--- 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: 2 published: 1912-12 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. 2 (December 1912): 174–176.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1602unse 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: improvementera1602unse start_page: 174 end_page: 176 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1602unse 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 176 IMPROVEMENT ERA Not only were 100 per cent of the families visited during July, August and September, but the quarterly reports show that 100 per cent of visits were made every month for the year 1912, and this excellent record extends back into the year 1911. 2. — From the Clearfield ward, Davis stake, we have the following report of a typical country ward, in an agricultural community. The report shows that through proper care and attention 100 per cent of visits may be made in agricultural communities as well as in the city. Note the small number of families assigned to each pair of teachers, the average being about six: District Average Number of Number of Teachers Families Visited During Number Families in District in District July | August September 1 8 2 8 8 8 2 5 2 5 5 5 3 6 2 6 6 6 4 6 2 6 6 6 5 4 2 4 4 4 6 5 3 S 5 5 7 5 2 5 5 5 8 6 2 6 6 5 9 6 2 6 6 6 10 7 2 7 7 7 11 8 2 8 8 8 12 4 2 4 4 4 13 8 3 8 8 8 13 78 28 78 78 77 3. — The following is the report of the work of the ward teachers of the Trout Creek ward, Bannock stake, Idaho. In this ward 100 per cent of the ward teachers attended the ward teachers' monthly report meetitng, for each of the three months: District Number Average Number of [Number of Teachers Families in District! in District Families Visited During July I August September 11 9 7 11 9 7 11 9 7 11 9 7 27 27 27 27 The duty of presidencies of the various quorums, and particularly those in the quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood is to meet in council and consider the welfare of their respective quorums. This is in harmony with the revelation of the Lord which provides that the president is "to meet in council with the members and to teach them their duties." It is particularly the duty of the presidents of the Melchizedek Priesthood to provide each class with the most capable instructor obtainable. This duty is now frequently left entirely to the bishops, and when presidents of quorums neglect to perform this duty the bishops, of course, are obliged to look after it. It will relieve the bishop greatly to have the presidents of quorums freely consult with the bishopric of the ward, and see to it that each class is provided with an efficient instructor; and where the presidency themselves are qualified, they should act as teachers. Mutual Work The General Fund Envelopes for the General Fund were distributed early in November to the stake superintendents with the request that they distribute to the members of the associations early in December in time for the collection week. We desire to emphasize the positive instructions given in the letter to the superintendents that these envelopes be distributed forthwith and that the collections be made promptly and remitted to the office. The fund should be forwarded to the stake secretary, who, in turn should remit promptly to the general office. We ask the officers to impress upon those having this matter in hand that these funds should not be held until the close of the year, but should be remitted as soon as collected. Any later collections may be forwarded subsequently. The experience of the office has proved that where the distribution of the envelopes has been neglected the collection of the fund has suffered materially in consequence. Every active member should be requested to do his share, and there should be no hesitancy in asking members who are upon the permanent roll to contribute also. Our athletic work has entailed quite an additional expense, and it is of the greatest importance that it should be properly looked after, and this can be done only through the increase of the general fund. Class in Athletics The class in normal training in athletics, field sports, and boy scout work, opened in the Deseret Gymnasium, November 25. The following circular letter was sent early in November to the superintendents of stakes, and to bishops: Dear Brother: — The immediate need in all the wards of the Church for leaders and trained men in athletics, field sports and boy scout work, makes it necessary for the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. to give a normal course in the Deseret Gymnasium, which will commence Monday, Nov. 25, 1912, and continue four weeks. The cost of tuition, books, board, etc., need not exceed $35.00. The efficiency of this training will depend, in a very large degree, upon the men who are chosen to take it. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that men be called who not only have some taste for athletics, but who possess in a high degree the qualities of leadership, and who have the ability to instruct and organize. Results will depend on the man. The course is arranged to meet local conditions, and every ward 178 IMPROVEMENT ERA that expects to engage in any of these activities should have a representative at this class.. You will therefore please proceed at once to select and call through the counsel and advice of your ward president and his bishop, the best available man in each ward and instruct him to be at the Deseret Gymnasium not later than Monday morning, Nov. 25. If we are advised of the number who will be here from your stake by Nov. 15, arrangements for boarding places can be made in advance. The time is short; it is therefore necessary to act with dispatch. Thanking you for your active co-operation in this matter, we remain, Sincerely your brethren, L. R. Martineau, Approved: Chairman Committee on Athletics. Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, B. H. Roberts, General Superintendency. P. S. — A copy of this letter has been mailed to each bisTiop. Committee on Stake Work The General Board, at a recent meeting, appointed a Committee on Stake Work, whose duty it is to see that assistance and service are rendered to the stake officers. The committee is composed of the following members: Heber J. Grant, chairman; Edward H. Anderson, Claude Richards, George J. Cannon, Nicholas G. Morgan, Moroni Snow, Oscar A. Kirkham and Bryant S. Hinckley. This committee will keep in touch with the stake superintendents in regard to the particulars of the work in their stakes, and the superintendents are notified that inquiries will be sent to them soon relating to the work of the stake over which they have supervision. Prompt answers are requested. Attewall Wootton, Sr., died recently, in Midway, Wasatch county, Utah. His funeral was held at Heber City, November 4. He was born at Turnstall, Staffordshire, England, December 26, 1839, and came to America when two years old, and with his father's family settled in Nauvoo, where the father died. He crossed the plains with his mother in the early 50's and settled at American Fork, and later in Provo, where he became a graduate of the B. Y. U. He began teaching when eighteen years of age. He later moved to Midway, and was superintendent of the Wasatch county public schools for more than twenty years. He was a prominent worker in the Church and served two years on a mission to Great Britain, where he wrote many excellent short articles for the Millennial Star. He also contributed, on several occasions, to the Era. He was a man of sterling faith and firm character.