--- 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: 17 number: 4 published: 1914-02 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* 17, no. 4 (February 1914): 395–398." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1704unse 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: improvementera1704unse start_page: 395 end_page: 398 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1704unse publication_year: 1914 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 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Priesthood Quorums' Table Priesthood Quorums' Table "Gospel Themes" — The following questions and suggestions may serve as guides and helps to class instructors and students in the Me'.chizedek Priesthood quorums. See January Era for questions on the first four lessons. The questions are prepared by Elder David O. McKay: part i — the story of god (continued) Lesson 5, Chapter V — Creation of the Earth. 1. The word "create," in Latin "creatus," participle of "crec" comes from a Greek word which means to command. Show the rein tion of this fundamental meaning of the word with the Latter-day Saints' idea of creation. 2. Show the fallacy of the belief that something can be created out of nothing. 3. What is the difference between a spiritual creation and a temporal? 4. What is the meaning of the word "Adam"? 5. Of what does the "work and glory" of God consist? Memorize the passage. 6. What is the primary purpose in placing man upon the earth? 7. Compare Doc. and Cov. 88:15 with the following: "We are not bodies alone, nor spirits alone, but both; our bodies isolate us, our spirits unite us." — Lodge. "Science and Immortality," page 43. 8. What is another purpose of man's probation on earth? Lesson 6, Chapter VI — Elect of Elohim. 1. Who was Michael? Elohim? 2. Who proposed the first plan to the Council? 3. Explain the significance of the line, "Tried souls 'mid untried spirits found." 4. What principle did the first speaker make basic in man's salvation? 5. What was Lucifer's plan? Why rejected? 6. Explain : "And one shall go thy face before While Twelve thy steps attend." 7. In which stanzas do you find reference to the following: a. Redemption fore-ordained, b. The fall of man. c. The atonement, d. Faith, e. Free agency, f. The folly of ambition, g. Rebellion in heaven. PART II — THE LAW OF OBEDIENCE Lesson 7, Chapter I— "The Way of Salvation." 1. Show that man is "saved by grace, and that not of himself, but a gift from God." 2 Point out the justice of unconditional redemption. 3. Explain again, the difference between redemption and salva- 10\ What is the meaning of "men must work out their salvation?" 5. Define "salvation." 396 IMPROVEMENT ERA 6. Give illustrations showing the necessity of obedience. 7. Explain wherein lies the justice of God in "making his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sending rain on the just and on the unjust." 8. Who is the most important personage of his generation? Explain. Lesson 8, Chapter II — Faith. 1. Explain how Faith becomes the first requirement of the gospel. 2. Discuss faith as follows: a. As the 'foundation of all righteousness." b. As the moving cause of all action, c. As a "principle of power." 3. What is the meaning of, "Faith as a grain of mustard seed"? 4. Discuss the difference between "faith" and "credulity." 5. What is the difference between a credulous person and one who is incredulous? Duties cf a "Mcrmon" Boy. — From far-away Sydney, Australia, comes a message to the boys of Zion, to the Improvement Era, and its Deacon readers, from a young man fifteen years of age. Besides being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he is a member of an organization in that country which requires boys and young men to drill in military training and discipline. In both organizations to which he belongs, cigarettes are not permitted. He has written as follows: Improvement Era, Salt Lake City, Utah: The most important duty of a "Mormon" boy is to be honest, true and sincere in his belief, to obey and respect his elder people, to abide by the law of the land, and not to make and use bad language, nor to play on the streets with bad boys. If he should converse upon religion he should not be afraid to say he is a "Mormon." Even if he should say he belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ, the person to whom he was talking would perhaps not know to which church he belonged. If the person he is speaking to is good on scriptures, and he cannot defend his faith, he should just pass him a tract or small book on the doctrines of the gospel which every "Mormon" boy should carry, and tell them not to be afraid to ask for more when he has read it. If persons should pass critical remarks about his religion he should thank them and quietly pass along These are some of his duties outside the Church. The duties in the Church should be that he is present at every meeting that he can possibly be at. Should he hold the Priesthood, he should be present at Priesthood meetings, because he can never know too much of the word of God. Should there be any Saints sick and unable to attend their meetings, it is his duty to pray that they may be raised from their beds of affliction and further continue. He should always be ready to bear his testimony, and pray to the Lord, and thank him for his goodness and mercy. Should there be any visitors in the meeting, it is his duty to make them welcome, and feel at home; and last, but not least, he should have a good feeling toward brother and sister, friend and foe. Your Brother, Joseph Doolan. 