--- 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: 18 number: 2 published: 1914-12 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: Gospel Themes", *Improvement Era* 18, no. 2 (December 1914): 172–174.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1802unse 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: improvementera1802unse start_page: 172 end_page: 174 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1802unse 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: Gospel Themes Priesthood Quorums' Table — Gospel Themes. Questions and suggestions for teachers and students, by Elder David O. McKay: PART V —DISPERSION AND GATHERING OF ISRAEL (CONTINUED) Lesson 33 — Chapter III —To the Ends of the Earth. 1. Give a brief sketch of the last days of Joshua. 2. What was the moral condition of Israel at the time of Joshua's # death? How long did this condition remain? (See Joshua 23:24.) 3. When did the Israelites begin to depart from righteousness? What was the result of their transgressions? 4. What was the difference between the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah? 5. Who was Ahijah? 6. Name other prophets who foretold the dispersion of Israel? 7. Who are the "lost tribes" of Israel? When were they taken captive? 8. Read in the Apocrypha what Esdras says regarding these tribes. 9. What evidences are there that the Ten Tribes went north? 10. What reasons have you for believing that the Ten Tribes are still intact? How do you account for the presence of 11. the "blood of Ephraim" among the Latter-day Saints? 12. Read Doctrine and Covenants, section 77. Lesson 34 —Chapter III — To the Ends of the Earth (continued). 1. What prophets foretold the captivity of Judah? 2. Read these prophecies in the Bible, and discuss their significance. 3. Where was ancient Babylon situated? 4. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? 5. Show from history that the American Indians are descendants from Israel? 6. When did the Jews return to Jerusalem? 7. Who was Cyrus? 8. How many years before the birth of Christ did this return to Jerusalem occur? 9. What prophecies did the Savior utter regarding the destruction of Jerusalem? 10. Give an account of the dispersion of the Jews under Titus. 11. Can you show how blessings have come out of all these calamitous events in Judah's history? 12. Show by examples that God answers the call of Faith. Lesson 35 — Chapter IV—The Call of the Shepherd. 1. When was the gathering of Israel to take place? 2. Quote the important prophecies referring to the gathering in the last days. 3. What does the "Mountain of the Lord's house" mean? 4. What part of Israel has thus far been "gathered" from the nations? 5. Define the following terms as used by Isaiah: "Ensign," PRIESTHOD QUORUMS' TABLE 173 ''Shoulders of the Philistines," "An highway for the remnant of his people, Outcasts of Israel." 6 R ela ^r tIle circumstances surrounding the Restoration of the keys 'r i , of the Gathering of Israel. 7. Give the substance of two modern predictions relating to the Gathering. 8. What does the Bonk of Mormon say in regard to the preaching ot the gospel in the last day Israel? to 1. Lesson 36— Chapter V— The Author to the Reader. This closing chapter of "Gospel Themes" should be read and re-read many times by every young man holding the Priesthood. 2. Explain the significance of "The first branch of the [sraelitish tree to bear the fruits of faith and obedience in modern days." 3. Let each member memorize the following, and keep it as a motto through life: "You are of a royal race, and your conduct should be royal to comport with it." 4. Define arrogance; insignia; sordid. 5. What are the responsibilities resting upon the Priesthood of the Latter-days? Explain the figures of speech used in the last paragraph. 