Priesthood Quorums

All matters pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood in this department are prepared under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric. Letter Sent to Presidencies of Stakes June 4, 1928 Dear Brethren: Reports from the stakes and missions, as well as observations made during of- ficial visits of the General Authorities, dis- close the fact that the plan for the studying of the Gospel by all the Priesthood Sunday morning, and for quorum activity Tuesday evening, promises fruitful results. In- creased attendance and more united effort will, proportionately, increase the good to be accomplished. Appreciative comments are made by sisters, and men who do not hold the Higher Priesthood and who in some instances are not members of the Church, on the opportunity now afforded them to study the Gospel in classes' with members of the Priesthood quorums. The Priesthood classes Sunday morning furnish to them this opportunity. Permit us at this time to emphasize the fact that the most important service that the Priesthood can render is the teaching of the principles of life and salvation, and that Sunday morning is the best oppor- tunity at hand for the rendering of this service. Every quorum member, therefore, from deacon to high priest, should be a missionary, inviting some neighbor or in- different member to attend class and to study the Gospel with them. We cannot emphasize too strongly this phase of quo- rum activity. Opportunity for rendering this service presents itself every Sunday throughout the year. For other quorum activities during the summer months we offer the following suggestions: Aaronic Priesthood Meetings AH quorums of the Aaronic Priesthood, as well as all quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood, as already stated, will continue class work every Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. In addition to this the deacons, teachers, and priests should hold, respec- tively, weekly meetings, which will be ex- clusively quorum meetings. (For pro- gram of activities and order of business, see published instructions by the Presiding Bishopric.) Melchizedek Priesthood Meetings High priests, seventies and elders should hold, respectively, throughout the summer months, as during other months of the year, a regular monthly quorum meeting. This is an official meeting of the quorum which should not be suspended, even dur- ing the vacation period, except by per- mission of stake and other presiding, authorities. An order of business and suggestions for the conducting of these monthly meet- ings have already been sent to stake and to quorum presidencies. In addition to the holding of this monthly meeting, some stakes find it ad- visable to continue during the summer months the regular ward weekly meeting, holding it either on Tuesday night as in winter, or at some convenient hour on Sun- day. Quorum fraternity and Priesthood activity are best fostered by this weekly plan. These meetings are devoted almost

792 IMPROVEMENT ERA entirely ( 1 ) to the checking up of mem- bers; (2) to the receiving of reports; (3) to the assignment of duties; and (4) to th? fostering of a brotherhood that should be- come an uplifting force in the daily life of every quorum member. Ever praying for the Lord's help in every effort to have the quorums lead in all Church activities, we remain. Sincerely, Thf. Council of the Twelve, By Rudger Clawson, President. The New Priesthood Plan Summary of suggestions given at a meeting of members of the Council of Twelve, the First Council of Seventy. Mission Presidents and Stake Presidencies, Barratt Hall, Friday, April 6, 1928, 4:15 p. m. Elder David O. McKay The Priesthood Quorums and the Sunday Schools Before the October conference of 1927 the Council of the Twelve had in mind a definite plan, which included not only the studying of the Gospel, but what is equally important, the activities of the quorums. Priesthood means service: studying is only part of the duty of quorums. In Novem- ber of 192 7 the Presiding Authorities rec- ommended that quorums be permitted to hold their study hours during the time hitherto set apart for the Sunday School as an auxiliary, Sunday morning from 10 o'clock to 12, that ample time might be given to the study of the Gospel. They suggested, however, that in this study period quorum lines be not sharply drawn for the following reasons: First, the wards, as far as the high priests and many of the quorums of seven- ty and not a few quorums of elders arc concerned, have only parts of quorums, so a quorum meeting could not be held unless members came from adjoining wards. Second, they recognize that age limits are not defined by Priesthood quorums. For example, there are fathers of families who hold only the Lesser Priesthood. These fathers, indifferent though they be, might be induced to join for study purpose the higher quorums, and they would not