Priesthood Quorums’ Table

^PRIESTHOOD CLUO-lt! -RUMS' TABLE Helps for Instructors of Deacons By P. Joseph Jensen LESSON 31 The aim of Lessons 31 and 32 may very well be the same. The important thought to impress on the minds of the boys is that they should begin practicing the giving up of personal pleasures, so as to prove themselves worthy of greater blessings from the Lord. In order to prepare their minds for grasping the incidents from the lives of Parley P. Pratt and Willard Richards, put some such thought problem before them as the following: What must we be willing to give up to be worthy of the Lord's greatest blessings? Have them relate what they think should be done. Study Lesson 31. Have the boys tell what Brother Pratt gave up in each of the incidents? What was the purpose in each? What was the approval received? Answer the general question of the lesson. LESSON 32 Aim and problem the same as in Lesson 31. Study the lesson. What did Brother Richards give up for the gospel? What did he say when he read the Book of Mormon? Read Moroni's promise in the Book of Mormon. What was he willing to give for the preservation of the prophet's life? Tell what Joseph Smith gave in defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In whose hands were Brothers Richards, John Taylor and Samuel H. Smith, willing to leave justice for the martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch? Answer the general question of the lesson. If these men were willing to sacrifice like they did, what should we be willing to do? LESSON 33 The aims of the following lesson may be to teach the boys that the — Lord approves our defending our lives and rights to help them to distinguish between taking the offensive and the defensive. Prepare their minds by having them offer their answers to the following: Under what conditions does the gospel of Jesus Christ approve of fighting, or war? Study the lesson. From what was learned from The Life of the Latter-day Prophet two years ago, how many times had the Saints been driven from their homes when the "battle" of Crooked river was fought? What was the mob going to do? What did Brother Rich do to prevent the kidnaping of the prophet? Who were trying to kidnap him? See Life of the Latter-day Prophet. Answer the general question of the lesson. Are there times when you boys would be justified in fighting?

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 81 Teaching Record in North Sanpete Stake In a recent report in the Improvement Era the stakes that had a clean record of 100 per cent for the six months ending June, 1916, in ward teaching, were named. Through some error the North Sanpete stake was omitted This correction is noted because North Sanpete stake has a long record of monthly complete teaching in every ward in the stake. President Adolph Merz and his associates are doing splendid work in awakening the people to their duties in the Church, giving their services and time for the benefit of the community, perhaps to a greater extent than the people are aware or thoroughly appreciate. Their labors are rapidly advancing the cause of the Lord in that stake of Zion. We therefore take pleasure in making this amend for having, left out, unintentionally, the name of the North Sanpete stake in our enumeration of the stakes that have a clean record in teaching for the six months ending June, 1916; and at the same time take this opportunity to congratulate the officers and the people of that stake for the awakening and the interest manifest in all Church work. Attendance at Weekly Priesthood Meetings For September, 1916, according to a bulletin compiled by the Presiding Bishop's office, the stakes which had an average percentage of attendance at the Priesthood weekly class meetings of 20 and above, are as follows: Alberta 21, Granite 22, Liberty 25, North Davis 20, Ogden 25, Pioneer 28, Young 26. Other stakes ranged from 3 in Yellowstone to 19 in Salt Lake, San Juan and Snowflake. Advice to the Saints President Joseph F. Smith, said, in closing the October Conference: I have just one little short sermon: Get out of debt, keep out of debt; never mortgage your homes nor your farms. Put down intemperance, and be a wise and sober people. Do not make war on, but love your neighbors. Keep the word of wisdom. Be wise and moderate in your amusements, and let your amusements be innocent and your enjoyment pure. Card-playing is an evil; pool playing is an evil, gambling is an evil; avoid every evil, and the waste of your time. Honor the Sabbath day and divine authority. Keep yourself pure and unspotted from the world. Let everybody, who can, raise his own bread and meat. Patronize home productions, and sustain home industry. Be not scoffers, but show kindness and sympathy to all, and especially to the unfortunate. I have a feeling in my heart that the United States has a glorious destiny to fulfil, and that part of that glorious destiny is to extend liberty to the oppressed, as far as it is possible to all nations, to all people. After hearing the remarks of President Rey L. Pratt, with reference to the condition of our people, and to the masses of down-trodden and oppressed people in Mexico, thirteen millions of whom are held under serfdom and slavery, by the descendants of their conquerors — who could not devoutly wish that some mighty and just power, equal to the task, would extend the hand of freedom to those oppressed people, even if it cost the lives of their oppressors. I do not want war; but the Lord has said it shall be poured out upon all nations, and if we escape, it will be "by the skin of our teeth." I would rather the oppressors should be killed, or destroyed, than to allow the oppressors to kill the innocent.