Priesthood Quorums

^Priesthood Quorums General Conference The Ninety-seventh Semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will convene in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, October 3, 1926, at 10 o'clock a. m., continuing with sessions on Monday and Tuesday, October 4 and 5. The General Priesthood meeting will be held at the Tabernacle on Monday night, October 4, at 7 o'clock. The Salt Lake, Ensign, Liberty, Pioneer, Grant, Granite, Cottonwood, Oquirrh and Jordan stakes are requested to hold their Fast Day meetings on Sunday, October 10. Missionary and other reunions should be so arranged as not to conflict with these appointments. Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, Charles W. Nibley, First Presidency. Renewal of Activity in the Work of Aaronic Priesthood The attention of the presiding officers in the stakes, wards and missions is directed to the necessity of renewed activity in the Aaronic Priesthood. During the past Summer there has been a slackening, and in some cases an entire cessation, of meetings and of the activities of the members of this Priesthood. This is due in soma instances to the absence from home of many boys and young men, as well as to the long hours of work in the farming communities during the Summer season, also in some instances to the prevailing vacation spirit. But with the coming of the Fall and Winter there is need for the careful organization of the Priesthood to promote to the fullest the attendance, class work and activities. Supervision and direc- tion of this work is of such importance that it is entitled to first consideration. In connection therewith, and to secure the best results, the hour ap- pointed for holding Priesthood meeting should be given careful consideration, in order that it may prove most convenient to the greatest number. Every incentive should be offered all the members of the Aaronic Priesthood in the various wards and branches throughout the Church, to promote their greatest interest and activity in this important work. It is, therefore, earnestly urged upon all who have responsibility for the Aaronic Priesthood that the plans and recommendations already pre- sented be taken up and followed out systematically and vigorously, and every effort be made to bring everyone into active service. — The Presiding Bishopric. Changes in Officers Th« Presiding Bishopric report changes as follows during the month of August: Elder Reinhold Stoof was appointed mission president of the South American mission, on the return of Elder Melvin J. Ballard. Elders Ballard

1196 IMPROVEMENT ERA and Pratt landed in New York from that mission in the early part of September. A new ward was organized in the Boise stake, the Ontario Independent Branch having been made a ward, with Ernest L. Allen as bishop. The Twin Falls First and Second wards were consolidated into one ward, with Roy Wood, formerly bishop of Kimberley ward, appointed bishop of Twin Falls ward. Neils Albert Olsen succeeded Roy Wood as bishop of the Kimberley ward, Twin Falls stake. Bishop Lewis W. Drake, of the Third ward, Burley stake, has gone to England for an indefinite time, and Counselor Albert Harper, Burley, Idaho, will take charge in the meantime. A Cleansing Process By Annie G. Lauritzen By means of the radio last night, I listened with interest to a treatment of the subject, "Concentration." Among the many pertinent statements made, the following appealed to me with singular force: "We must acquire the power to forget the past when trying to concentrate. To be able to do this is really to make progress in life." The thought immediately occurred to me, that this is exactly what living the Gospel of Jesus Christ does for those who rely upon the Lord as "The Rock of their salvation." He grants men power to forget by a process that cleanses them from all sin, on con- dition of their repentance. To repent, in its practical phase, is to forsake sin; and then through baptism, by obedience to which God grants full forgiveness, or cleanses us of sin, one can logically forget the evil doings of the past, and face the future with a clean start; and not only forget our own past, but the past also of others, that we might look upon them with tolerance and charity, for "He that will not forgive, in him lieth the greater sin." This cleansing from sin is necessary, in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the power that helps to overcome evil and develops an under- standing heart. Alkali land, as stated by another professor, will not produce vegetation of worth until it has gone through a cleansing process, which process is to flood it with water. Likewise, the fruits of the spirit cannot grow in the alkali of sin. Hence God has arranged a process in the ap- plication of which Christ, though sinless, set us the pattern in the waters of Jordan, whereby we may be cleansed, and may forget the follies of the past, the strife and evils of the present, in our concentration upon the hope for the future. Thus the soul is prepared for the companion- ship of the Holy Ghost, which ever leads to growth, expansion, joy and eternal life. Oakland, California. New Stake Organized A new stake was organized, Sept. 19, 1926, at a conference held at McGill and Ely, Nevada, by President Rudger Clawson and Elder David O. McKay. The new stake is formed out of the Nevada section of the North Weber stake, and was named Nevada stake. It has a Church population of 4,574 souls. It is bounded on the north by the north limits of Metropolis; on the west by the California mission; on the east by the state line of Nevada, and on the south by the Moapa Stake. Carl K. Conrad, of McGill, was appointed president, with J. Fred Horlacker, Ely, and Richard F. Swallor, counselors. This is the 96th stake of Zion, and consists of the following wards: Lund, McGill, Metropolis, Preston, Ely, and Ruth, an independent brand}.