--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 1 published: 1912-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Priesthood Quorums’ Table," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 1 (November 1912): 77–83.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1601unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1601unse start_page: 77 end_page: 83 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1601unse publication_year: 1912 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Priesthood Quorums’ Table EDITOR'S TABLE 77 the gospel. To do efficient missionary work here, one would need to master a number of languages, as the population of the city includes English, French, German, Scandinavian, Grecian and Dutch, with fewer representatives from nearly every other nation on earth. Winnipeg is growing rapidly and has a population at present of 200,000. Elders, top row, left to right: Joseph L. Peterson, conference president, Pinedale, Ariz.; George M. Nix, Oakley, Utah; bottom row: William J. Dearden, Echo, Utah; German E. Ellsworth, mission president; Anton Bargaehr, Salt Lake City. "The missionary work is progressing in Southern California. The elders of the Los Angeles conference are laboring with zeal to present the gospel to the people of this land. Aided by the exemplary lives of the Saints here, we feel that we are doing much to allay prejudice and prepare the honest in heart for the acceptance of the truth. We are laboring among a people of many religious beliefs. In fact, every creed in Christianity is represented, in addition to several religions of the Orient. Los Angeles, headquarters of the California mission, is the home of Theosophy, Christian Science, Home of Truth, and other theoretical expositions of the gospel of Christ. We teach faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is what Peter taught; it was the burden of John's message, and what the Savior himself taught, so we know these ordinances are essential to salvation." — J. Harvey Langford, Secy. The elders are: back row, Frank Russell, Nephi, Utah; Frank E. Woodward, Franklin, Idaho; A. B. Christianson, Richfield; Edward L. 78 IMPROVEMENT ERA Simpson, Kamas; David Smith, Fillmore, Utah; P. P. Skriver, Aetna; J. F. Heartley, Mountain View, Canada; Le Roy Pickett, Clawson, Idaho; second row, Delbert Holladay, Eden, Ariz.; T. D. Mendenhall, Springville, Utah; W. L Killpack, conference president, Driggs, Idaho; Jos. E. Robinson, mission president; J. Harvey Langford, mission secretary, San Jose, Mexico; F. W. Newman, conference clerk, Salt Lake City; A. A. Merrill, Richmond, Utah. Front row, Walter A. Knudsen, Provo, Utah; John A. Hatch, Juarez, Mexico; Wm. L. Roskelley, Smithfield; C. V. Cummings, Salt Lake City; D. Henry Manning, Garland; D. W. Chugg, Providence, Utah. Elder Grant D. Staples, writing from Toowoomla, Queensland, Australia, August 7, says: "Toowoomla is situated one hundred one miles west of Brisbane, where is located the headquarters of this conference. Toowoomla has a population of twenty thousand, of whom twenty-five are Latter-day Saints who are faithful and diligent in the serving of the Lord. Great interest is taken by them in the Book of Mormon, and we feel that our class is one of the best in this Western land. The Saints pay their tithing, and observe, with Tew exceptions, the Word of Wisdom. In spite of opposition, we have some very good friends who attend our class regularly and take part. The photo represents the most of our regular attendants. The elders are: center, David Nash, Franklin, Idaho; Grant D. Staples, presiding elder, Kanosh, Utah." Priesthood Quorums' Table Ward Teaching. — The following report, suggestions and recommendations were read at the semi-annual general priesthood meeting, Oct. 4, and ordered published: We consider this an opportune occasion to call the attention of the priesthood to the importance of the work of ward teaching; the necessity of organizing and maintaining, in every ward, a system adapted to our present-day needs, and to place before the priesthood information obtained by the General Committee on Priesthood Outlines, and the Presiding Bishop's Office concerning the progress made in some stakes of Zion with this important and beneficent movement in the Church. The records of the Presiding Bishop's office show that the families in the stakes of Zion are divided into 5,303 ward teachers' districts. There are over 12,000 persons laboring as ward teachers. Of this number 4,546 attended the teachers' monthly report meetings for April, 4,080 for May, and 3,875 for June. There are 715 organized wards in the stakes of Zion, hence there should have been held 2,145 ward teachers' monthly report meetings during the three months ending June 30; but there were only 1,245 of such meetings held, or about 55 per cent. Of the families living in the organized stakes of Zion, the average number visited monthly, as stated on the records for the three months ending June 30, is only about 25 per cent, per month. We are gratified to report that there has been developed in some of the stakes and wards a system of supervising and directing the work of ward teachers that is bringing about a gratifying improvement in all that pertains to the spiritual and temporal welfare of stakes and wards. The work of teaching the principles of the gospel within the boundaries of Zion devolves upon all who bear the Priesthood. It certainly pertains more specifically to the priests than to the teachers, for the Lord states (Doctrine and Covenants 20): "The priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret,- and attend to all family duties. * * * In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder if occasion requires." It is also "the duty of the elder to watch over the Church." The responsibility of the calling of the Seventies and High Priests, while they are peculiarly missionaries and presiding officers, should make them, when not engaged abroad or in presiding positions, active in this work at home. The priests, elders, seventies and high priests of the Church, when called to labor in bearing the gospel directly to the homes of the