Priesthood Quorums’ Table

Priesthood Quorums' Table Suggestive Outlines for the Deacons by p. joseph jensen Lesson 33 (Chapter XXX) Problem: What were the conditions that caused the Saints to leave Missouri? Before studying this lesson review the last nine paragraphs of chapter 13. Why did the Saints locate in Missouri? Why was it good for making homes? How would that naturally make them feel about leaving? In how many counties did they live in Missouri? See map p. 160. Why did they live in so many? In what kind of financial circumstances were the Saints for leaving Missouri? What order had the Governor of Missouri made concerning the Saints leaving? See bottom of page 145. What was done at Haun's Mill to carry out the order? Study the chapter. How did the Missouri legislature treat the Saints' petition? (The vote was 37 to 48). Where was the first Presidency while the Saints were moving? What office and qualifications did Brigham Young possess that fitted him to be a leader? What' financial plan did he carry out to aid the Saints to move? In which did Brigham Young have greater interest, money or the Saints? Was his judgment sound? Contrast the feelings of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, con- cerning their imprisonment. Relate what Sister Amanda Smith also what Brothers Kimball and Ripley were doing in this very trying time of moving. Why do you think they could do these things? In what season of the year did they move? How far did they have to travel? See map p. 160. Answer the problem of the lesson? Lesson 34 (Chapter XXXI, First four paragraphs) Problem: How does the justice of the Lord correct the injustice of man? Why were the Prophet and his brethren in Liberty jail? How long were they there? What attempts had been made to take their lives? Study the assignment: For whom are prisons made? For what kind of actions are people lawfully imprisoned?

Were the Prophet and brethren lawfully imprisoned in Liberty jail? What course did they pursue to make their escape? How did they finally make it? Compare this imprisonment with that (1) of Alma and Amulek, Alma 14; and (2) Peter, Acts 5:17-29. Compare the escape of the dif- ferent parties. Did the laws of the land justify the imprisonment of these men? Why? Did the officers of the law deal justly with them? To whom did they go for justice? Answer the problem of the lesson. Lesson 35 (Chapter XXXI, Last three paragraphs) Problem: How shall we act when our interests and safety ap- parently conflict with the commandments of the Lord? Study the assignment. Why was it a difficult thing to accomplish this commandment of the Lord to the Twelve Apostles? How does their journey to Far West show their trust in the Lord? Compare the keeping of this commandment by Brigham Young and others, with the event of Nephi and brothers getting the plates from Laban? (I Nephi 3 and 4.) , • , Show here that faith without works would be dead, in these cases. Answer the problem of the lesson. Increasing Attendance at Sacrament Meetings President Adolph Merz, and associates, of the North Sanpete stake have adopted a plan for increasing the attendance at sacra- ment meetings. The effects of the plan have so far been most gratify- ing the attendance having almost doubled since the special work was commenced about a month ago, on July 30. The twelve wards were called upon for twenty-nine special missionaries. These special mis- sionaries were the most capable men of the stake who preach the gospel by example as well as by precept. To accompany these mis- sionaries, twenty-four singers and musicians were called— young people of the various auxiliary organizations. The hearty response by these missionaries, singers and musicians, to perform this four-month s mis- sion was an inspiration and a source of great satisfaction to the presi- dency. Their names were presented to the Saints at the last quarterly ™& r conference and unanimously sustained. The appointments are riled with regularity and enthusiasm, although at times some trav la stance of from fifty to sixty miles. Everv warf «n J. £ visited every Sabbath afternoon, except on Fas Day, by a ditterent companv (/missionaries and singers. The i ™™°™Za*£fc? £ ^ o-iven subject suggested by the stake presidency. His subject is tne same in everv ward, and is so arranged that the second speaker s dis- rn^Ae correlates with the first. The itinerary is arranged in such a

