Priesthood Quorums' Table: The Ordained Teacher; Priesthood Classes Under the Direction of the Bishop

Priesthood Quorums' Table

The Ordained Teacher BY BISHOP H. H. BLOOD, OF KAYSVILLE, DAVIS STAKE OF ZION

Personal Loyalty and Responsibility to His Quorum— Official Duties—His Place in the Ward.— A group of young men of Lesser Priesthood age residing in a nearby stake were about to go on an expedition through the mountains and, as they came together to perfect their plans, one of them proposed that all profanity and vulgarity, and the use of cigarettes and intoxicants be tabooed during the trip; that the boys be clean in word and act while away from home. The suggestion met with instant favor and was adopted. A mild penalty for the breaking of the rule, entailing temporary physical discomfort, was agreed upon. The company was made up of ordinary country boys, with habits of speech and conduct such as might be expected in such a class. But they individually determined to be true to the compact they had made, and the trip was undertaken with every young man on guard to see that the high standard of conduct that had been set was maintained. Only a very few during the outing were found to be transgressors, and these not wilfully, but thoughtlessly. The boys — came home conquerors of themselves. This was an M. I. A. Boy Scout company, part of the band that marched down over the Pioneer trail into Salt Lake City on the 24th of July last. Mention is made of the incident here, not to advocate the adoption of Boy Scout work in Priesthood quorums, but to lay stress upon the fact that what our Lesser Priesthood quorums need is Boy Scout loyalty, mutual helpfulness, and determination to be clean and true to high resolves. No more perfect organizations for the developing of good habits and the training in proper conduct could be brought into existence than the quorums of Priesthood, wherein young men of like age and similar environment are grouped together for instruction and practice in good works. Other churches, lacking such organizations, have tried to meet the deficiency by forming societies and clubs, but in no church are the man-devised plans so complete, and in none should they be so effective, as is the system given by the Lord in the Priesthood quorums of the Church. The Holy Name Society, an association of Catholic young men, who pledge themselves especially against profanity, has come into existence as a recognition of the value of organized effort toward better living. The society has many branches in Catholic communities, publishes a journal in New York devoted to its interests, and is

said to be exerting a wide influence for good among its members. Yet this society offers nothing that is in advance of what the Priesthood quorums of the Church give their members; indeed, it would seem that

644 IMPROVEMENT ERA the forming of such an association as an auxiliary of the Catholic church adds testimony to the perfection of our Priesthood organizations, in which provision is made for training not only in one good principle, but in every phase of moral and spiritual development. The value to its members of this Catholic society, and others like it, lies in the help the members give each oher, and in the strength that comes through many working toward a common end, and with a like purpose. This same value is to be found in quorum work if it is properly done. Loyalty to the quorum should be strongly impressed upon the boys, and every one should be brought to feel that the whole quorum is disgraced if one of its number falls into error. The ordained Teachers are of an age when some restraining influence is needed to keep them from the pitfalls of evil. May not their responsibility to each other and to their quorum be taught them in such a way as to provide such effective restraint? Under this influence may not the young men be helped to gain more complete mastery — over themselves their thoughts, their words, their acts? Boys are often led into the forming of bad habits by the very natural desire to be popular among their associates. Scores can trace the first drink, the first cigarette, the early use of profanity and vulgarity, to this cause. It was unpopular with "the crowd" to be good, and hence they fell

into evil ways. This indicates a perverted view of life that it is the business of the Priesthood quorum to correct. While in its misdirected course this tendency to follow the crowd and do as the other boys do, leads to evil, at the same time it points the way to reformation, if it can be guided into proper channels. Therefore, it becomes the duty of Priesthood quorums to inculcate a sentiment making righteous living the popular thing, and the doing or tolerating of evil in any form unpopular. Emphasis should be laid on the fact that nothing but personal rectitude can make possible success in life, or reward hereafter. With the Teachers' quroums of the Church radiating such an influence as this, and with the members watchful of themselves, helpful to their associates, and all jealously guarding the good name of the quorum to which they belong, there would be developed in each ward a group of earnest, exemplary young men, whose lives

would be a standing rebuke to the evil-doer. While it is not considered proper to teach goodness negatively, by calling attention to the evil, still special training should be given the young men that will tend to keep them from the forming of such habits of thought and action as may lead to wrong-doing. The Savior uttered warnings against some of these things, including giving way to anger, stealing, lying, lustfulness, swearing, evil speaking, dishonesty, uncleanliness of word and act, idleness and kindred evils. A skillful quorum instructor should be able to take up these subjects with the young men in such a manner as would impress them with the value of high moral living. Then there is the whole field of good habits into which the lives of the young men should be directed. It is perhaps as

