Priesthood Quorums’ Table

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE Tithing — A Law of Promise Spiritual Growth and Temporal Blessings Slogan for 1922: Every Member a Tithepayer There is great opportunity for unusual happiness and prosperity among the Latter-day Saints through obedience to the law of tithing. The mad rush for pleasure in the world and the prevalence of crime and immorality emphasize the great need of spiritual strength and growth. Indebtedness among the people, caused largely by the high cost of living, extravagance and business readjustment, has brought about a need for temporal pros- perity. Both of these much desired conditions, spiritual growth and pros- perity, will come from adopting and living up to the slogan: "Every Member a Tithepayer," through observance of the law of tithing. The Promise: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10. The Lord also promises that if the people observe this law and keep it holy, and thereby sanctify the land unto him, that his statutes and judgments may be kept thereon, that it shall be most holy, it shall be a land of Zion unto his people. (Revelation on tithing. Doc. and Cov. 119.) "Will a man rob God? But ye say wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:8. How to become worthy of the blessing: For those who have neglected this requirement, Now is the time to begin. No one should claim ex- emption, but should see that he is among the tithepayers, for how can he expect the blessing if he fails to obey the law? Of our income, one tenth belongs to the Lord. We should not retain the Lord's tenth in our possession. If this settlement is not made right at the time, surely it should not be neglected longer than until the end of the month. Such a monthly settlement would greatly help' in the payment of tithing, and would be a more strict compliance with the law than to delay longer. As soon as we fulfil the requirement we are entitled to the blessing. Through neglect or delay in the payment of tithes the law is disobeyed, we cannot lay claim to the promised blessings and we may lose them al- together. We cannot buy our way through tithes into God's kingdom, neither can we receive the higher gospel privileges without strict observ- ance of this law. The sacred portals of the temples of the Lord are deservedly closed to the non-tithepayer. Only the faithful are the elect of God, and this law is a test of faithfulness. It is an excellent anchor. "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of the world, upon which all blessings are predicated; and when we ob- tain any blessing from God it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." Doc. and Cov. 130:20, 21. How to observe the law: It is not difficult to calculate the interest due on borrowed money, or the taxes levied on property. It should not be difficult to decide just what belongs to the Lord. He has given us intelligence, strength of mind and body. These are the talents which he has entrusted to our care and for our use. One tenth of the increase or income in temporal things which come to us we are to bring to the Lord's storehouse. A father who receives the entire income of the family might well consider if there is any part on which each member of the house-

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 747 hold might pay a tithe, that the mother and each child might thus be more abundantly given the blessings and privileges promised. Even the widow and those otherwise dependent if they pay to the Lord a tenth of the charity which may be given them, though it is but a "widow's mite," will be as much entitled to receive the fulness of the promised blessing as the wealthy tithepayer whose tenth amounts to large sums. There should be no "non-tithepayers" in the Church of Christ. Every Latter-day Saint, therefore, should accept and do his part in carrying out the slogan: "Every member a tithepayer," and to pay promptly upon receipt of any and all income. The Law of Tithing Emphasized: Just iwenty-three years ago (May 17, 1899), at St. George, the Lord emphasized the revelation on tithing through President Lorenzo Snow. The promise was made to the people that if they would begin at once and thenceforth continue the payment of an honest tithe that all their past neglect in this matter would be for- given. The Latter-day Saints accepted the word of the Lord and paid tithing with full purpose of heart. They were relieved of their individual indebtedness. The obligations of the Church were all paid, and a marvel- ous period of peace and prosperity followed. Present conditions appear to call for another such awakening. Reaping the Fruits: The result of this strict obedience to the tithing law will be a more sure anchorage in the faith, increase in spirituality, and added strength in overcoming the temptation with which Satan is con- stantly surrounding us. Through our honest tithes we will sanctify the land unto the Lord, that it will become most holy, and in truth be a land of Zion unto us. The windows of heaven will be opened, and choice blessings will be poured out. Prosperity and happiness will be the lot of the Latter-day Saints largely in the degree in which they observe this law of God. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts." — Malachi 3:10, 11. Also Book of Mormon, HI Nephi 24-10, 11.— 5. Celebration of the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood By proclamation of Presidents Heber J. Grant, Charles W. Penrose, and Anthony W. Ivins, First Presidency of the Church, the great event of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood was celebrated this year on Sunday, May 14, in all the wards of the Church. This was the 93rd an- niversary of its restoration, which took place on the 15th of May, 1829. The event was celebrated by having the Aaronic Priesthood take charge of the Sacramental meetings in each ward on that date. A suitable pro- gram had been prepared in most wards by direction of the bishops, in which it was provided that priests, teachers and deacons should conduct the meeting and render the program. This consisted chiefly in appropriate exercises commemorative of the wonderful restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. The exercises were an agreeable surprise in most instances. The young brethren who had been called to render them, acquitted them- selves in a masterful way, giving evidence that the young men of the Church are not lacking in a knowledge of the gospel, the importance and value of the Priesthood. The programs given in the wards included also remarks by the young brethren on "Mother" and "Mothers' Day." It is designed that the celebration of the Aaronic Priesthood shall be held annually by the Lesser Priesthood quorums, and this is a movement which will find hearty response in all parts of the Church. It might be per- missable to offer the suggestion, however, that it would be better not to