sacrament meeting in the ward during the month. A compilation of this report is presented to the high council each month at the monthly stake priesthood meeting. This report is received with great interest by the brethren, and stimulates ward activities in support of this movement. Prior to the beginning of this work the bishops held a special meeting with the officers of every organization in their re- spective wards, enlisted their support in the proper observance of the Sabbath day, by their own example and by using their influence to encourage others to attend meetings. "Active" and "Inactive" Members Tn answer to a question from one of the presidency of a stake the Presiding Bishop's Office has given the following answer as to what constitutes "active" members of the Church: "The interpretation of 'active' and 'inactive' is largely one which should be settled in each community. We are satisfied that with a discussion of this matter by the presidencv and high council of the stake, some satisfactory con- clusion will be arrived at as how to apply 'active' and 'inactive' to members of the Church. It does not appeal to us that a man who pays tithing, attends sacrament meetings, and holds the priesthood, is for that' reason 'active.' It would be very much better to apply the word 'active' to some labor or duty under the direction of the stake presi- dency, or the bishopric of the ward, or to an active worker in one of the auxiliary organizations. That is the intent and spirit of the in- quiry concerning 'activities. '" Weekly Priesthood Meetings It appears from the reports at the Presiding Bishop's Office that the weekly priesthood meetings for the six months ending June 30, in 1913 showed 16% of the priesthood in attendance; in 1914, 17%; in 1915, 18%. The increase in the percentage of attendance at sacrament meetings shows as follows: 14.5, in 1913; 16.5, inl914, and 17%, in 1915. Ward Teaching In the various wards of Zion this great work is increasing in efficiency and in scope. It appears from the summary of stake re- ports for the six months ending June 30, that the number of families in the stakes of Zion who were visited in June, 1913, was 21,825; June. 1914. 30,022; June, 1915, 42,437, showing a commendable increase in the activities of ward teaching. The percent of families visited for the three years was respectivelv. 42, 51 and 63. When we consider that the increase of families from 1913 to 1915 in the Church was 14,939 the growth of the work is really remarkable. In Liberty stake President Hugh J. Cannon, and associates, are as- sisted in priesthood work by high council committees. Three high councilors look after the elders' quorums. The attendance is called to their attention each week, and they suggest ways and means by which the ward presidencies of the elders' quorums can best increase the number. Tn this manner also the high council committee for the Les- ser Priesthood assist the bishops in looking after the attendance in the quorums of the Lesser Priesthood. A supervisor for each ward is appointed by the presidency of the high priests' quorum whose special duty is to look after the attendance of the high priests in the wards. On the fourth Sunday of each month a stake union meeting

is held, when attendance of the priesthood is taken up by the bishops and high council committee with the respective departments. A weekly report card is furnished by the ward clerk to each ward, which shows the number of the priesthood in the ward, and the number present, also the attendance by actual count at sacrament service. This card includes all the officers of the priesthood — high priest, seventy, elder, teacher, priest and deacon. The bishops are fully converted to weekly priesthoor meetings and support the stake presidency to a unit. The Oneida stake, under President Joseph S. Geddes, continued its splendid standing in ward teaching. For the month of June every one of the twenty-one wards in the stake reported 100% of the families visited. There were 1,571 families visited, with an attendance of 239 teachers at the meeting on the third Sunday of June; and for July, 1,593 families, every one of which was visited in the twenty-one wards. There was an attendance at the teachers' meeting of 215. The stake and ward authorities are congratulated upon this excellent showing. There were 480 teachers in the stake, in June, and 504 in July, who did this work. In the Bear Lake stake the authorities feel very much encouraged with the improvement made in ward teaching. President J. R. Shep- herd writes that wherever regular and faithful ward teaching is done, the good results are reflected in all departments of the Church or- ganization. Teaching, however, must be persistently followed and checked up each month, or it will fall down. At the beginning some felt that we were rather extreme in checking up this matter so closely, but now so many of our wards have reached the 100% mark that they, with us, think the effort is worth while. Our report for the month just ended, in nineteen wards of the stake reached 100%, and the average percent of all families visited in the stake for June was 98. Bishop Peter Borup, of Eureka, is complimented upon his splendid work in ward teaching, particularly in view of the difficulties he has to encounter in a mining district. His report for the six months ending June 30 shows that' every family was visited, with the exception of the month of March, when three families were missed. The bishop is himself active, makes many visits that are never recorded. The bishop himself, as well as the teachers, work night shifts, half the time, so that it is impossible to visit certain families all the time. One of the teachers, Joseph A. Gagon, is doing missionary work among the non-members, and during the past five months he visited one hundred and eighty families distributing tracts and books. Taking all things into consideration ward teaching in Eureka is being done as well as among the best in the Church, and the ward is certainly entitled to a place among the foremost. Rational Theology Classes desiring copies of the present year's text book may obtain it promptly by sending their orders to the Improvement Era, £2. Bish- op's Building, Salt Lake City. The book is of permanent use, and will do honor to any library, send for it today.