Priesthood Quorums

(Priesthood Quorums Programs for Priesthood Conventions The First Presidency have issued the following notice in regard to these conventions: Official Notice of the First Presidency Calling Priesthood Conventions Salt Lake City, Utah, December 26, 1923. We desire that the Priesthood Quorums and Priesthood activities shall receive especial attention during the Stake Quarterly Conferences, to be held in January, February and March, 1924. We recommend, therefore, that the Presidencies of stakes set aside the first day of the Quarterly Conferences for the consideration of work pertaining to the Melchizedek and the Aaronic Priesthoods; and in the case of stakes holding a one-day conference only, that arrangements be made to carry out the Priesthood Convention Program in special meetings appointed for that purpose, if necessary before or after the conference day. Where deemed advisable, arrangements may be made for separate meetings for the sisters, to be held while the Priesthood Convention meetings are in session. The program of procedure for the Priesthood Conventions has been prepared by the Council of the Twelve, with our full concurrence. Heber J. Grant Charles W. Penrose Anthony W. Ivins. First Presidency, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Presidents of stakes, their counselors, bishops, and their counselors and the presidencies, class teachers and members of all the Priesthood Quorums are requested to take part in the conventions which will be held in con- nection with the regular quarterly conferences yet to be held as follows: February 2-3 — Jordan, Emery, Gunnison, Lethbridge, Millard, South San- pete, Snowflake, San Luis. February 9-10 — Big Horn, Cottonwood,* Juab, Juarez, Los Angeles, Mari- copa, North Davis, Ogden,* Oneida. February 16-17 — Bannock, Blackfoot, Blaine, Malad, Shelley, St. Joseph, South Sevier, Teton, Wayne. February 2 3-24 — Bingham, Burley, Garfield, Granite,* Idaho, Nebo, Poca- tello, San Juan. March 1 - 2- — Bear Lake, Bear River, Boise, Franklin, Moapa, Oquirrh, Panguitch, Portneuf, Rigby, March 8 - 9 — Box Elder, Cache, Kanab, Morgan, Montpelier, North Weber,* Salt Lake,* Twin Falls, Young. March 15-16 — Duchesne, North Sanpete, Mt. Ogden,* Parowan, Roosevelt, Sevier, Star Valley, St. George, Union. March 22-23- — Ensign,* Carbon, Deseret, Fremont. South Davis, Uintah, ♦Conference appointed for Sunday only,

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 387 Where one-day conventions are held it is suggested that the following schedule of meetings be provided for Saturday evenings: Saturday 4 to 5:30 p. m. — Consultation of the visiting member of the General Authorities with the President of the Stake and his Counselors. Saturday 6:30 to 8 p. m. — Meeting of visiting member of the General Authorities with the President of the Stake and his Counselors. High Council including Alternate Members, Stake Clerk, Ward Bishoos and Counselors, and Ward Clerks. Saturday 8 p. m. — Meeting of all quorum officers and members. 8:00 to 8:35 p. m.- — General Assembly of Priesthood. 8:40 to 10:30 p. m. — Department Session. Where two-day conventions are held the above named meetings will take place on Saturday at 9:30 to 10:25 a. m.; 10:30 to 12 noon; 2:oo to 2:45 p. m., a general assembly of the Priesthood; and 2:50 to 4:15, depart ment session. Among the subjects for discussion at these Saturday meetings are: "Essentials of leadership," by a visiting member of the General Authorities, with a round-table discussion: "Priesthood, the perfect plan of service," also by the visiting member The congregation will then separate into departments. In the department meeting, for consideration of the deacons, and their class leaders, two subjects will be treated, "Organization of quorum and method of individual study," and "The special calling of a deacon." In the second department which is for the benefit of all holding the Priesthood, except the deacons, and which department will be conducted by the visiting member of the General Authorities, the main topic is "Ward Teaching," and consists of a demonstration to be presented by two brethren selected by the Stake Presidency. This demonstration is intended to afford opportunity for a practical presentation of procedure in good ward teaching. Those giving the demonstration are at liberty, if they so desire, to select members of the quorum to represent a family to be visited. In so doing, it is thought that the vital purposes of ward teaching may be clearly and forcefully brought out. An open discussion will follow on the demonstration and topic, conducted under direction of the visiting member of the General Authorities. On Sunday, meetings will be held at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. The 10 o clock meeting is to be devoted especially to a Priesthood program, in which the following subjects are to be discussed: "My conception of an elder's calling," "How can a priest best qualify for the duties of his office?" "What are the particular duties of a teacher and how may he best discharge them?" "How may a deacon help the ward and its organization?" These subjects to be treated by members of the local Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthoods, selected by the presidents of stakes. "Responsibility of the Priesthood to the Church and the world," is to be treated by a member of the General Authorities. Besides these topics, the Seventies' Quorums are requested to provide a male chorus; also a male chorus to be provided by one or more teachers or priests' quorums of the stake, and by one or more deacons' quorums of the stake, and a closing song is required by a male chorus of one or more elders' quorums of the stake. The cooperation of the presidencies and the various quorums should make of this convention a most interesting and valuable gathering. The Aaronic Priesthood, Study, 1924 The presiding Bishopric have issued the following instructions on the subject : The course of study for the Aaronic Priesthood quorums is now on sale at the Deseret Book Store. The priests will study the lessons prepared for the Melchizedek priesthood. The subject is The New Testament. The course of study for the teachers will be Elder Joseph B. Keeler's First Steps

388 IMPROVEMENT ERA in Church Government. The course of study for the deacons is Duty Stories. The attention of bishops and class leaders is called to the arrangement of the course of study for the teachers and deacons. No outline has been prepared for these lessons. It is expected that those in charge of the quorums and classes will assign as much of the text as in their judgment can be profit- ably handled by the quorum or class. The reason for not preparing outlines for the lessons is that young men and boys may have an opportunity to develop their own. In the teachers course of study, there is, in nearly every chapter, suf- ficient material for a number of lessons, and the lessons should be divided by the teacher according to his good judgment. In assigning the deacons' lessons, is is desired that one story only be discussed at each meeting. Fast- day Sunday should be left for review, testimony bearing, and such other exercises as may be provided by the class leaders. Orb of Day Hail! orb of day, about to fly Through the red margin of the sky, Before whose omnipresent light The queen and kingdom of the night Grow pale and tremble out of sight; No skeptic tongue can quite conceal The hidden truth that you reveal, "Forever singing as you shine 'The hand that made us is divine.' But say, proud monarch of the sky, No further facts do you supply. Beyond the one great truth revealed Your lips to humankind are sealed. You tell us nothing of the source That holds you in your ancient course; You drop no key from out the sky To answer whither, whence, or why? You bear no message unto man Of God's wide purposes and plan, No story of the hidden shore Of life beyond, or life before. If on your tale the world must wait, We still must doubt and speculate, And, while you circumscribe the skies, Still wonder and philosophize. And so, thou wond'rous king of light, And, thou, fair empress of the night. Since these great truths are lost to men And you reveal them not again, Despite your evidence herewith The world had need of Joseph Smith — The world emerging from the night Into the promised dawn of light. Theodore E. Curtis.