people, should not consider that they are called away from their own responsibilities to take up the work of a lesser office in the Aaronic Priesthood. Ward teaching is a calling, just as missionary 80 IMPROVEMENT ERA work abroad is a calling, and no quorum is solely responsible for the performance of this duty. Anothchr phase of ward teaching, illustrating its difference from the temporal duties of the ordained teacher, is the custom adopted in some wards of having the teachers visit also regularly the homes of non-members who are willing to receive them, as well as those of members. There are few wards that do not have families who have never joined the Church, or who have forfeited their fellowship by indifference or other causes. Those who most need the shepherd are directly among us. We are commanded to warn our neighbors. How can we do it more effectively than by regular visits of men who go In the spirit and authority of their calling prepared to teach the gospel? fn some stakes, missionaries have been appointed to this special labor. This is commendable, but we know of no such work that has been of a regular and permanent character. Even where it is carried on, the visits of the ward teachers to non-members would be very helpful. Proper supervision should insure the work being done at regular times during the month, instead of being left till the last few days, and then only partially done. In some wards, experienced and energetic brethren have been chosen to supervise several districts. In other cases, the ward has been divided into three divisions, the bishop and his counselors each holding himself responsible for one of these. Some of the bishops require weekly, written reports from each pair of teachers, in order that they may be able to put new help into the district, if found necessary. This insures each family an actual visit, and not merely a hurried call. But in the stakes where the best work is being done, the bishops are not left with the whole responsibility. The presidencies of stakes should take an active interest in this work, not only for the purpose of overseeing and encouraging .bishops in this important labor, but for establishing uniformity in the work of the ward teachers, which shall be adapted to the local conditions of each stake. In some stakes a high council committee, consisting in some instances of one high councilor to each ward, keeps in immediate touch with the work. In at least one stake of Zion, the president, by hearing a brief report from this committee, knows exactly the amount of teaching done in his stake not only at the end of each month, but at the end of each seven days. In this stake, members of the presidency found it necessary to go to one of the wards and help do the teaching before the bishop became sufficiently aroused to his own responsibility. As the quantity of the work increases it seems certain to us that the standard of quality will be improved. To secure this, teachers should not be asked to visit too great a number of families. Eight seems to be about the limit, if one hour's time is spent with each PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLK 81 family. This would require one night a week, two visits being made each night. By reducing the size of the districts, the labor is distributed among a larger number of the priesthood of the ward, and the teachers are thus able to spend more time with each family. In order to improve the quality of work, it has been tried in a number of wards, and found desirable, to assign a subject for each month. Preparation is made on this by the teachers, and when they go to the homes of the people, they do so with the instruction to take up with the family the subject for the month, unless they are directed by the Spirit to consider some other matter. Frivolities, gossip and light conversation will thus be replaced by instruction, and by discussion of the gospel. The bishop should receive written reports from each district weekly, or, if a monthly report is made, it should be handed to him early enough to allow him time to consider it carefully prior to the monthly teachers' meeting. Such report should contain the number of families in the ward; the number who have been visited during the month, and the general condition found; also a report of the births, deaths, marriages, departure from and arrival of members in the district, and such similar information. If such a plan is adopted, he can utilize most of the time of the teachers' meeting in a discussion of the topic for the coming month, and the preparation of the teachers for their labors. ■ Some of the stakes have printed each month and distributed to the wards a little outline that helps in the preparation of the topic to be considered. This is handed to the family at each monthly visit with the explanation that next month, unless something more important arises, the teachers will discuss the matter contained therein. In the homes where spiritual and intellectual fires are burning brightly, this method provides the certainty of interesting, successful visits. The quality of teaching can be improved also by choosing more experienced men for the work. We see no reason why the most capable men in the ward cannot be secured to teach, nor why such men should not be glad to do their part in this labor. The superintendency and teachers of Sunday schools, the presidencies of quorums, and instructors of priesthood classes, and members of stake boards, for example, should be ready to work in this calling. That does not prevent younger men, who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, from being employed also. In fact every* priest should be asked to work in this calling, but it provides that the people shall receive benefit from the visit and that inexperienced young men will be properly trained. That there is a profound necessity for intelligent teaching, by men endowed with the Holy Spirit, is apparent to all. To the homes of many of the Shirts must be carried a large part of the spiritual food that they rc;eu c for the record of attendance at sacrament meetings in a number cf wards is regrettably low. In many homes 82 IMPROVEMENT