Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table. How to Make a Class Recitation Interesting. — This topic was treated 'by Elder Charles J. Ross, of the Weber Stake high council, at the July convention of the three stakes. Love for the class and for the work is the bond of sympathy that brings success. This in itself may constitute fitness for teaching. Not all your elders are, in the main, well rooted in the gospel, others are skeptical; so you must know them. There must be first the personality that wins; there must be mutual attraction. Personal appearance means a great deal. A clear, well-modulated voice, a gentle but firm manner, play no small part in producing interest in the class. You may have a fine head of hair, but if it is unkempt it detracts from the interest. The eye should be bright, the smile cheerful, radiating a thorough prep- aration of the lesson on the part of the teacher. An attitude of love and interest in the class, an attractive personality, should be balanced by a keen and discerning mind and an equitable poise. Repose, it is said, is the emblem of power. Two things you must know — your pupil and his life first, but no less yourself and your own mind. Knowing one's own mind is said to be the secret of firmness, and means determination, and includes constancy of pur- pose. So, knowing yourself, and having decided to accept the position as class instructor, you should realize two requirements — namely, pa- tience and firmness; patience is control, and your work calls for its con- stant exercise. Without control there can be no interest in the class. Patience is often tried by having to repeat a thing several times, but it must be given again and again, until the suggestion bears fruit. It is your business to explain a point until the class understands, or until they remember and do. Now, there are some things with which you must not be too pa- tient— for instance, heedlessness. Kindly suggestion must be called to this as long as it continues; then again, carelessness, unnecessary lack of preparation, or irregular preparation, or irregular attendance. We

86 IMPROVEMENT ERA. hear elders say sometimes, "The teacher does not care whether we pre- pare or not." You must care whether he prepares or not, whether he is careful or slipshod, or progressive or non-progressive, in his prepara- tion. The class quickly recognizes your interest or lack of interest in this regard. One thing must never be forgotten, and that is that the class invariable takes its cue from the teacher. Is the teacher half-hearted, half- interested, irregular with his lessons? The class finds it easy to excuse themselves and do likewise. Are mistakes corrected once in a while, neglected afterwards? The pupil's work will show the same lack of interest. The interest in our class recitation is often destroyed at the begin- ning by the teacher offering excuses for his lack of preparation. He has not had time, just hurriedly glanced over it last night, etc. Excuses, especially self-excuses, are worse than useless. As Shakespeare puts it, "Patches put upon a little breach, discredit more in hiding of the fault." Hurry is one great trouble in our preparation. It is described as being peculiarly American. Before we master the simple things in our preparation we rush ahead to the more difficult things, and the result is that in the end we fail to get interest when presenting the lesson. Only the most ambitious, patient and energetic members of the class survive. Hurry has been described as "Americanitis, " a kind of disease of rush, worry and ruin. It is always dangerous, in the preparation of a lesson, to a healthy and successful growth. Some writer has said, "Hurry means physical tension somewhere, and exhaustion afterwards.'' Hurry suggests bad planning, imperfect preparation, careless execution, loss of interest. Hurrv means loss of dignity and power. Hurry means fear, and fear is the greatest enemy to success. In vain people try to attain a calm manner with a tense body. When we have relaxed the muscles at will, we may easily become quiet in manner and peaceful in spirit. The bodily condition is the real repose. We will not hurry when we know the danger to the nervous system. A painstaking, interesting teacher is usually rewarded by a painstaking, interesting class. Are we Living in one of the Three Glories? — "Are we living in any one of the three degrees of glory, as mentioned in Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants?" asks a correspondent of Centerfield, Utah. No; it is very clear, from the Pearl of Great Price, that we are living in our second estate, our first having been the estate in which we dwelt with the Father in the heavens, before our coming to this earth; and that the glories which are mentioned in Section 76 of the Doctrine and Co'enants are the conditions that will await us hereafter. That

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE. 87 these glories come after the resurrection, is especially made plain from the 16th verse, "Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man; and shall come forth." Also, in verse 50, it is made plain that the partaker.5 of celestial glory are those "who come forth in the resurrection of the just" (see also verses 63, 64, 65). Again, in regard to the partakers of terrestrial glory, we are told (verses 72-5) that they are those who died without law, and who were visited in prison, to whom the Son preached the gospel, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, "who received not the testi- mony of Jesus in the flesh." And in verse 85 it is said that the partakers of the telestial glory shall not be redeemed, "until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work." We are now in our second estate awaiting places in these glories, and it is clear that the people on earth today are not in any of these glories. About Passing from One Glory to Another.— "Can one pass from the telestial to the terrestrial and celestial glories, sometime in eternity, worlds without end?'' The answer to this question may not be absolutely clear in the reve- lation; but the general understanding, both from the revelation and from the interpretations that have heretofore been made thereof, is that once a person enters these glories there will be eternal progress in the line of each of these particular glories, but that the privilege of passing from one to the other (though this may be possible for especially gifted and faithful characters) is not provided for. The statement in verse 112, relating to partakers of the telestial glory, that they who inhabit it shall be servants of the Most High, but "where God and Christ dwell they cannot come worlds without end," would indicate that at least those who live in this glory are not capable of graduating into the celestial glory. Who knows but in the providences of God there may be excep- tions, because all his judgments are not made known to us? But this thought is awakened: Would it be reasonable to suppose that a person who was so neglectful in this life as to fail in meriting a greater glory would be able to mane such great strides in the world to come as to overtake those who have been true and faithful here? We think not. Another thought: There are many degrees of glory in each of these three glories and the faithful will be given full satisfaction and reward for their efi'orts, "for they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared." The rewards for all will be greater

•88 IMPROVEMENT ERA. than anticipated. And we are told even the glory of the telestial "sur- passes all understanding." Important Special Seventies' Meetings.— The First Council of Seventy calls the attention of the seventies to the fact that special appointments are being made for members of the presiding council to visit all the quorums throughout the Church, that come under their special jurisdiction. This labor is being undertaken with the approval and under the direction of the Council of the Twelve. Many of the quorums of seventy have been depleted in numbers through brethren being called into other positions, and from other causes. A thorough and general setting in order is necessary, that the quorums may be improved and put in a condition that will enable the members to better perform the duties required of them. Presidents of quorums are particularly reminded that the success of these special visits, depends almost entirely upon their spirited and prompt co-operation with the local .authorities. Let no time be lost in making the necessary preliminary arrangements. Names of brethren to be ordained seventies should be carefully considered, and such selections made as can reasonably be expected to fill the require- ments of the calling. Past faithfulness and attention to duty, while very essential, are not the only qualifications required. Adaptability to the special calling is also very important, and should always be borne in mind. Selections for ordination are to be made under the direction of the stake presidency. Now is an opportune time to fill the quorums. Young men coming into the ranks of the seventies now will have the advan- tage of beginning with January, 1911, the fourth year book in the seventies' course in theology, treating on the important subject of the atonement. The subject is worthy of the most careful attention of all those who are or expect to be witnesses for the Savior of men. The first council urges all presidents and active members to unite in a campaign that will insure a large attendance at these special meetings. Let every man holding the office of a seventy, and all those who are to be ordained, be notified of the meetings, and wherever necessary an extra and earnest effort should be made in order that all concerned may be present. Hard work on the part of the local councils and their assistants will bring success and joy. Procrastination will mean failure and dissap- pointment.