feel out of place when quorum lines are not drawn. Third, sisters in the Church share the glory and privileges of the Gospel. There is nothing which the Priesthood will be studying Sunday morning which mothers and sisters ought not to study, and so if quorum lines be eliminated, women may join in the study of the Gospel. In other words, the members of the quorums invite everybody to come every Sunday morning to study the Gospel with them. Fourth, the authorities recognize that the best way to study is to teach others, and if we can have 146,000 or sixty per cent of 146,000 men and boys who hold the Priesthood inviting other men to come with them, members of the Church or not, those men feel at once in that study the responsibility of the Priesthood, and while they are studying they are teaching others, and Sunday morning offers the opportunity for the Priesthood to extend just that invitation. For these and other reasons the brethren recommend that the quorums of the Church be given the most important hour in the week. Sunday Schools have been reorganized and renamed, with the result that the Sunday School at present falls into three groups. Group One The first group comprises the children in the kindergarten and primary, and those two years older than the primary age, or all children from the ages of 4 to 11 in-

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 793 elusive. The responsibility of preparing under the the course of study for this group is as- Twelve, signed to the General Sunday School Board direction of the Council of Group Two The second group includes the age of the Lesser Priesthood, 12 to 20, inclusive. The deacons pursue studies in the "A" class, which includes courses in the Book of Mormon, the New Testament, and the Old Testament, adapted to their age and capacity. Girls of corresponding age study co-educationally with them. Boys not members of the Church, deacons' play- mates, perhaps, are invited to come and study also. Thus the plan affords an op- portunity for our boys to become imbued with the thought that they are now mis- sionaries in the community and they should try to fetch into class influence their playmates who do not know the Gospel as they do. The teachers form the "B" department, which includes courses in the Old Testa- ment, the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, adapted to their age and capacity. The priests will register in what is called the "C" department, Book of Mor- mon, Old Testament and New Testament. But in that department these books will be considered from the standpoint of doctrine and the philosophy of the Gospel, adapted to the ages of these young men. The Presiding Bishopric will prescribe the course of study for the Lesser Priest- hood. The next department, the Missionary department, is the one that needs clarify- ing. If there is one thing in this Church that should be upheld in dignity, and in intelligence, it is our Missionary depart ment. It is an honor for any young man or young woman to enter the ranks of our missionaries. So should it be considered an honor and a privilege for our young men, priests or elders, to be permitted to register in the Missionary department of the Church Sunday School. This depart- ment should be made up of prospective missionaries, short-term missionaries in- cluded, but not of local missionaries. You have many seventies in your stakes per- forming local missionary work. They should not be enrolled in the Missionary department. The bishops should deter- mine who should join the missionary course. It might be that there is a young man just finishing his second year at col- lege, who perhaps is not through with his "C" course, but if you contemplate send- ing him out at the end of the year, let him go into the missionary class and re- ceive his training. Here is a young elder, for example, who is not sure whether he can go on a mission this year, but if he has the desire and you think he should prepare for that labor, call him in. In the very order of things, these classes will not be large. They need not be. They are our prospective missionaries, and the dignity and character of that class should by all means be maintained. Group Three In group three, we have the elders, the seventies and the high priests, with men in the Church not holding the Priesthood who are, in experience and in education, sufficiently matured to follow the subjects prescribed. These will follow the course of study prescribed by the Council of the Twelve and the First Council of Seventy. Thus it will be observed, the quorums of Priesthood are studying courses authorized by the General Authorities of the Church. What then, you may ask, is the place of the Sunday School? The Sunday School takes its proper place as a helper, as an aid to the Priesthood, its organization being utilized to carry on the preparation of les- sons, the receiving of reports, the printing of lessons, etc.

