Ward Teaching and Class Efficiency

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Ward Teaching and Class Efficiency The following report of the General Priesthood Committee for October, 1914, is of interest in all parts of the Church, and should be read in every ward and stake priesthood meeting

The work of the teachers and class efficiency are two phases of priesthood work that have been emphasized since the last report.

WARD TEACHING In the matter of ward teaching, the progress recently made is very gratifying. Statistics of the number of families visited monthly for the past five years show that 31,008 families are now visited monthly, which is a gradual increase from ten thousand visited monthly five years ago. The work of the active corps of teachers engaged in the services of the Lord in each ward of the Church, results not only in great social improvement among the people but in the creation of a spirit of loyalty and enthusiasm in spiritual affairs that enlivens every member of the Church and causes a better influence to permeate every citizen of the ward. Furthermore, it provides activity for every priest and teacher of proper age to

act in the work, thus training and preparing them for future service. Not only in the Priesthood quorums is the effect of ward teaching shown, but also in the enrollment of every auxiliary organization, which has largely increased, through the labors of the ward teachers, wherever these have been performed properly. The records at the Presiding Bishop's office show that great effort is still being put forth by the stake and ward authorities in increase

the efficiency of ward teaching as well as the number of families visited monthly.

QUORUM RECORDS Uniform records are now being used by the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums. These should be carefully kept, as annual reports will .be required of each quorum. It should be remembered that these records and reports are more valuable to the presiding officers in the stake and quorum than to anyone else, for they enable these officers to take once a year a careful inventory of themselves and the quorums over which they preside. While the attendance at the Priesthood quorum meetings is still far below what it should be, the large increase recently has been very encouraging.

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WARD TEACHING AND CLASS EFFICIENCY 35

Every member of a quorum in the Melchizedek Priesthood when absent should feel it his duty to report to his quorum the cause of his absence and likewise to attend regularly when possi- ;

ble each meeting of his quorum. Excuses may be conveyed to the presiding" officers of the quorums either in writing or verbally. The secretary of each quorum should record, in every instance, the cause of absence so that the record may be complete.

QUORUM HELPFULNESS ( MELCHIZEDEK

It is pleasing to report that an increased number of officers of quorums make it a point to labor with delinquent brethren. This is commendable for it is quite as necessary to re-convert to ;

the gospel and to the spirit of the work, a person who is indifferent and delinquent at home, as to convert in the mission field a person who has never heard the gospel. We, therefore, advocate strongly that missionary work should be done with every neglectful or delinquent member, by the officers of the quorum, or by special missionaries under their direction. Quorum officers should make at least one quarterly visit to each class, in each ward, under their jurisdiction. They should satisfy themselves as to the qualifications of the class instructors, the method of teaching, and confer with the bishop, making suggestions as to where and how better instructors, if need be, can be obtained and also where changes would be necessary and advantageous and then, with the consent ;

of the bishop, see that they are made. Members often lose interest in class work because of the inefficiency of the class instructor. A — change, therefore, is often desirable not that there should be frequent changes but only changes for the betterment of the service and to the advantage of the class. There is a slight tendency, too, shown among quorums to assist missionaries in the field. However, this manifestation of quorum activity is still very faint. Officers should be alert to render financial and other assistance to missionaries representing the quorum wherever this is found necessary. They should visit the relatives of those who are endeavoring to keep the missionary in the field, and if conditions are such that help is required, it is the duty of the quorum, through its officers, to provide such help. The officers and members of the quorum should consider it a reflection upon their quorum if it becomes necessary to release a faithful missionary because his family cannot continue to provide for missionary expenses. If a missionary's family is not able to provide the minimum amount required to keep him in the field, the quorum should take steps to provide the deficiency, and see that a regular contribution is sent either to the missionary, or to the headquarters of the mission for his credit where he labors. The presidency of every quorum should thoroughly understand the