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easy to form good as bad habits, if we get started right. It becomes important, therefore, that character building habits, of worth to the individual, to the community in which he resides, and to the Church, be taught, and that young Teachers be helped in forming them. Under this head may be included the giving of their substance for the benefit of the Church and of the needy in their neighborhood, and the giving of their time to the work of the Lord. This gratuitous giving of time and means cannot be too soon made a part of a young man's habits of life. If he forms these habits early, the demands that will later be made upon his time in laboring much at home, or perhaps in performing a mission abroad, will not be a sacrifice but rather a pleasure to him. And the calls that will often be made upon him to assist financially in the upbuilding of the Church and its institutions, as well as the ever-present duty of tithe-paying, will be responded to cheerfully, and in a way to bring blessings upon him from the Lord who, it is said, "loveth a cheerful giver." Teachers so trained are prepared for their ministry. They are ready to watch over the Church, to be standing ministers to the Church. In the past little or nothing has been done to place the ordained teachers actively in the duties of their callings. But an awakening is at hand. There has probably never been a time in the history of the Church when so much attention has been paid to the help that the Lesser Priesthood can be in the ward as has been given the subject during the past year, and especially since the Priesthood Quorums Committee, at the last April conference, called the attention of stake and ward authorities to the question. The publication of Bishop Charles W. Nibley's able discussion of what Priests can do in the ward is already rejuvenating the quorums of Priests, and it is hoped that the Teachers' can also be made active and useful in the performance of duty. "The Teacher's duty is to watch over the Church always, and be with and strengthen them," are the words of the Lord to the young men who have been ordained to this calling. To be in line with this injunction every Teacher should seek out and labor with and strength- — en at least some one person who is weak,' his associate quorum member it may be, and the failing may be occasional, as yet not habitual, smoking or profaning, or non-attendance at meetings. In any case, those in charge of the quorum work should encourage the members to do individual teaching, wherever it is needed. There should be in the quorum meetings occasional discussions of what might be done in this line, with examples of results that have been achieved, and the activities of members in this work should be investigated by quorum officers. The outcome of such efforts would be the steady improvement of the individual Teachers themselves, who would be brought to realize that the example of personal good conduct is an effective method of teaching. There would also be wholesome improvement among those labored with.

646 IMPROVEMENT ERA The duties of the Teachers, if performed fully, require that they go into the homes of the Saints. They are to see that there is no iniquity in the Church. In case these young men cannot bring themselves, on account of the oppressive diffidence that affects them, to go into the homes two together, it should be arranged by the ward officers that they receive instruction and experience with older brethren. But, while they may not feel competent to go alone on a teaching mission and expound doctrine, there are other duties that they are able to attend to that are in line with their calling, the performance of which will relieve the acting teache.rs of much routine work and leave them free to devote themselves to spiritual instruction. For instance, the Teachers are to see that the members of the Church "meet together often" and partake of the sacrament. Good results would follow the sending of a special message from the Bishopric to slothful members of the Church inviting them to sacrament meeting, and no more proper messengers could be found than two ordained Teachers who, on the Sabbath day, could go to the doors of those who habitually absent themselves from meeting, and, acting in the authority of their calling, deliver their message and invitation. The same is true as to announcements of tithing settlements. Bishops would do well to engage the help of young Teachers and send them to the homes of the Saints with a reminder of the duty of tithe-paying and making settlement on the days appointed for that purpose. The Teachers who do this duty would themselves be impressed with the importance of tithe-paying, and thus would be doubly benefited. It would be proper, also, for Bishops to employ the ordained

Teachers in laboring with those who are allowing their children to grow up without baptism. The Teachers might also be helpful to the ward clerk in gathering the genealogies of persons or families whose records are not complete on the ward books. They could be used in visiting newly arrived Saints to learn of their former places of resi : dence, and, after their recommends have been received, to invite them to the meeting at which their names are to be presented. In stirring up the slothful and securing ^their attendance and enrollment in the various organizations, and their attendance upon the meetings of such organizations, the Teachers can do good service. Then there is the regular duty that should be assigned to the Teachers, in connection with other members of the Lesser Priesthood, of going among the Saints each month and collecting fast offerings. In stakes and wards where this work is being done, the results are helpful alike to the people and to the young men who attend to the duty. The funds for the care of the poor are increased, and where tithing is collected in the same way, the habit of paying tithes in the time and season thereof grows upon the people to their blessing. Inasmuch as Teachers are charged with seeing "that all members do their duty," their calling requires that they be vigilant against every form of evil, and constant in exhortation to righteousness. If ill feel-