6. Conclusion: 7. How much of the course this year have you made your own? In other words, how much of your study in "Gospel Themes" have you applied in your life and ministry? "To him who knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." — Ward Teachers.; For stake authorities of the Instructions to Church to prepare subjects at different times for the teachers in the various wards of the stake, is an idea that is gaining popularity in a number of stakes. (See Era, Vol. 17, pp. 992-3, for topics.) For example, in the Nebo stake, for October, 1914, the following acting teachers' outlines were prepared, printed and distributed to the teachers in the various wards of that stake, the topic for the month being "The M. I. A.:" Aim — As given by President Brigham Young. 1. To establish a testimony of the gospel. 2. To develop the talents of our young people. 3. To cultivate a knowledge of, and an ability to apply the prin- ciples that make strong manhood and womanhood. Purpose in the Church. To furnish a means through which the lives of our young people may be influenced and directed. a. Socially — a very vital force in influencing any young character. 1. The meeting of boys with boys, and girls with girls, in the working out of a common purpose. 2. The meeting of boys and girls together in properly super- vised and conducted socials. 3. The socializing force of contests in athletics, debates, musical, etc. 4. Boy scout activities. b. Intellectually. 1. — Reading Course The establishment of the habit of reading. 2. Manual Study and Lesson Giving. — Senior boys Man and his work. — Junior boys Lessons on Conduct. 3 — Era an excellent magazine dealing with current problems in Church affairs, also current events. — — 174 MPR< >VEMENT ERA 4. — Debates Contests in argumentation. 5. — Declamation or public speaking contests. 6. Story Telling— Contests and practice. 7. Musical Contests Preliminary exercises fur practice in music. Quartette singing, cborus singing, solo singing. c. Morally. 1. By properly conducted socials, dances, etc. 2. By social talks from those having experience. 3. By association with their friends under proper supervision and under the Spirit' of the Lord. d. Physically. 1. Supervised Athletics Basketball and baseball. Group games and plays in contests between associa- tions — chinning contests, jumping contests, etc. Outdoor exercises of summer camps, Boy Scout hiking trips. e. Spiritually. 1. Meetings always held under auspices and influence of the Church, conducted by those with authority. 2. The principles of the gospel are taught indirectly by influ- encing their lives along the lines of clean living. 3. Gospel talks at times in connection with other activities. Ward Teaching: The Presiding Bishop's office bulletin No. 13, issued on October 31, 1914, gives the following average percentage "of families visited by ward teachers, in all the stakes of Zion, each month, during the nine months ending on September 30, 1914: % Sept. June % % Mar. % Sept. Tune % % Mar. " 30 30 30 30 30 30 1 Ogden 97 98 99 34 Union 37 38 44 2 Liberty 94 94 93 35 Alpine 36 40 47 3 Oneida 79 81 85 36 Rlackfoot 36 48 50 4 Box Elder 76 73 72 37 Malad 36 41 45 5 Weber 76 76 76 38 South Sanpete ... 36 41 47 6 North Weber 74 75 80 39 Benson 34 46 51 7 Salt Lake 74 79 78 40 San Luis 34 32 42 8 Ensign 72 . 57 60 41 Deseret 31 42 51 9 Bear River 69 79 84 42 St. Joseph 31 42 51 10 Young 67 70 73 43 Moapa 29 34 50 11 Maricopa 59 59 57 44 Wayne 29 38 68 12 Davis 57 61 72 45 Bingham 28 24 41 13 Alberta 54 63 71 46 Bannock 27 34 38 14 North Sanpete ... 52 43 40 47 Hvrum 27 33 46 Bear Lake 48 Pocatello 27 * 15 48 48 59 32 16 Big Horn 48 64 69 49 Emerv 26 29 23 17 Fremont 48 51 57 50 Carbon 25 31 38 * 18 Uintah 46 53 51 St. Tohns 24 12 33 19 Snowflake 45 45 51 52 Star Valley 24 29 33 20 Pioneer 43 46 42 53 Rigby 23 18 51 21 Cassia 43 49 53 54 San Juan 23 27 35 22 Nebo 42 47 53 55 Millard 21 20 25 * 23 Summit 41 36 47 56 Teton 21 21 24 Wasatch 66 57 Shelley 20 ** ** 41 36 25 Taylor 40 46 63 58 Beaver 18 66 18 26 Boise 39 32 54 59 Duchesne 18 32 42 27 Morgan 39 38 45 60 Sevier 18 24 42 28 Utah 39 47 59 61 St. George 14 33 45 29 Yellowstone 39" 50 61 62 Woodruff 13 24 23 30 Cache 37 42 47 63 Kanab 12 17 30 31 Granite 37 35 43 64 Juab 11 36 40 32 Tordan 37 41 38 65 Parowan S 10 14 S3 Tooele 37 38 44 66 Panguitch 7 30 4U ''Reports arrived too late to be included in classification. ^take.