ERA the teachers find it desirable not alone to converse with the people, but to hold cottage meetings to which the neighbors may be invited. In this way, the gospel is carried to the people who would not otherwise receive it. There are many fathers and mothers who themselves are well grounded in the faith, but who for some reason cannot influence their children as they desire. The visit of the ward teachers offers a fine opportunity for them to gather their children in, and have them listen to the doctrines of the gospel presented differently, and often more effectively, than they themselves have presented them. Where teaching is intelligently and persistently followed, month by month, there is a marked improvement in the attendance at sacrament meetings, and a better feeling of sympathy and fellowship in the ward; the attendance at the meetings of the auxiliary organizations is increased, and. the payment of tithes and offerings is made more faithfully than before. In visiting the home of non-members, it will frequently be found that one of the parents has been born in the Church, and in some cases that both are of Latter-day Saints families. When this condition exists, we are only reclaiming our own. Where they are strangers to the truth, there is as good an opportunity to convert them as exists with most of the people in the world who accept the visits of the elders. Indeed, in many cases much more subsantial results can be obtained at home, by converting the indifferent Latter-day Saints to a full and sincere appreciation of the gospel, and in bringing the gospel to strangers, than in many of the missions of the Church. In any event, prejudice is allayed, a new current of thought is created, and frequently non-members are induced to permit their children to accept the advantages of our organizations, and receive instruction in the gospel. In some families that are not in the Church, also, there will be found servants who are in great need of the teachers' watchcare and instruction. This applies particularly to the cities into which girls from the country come to seek employment in domestic service. Perhaps not a few tragedies in the life of these girls would have been avoided had the teachers become acquainted with them and exercised over them a friendly and spiritual influence. By labor, the presiding authorities of wards and stakes must implant one element in the teachers that is essential to real success. This is a love for the work. It cannot be looked upon as drudgery, and draw from a man his best efforts. It is an important part-of the redemption of mankind; in some respects, even more important than missionary work abroad. It should command the best ability among the priesthood. It is not with the thought that ward teaching has failed in accomplishing the purpose of its institution in the Church, but for the purpose of stimulating greater activity in a field that offers rich returns for persistent and intelligent labor by the Priesthood, that these suggestions are offered. As each year goes by the character of the ward PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 83 teachers' work is being improved. In some stakes, it has reached a high state indeed. When it is properly performed, we believe there will be a great spiritual awakening in Zion. In conclusion, let us summarize our suggestions and recommendations: 1 — That ward teaching is a calling in the priesthood. 2 — That ward teaching requires the most experienced men in the ward. High priests, seventies and elders should look upon it as one of the most important duties of their calling. 3 — That the presidency of each stake of Zion should take up an active campaign in their respective stakes for the improvement of this work. 4 — That the presidency and high council decide upon and adopt a system in harmony with the ideas outlined in this address, suitable to their local conditions. 5— That where local conditions will permit, a high councilor should be assigned to aid and advise the bishopric of each ward. . 6— That the bishopric of each ward organize the ward into districts of about eight families, more or less, as local conditions may render it necessary. 7— That the bishopric call to their aid the best men in the ward to labor as ward teachers, and that every young man holding the office of priest be appointed to labor in this calling, associated with an older and experienced person. 8— That a teacher's monthly report meeting be held during the last week of every month, or the first week of the following month. 9— That every family in the ward or district be visited once a month. 10— That the teachers of each district make a written report of their labors and deliver to the bishop; this report to contain the number of families in the district, the number visited, a statement of births, marriages, deaths, arrivals in and removals from the ward; and other information that may be required by the bishop. 11— That the bishopric instruct the teachers on the subjects to discuss at their next visit, unless the teacher is otherwise directed by the Holy Spirit. 12 — The essential element in the success of ward teaching is love for the work to be developed in the hearts of the teachers themselves through the example of, and the energy displayed by, the presidency of the stake, high council and bishoprics of wards. David O. McKay, For the General Committee on Priesthood Outlines. The Fifth Year Bock.— The Fifth Year Book, for the use of the Seventies, has recently been issued from the press of the Deseret News. Its author, President B. H. Roberts, is known far and wide for his former publications which the Seventies have used so successfully in their work during the past five years. The title of the book, "The Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost," suggests a theme which is intensely interesting to every man holding the Priesthood. The lessons on this subject are clear and yet free from technicality. They are well correlated, and the student and reader will find much that is stimulating and thought-provoking. It forms a valuable contribution to the literature of the Church, for it deals with a subject that has