Priesthood Quorums

All matters pertaining to the Aaronic Prie under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric. Ward Supervision "Duties of Ward Supervisors of Aaronic Priesthood," Presented at the Bishops' Meeting, October 8, 1927, by Fred Ab- bott, Supervisor, Ninth ward, Mt. Ogden stake. This is how the Lesser Priesthood Com- mittee are functioning in the Ninth ward. We have a supervisor working in conjunc- tion with the bishop and the priests. The bishop presides over the priests, and the supervisor is there with the bishop. If. for any reason, the bishop cannot attend the meeting, the supervisor is sure to be present to take charge of the work. While the counselors in the bishopric do not teach, the first counselor has general charge of the deacons, the second counselor of the teachers, and a supervisor is appointed for each of the quorums of the teachers and deacons. The priesthood is there- fore never left without somebody to take charge. The duties of the supervising committee never replace the duties and responsibilities of the presidencies of the different quorums. When a supervisor enters a de- partment he takes a back seat and all the importance and prominence possible is given to that quorum. The president or one of the counselors takes charge. He makes the announcements, and the assign- ments, in a systematic manner, and the supervisor is a silent member while this is going on. The boy presiding calls on members to open and close the meeting, checks up the assignments made, and has charge generally of the preliminary exer- cises. Then the supervisor takes charge. It is the business of the supervisor to promote order and system in every phase of the class exercises. Recently we had a meeting of importance, and all the super- visors and the bishopric were in this meet- ing, leaving all the priesthood quorums without supervisors. All of the quorums, with one exception, conducted themselves thood presented under this heading, are prepared in an orderly way and carried on their lessons. The supervisors need to train the quorums to carry on effectively under any conditions. The latter part of sec- tion 121 in the Doctrine and Covenants is a measuring stick for the priesthood. We should maintain the spirit therein described in all of our relations. At every sacramental meeting one mem- ber of the priesthood is given an assign- ment to present a topic. It is just a little difficult sometimes to get the boys to do that. Some of the boys say, "I cannot do it." Then we say, "If you cannot do it. alright; but if the other fellow does it, not many weeks will pass before you can do it, if you try." Some of the boys who have refused, have come later and said. "I will be glad to take my turn." The reason for this is that in the open- ing sacramental meeting a good influence is created. It brings out the very best that is in the boy and he stands up and gives it to the people. He is on his honor that he will do certain things. After it is all over, he will think about what he has said and ponder, "Well. I have said things and must make good. I cannot disappoint the people." Under the in- fluence of the Holy Ghost, he will say things that will bind him to the cause. I recommend strongly this practice. It will give the boy a needed training. One or two things, we are doing on the outside. The street car company in Ogden has been taking up ties and doing a lot of repair work on Washington avenue. These ties arc excellent for kindling wood. I asked the foreman if I could have one or two hundred of these ties. He said, "Sure." The ties are now up at the Church. The priesthood super- visors will fix up a saw. operate it by a Ford auto-motor, and saw the wood into blocks. The boys will then split it into kindling wood, and distribute it to the widows in the ward. Every deserving widow, whether in the Church or not, will