794 IMPROVEMENT ERA In each of these classes, in the Gospel Doctrine department, and in each of the other groups there should be appointed by the president of the quorum, a group secre- tary, whose duty it will be to credit those who are in attendance Sunday morning at the quorum class. This record will be given to the quorum secretary, and the credit made on the official quorum record. In the case of an elders' quorum that is complete in the ward, the secretary of the quorum should be in attendance and the quorum record kept. The Lord help us to get the vision of quorum leadership, in learning, in frater nity, in service throughout the Church. Elder Melvin J. Ballard Priesthood Quorums and the M. I. A. In building the new plan, we had in mind to provide a weekly and a monthly meeting for the quorums of the Priest- hood and the simplification of our pro- gram. We did not wish unnecessarily to call the brethren from their homes, but to save time we worked out this plan that combines the weekly Priesthood meeting with the M. I. A. The period suggested is Tuesday night. At least in your pro- gram it states "the same evening as the M. I. A. meet." We have for somewhat more than a year past been endeavoring to have the Mutual Improvement Associa- tions of the Church meet on Tuesday nights. We now jointly recommend that this be the night when the Priesthood M. I. A. meeting will be held, because there is so much activity connected with the M. I. A. program that it would be exceedingly difficult to have it go for- ward on Sunday night. It would indeed be out of harmony in many respects with the spirit of the Sabbath day. Just a word regarding those stakes and wards which are holding their M. I. A. meetings on Sunday night. You probably feel that you cannot have the sacramenta' meeting on Sunday afternoon and a preach- ing meeting Sunday night; so you have given Sunday night to the M. I. A. In many stakes this has been done, and I presume there is no objection to letting the sacramental meeting come on Sunday night, and if you omit any meeting prob- ably the Sunday afternoon meeting could be omitted with less loss, and you will get young people particularly in your sacramental meeting on Sunday night. But this Priesthood-M. I. A. program should go forward on Tuesday night, and then we can do all our work. If it is decided in any stake that it is necessary to have this meeting Sunday night, then the M. I. A. will have to meet on some week night to complete their work. We had in mind also simplifying the work for the bishoprics by giving them the opportunity to meet those who are going to render service in the wards from all these Priesthood quorums. Therefore we have provided thirty minutes before the Tuesday evening meeting — from 7 to 7:30 — as the best time probably when the bishoprics could meet the presidents of these quorums. In the ca9e of the high priests and seventies, where there is not a complete quorum in the wards, the pres- idencies of those quorums should appoint a presiding officer or a leader from the high priests' and a leader from the seventies' group in that ward, if one of the pres- idency does not reside in the ward, and this leader will meet with the bishopric and the presidencies of the quorums of the Priesthood, and the ward presidency of the Young Men's Mutual. We are attempting in this program to emphasize the importance of the presiding officers over the quorums, and instead of having a supervising ward teacher, for example, over a group of elders, seventies and high priests doing the work in this district, we desire the quorum officers to do that supervising. You could do it in this way: In one division of the ward

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 795 the elders could care for the ward teaching, with so many priests and teachers affiliated with them; in another district of the ward the work could be done by the high priests with the teachers and priests associated with them. The missionary work in the ward could be done by the seventies. There might be some seventies1 left who could do the ward teaching work in another district with priests and teachers. Then there might be another district where the priests themselves could do the work. So that supervising the Priesthood in the wards should be in the hands of the pres- idencies of quorums. That will create re- sponsibility and quorum interest in the work that is particularly assigned to the quorums. Now in this meeting where the quorum officers meet with the bishopric, reports of ward teachers, missionary work, or other service is brought to the bishopric from these quorum officers, or the one who is leading the group. Then the bishops give assignment in ward teaching to the pres- idents of these quorums, going so far as to suggest the companions that should be doing team work in that particular district, or any other suggestions of service that he desires these quorums to render. That thirty-minute period gives him the oppor- tunity to get reports of work done, to give assignments to those who are to do that work in the ward. Now you have come to the opening period of the Priesthood-M. I. A., where in all the Priesthood of the ward and the sisters of the ward as well are expected to be present, so far as they can, and we are asking that the bishop preside over this meeting, to this extent at least that he call the meeting to order. We suggest that he ask the officers of the Young Men's or- ganization (the reason we have not named the Young Ladies is because we desire to keep the Priesthood in control of this group) to conduct the exercises, which are to be brief, not over fifteen minutes, and then there is immediate adjournment of the deacons to their quorum meeting, also teachers, priests, elders, seventies and the high priests, to meet in their separate departments. We think it is far better, if you have more than one quorum of deacons, to let each quorum meet by itself with a quorum officer presiding. Since we are anxious to have the same leaders, particularly in the Lesser Priest- hood quorums and in the activities of the M. I. A., we suggest that the bishopric and the officers of the Young Men's As- sociation in the ward meet together and choose the best leaders for the groups in the Priesthood period and in the activity period, so that there will be no break, particularly with the Lesser Priesthood, where leadership means so much. Then for forty-five minutes, from 7:45 to 8:30, the quorum officers will be giv- ing to the quorum the instruction they receive from the bishop, any assignments for service this quorum is to render in the ward, and receive back from the quorum members reports of activities. When that is concluded there is an immediate ad- journment without prayer, into the de- partments of the M. I. A. for one hour. Deacons and teachers, go into the Scout department. The priests go into the M Men's department. The elders who are unmarried may go with the M Men. and they who are married may meet with their wives, who have, during the intermission, studied with the Young Ladies their manual work for Juniors and Seniors. To- gether these husbands and wives go into the Social and Literary department, where they have elective courses, and where they can carry forward the adult education of the Church in many interesting fields, one of them being an elective course in gen- ealogy, giving the genealogical workers an opportunity to meet with their group. The adjournment may be taken from the several departments, or there may be a joint re-assemblage, but the time of dis- missal should be at the same period. There comes with this the suggestion that Friday evening for adults and after- noon for children be the recreation period of the Church, under the supervision and leadership of the M. I. A. and the Primary Associations.

