Priesthood Quorums’ Table

1 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TARLE
Working with the Lesser Priesthood The Presiding Bishopric has sent to the bishops of the Church and their counselors the following instructions vital to the progress of priest- hood work throughout the Church: No doubt you have been as much interested as we in the annual report of the Aaronic priesthood in your ward. This report will become a perma- nent Church record and is only the beginning of a movement which we hope will bring about a greater interest on the part of the bishopric and other ward officers, so that this important branch of the priesthood may in- crease in activity in the avenues where the membership can, and should be engaged. The bishop of each ward should preside over the priests in harmony with the instructions of the Lord. He should sit with them in council and teach them their duties. This is so plainly expressed in the Doctrine and Covenants that we cannot see how any one can substitute the bishop as the president of the priests' quorum or class. In many of the wards there are not enough priests to form a quorum, but where there is a majority of the required number, a quorum should be organized. Where there is not a majority, a class should be organized and the bishop should preside. Such excellent results have followed where the bishops have taken personal charge of the priests that we feel justified in urging you to give this method a trial at least. We hope you will have the same gratifying results that have followed in the instance of those bishops who preside over their priests. In many of the wards of the Church one of the bishop's counselors per- sonally supervises and directs the labors of the teachers, and the other coun- selor acts in the same capacity with the deacons. The bishopric see to it thct the members of the Aaronic priesthood are actively engaged in the duties of their office and calling. Boys as a rule are good followers and are always glad and willing to follow an active, energetic leader, and with encouragement will readily take upon themselves responsibility and duties. In the instance of the teachers and deacons, when organized in a quorum capacity, they should be presided over by their officers, who should at all times be in charge and direct the affairs of the quorum, subject to the kindly supervision and aid of the member of the bishopric. The boys are the future officers of the stakes and wards, and in later years will bear the standard of the gospel to the nations of the earth. The foundation for their future success and efficiency is now being laid by yoii as the bishopric of the ward, and as the presidency of the Aaronic priesthood of the ward. Boys who have been taken in hand by their bishops, and who have been in classes under their supervision, are the most successful types of young men we have in the Church, and many instances have oc-

curred where they have been transformed from wayward and indifferent Church, voung men to sincere, capable, active and useful members of the interest in because the bishopric of the ward took a falberly and kindly them when they held the Aaronic priesthood. We hope you will not feel that we are trying to place upon youyour an added burden, but we realize that uoon the faithful performance of dutieo depends the future progress of the Church, and we are anxious that duties and re- the young men of todav shall be fully prepared for all the sponsibilities which will come to them hereafter,—hence are anxious that

you shall render unto them all the service and assistance within your power, to accomplish this end. We trust that you will receive these suggestions with the same spirit in which they are made.