Priesthood Quorums’ Table

©PRIESTHOOD QUO^l -RUMS' TABLE Priesthood Meetings in Pioneer Stake From the annual report at the Presiding Bishop's office it appears that the Pioneer stake has one ward which had an average attendance of fortyseven members at every meeting of the Priesthood, on Monday evening during the year 1917. This is the Twenty-sixth ward, Salt Lake City. The Priesthood class meetings were not adjourned during the year, but were held every Monday night, except on the Mondays of stake priesthood meetings. The officers of the ward are proud of their record, and naturally would like to have some one answer the question, "Can any ward beat that?" If so, they would like to hear from such a ward.

Missionary Work in Star Valley Stake The Presidency of Star Valley stake report to the Presiding Bishopric as follows on special missionary work in that stake: In March last we called and set apart a number of our brethren for a special mission in the Star Valley stake. Their duty was to go into the homes of the people and preach the gospel through fire-side conversation, and cottage meetings. At our last Priesthood meeting in April we received a report on this work, and it was found that all the homes had been reached. The reports were excellent, showing that in nearly every instance the people are desirous of doing their duties and sustaining those presiding over them. They were well re- ceived by all, and report having had a splendid time. This work was in addition to the regular teachers' work. We have followed this plan for the past four years, taking dif- ferent methods of handling the work. This year we placed the re- ' sponsibility, more or less, on the quorums of High Priests, and our three quorums of Seventy. We anticipate calling the quorums of Elders to this work next year. In addition to the uplift to those who were visited the mission resulted in good to those who did the visiting. After the brethren have done this work, they return filled with zeal and a determination to take up Church labor in their wards. Many of the brethren who took up the work four years ago have been very active workers ever since. The people seem now to look forward to the visit of these special missionaries. We also feel more encouraged with our ward teaching in the stake.

Summer Amusements, Davis Stake , The May bulletinof the South Davis Stake Presidency and High Council touches upon a subject which is of great importance, not only to that stake but to all the stakes of Zion. Their bulletin is worth reading by every family and organization throughout the Church: The perplexing problem of summer amusements is upon us again. Local amusements will soon be open and the innumerable summer at- tractions of Salt Lake City will be open wide. Recreation is as essen- tial to human wellbeing as is food. Like food, one can get too much of it; and as unwholesome food is not good for the body, so un- wholesome amusements ruin the souls of the children of men. Re-

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ports from all civilized lands affirm that juvenile delinquency is rap- idly increasing. War has seemingly torn down the restraints which society has been building for years. This year a younger set of boys and girls will fill the ranks at the resorts. Money is freer than ever, especially in the pockets of youths and children, and it will carry them far from home to the allurements of the cities and resorts. With what caution, then, should Latter-day Saints approach the recreation problems of this summer! This thought should guide us in the conduct of our coming sum- mer amusements: Let us provide as much as possible of our recrew tion at our homes and in our own communities. It will be easy under the stress of war to feel that we should plow up the home play ground to increase the production of our farms, and thus drive the children into the streets. It will be easy to feel that town parks should be turned into grain fields, and thus drive our children to the commercialized amusements of the resorts and of the cities. But there is no economy in such a thing, and there is a great deal of social and moral danger. Far better that we should renew the home playground, make way for handball, basketball, baseball, and pomp, than that our children should be forced unguarded into the snares and vices of the pleasure resorts. Let us open up our parlors, set the music going, and make welcome to the young people. A great many vigorous men and women in every community must dedicate this summer to social work among the youth of the land. Scout work, bicycle races, contests in baseball and other athletic sports, group "hikes" into the hills or to the lake shore; all these should enter into the lives of our communities with manly enthusiasm this year. The result will be economy, moderation and ivholesomeness in our amusements; and the evils of automobiling, treating and cigarette smoking will be greatly reduced.

Quorum Fraternity and Officers' Responsibility, Granite Stake The Presidency of the Granite stake and the High Council have sent out the following message to the bishoprics and priesthood quorums teaching specially the responsibility of presidencies of quorums in looking after their members, and in extending their work beyond merely holding quorum meetings, and also in creating a spirit of closer brotherhood among the members: Brethren: We believe that presiding officers of the quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood should carry a greater responsibility than they now appear to feel. Their activities should be extended beyond the holding of quo- rum meetings. They should feel a deep responsibility for the spiritual growth and correct living of the men belonging to their respective quorums. They should inaugurate such missionary effort as may be neces- sary to keep their members alive, active, and anxious to take ad- vantage of their spiritual opportunities. As presiding officers of the quorum to which delinquent members belong, it would be perfectly consistent and fitting for officers, or duly appointed representatives, to visit the members in their homes, or reach them in any proper manner calculated to awaken their interest and gain their attendance at quorum meetings, and have them per- form their duties as holders of the Priesthood. Such efforts would be wholly in addition to the regular work of the act ; ng teachers, whose responsibilities as such teachers must not be reduced by the efforts of the quorum presidency. The special

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missionaries, however, should be relieved of any responsibility as to these delinquent holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Presidencies of Lesser Priesthood quorums should be encouraged constantly to feel after the younger members of their quorums espe- cially setting their faces against all forms of wrong doing. Priests should set examples of right Living and lead out in Church activity which every member of their quorum could be asked to follow. They should keep in touch with their members outside of the quorum meetings, whether in their homes, in school, on the play- ground, in the field or the workshop, and constantly use their influ- ence in love for their uplifting. We know there are men of mature age holding the Lesser Priest- hood, who are not living up to their privileges, but who probably cannot be successfully reached by the younger men or boys of the presidency of the quorum to which they properly belong. These as well as lay members, indifferent sisters, and non-members, would be proper subjects for the work of the special missionary corps. Living up to these responsibilities by presidencies of quorums would result in their being in such close touch with each member that they could and, in our opinion, should become of great help to their ward bishoprics. When the bishopric want men for ward work they should consult the quorum presidency regarding the fitness of the men for such work, or ask for recommendations from the presidency for the filling of such needs. The results of such a procedure would be a light- ening of the Bishop's load, and giving a dignity to the quorum pres- idencies to which they are entitled and which would surely strengthen their power and influence for good. We think the work of the bishopric would be materially les- sened could they counsel upon sucji matters with the presidencies of — each of the quorums in the ward presidencies who actually know the members of their quorums. We cannot fail to recognize that this would give dignity and a worthy prestige to such presidencies. — The times are so critical, the import of events so great -"every — moment being burdened with a bidding" that the watchmen should be constantly upon the watchtower with forces mobilized to meet every emergency; and take every advantage of opportunity for doing good- We deprecate the adjournment of quorums, or the suspension of priesthood activities during the heated term. We think, however, that some change of method of holding meet- ings could be devised to meet the needs of the quorums during the summer months. We therefore earnestly impose upon the quorum presidencies the responsibilitiesheretofore mentioned as belonging to them, and ask them to live up to these requirements. We ask that bishoprics honor these presidencies of quorums by consulting them when they need or contemplate using members of the quorums in ward work. We suggest that the special missionary corps be relieved of re- sponsibility concerning enrolled members of the Melchizedek Priest- hood, and that their activity be enlarged and accelerated among care- less members of the Church, and among non-members. We desire that priesthood activities under quorum organization shall be continued during the summer months, with such modifica- tions as to method of continuing them as shall later be devised, either by the initiative of the quorums themselves, or by the suggestion of the stake officers.