'96 IMPROVEMENT ERA Brethren, I wonder how answer these questions: What is the average enrollment of mem- bers in your quorums? Do your quorum members attend theii quorum meetings.'' If so, in what number? Do they attend sacramental meetings What is the percentage. What per cent of them attend these Sun day School sessions for their education and study? What per cent of them attend quarterlv conferences? As to the officers of the quorum, what per cent of your officers of quorums attend your council meetings? Managerial meet- ings, to look after their quorums? What per cent of them attend Priesthood Union meetings? What per cent of them attend meetings with the bishop, for this consultation spoken of? With the stake presidency? What committees do you have in your quorums and when do they meet? What reports do they make7 What are they undertaking to do? What Church service is performed by your quorum members, as foreign mis- sionaries, or as local missionaries? What percentage of them are engaged in ward teaching? What percentage of them attend Sunday School, Mutual, or Religion Class? What per cent are genealogical and tem- ple workers? How many are recreation workers, or work in other organizations? And then a little personal information: Do you know anything about the per- centage of your men in quorums who pay tithing? How many are exempt as non-earners? How many of them pay fast offerings? What percentage use no tobacco? No intoxicating liquor? No tea nor coffee? No profanity? What percentage of them do not gamble? What percentage observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy? Elder Stephen L. Richards Summer Program, Record and Report many can Have your quorums any quorum funds? If so, what is the nature of those funds and the amount? How are disbursements made and for what purposes? What is the percentage of your quo rum members who are married? And if they are married, have they been married or sealed in the temple? What is the number or per cent of your quorum members carrying life insurance? How many visits have your quorum presidency made to quorum members, or have members of the quorum made to their fellow-membets to try to stimulate them in their activity? Do you have in your quorums the un- dertaking of fraternal projects such as aiding fellow-members or missionaries' families, by financial aid or otherwise? How often do they engage in socials, and when do they visit the sick and giv« condolence to the bereaved? Those are a few questions that we feel are worthy of consideration by those who preside over quorums and by those who are responsible for the conduct of the quo- rum work in the stakes of Zion; and to the end that such information may be avail- able to quorum presidencies and to stake presidencies and to the Presiding Author- ities of the Church, it is proposed that in this new plan we cause report blanks to be circulated among the quorums, and then have reports submitted setting forth sub- stantially the information which I have indicated, in order that we may know. We recognize that to add to our statis tical information and to the burden of securing it is probably not a very welcome thing, but we believe that it would be well to circulate a questionnaire of the kind that I have mentioned, among all the quorums, in order that their attention may be called to some of these items which in dicate their status and their progress. Aftei all, the chief purpose in all statistical in- formation is to determine status and progress. That is the only reason why you secure reports from a business — to know where it stands and whether it is

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 797 going forward; and the brethren feel that it would be desirable to cause to be printed a blank in triplicate, to be made out by quorum presidents' or group leaders in the wards, one copy to be retained in the ward, two copies to be sent on to the stake clerk for the information of the presidency in the first instance, and after the stake clerk has made a compilation and a tabulation of the items, we are going to ask the stake clerks to send it on to the Presiding Bishop's Office for the information of the General Authorities. Brethren, we have done too much guessing. I go into a stake and I ask the stake president how a certain organization is getting along, and I usually get the an- swer, "Pretty well," or "Not very well," but I very seldom get the specific items which indicate progress or otherwise, be- cause we do not know, we have not made the investigation. This is designed to give us that knowledge. We believe that quo- rum presidents, if they are asked to keep these items continually before them, will work to the end of having their quorums conform to the requirements that have been laid down by the brethren who have spoken here today. We have prepared some blanks, just as a reminder of this item. You will ob- serve that there are some personal items to be considered. We regard it as a very personal and delicate thing to find out whether a man uses profanity, to find out whether he is gambling, whether he keeps the Word of Wisdom, and obeys the law of tithing; but we believe all quorum pres- idents are entitled to know, and unless they know they cannot adequately deal with these situations. But we are urging that when this information is secured it be secured in such manner as to give no offense or embarrassment. The tithing record is made by the bishop. The