748 IMPROVEMENT ERA » connect it with "Mother's Day," since either subject is important and extensive enough to be entitled to the full time of a meeting. — A. Ordaining Deacons Much interest has lately been awakened in the method of ordaining young men to the Lesser Priesthood. The details adopted by some of the bishops in the Granite stake is very effective. When the teachers dis- cover a young man in their district who is worthy of ordination they re- port to the bishopric. A letter is then written by the bishop to the young man, informing him that it has been suggested to the bishopric that he is worthy of being ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. The letter calls his attention to the important step that he is about to take, and the sacredness of the calling with which he is about to be honored. He is impressed with the honor and privilege that the ordination implies. He is asked to report to the bishopric in writing just how he feels with ref- erence to this advancement, and to the Lord's work in general. He is asked to talk the matter over with his parents. Then to inform the bishop in writing not only of his own thoughts concerning the matter, but of how his parents feel regarding the new step he is about to take. A date is set at which the bishopric would like to meet with him to talk over to- gether this great and important step in his life. Following are selections from the earnest replies that have come from the young men: "I wish to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood which I feel will be a great honor to me. I shall always try to do the will of the Lord as those over me in the Church direct me to do. My parents are pleased and glad to see me go ahead." "Replying to your letter I wish to state my parents and myself are very well pleased in my having the privilege of being advanced in the Aaronic Priesthood. It has been my desire since early childhood to do everything that is within my power for the advancement of the work of the Lord when called upon by those in authority. I promise you brethren that- 1 will do my best to assist you at all times." And another, "It greatly pleases me that I have been found worthy of being ordained a priest. I will endeavor to fulfil this position to the best of my ability. My parents are glad that the time has come when I can receive this office. I thank you and hope I will always remain worthy of having this office." "I received your letter today pertaining to my advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood. I have given the matter prayerful consideration and have talked it over with father and mother. They would both be pleased to have me advance. I have tried to do my duties as a deacon, and would do all in my power to fill the calling of a teacher." "It gives me great pleasure to know that I have been found worthy to take the first s.ep in the Priesthood and to become a deacon, and if this honor is given me I shall endeavor to do those things that will help me to carry on the Lord's work, advancing and fulfiling the duties re- quired, and thereby be worthy of each step." "I received your letter yesterday and was pleased to find that my name had been recommended to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. I talked to my parents and find that they are both anxious to have me do my duty in the Church to which we belong. If I am privileged to hold the Priest- hood, I will try in every way I can to do what is required of me." Then follows the presentation before the Priesthood and the congre- gation of the ward, and the ordination as set forth in the pamphlet "Prep- aration, Ordination, and Training of Young Men" as outlined in the in-

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 749 struction of the Presiding Bishopric. (See Improvement Era, January and February, 1922.)— ,4. A Separate Class for Each Order of the Aaronic Priesthood Young men should be given opportunity to progress through the three orders of the Aaronic Priesthood, deacon, teacher and priest, without missing any of them. The hope of becoming worthy of promotion to the next higher office in the priesthood should inspire faithfulness among those who hold this divine authority. The priesthood plan is one of development through progressive advancement. There may not be per- fect development if any of these steps are omitted. "While in these offices members should be instructed and trained in the particular duties of each order. If a teacher meets with the priests, or a priest with the elders' class they will not get the instruction in their own offices and the effect will be much the same as if they had not held these orders in the priesthood. If there is but one ordained teacher in a ward it is as necessary for him to receive the special training in his office as if he were in a ward with twenty teachers. Where separate classes are not held the excuse is often made that there are too few to meet separately. The Presiding Bishopric have in- structed that "The Bishop is to preside over the Priests, and sit with them in council and teach them their duties. Another member of the Bishopric should take charge of the Teachers, supervise and direct their labors and activities, and the other counselor should take charge of the Deacons in the same manner." In harmony with the above instructions, there is not a ward so small but that separate classes should be held even though there might be but one deacon, one teacher and one priest in the ward. No member of the Aaronic priesthood should be deprived of the special training in his office and it is hardly proper that while holding one order he should be required to meet with and be instructed in the duties of an office which he does not hold. It is far better that a class leader instruct but one young man in his particular calling than that the young man be deprived of the development which the Lord has provided for him in the priest- hood plan. — LeRoi C. Snow. A Good Place for Learning Leadership The Summer session at the Brigham Young University will be held from June 5 to August 25. There will be two terms; the second to com- mence on July 14. This term will include a series of courses in natural science that will be held at Aspen Grove in Provo canyon. The enroll- ment in this school will be limited to 50 students and four professors. The forenoons will be given to lecture and study while the afternoon will be devoted to field work and laboratory study. Some of the most prominent educators in Utah will constitute the faculty during the first term which will be held at the regular campus of the University. Among the visiting lecturers will be Prof. Chas. E. Rich of the University of California, and Dr. Edward T. Devine of New York City, an eminent scholar prominent as a teacher and sociologist.