Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table Finish Your Course. — Every Priesthood quorum is specially requested to finish the 1912 course of study by the end of the year, so as to be prepared to take up the new course on the first of the new year. The quorum classes should now be in full operation with a regular attendance. Bishops and Priests Quorums. — From statistics in possession of the Presiding Bishop's office, it is ascertained that out of the seven hundred and thirteen wards in the Church, there are only one hundred and eight in which priests' quorums, or parts of quorums, are presided over directly by the bishops. In the remaining six hundred and five wards, the bishops have not yet taken direct charge of their priests. This matter is engaging the attention of the Priesthood Committee, and every effort is being made to have a priests' quorum, or class, organized in every ward where possible, and have the bishops take it directly in hand. To this end bishops are invited to read Presiding Bishop C. W. Nibley's article on this subject in the September Era, copies of which have been sent to all the bishops, and additional copies may be obtained on request to the Presiding Bishop's office, and then to put forth their efforts, as far as possible, to establish a quorum of priests and preside directly over them in their respective wards. What Deacons Can Do. — As one more example of what deacons of a ward can do, we have an illustration from Burnham, New Mexico, where the meeting house is chiefly cared for by the deacons who keep it clean both outside and in. The visiting authorities, at a recent conference, were greatly delighted with the neatness and cleanliness of the house and premises. Even a deacon was stationed at the entrance with green branches of trees to keep out flies when the screen doors were opened. Inside it was cool and refreshing, notwithstanding the day was hot, and the hall was refreshingly free from flies. The deacons seemed to take special delight in thus keeping the hall comfortable and the public grounds in good order. The activity of the deacons in this ward may well serve as an example which, adopted in other wards, will not only tend to the comfort of the people but to give the youth useful work and teach them to respect and hold in reverence public property, church buildings, and grounds. Suggested Text-book for 1913— As a text-book for the Melchizedek priesthood for the year 1913, volume 2 of the Church History has been

1130 IMPROVEMENT ERA suggested. No other book could be more suitable for the purpose, and while the committee have not yet definitely fixed upon this course, the contents of this volume, as summarized in the introduction, by B. H. Roberts, will confirm this statement. Whether or not it is adopted, every member of the quorums of the High Priesthood should familiarize himself with the history and principles set forth in this important Church work: "In this second volume is recorded the arrival of a delegation from the exiled Saints in Missouri, seeking advice and the word of the Lord from the Prophet; the organization of Zion's Camp for the deliverance of Zion; its march from Kirtland to Missouri; its rich educational experiences; its disbandment and the return of many of the brethren to Ohio; the establishment of a school for the Elders at Kirtland, the first educational movement in the Church; the discovery of the Book of Abraham; the organization of the first, or Kirtland High Council; the organization of the quorums of the foreign ministry, the Twelve and the Seventy; the publication of the Doctrine and Covenants; the completion and dedication of the Kirtland Temple; the purification and spiritual endowment of the Elders of the Chruch; the appearance of Messiah in the Temple declaring His acceptance of it; the appearance of Moses, Elias and Elijah, on the same occasion, delivering the keys of their respective dispensations to the Prophet of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times; the commencement of the ministry of the Twelve among the branches of the Church in the eastern States of the American Union; the misunderstandings that arose between them and the Presidency of the Church; the revelations of God which came in consequence of their misunderstandings, more clearly defining the rights, powers, and relations of the respective quorums of the Priesthood; the peaceful exodus of the Saints from Clay county, Missouri, and the founding of Far West; the opening of the first foreign mission by sending two of the Twelve and several Elders to England; the attempt to mass the several industrial pursuits and temporal interests of the Saints under one general concern, the "Kirtland Safety Society Company;" the failure of that concern in the general financial maelstrom that swept over the country in 1837, hastened also — sad to relate — by the unwise management and dishonesty of some of the incorporators and directors; the manifestation of excessive pride and worldliness on the part of some of the Saints at Kirtland; the disaffection of many hitherto leading Elders of the Church againts the Prophet Joseph; the extensive apostasy of many Elders and Saints in Kirtland; with the account of which calamitous events this volume closes."