quorum president can secure from the bishop the tithing record for the members. We can also learn by personal contact with in- dividuals their status with reference to these matters. And when the information is once secured it becomes a solemn duty of the quorum president not to divulge it or use it in any way that will em- barrass the quorum members. We shall rely upon you so to instruct your quorum officers in that respect. This report is to be called for every three months. We feel that that will not be too burdensome and is about as frequent as- we could well have it in order to make the matter serve its purpose. Every educational program seems to take a vacation. It has been the policy of schools almost from time immemorial to relax during the summer months, ana we have observed that our quorum ac- tivities are often very greatly decreased and in some cases entirely suspended during the summer months. We recognize that there are conditions that seem in some stakes to make this almost imperative, and of course we cannot very well change those conditions. I presume that a very con- siderable part of the Church is still agri- cultural. We live in rural districts, our farmers are obliged to work long hours, they cannot abandon their work until the last hours of daylight have gone. Now, in order to make some provision for the summer work in our stakes (in many cases perhaps the stakes will feel that they cannot carry forward this regular schedule that has been outlined by Brother Ballard, having the members meet regularly on Tuesday nights with the M. I. A.), it is felt that we can at least do three things: First: We can have a monthly quo- rum.meeting on a Sunday afternoon or at the most convenient time for the stake, the ward, or the members; and we can ask the members of the quorum to attend that meeting. Second: We should in all cases have a weekly meeting of the quorum presidency or the group leaders. You cannot run a business unless the management do their work. We feel that a council meeting of the group, or leaders, or quorum pres- idency is essential. Third: There should be a weekly meeting of the quorum presidency or group leaders with the bishopric, in order that these assignments which have been men- tioned here today can be given, reports

798 IMPROVEMENT ERA received, and at least the work of the quo- rum for the Church go forward although its regular weekly meetings may for a sea- son be suspended. We wish to say no word, however, in discouragement of the stakes who will carry forward the regular weekly program. There will be provision made for topics to carry forward the work on Tuesday eve- ning during the entire year, and when the time comes in the fall for the quorums which have suspended during the summer to resume their work, they will take up the work as of the date when they begin. They will not try to go back over the summer work of the regular course; they will take it up in September, when they begin their new work. These three meetings, please remember, we regard as indispensable for the carrying forward of our summer work. As to the time of holding those meet- ings, we must of course leave it to the stakes to choose a time most convenient for those who are to attend. Now, my brethren, I commend to you the items which are contained in this ques- tionnaire or report. I feel to say personally that if every quorum would check itself on those items, we would have an un- precedented increase in efficiency and spirit in the quorums' of the holy Priesthood. God grant that it may be so. Amen. Questions Asked and Answers Given President Hart of Rigby Stake: Is it the desire of the Authorities that those who now hold their Mutual meeting on Sunday evening discontinue them and hold them instead on Tuesday night? Brother Ballard: Our recommendation is that you change your Mutual meetings to Tuesday night, because of the character of our program. It is left optional with you as to whether you hold the sacra- mental meeting Sunday afternoon or Sun- day evening. A Stake President: In our stake at the present time we hold Sunday School Sun- day morning, sacramental meeting Sunday afternoon, and Mutual Sunday night. If we abandon either of the Sunday meetings I am afraid it will be an invitation to our young people to go out with their automobiles the entire Sunday afternoon or the entire Sunday evening. I am some- what fearful they will not remain at home. Brother Ballard: We do not say that you should abandon your Sunday after- noon meeting, but if you do have a meet- ing Sunday night, and you want the young people to put on a program we have no objection, if it is in harmony with the Sabbath day. We think we ought to have a meeting Sunday evening in every ward in this Church for the sake of the young people. If you feel that you can- not hold both the afternoon and the eve- ning meetings, we think it better that you should hold the evening meeting. President Wood of Alberta Stake: We are wondering up our way, from the fact that we are strictly agricultural, if there is any objection to our meeting at nine o'clock Sunday morning in Priesthood meeting instead of Tuesday night with the Mutual, or Sunday night with the Mutual. Our high priests and a good many seven- ties and elders dislike coming out in the evening, but they would all attend Sunday morning. Boys who go out to work week-days could not come Tuesday nights, but they will be there, as they have always been in the past, Sunday morning from nine to ten. Brother McKay: The brethren of the Twelve recommend that, as far as possible, Priesthood meetings be not held on Sun- day mornings. You may hold it after Sunday School or any other hour during the week that will be convenient. President Burgon of the East Jordan Stake: I did not clearly understand whether or not the M. I. A. will continue holding meetings during the summer months, or if they will discontinue them? Brother Ballard: Our proposition is that wherever any ward or stake desires to hold their meetings during the summer months, particularly for the Lesser Priest- hood, we will provide a program for the

