Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table. Good Results of Priesthood Work.—In a recent report, at a stake priesthood meeting of the Granite stake, Elder J. W. Musser, of the High Council, stated that since the inauguration of the priesthood movement in that stake there has been manifest among the young men a spirit of obedience, and of wanting to assist in work in gathering fast donations, the administering of the sacrament, the cleaning up of public meeting places and grounds, in teaching, baptizing, in the general upholding of the priesthood, and in taking responsible places in the work of the Lord. He saw, too, that the young men were better Sunday school and Mutual Improvement association workers, and that they were generally growing in the spirit and desire to sustain the bishops and the authorities of the Church. Besides, there is a spirit of reverence and obedience, not so prominent before. To the Seventies.—From information obtained from presidents of quorums of seventy, it appears that in some localities members of quorums are inclined to absent themselves from quorum meetings. One excuse for this, as given by some very good men, is that often being in attendance at class meetings in the ward where they reside, they see no necessity for a quorum meeting. It is a matter of regret that such views should obtain anywhere, for class meetings can never take the place of quorum meetings. The commandment of God is that the presidents of quorums shall sit in council with the entire number of the quorum, presiding over them, and teaching them according to the covenants. For the convenience of men who belong to quorums that are widely scattered, and who could not come together frequently for instruction, owing to the distance to be traveled, a system of ward priesthood meetings has been introduced by the presiding authorities of the Church which divides quorums that are located in more than one ward into ward classes; but this arrangement does not contemplate excusing men from coming together in quorums as the Lord has commanded. Presidents of seventy are expected to hold quorum meetings regularly with the members of their respective quorums. The members should be \o\ al to the quorum as a whole, and feel that their presence at quorum meeting, instead of being considered of secondary importance, should have first place. Every seventy should endeavor to so plan his work and business engagements that he can be free to meet with his associates in quorum capacity, thus fulfiling the commandment of God in regard to quorum meeting. Members of classes should understand that no official quorum work can be

842 IMPRO VEMENT ERA. accomplished by any class, unless the class embraces the entire membership of the quorum. Members of quorums should be anxious to build up and bind together in fraternal brotherhood the membership of the quorum to which they belong, and should frown down anything tending to the losing of quorum identity. Be in attendance at class meetings, but let not the lesser meeting be an excuse for absence from your quorum gathering. Class Work should be Continuous.—Presidents of seventies' quorums have asked of the First Council: How long do you recommend the seventies to continue their class work? The presiding council is in harmony with the views of the General Priesthood Outlines Committee of the Church as set forth in a report to the General Priesthood of the Church at the meeting in Salt Lake City, April 7, 1911, which report was unanimously adopted. In it these views are expressed, relating to class meetings: We deplore the custom that exists in some stakes, of adjourning for a long period during the summer. If the labors of brethren in agricultural communities do not permit of a meeting on a week night, during their busy season, we feel that sometime on Sunday should be arranged for taking up the lessons, so that in every week of the year a meeting may be held for study and preparation for duties of the priesthood. Any break in the classes causes a loss of interest and seriously detracts from the success of the outline work. The First Council are united in urging all seventies throughout the Church to continue their class meetings wherever possible, without summer vacation. Quorums of seventy will please the Presiding Council if this be done even in those wards where the quorums have decided to take a hot weather recess. The responsibility rests upon the various councils and quorum members, in case the ward priesthood quorum adjourns for a season, to determine whether the seventies shall discontinue their weekly meetings or not. It is hoped that many of the classes may be able, through arrangement with the local authorities, to meet at some hour during the Sabbath day to continue the class work without cessation. Presidents of quorums are not to undertake to adjourn seventies classes, as long as the ward bishopric continue the weekly priesthood meetings. The First Council hold that these weekly meetings are convened under the call of the various bishops, in accordance with instructions given them by the First Presidency of the Church, and it is not the prerogative of any quorum or class to decide in opposition to the wishes of the bishop to discontinue for a time their class work. The members of all seventies classes should be ambitious to continue their work at least as long as any other classes.