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Priesthood Quorums' Table

Improvement Era, vol. 18, no. 5, March 1915, pp. 460 to 461

P. Joseph Jensen

Priesthood Quorums' Table

Suggestive Lesson Outlines for the Deacons Lesson 9 (Text: The Latter-day Prophet, Chapter IX: 1-11 particularly)

Problem: What is the evidence that an angel gave Joseph Smith the records from which was translated the Book of Mormon? Study the chapter. When each paragraph is read, show its bear- ing on the problem of the lesson by having appropriate questions answered. How many men in all saw and handled the records? How many men saw the angel handle them and talk about them? Who were they? (See Cannon's Life of Joseph Smith, p. 78). Have a Book of Mormon in the class and read part of the wit- nesses' testimony. Let the boys look at the book. Compare the way the Lord did to establish securely the Book of Mormon, as a sacred history, with the way scientific historians test an historical event. Historians say that an event, to be historical, must have a witness or witnesses who are willing and able to tell the truth; then, even if the event is a miracle, it is historical, because such witnesses would not imagine the event to have taken place and then tell that it actually did take place. What, therefore, is our evidence that the Book of Mormon is a socred record? Answer the problem of the lesson. Lesson 10 (Latter part of Chapter TX:12-15, and events from other chapters) Before taking up chapter ten review former work according to the following problem, viz.: By what events had Joseph Smith_ Jr., been fitted to organize the "Mormon" Church? What knowledge did he possess that God and Jesus Christ exist? Who, then, did he know would be the author of the gospel? What priesthood or authority did he have to organize the Church? How did he get it? What other man had this authority given to him? How did he get it? What book did he have that taught the gospel in its purity? How had he obtained it? In what language was it writ- ten? How many of the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants had been given by April 6, 1830? (Sections 2-20). What heavenly messengers had taught him? By April 6, 1830, how many years had he been the student of heavenly beings? Compare Joseph Smith's preparation for leader of the "Mormon" Church with, for example, Henry VIII's preparation for the "Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England." (See any good English history. Note particularly the part of Parliament).

Lesson 11 (Chapter X) Problem: How did Joseph Smith proceed to organize the Churcii of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 461

Study the chapter, (See lesson nine, also the Prophet's own ac- count, History of the Church, Vol. I, pp. 74-78). How was the time designated? (See Doc. & Cov., 20:1). How do we commemorate that day now? What laws did it conform to? (Doc. & Cov., 20:1). According to whose will was it organized? What was the office of Joseph Smith in the organization? See paragraph 4 lines 1 and 2 of the text, also Doc. & Cov., 1:3). How did he receive his office? (Compare Doc. & Cov., 26:2). What were signs that fol- lowed the organizations? Of what were these signs an evidence? Answer the problem of the lesson. Lesson 12

(Chapter XI)

Problem: Does the Lord help his servants when they are in need? Study the chapter. (See lesson nine). What had the Prophet done to bring on the trouble? How was he unexpectedly befriended on three occasions? In which did the Lord give assistance? What was the value of suffering indignities? Compare one of the arrests of the Apostle Peter after final ascen- sion of our Savior. (See Acts 5:12-29). Answer the problem of the lesson.

Dr. Luther M. Palmer, family physician to President Brigham Young, and a pioneer resident of Salt Lake, died January 12, 1915. He was born July 5, 1827, in Ogdensburg, New York, and crossed the plains in 1848 to San Francisco, where he studied medicine, and re- turned to Utah in 1851. He attended President Brigham Young at his death.

JM. Christensen, former president of the Scandinavian mission, in bait and aprominent Salt Lake business man, died January 7, 1915 Harmstrup, Denmark January 8, 1846 and Lake City. He was born in at the age of twenty came to America, and to Utah m the fall of 186/. was member of the 15th ward bishopric and at the For ten years he a Lake time of his death a president of the high priests quorum of Salt stake of Zion. He was highly respected both for his business integrity his Church duties. and for his diligence in the performance of entitled, "Pre- The sixteenth book of the Faith-promoting Seriesis compiled and the Era. It cious Memor?es'' has been received by published by George C. Lambert and the instruction and encouragement

of Thomas Briggs, exoeriences in two in

Its Fulfilment," "Judgment of present volume of ninety-six pages

and six chapters, the young series is designed for ^the Lat contains, the s and George L tf^y/?^^* ^""f m ^™! * d ss -J*™"*A rreaicuon chapters; "Prepared for the Gospel, Upon an Anti-'Mormon, ~etc The

for publication.