Priesthood Quorums’ Table

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE IIIIIIHIIIIIIflllllimimnmmilHIIHIIH'iHi'iMiimiuiiiinMiiiiiiiiiii hiiiHiiiui m i ■ ■ 1 , 1 1 1 1 m 1 1 ■ i tttttttt^ The Aaronic Priesthood Introduction The new outline of study and activities for the Lesser Priesthood quor- ums will in nowise conflict with the work of the other organizations. Some of the subjects may be the same as are studied in other classes but the presentation will be entirely different. All the work, both the class study and the program of activities, is outlined for the boy, or young man, with respect to his office as Deacon, Teacher or Priest. It would hardly be proper in the auxiliary organizations to attempt to train Aaronic Priesthood members in their duties. Neither should the Priesthood program take the place of the activities which are more appro- priate for other organizations. Quorum members should be encouraged to be active in Sunday School, M. I. A. and Boy Scout work. In fact, they should realize that the special religious, social and citizenship training offered by these organ- izations is not provided by the Priesthood quorums. The Lord has revealed the plan for the development of the Lesser Priesthood. It has not been followed in a definite and systematic manner in the past. The outline for this important work has been prepared under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric. A Guide for Bishops and other Ward and Stake Authorities is now being published and will soon be distributed throughout the Church. Fol- lowing is a copy of the introduction and general explanation of the out- line. Next month the Era will publish the instructions for the teaching and training of the Deacon, the Teacher and the Priest, which will be a continuation of this outline. — he Roi C. Snow. The Aaronic Priesthood Preparation, Ordination and Training of Young Men In order to impress the dignity and importance of the Aaronic Priesthood upon the minds of the youth of Zion, the Ward Bishopric should have a definite program for candidates for the Priesthood. They should be carefully instructed and trained in their duties and callings in the Church. The following is submitted for preparation for the Priesthood. 1. Place in the Church: The authority of Church government is vested in the holy Priesthood. There are two divisions — the Melchizedek, or High Priesthood, which deals primarily with spiritual affairs, and the Aaronic, or Lesser Priesthood, which derives its authority from the Higher Priesthood and deals more with temporal affairs and the preparatory gospel. It also prepares young men for the Melchizedek Priesthood and for the ministry. 2. Importance of Training: The proper training of Zion's young men through the offices of the Lesser Priesthood is of vast importance. According to the word of the Lord this glorious opportunity belongs especially to the Bishopric. The faithful performance of Aaronic Priesthood duties will develop a love for man, faith in God and his great latter-day work, and a desire to be of service in the Church.

270 IMPROVEMENT ERA 3. Authority: The authority of the Lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of re- pentance and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and to perform outward ordinances. Doc. and Cov. Sec. 13. 4. Home Training: It is the parents' duty to prepare their sons for this calling. If a boy is properly trained from the time of his baptism he will usually be prepared and worthy of the Priesthood. 5. A Guide for Bishops: These suggestions will s«rve as a guide to Bishops in the preparation for, ordination to, and training in, the of- fices of the Aaronic Priesthood. They are submitted with a prayer that they may be accompanied by the Spirit of God. There is close adherence to the instructions of the Lord, and in all details application is made both in courses of study and in all activities to the young man as Deacon, Teacher or Priest. The Plan 6. Supervision: There are three offices in the Lesser Priesthood — Dea- con, Teacher and Priest. The Bishop, himself, should preside over the Priests. (Doc. and Cov. Sec 107:87, 88, and "Circular of Instruc- tions," No. 13, page 13.) One of his counselors should supervise the Teachers and the other counselor should look after the Deacons. 7. Church Property: Bishops are directly responsible for Church prop- erty. As their mission has much to do with temporal affairs, much of the responsibility should be given them of the protection and proper care of Church property, and the gathering and distribution of assist- ance for the poor. 8. In Childhood: From the time a son is born, the parents should do everything possible that he may become worthy to receive the holy Priesthood. Full advantage should be given him of proper home influence and training, assisted by the Primary, Religion Class, and Sunday School. He should be baptized when eight years of age and then be reminded frequently of the honor and blessings which will come from ordination to the Priesthood. All through this preparation he should be made to realize the necessity of clean thinking and living, and of strict obedience to his parents and to the teachings re- ceived in the auxiliary organizations. 9. Cooperation With Parents: In all preparation and teaching and training of the boy there should be close cooperation between the bishop and the parents. There should be frequent interviews. The parents should visit quorum classes and have a full understanding of the entire program. 10. Course of Study: The lessons for class study for the Lesser Priest- hood cover nine years, three for the Deacon, three for the Teacher, and three for the Priest. The outlines are progressive, or graded from one office to the other, but the three years' lessons for each of- fice are not graded. The quorum class will study but one year's out- line at a time, following the course in order: first, second, and third year, and then repeating. A new member may begin with any one of the three years. As the definite aim is to train members in their duties and the preparatory gospel of priesthood activities, there will be no duplication of auxiliary organizations or Boy Scout work. 11. Advancement: Some young men progress more rapidly than others. The bishop should use his judgment as to when a quorum member is worthy and otherwise prepared for advancement. However, the boy

