTON, INDIANA. Elder Rudger Clawson, of the European mission, lately made a tour of the continent, visiting the Scandinavian and Swedish missions, and thence to Germany, where he met, in Hamburg, with President Thomas E. McKay and the elders, on July 20. The following day he went to Ber- lin, and thence to Holland. He reports as follows in the Millennial Star: "At 2:30 p. m., July 21, we met with the elders of the Berlin con- ference, at Berlin, an active, wide-awake, and intelligent body of young men, as, in truth, were all the elders I have met during my visit on the continent. "At the evening meeting the hall was crowded with Saints and friends, but the occasion was greatly marred by the entrance of the police, who unceremoniously, and in defiance of true politeness, inter- rupted the speaker and closed the meeting. [An account of this trouble, in which President Clawson figured, being held in prison overnight, appears in another part of this number of the Era.] "Yesterday, July 24, I had the pleasure of attending a notable con- ference of the Netherlands mission, held in Rotterdam. President Joseph F. Smith, Bishop Charles W. Nibley and other visitors, and about one hundred and fifty elders were present, President B. G. Thatcher taking charge. At the afternoon services there were eleven hundred people present and in the evening fifteen hundred crowded into the hall, and listened with rapt attention to the testimonies and exhortations of the prophet of God, the presiding bishop and the elders of the Church. The

1040 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Sunday evening meeting was one of the largest, if not the largest, meet- ings ever held by our Church in the world, outside the stakes of Zion. There were fifteen hundred present; of this number eight hundred were friends. Thirteen hundred and fifty books were sold. "Two priesthood meetings were held today at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. There were present President Joseph F. Smith, Bishop Charles W. Nibley, myself, President Thomas E. McKay, President B. G. Thatcher, one hundred and forty elders, and a number of visitors. Many timely suggestions and wise counsels were given by President Smith and others, and it was a matter of regret when the meeting came to a close. Priesthood meetings will continue tomorrow and Wednesday, when an adjournment will be reached. "President Smith leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) morning for Denmark and the north, and it is expected will meet with the elders and Saints in Copenhagen, Christiania and Stockholm before returning." It is expected that President Smith and Bishop Nibley will arrive in Salt Lake City about September 8. X^- ■•-.& •"■^r • 1 toft & * ■;* i m wS ■ ~ THE I . D. S. CHOIR AT STOCKHOLM, SWEDISH MISSION.

Priesthood Quorums' Table. "The Place and Functions of Elders' Quorums in the Church." — This paper was read before the tri-stake Priesthood Conven- tion, July 16, 1910, at Ogden, by William D. VanDyke, of the North Weber stake high council: At the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 6, 1830, the prophet called upon the brethren present, ask- ing if they would accept himself and Oliver Cowdery as their teachers in spirtual things, and if they were willing that he should proceed to organ- ize the Church, according to the commandments of the Lord. To this they consented. The prophet then ordained Oliver an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, after which Oliver ordained the prophet an elder of said Church. Joseph and Oliver had previously been ordained apostles under the hands of Peter, James and John, and had doubtless reordained each other; yet, when it came to the organization of the Church, they were instructed in the art of order and government. Hence our Father commanded the prophet and Oliver to ordain each other elders in the Church, and thus this office in the priesthood was created and instituted as the first stepping stone of growth and development in the Melchizedek Priesthood. In later revelations from the Lord, the duties and labors of the elders are definitely stated. In his broj»d, and comprehensive field of labor, he has the authority to preach the gospel, baptize, lay on hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, administer the sacrament, and pre- side where there is no high priest present. Indeed, he has a right to officiate in a high priest's stead when there is no high priest present, confirm baptized members of the Church, and ordain other elders, priests teachers and deacons. Ninety-six elders constitute a quorum which is presided over by a president and two counselors, "whose duty it is to sit in council with them, and teach them according to the covenants." There may be any number of quorums of elders in a branch or stake of Zion, as there is no

1042 IMPROVEMENT ERA. limit whatever given in the revelations. The elders' "quorum is insti- tuted for standing ministers, nevertheless they may travel, yet they are ordained to be standing ministers to my Church" (Sec. 124: 137). All quorums of elders are under the supervision and jurisdiction of the presidency of the stake in which they are located, hence in the Church of Christ they are definitely known as stake organizations, although the members are under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the ward in which they reside. This fact, when understood aright, should prevent any friction or confusion between the bishop and the elders' quorums, for I take it the bishops will not call upon the elders for other labors on quorum meeting nights, unless it becomes absolutely necessary. These con- ditions, however, remain in the discretion of the bishop of the ward in which the elder resides. Numerically considered, our elders' quorums constitute the largest body of the priesthood, and I am informed that the great majority of the missionaries abroad are now from the elders' quorums. But let me ask, how many quorums in these three stakes are in touch with their elders abroad? How many quorums have sent out letters of encourage- ment to their brothers in the field? How many of the quorums have inquired as to the finances of their poorer members abroad who, perhaps are stranded? How many quorums have taken steps among its mem- bers at home, who are able, to send the worthy and needful fellow- members in the field a few dollars, on Christmas or New Year? How many quorums inquire concerning the welfare of the families of their absent missionaries? All of these important duties, I take it, are func- tions of the elders' quorums as a whole. However, I think the primary reasons for which the elders' quor- ums in the Church were organized are for convenience, for discipline, order, instruction in the art and system of government, and to encour- age and educate its members in the gospel of Christ, and in their duties in the priesthood. Indeed, the mission and functions of the elders' quor- ums are foreshadowed in the following portion of one of the revelations. I read from section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants: And, as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study, and also by faith. Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord ; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. . . . Appoint yourselves a