IMPROVEMENT ERA get a share. There are some families in the ward whose gates have never been opened to the ward teachers. But when the gates are opened for the kindling wood, they will open more easily to the ward teachers. The boys doing this will get much joy out of it. They will appre- ciate it, because they are rendering service. I was formerly president of an elders' quorum, and I saw in the ward a number of honest men with families of good chil- dren. These men had habits which kept them from Church. I said to the brethren in charge of the Lesser Priesthood, "If you have no objection I would like to keep an auxiliary roll of men in the ward and invite them to attend the elders' quorum meeting." I found possibly twenty-four in all, some of whom may not even have been deacons. When I called on these men and asked them to come to priesthood meeting, I had to make prom- ises that I would not call on them to do anything. Well, these brethren came. The only way I could get them to take part was to discuss things in which they were interested. I went up to one man, and as I took hold of his arm I felt a package of to- bacco in his pocket. I talked to him in a frank, but friendly way. He didn't get angry. I knew he wouldn't. I said, "You have an excellent wife and a mighty fine oldest boy, — one of the best in the community. Are you satisfied with your position and with what you are doing?" He said, "No; I am ashamed of myself." I said, "You are only a deacon. You are a strong young man. You don't need to smoke." He said, "It is the hardest thing in the world to quit." In about four months I saw him again and smilingly said, "What have you got there?" He said, "I have the same package I had when you spoke to me, and I haven't smoked since; and, furthermore, I am confident I will never take another smoke." "I knew you could do it," I replied. "Now, the next thing for you to do is to be worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priest- hood, get a temple recommend, and have your wife and children sealed to you." After four or five months he had his family sealed to him and he is now a ward teacher and is as happy as can be. That is only one of twenty or more instances. Labor must be made to get them from the Aaronic into the Melchizedek Priest- hood. Another thing, any time you feel you are a little too important to get hold of a boy's hand because he is smoking, you are wrong. I suggest that you get hold of the boy. Tell him he is welcome, even if he is smoking. Tolerate it. Pave the way for the day when you can lead him into security and right living. You can't do these things in a day. You can't do them in a month. Sometimes it takes a year of patience and waiting. When the time comes to reprove him, do it, but don't let him get away from you. Make him feel that you are his friend lest he count you his enemy. Work diligently and you will get good results. I promise you it will be the happiest time in your lives. Field Notes Pioneer Stake Progress: Pioneer stake has adopted the slogan "Make Pioneer stake better through the Priesthood," and since that time a consistent effort has been made to improve the work and increase the efficiency of the various quorums of the priesthood. Progress has been made in the quorums of the Melchizedek priesthood, but the greatest advancement is noted in the Aaronic priesthood. Pioneer stake has put into effect the program for Aaronic priest- hood work as outlined by the Presiding Bishopric. An Aaronic priesthood com- mittee has been appointed in each ward under the direction of the assignments of the three grades of this priesthood. The stake committee is comprised of a member of the stake presidency and six members of the high council. This committee is di- vided into two corps and visits two wards each Monday night for the purpose of supervii'ngs the activities of the Aaronic priesthcjd in the various wards of the stake. Particular attention is given to the problem of adult members of the Church who are still enrolled in one of the grades of the Aaronic priesthood, and a special

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 169 effort is being made to urge the attend- ance of these men with a view of prepar- ing them for advancement. A spirit of agreeable cooperation pre- vails between the wards and the stake, and as a result of this cooperation and the efficient supervision of the work by the stake committee, an average attendance of 28% of the record membership has been maintained during the nine months ofthe year 1927. Emphasis is being placed upon advance- ment in the priesthood, as a result of merit rather than having such advancements made according to ages. Bishops of wards have been asked to closely examine all young men as to their knowledge of the gospel, and to inspect the records of as- signments filled, and the attendance at quorum meetings, to satisfy themselves that candidates for promotion are qualified for the proposed advancement. This policy is stimulating young men to more con- sistent effort and a study of the class work than has heretofore prevailed. While there may be nothing unusual in the program of this stake, the success obtained is the result of several years of consistent hard work on the part of stake and ward officers in bringing the con- ditions prevailing in the Aaronic priest- hood to a reasonable degree of success. Aaronic Priesthood Party, Blackfoot Stake. The annual party for the Lesser priesthood was held at the Blackfoot stake tabernacle, Wednesday evening, October 19, 1927. The committee in charge of the party consisted of A. A. Bingham. Ray E. Merkley, A. N. Allred, A. D. Jacklin, and Egin Lamprecht, all stake workers in the priesthood. A short but pleasing program was rendered and at the close of the program the remainder of the evening was spent in dancing. Prizes were awarded for the best dancers in the deacons', teachers', priests', and bishops' classes. Light refreshments were served to about 350 guests. Social Activities. Reports for the nine months show that special activities were reported for only sixteen stakes for the Aaronic priesthood quorums during the past three months. These have consisted of such outings as swim, melon feeds, desert picnics, baseball gameg, contests, pio- neer day celebration, excursions, etc. Fairest Visions Too soon are gone the glories of the day, Too soon the sun sinks in the golden west, The flowers and sky are turned to dullest grey, And gloomy seems all Nature when at rest. But though my eyes may miss the pleasing sight. Across my soul the shadows do not fall, For visions come that bring me warmth and light And weave a rose-hued glamour over all. The fairest sights are seen, not with the eyes, But with the mind in imagery sublime, We need not for lost beauties vainly sigh, When powers to store the best increase with time. Raymond, Canada. HELEN KIMBALL ORGILL