Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table

—

Report of the General Committee. This report was read at the

General Priesthood meeting, Monday, April 6, 1914:

It is six years since the general authorities of the Church made

the appointment of a Priesthood Outlines Committee. This period

has been marked by a far-reaching increase in Priesthood activity, and

a realization of the importance of the Priesthood quorums as com-

pared with the auxiliary organizations. The outlines committee docs

not take the credit for the change; its work was only incidental to it.

When the weekly meeting of quorums and classes was instituted,

it was extremely hard for many of the wards to accept the change,

and practically impossible to continue the classes during the summer.

Now the weekly meeting is established throughout the Church, and

the classes continue in about eighty per cent of the wards without in-

erruption the year round.

In a number of stakes throughout Zion the Priesthood are meet-

ing on Sunday morning at nine o'clock and continue their sessions

until ten or ten thirty, at which time the Sunday schools are called

to order. Many of those in the Melchizedek Priesthood classes who

are present at this Priesthood meeting attend the parents' class in

the Sabbath school, thus receiving added blessing to themselves, and

rendering a service to the school. In other, stakes this same method

is adopted except that the Lesser Priesthood meet separately in quor-

ums at ten o°clock in the morning for one-half hour, then adjourn at

10:30 for Sabbath school, and receive their lessons in the Priesthood

manuals as Sabbath school students.

In other stakes they meet at two o'clock in the afternoon for the

Priesthood quorums. This is where the sacrament meetings are held

in the evening. In all these stakes it is generally conceded that the

Priesthood quorums are faring better, as far as attention and advance-

ment are concerned, both in their duties and studies, than in the stakes

where the Priesthood quorums meet on a week night. No general

rule has been adopted in this matter, but the time of meetings is left

with the authorities of each stake.

For the Church as a whole, an average of 21% of the Priesthood

were in attendance at the weekly Priesthood meetings, during the

year, 1913. The stake showing the best record in attendance of weekly

Priesthood meetings was Ogden stake with 39% in attendance, fol

lowed closely by the Pioneer stake with 38%.

Probably the best index to the new spirit of the Priesthood is

the desire for the lesson literature issued by the committee. This sur-

prising eagerness for the outlines and text-books has been a source

of some embarrassment, for already this year a new edition has had

to be printed of "Gospel Themes" used by all classes of the High

Priesthood. During the last five years about 150,000 outlines have-

been distributed throughout the Church.

Of all the activities of the Priesthood, next to crass work, the one

receiving the benefit of the new impetus to the greatest extent, is ward

teaching. During the last three years the average percentage of

families visited rose from 20% in 1911, to 30% in 1912, and to 39% in

This result could not have been secured without reducing the

average number of families in each district for each pair of teachers

to visit. The number in each teachers' district was reduced from

20 in 1911 to 12 in 1912 and to 8 /> in 1913. Some wards and stakes

T

have shown wonderful examples of what can be done.

The following wards shows 100% of the families visited eacli

month by the ward teachers for the year 1912:

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 693

Clearfield Ward, Davis stake; Elwood and Penrose, Bear River

stake; Thirty-third, Liberty stake; Eden, Ogden stake; Twin Groves,

Yellowstone stake; Redmesa, Young stake.

The following wards showed 100% of families visited each month

by the ward teachers for 1913:

Elwood, Penrose, Riverside, of the Bear River stake; First,

Thirty-third, Emigration, of the Liberty stake; Eden, Ogden stake;

Fairview, Oneida stake; Twin Groves, Yellowstone stake; Redmesa,

Young stake.

The best record in ward teaching was achieved by the Ogden

stake, where 93% of all the families were visited each month, through-

out the year, by the ward teachers. The Liberty Stake showed a rec-

ord of an average of 83% visited every month, and the third best

record is that of Bear River stake, showing an average of 76% visited

each month for the year 1913.