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 27l should first participate in all the activities of his office and prepare himself on all three years of the study outlines. 12. Class Lessons: Many of the lessons will be developed around faith- promoting stories. The class should be conducted after a regular order of business, and each step, both in study and in activities, will deal directly with the young man in relation to his office in the Priesthood. Though some of the subjects may be the same as are studied in other organizations, their presentation will be different. 13. Practical Application: There will be practical application of each lesson, so that the boy should put into practice what he is taught. The class study should be developed into priesthood activities. The program of things to do is as necessary as the program of things to study. The entire plan is built on the foundation of faith in God, and service in his Church. The quorum will be given opportunity to suggest and to work out their own solution of local problems in their work. 14. Assignment of Duties: Each week definite priesthood duties will be assigned both to the quorum as a whole, and to each individual mem- ber. Report will be called for and record kept of the performance of these duties. With proper guidance, the boy will experience great joy in doing well the labor which has been assigned to him in the work of the Lord. Every member of the Aaronic Priesthood should attend the annual tithing settlement, whether he owes tithing or not. To Stake Teacher Training Supervisors The teacher-training work for the Church, during 1922, will be a study of the principles of the gospel. The material has been prepared, in outline form, and was ready for distribution, by the Deseret Book Co., December 27, 1921, price 35 cents, the name of the pamphlet being, "An Outline Study of the Principles of the Gospel." The Correlation-Social Advisory Committee, under whose direction the outline has been prepared, strongly recommends that every teacher in the Church obtain one of these outlines, and further that regular attendance at teacher-training classes, in every ward in the Church* be the practice of every individual who has been called to the most important duty and privilege of teaching the gospel. In connection with the class work to be carried on, the Committee recommends a slight change over last year's schedule of meetings. As is known, the prcatice has been as follows: 1st meeting: Regular normal class. 2nd meeting: Business meeting of the various organizations. 3rd meeting: Regular normal class. 4th meeting: Department groups of the various organizations for the purpose of study and outlining lessons. The Committee recommends no change in the procedure of the first three meetings. With reference to the fourth meeting, however, it is recom- mended that the work formerly scheduled for that meeting be taken up at a regular monthly stake union meeting. In some stakes, union meetings (sometimes called "Priesthood meetings") are already being held, in con- nection with which the auxiliary organizations do their regular stake union work, and in some stakes each of the various organizations have separate stake meetings each month. It is contemplated under either of these con- ditions that no additional union meeting shall be provided, but that the

272 IMPROVEMENT ERA work of preparing lessons be done at whatever stake meeting is being held. In stakes where no stake meeting has been provided for the doing of such work, it is rcommended that such a meeting be instituted. A well con- ducted union meeting is most helpful to the organizations of the Church. It will be observed that under the plan outlined above, only three ward meetings per month have been scheduled, the fourth meeting to be a stake meeting. However, where the stake meeting will not interfere, a fourth meeting, devoted to the course of study, may be held in the wards. Every effort should be made to have a copy of the outlines in the hands of all priesthood and auxiliary organization teachers, and to see that they are in regular attendance at the Teacher-Training classes during the year. The Aaronic Priesthood and Special Service The Aaronic, or Lesser, Priesthood has much to do with temporal af- fairs, including the gathering and distribution of assistance for the poor and needy. This mission offers many splendid opportunities for special service. Although Deacons often render such service, they usually labor in small groups. They seldom perform duties in the capacity of organized quorums. Some of the Live-Wire Deacons of Teton Stake The accompanying picture shows two quorums of Deacons in the Teton stake, in Idaho. Stake President Albert Choules reports that they were given an important responsibility in the recent campaign for the Near East Relief. They made a thorough canvass of the entire stake and were suc- cessful in gathering the amount of grain asked for from that stake. They did their work well. The performance of Priesthood and Church service is as beneficial to the boys themselves as to those for whom the service is rendered. They like to work in groups and every opportunity possible should be given them to do so. The Presiding Bishop's office would be glad to receive reports of just such activities. — S.