19 Pennell St., Newton, Sydney, Australia, December 16, 1913. Mutual Work M. I. A. Special Mid-Season Officers' Meetings, 1914 To the Stake Officers of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. : Dear Brethren and Sisters: The stake superintendents and presidents of the Y. M. and Y. L. M. I. A. are hereby instructed to make arrangements for holding special stake officers' meetings of their stakes for our organizations during the months of January and February, where possible on the regular day set for the monthly officers' meetings in their particular stakes. These meetings will take the place of the mid-season conferences formerly held, in compliance with the new arrangements for conferences and conventions of auxiliary organizations. See Era for January, 1914, page 277. purpose of the special stake officers' meetings The main purposes of these special stake officers' meetings are: 1. To check up the work of the associations in the stake to date, enabling the stake officers to have a definite understanding of the condition of the associations in all departments, including the M. I. A. Day and Contest Work. This should be done with a view to suggesting remedies for such organizations as may not have succeeded fully in some lines of our work. 2. To discuss joint work, including, especially, summer work, social, and other problems pertaining to the two organizations. The last ten minutes of the meetings should be given the presiding officers to suggest remedies for difficulties noted. meetings If possible there should be two meetings held, one joint meeting and one separate officers' meeting. If this cannot be done, the joint meeting should be held at the time of the January officers meetings, and the separate officers' meeting at the time of the February officermeeting. PROGRAM Joint Meeting I Presentation of Status of the Contest and M. I. A^Day Work. ' 1 For items of instruction see Improvement Era, September Novembe?, and December, 1913, and January, 1914. The movement should now be in full progress. 2. See also the Young Woman's Journal, December, 1913, and JanU3aryRepo4rt on dates and places for ward, stake district, stake, and 398 IMPROVEMENT ERA Moroni Snow, No. 21 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah, not later than May 27, 1914. II. Suggestions for Joint Summer Work. 1. Hold regular joint meetings on Sunday evening once each month, .bor suggestions for programs see Y. M. M. I. A Senior Manual, and Young Woman's Journal, September, 1913. 2. Present an original suggestive program, for summer work. 3. If the stake is to take up weekly joint meetings, decide now and appoint a joint committee to plan the program. 4. What outdoor work can you do? Suggestions: Outings, nature study, flower gardening, vocations and industries, and scouting for boys III. Social Work. 1. Mutual Improvement associations should lead in this work under the direction of the ward authorities, and in order to do this effectively you should have a joint committee in each .ward to arrange for the season's socials. 2. Suggestions: Hold a mid-season grand M. I. A. ward ball. This occasion should be made a model social gathering. 3. Home socials. Note: For home socials, unless other works are available, the committee suggests, "Bright Ideas for Entertaining," by Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott, published by George W. Jacobs & Co., Philadelphia. 4. Necessity for training in proper deportment and dances. Note.— The above three subjects should be assigned and treated in three ten-minute talks, with 15 minutes for discussion after each. Separate Y. M. M. I, A. Meeting I. Vocations and Industries, by Stake Committeeman — 10-minute talk, 15-minute discussion. a. What the movement means. b. What has been done in this stake. c. What should be done. II. System in Fund and Era Canvass — 10-minute talk, 15-minute discussion. a. Suggestions for raising 100% of the Fund. b. Suggestions for obtaining 5% Era subscribers where this has not already been done. III. Problems in Class Work — 10-minute talk, 15-minute discussion. a. What these problems are. b. Suggestions for remedying them. c. How successful has been the new plan for junior class work? SPECIAL CAMPAIGN BY FIELD SECRETARY AND SCOUT COMMISSIONER Field Secretary Oscar A. Kirkham or Scout Commissioner John H. Taylor will hold a three days' session in each of the following Church schools on the dates named to give general and detailed instructions in M. I. A. and scout work for M. I. A. leaders. The work is designed to prepare leaders to carry out successfully the twenty lessons of scout work given in the Junior Manual and to conduct sucessfully the junior class work. Every hour of the three days will be planned — discipline, games, dancing, scoutcraft, first-aid and athletic work will be given. Each ward should have at these special sessions, one or more capable leaders willing to take up this important work with the boys in their wards. Stake superintendents are requested to have a stake representative in attendance.