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ings exist, they are to bring about a reconciliation. Lying, backbiting and evil speaking are evils that they are expected to see do not exist among Church members. They are to be advocates and exemplars always of honesty, temperance, chastity, truthfulness, patience, charity and good-fellowship, and by word and act are to "invite all men to come to Christ." To be able to fill acceptably this splendid calling requires a careful training that should be given the young men in their quorum classes, as well as in the field of experience that they should enter as companions of acting teachers in house to house visits. The Teachers' place on the Sabbath day is in meeting, and they should be used as occasion requires in the passing of sacrament and attending to such other duties as are within the scope of their authority. Ward authorities will find that the more these young brethren are used the better will be their attendance at meetings. The Bishop of a ward as the president of the Aaronic Priesthood has a duty to perform for, with and in behalf of the young men, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, who are within his jurisdiction; but inasmuch as he is specially called upon in the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 107; 87, 88) to sit in council with and teach the Priests in his ward, filling the position of president of the quo'rum of Priests, it is clear that he cannot personally spend any time during the weekly Priesthood meetings to look after the members of the Teachers' quorum and direct their instruction. Provision has been made for a presidency of the Teachers' quorum to be chosen from among the members and this presidency have enjoined upon them the duty of sitting in council with their members and teaching them the duties of their office as given in the covenants. Under the custom now observed in the Church of ordaining youths of fifteen years Teachers and passing them into the Priests' quorum at eighteen years of age, there is rarely developed among the quorum officers a leader and teacher who, without help, is competent adequately to control and instruct the members. To fill this recognized need, Bishops have quite generally assigned Elders, Seventies or High Priests to act as instructors. The operation of this system has produced a condition in some, and perhaps in many, wards in which the quorum officers are almost displaced by the instructors. Such quorum work as is done, and such instruction as is given, is under other guidance than was intended by the Lord. This is destructive of quorum loyalty, pride and discipline, and should be corrected. No one should ever be permitted to come between a presiding officer and his quorum. Where instructors are inclined to do so, and officers to allow it, it would be well for the Bishopric to set the matter right, so that the officers may gain experience in presidency, and that members may be instructed and trained in proper obedience to authority. The good that has been seen to result from the personal labors of the Bishop with the Priests' quorum has prompted the thought that similar attention paid to the Teachers would show like beneficial

648 IMPROVEMENT ERA effects. While the Bishop is engaged with the Priests one of his counselors might profitably undertake the watch-care of the Teachers' quorum of the ward, not by presiding over it, but by an appointment to supervise the work of the quorum, to instruct the officers in proper methods of presiding, to suggest and assist in quorum activities, to cultivate intimate acquaintance with the members, with a view of correcting injurious habits, holding before them always high ideals, and impressing upon their souls faith in the gospel, and reverence for the Priesthood, but all the time using the greatest care against usurping the rights of quorum officers or allowing any other person to do so. The Bishop's counselor assigned to this labor may or may not be the class instructor. It would be desirable, probably, for him to act

in that capacity, if he happens to be qualified, but whether he assumes that position or not, his duty would be to see that all worthy young men in the ward of proper age are looked after and brought into the quorum as working members. He should also provide opportunities for exercise in the particular duties of the Teachers' calling. If it were arranged that one Bishop's counselor would attend to this work, and the other, if I may be permitted to suggest, were asked to perform a similar duty for the Deacons' quorums, there would be brought to the weekly council meetings of the Bishopric fresh, first-hand and accurate information as to every Lesser Priesthood quorum. The result of this personal attention to the young men by the Bishopric could scarcely fail to be manifested in better attendance at quorum meetings, better

instruction, more practical work by the boys, and an upbuilding of faith in their hearts.

— Priesthood Classes under the direction of the Bishop. In answer to questions which have come in, it should be thoroughly understood that the weekly Priesthood classes are under the direction of the bishop. They meet as High Priests, Seventies, Elders, etc., of their ward. The bishop presiding over that meeting is the presiding High Priest. His presidency includes the High Priesthood as well as the Lesser Priesthood in that capacity. The Presiding Bishop's Office recommends that each bishop shall enroll on the weekly Priesthood class roll and record book, the names of every person holding the — Priesthood in that ward that is, one book should contain the names of the High Priests, another the Seventies, another the Elders, and so on for the Priests, Teachers and Deacons, regardless of the fact as to whether or not such persons have been enrolled in their respective quorums of High Priests, Seventies, Elders, etc. The Elders quorum is under the control and direction of the presidency of the stake and its officers should reside, of course, in the stake of Zion over which they have jurisdiction. The presidency of the stake should take such steps as may be necessary to organize the quorums in charge of officers residing in their own stakes.

Mutual Work

M. I. A. Annual Conference The general boards have decided that the annual M. I. A. conference will be held this year on June 6, 7, 8. Efforts are being directed by committees towards making this one of the most practicable, profitable and enjoyable conferences in the history of Mutual Improvement. Conjoint religious services, special meeting for superintendents, Boy Scout demonstration, conjoint business meetings, socials, separate officers' meetings treating on special M. 1. A. work, and athletic sports are among the contemplated activities. Every superintendent in the Church should make it a point to attend. Superintendents are instructed to make their arrangements now to send also other representatives from their stakes. These should be instructed to prepare to report the proceedings at a special officers' meeting of the various stakes on their return.

The M. I. A. Normal Training Class The fourth Y. M. M. I. A. Normal Training Class at the Deseret Gymnasium closed on March 7 with a luncheon tendered to them by

FOURTH NORMAL TRAINING CLASS, DESERET GYM