In five years the Priesthood of the Church has increased in num-

bers over 15 000 At the end of 1908, they numbered 71,550; at be-

ginning of this year 86,731, a veritable army of well-trained youths

and young men. The largest proportionate increase has been

among

special attention has been

the priests and teachers, to which quorums

preside over

paid In practically every ward the bishops personally

priests. A few years ago, there was scarcely a quorum of priests

the

nresided over by its proper authority, the bishop.

instead

The convenience of meeting close at home in the wards, of the

of in distant parts of the stake, the

frequency and regularity

practice of more or

weekly meeting as contrasted with the former

less irregular monthly meetings, the

convenient size of the classes

have wrought a great change in conditions.

They have brought about

closer companionship between members of

the Priesthood made them

another, better fitted to carry

better acquainted with the needs of one

out any labors for the common good, and more united m spirit

committee has thought seriously of their work for the future.

The

Priesthood, since the organization of the Church, been

Never has the connected with

position

a to work out the problems

in lo favorable

same problems that

We are meeting many of the shall

our great cause. ultimately solve

rome into the lives of people elsewhere. That we

destiny

them better than can society generally, is our it is desired, will have

Next year's work, and subsequent courses,

betterment.

something to do with these conditions and their

Tt has been felt that such work in

connection, of course with the

leaders

gospel and the biographies of the

Y and "octHnes of the

history the 000 mem

in this dispensation, may help make active some o =

performing no active labors in tne

bers of the Priesthood who are now

ot embodied in next year's course of study,

neiptui, to be

and heloful

-,

^^

General Committee on Priesthood,

By Rugder Clawson, Chairman.

suggestions for teachers and stu-

Gospel Themes-Questions and

dents by Elder David O. McKay:

PART III-PRIESTHOOB AND

CHURCH GOVERNMENT (CONTINUED)

17-Chapter III-The Church Organization.

esson

feM"?* S^ifTfc option.

I

\

poral" government?

694 IMPROVEMENT ERA

5. What is the purpose of this organization?

6. Name the original offices of the Church.

7. When and why were the following offices given: (1) Bishop?

(2) The First Presidency? (3) The Council of the Twelve? (4) First

Quorum of Seventy?

8. Give an account of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.

9. What is the specific office or power of the Aaronic Priesthood?

Of the Melchi'zedek Priesthood?

10. Name the various courts in the Church.
    

11. Name each council and quorum in the Church.

12. What duties are you performing in the Church as a represen-

tative of your quorum?

—

PART IV THE GOSPEL DISPENSATIONS.

— —

Lesson 18 Chapter I Introductory.

1. Exolain and memorize Gal. 1:6-8.

2. Explain the relation of all true science and philosophy to the

Gospel of Christ.

3. What is the relation to the gospel of every religion that has

benefited its adherents?

4.                       in comparing these philosophies
   

Explain the author's simile

and religions to pools of water.

5. Why do some tribes and nations receive only a portion of the

gospel?

6. Why could the people of the Savior's day rightly refer to his

teachings as a "restored gospel?"

7. Define "dispensations," "temporal existence" as it relates to

the earth.

8. Show that the measurement of time is arbitrary.

9. Explain one system of reckoning by which man concludes that

we are now in the "Saturday evening of human history."

10. What is the meaning of "inter-related."

Lesson 19 — Chapter II — The Adamic Period.

1. What is the meaning of the "Dispensation of the Fulness of

Times"?

2. Quote passages proving that Adam holds the keys to all dis-

pensations.

3. What are the characteristic features of the Adamic dispensa-

tion?

4. Explain the significance of each.

5. By reference to Moses 5:14; 6:51-66, point out various prin-

ciples of the gospel that are taught today as they were then.

6. Name the one office in the Church that is handed down from

father to son.

7. Who is the "Ancient of Days"?

8. Who is "Michael"?

9.Exolain Cain's and Abel's attitude toward the law of sacrifice.

10.Why was Cain's offering rejected? Can you suggest any other

probable reason?

Lesson 20 — Chapter III — Enoch and Zion.

1. Explain "contemporaneous."

2. Name the characteristic features or marks of the period in

which Enoch lived.

3. What is the "law of consecration"?

4. Read carefully the seventh chapter of Moses.

5.Point out in this vision the history of God's dealings with men

on this earth.