36 IMPROVEMENT ERA personal financial condition of their missionary members. Work in the mission field has now become largely an economic question. It is not so difficult to get men who are able and willing to go into the mission field, as to get men who can support themselves or whose relatives or friends are able to support them while in the field. Hence the need of timely help by the quorum brethren at home. LESSER PRIESTHOOD ACTIVITY

We are pleased to report perceptible progress in the work of the Lesser Priesthood quorums. Compared with five years ago the enrollment of the Lesser Priesthood is very gratifying. Where five years ago the number enrolled was 21,587; today there is an enrollment in the Lesser Priesthood of 39,292. There are 303 classes of Priests, 367 classes of Teachers and 621 classes of Deacons meeting weekly. It is unnecessary to do anything more than refer to the invaluable educational results that must follow through holding these weekly classes, properly officered and disciplined. Not only can the progress be measured in educational — value but in that greater value the growth of the true religious sentiment which must necessarily develop through the efforts of these classes and the labors of their teachers. The purpose of ordaining persons to the Priesthood should be to set them to work in their offices and callings. Where Deacons are ordained they should be set to work immediately, instructed in their duties, and trained for the higher offices of the Priesthood.

priests' activities

Many inquiries are made as to what Priests can do in a ward. In addition to fulfilling the specific duty of teaching, exhorting, expounding and visiting the Saints in their homes, baptizing, etc., these additional activities for them may be named administering" :

the sacrament aiding the ward teachers taking part in Sunday ; ;

School and M. I. A. activities holding cottage meetings working ; ;

in various Church organizations inviting the Saints to special and ;

general meetings, especially missionary farewells repairing cem- ;

etery grounds, acting as Sunday School, Mutual Improvement Association, and other organization choristers and aiding mis- ;

sionary families. A very pleasant duty for the priests is the call to administer the sacrament in stake conferences, assisted by the Deacons. How pleasing the sight of ten, twenty or thirty priests engaged in this sacred work ! They should also be called upon to open and close the public assemblies of the Saints with prayer. So likewise in the quorum meetings and the auxiliary organizations.

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teachers' and deacons' activities

The teachers should assist the priest in these activities. They may act also as officers in the auxiliary organizations, and as ward teachers. They may assist the bishop in collecting donations for special purposes, in keeping the meetinghouse in order, acting as ushers and door-keepers, and secretaries of organizations. In many other duties teachers and deacons may act, such as, aids to the bishop in miscellaneous activities, as ushers, messengers at quarterly conferences, and in aiding visitors. A regular usher service should be organized for every chapel or meetinghouse of the Latter-day Saints. It should be the duty of the teachers and deacons to assist in seating the congregation, passing the sacrament, collecting fast offerings, taking care of visitors' teams, aiding the Relief Society by errands, helping to care for the poor, carrying messages, acting as book and record keepers, and doing other special work required by the bishops. Nothing so develops in the young man the sense of respect as assisting in the work at hand, and as having something to do as a messenger and help for the authorities of the stake or ward.

CLASS INSTRUCTORS

Class instructors in the Lesser Priesthood should alwavs be chosen by the bishops, and in the classes of the Higher Priesthood, by the quorums themselves on consultation and with the approval of the stake and ward Priesthood authorities. We should not lose sight of the fact that the ward classes are frequently not quorums, and that they should be watched over by the officers of the quorums to which the members of these classes belong. The officers should take an abiding interest and watchcare over them as parts of their quorums. COURSES OF STUDY The course of study for the Melchizedek Priesthood for 1915 is now in preparation by Dr. John A. Widtsoe, president of the Utah Agricultural College. The work will be a rich contribution to our Priesthood Library, and the best hope we have for it is that it will be as favorably received and as generally studied as has

been Elder Whitney's Gospel Themes this year. Each quorum in the Lesser Priesthood will have its own book. In conclusion, we might say, that the progress of the Priesthood work is encouraging, the outlook promising, and the possibilities for improvement infinite. Respectfully submitted, The Priesthood Committee. David A. Smith, By Rudger Clawson, Secretary. Chairman.