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 799 M. I. A. in connection with that for the priests, teachers and deacons. President Little of the Oquirrh Stake: I would like to ask if there will be any objection to putting over the Priesthood work as is outlined for us during the sum- mer month if the Mutual does not care to put over its program? That is, if there would be any objection to the Priesthood going ahead with some of its work dur- ing the summer months, provided the Mu- tuals do not care to carry on their pro- gram Brother Ballard: You may do this if you want to. If you want the Mutual program to go with it, it will be provided. A member of the Presidency of Fremont Stake: Are we to understand that we are to have records kept of quorum meetings Sunday morning and also Tuesday night, so that there will be records of two Priest- hood classes, tabulated each week, one on Sunday morning and one on Tuesday night? Brother McKay: Yes, a secretary of the quorum group on Sunday morning will mark present all members of this group, whether they are in the Gospel Doctrine class or whether they are in the superintendency or the bishopric or in another class. Credit for attendance on Tuesday night is made by the straight mark, credit for attendance on Sunday morning by a horizontal mark. President Hart of Rigby Stake: We are holding our Priesthood quorum meetings once a month, on the date we hold our Union meetings, and we find them very successful. Do you suggest that we dis- continue this? We haven't a ward in our stake that has a complete quorum of seven- ties, elders or high priests. Brother McKay: We suggest that you continue as you are doing, with the un- derstanding that you give to your quorums all the time necessary to transact their busi- ness. For monthly Unions, choose any of the options given in the little pamphlet. President May of Minidoka Stake: In the Mutual meetings Tuesday night, v/ill the Young Ladies' presidency sit on the stand with the bishopric, and is it your recommendation that they shall not at any time conduct? Brother Ballard: We suggest that tha Young Ladies' officers sit on the stand as usual, and that in the meeting where the Priesthood is jointly assembled with the Young Ladies that we let the Young Men conduct, and the Young Ladies can take their part in the meetings the first 5unday night of the month, alternating with the Young Men as in the past. Reaching Members of the Aaronic Priesthood Effective teaching brings response. Spoken response is good, but a response of physical action is much better, the im- pression is more indelible. Teaching reaches its ideals when it enlists in its cause the earnest services of its pupils. By actual service in the ministry, the boys get more of the spirit of the work than they can get from making talks about it, or from listening to someone else talk. In taking part, especially in teaching a standard, they commit themselves to that standard and feel duty-bound to uphold it. Having stood for it and impersonated it, their obligation to maintain it is keener than it could have been made by teaching only. The Aaronic Priesthood age is peculiarly susceptible to spiritual influences and ideals if those ideals are introduced with tact and discretion. This is not necessarily the bad, wild age of the boy; yet, at this time he is active and impressionable. This is a time when things can be put over to him with great indelibility, a time when the love of the Gospel can get such a grip on him that it will always remain in his soul as an anchor of safety. In most cases, the work comes more

800 IMPROVEMENT ERA natural and easier to the beginner, when he is a deacon, a teacher, a priest, than it ever will at any later date. It is notice- able that with newly called ward teachers, who have had little previous experience, the boys can adapt themselves to it and get the spirit of it more readily than older men. There is a ripe time for action, and the fact that the Priesthood means action and not idleness, and that it is given at this time to the boys, indicates this as the time for the boys to begin their activity in the ministry. When they begin at this time they fit into the work, they like it and find it easy. But, in many cases, from this time on, if they are not engaged in the work of the ministry, they are falling into ways which estrange them from it and unfit them for it. There is a time to enlist the boys in the Lord's work, and that is when they are first entrusted with authority to take part. — Albert R. Lyman. Pioneer Stake Aaronic Priesthood In the Pioneer stake an effort is being made to carry on through the summer months the quorum activity and recrea- tional program as outlined by the Presiding Bishopric for the Aaronic Priesthood. To promote interest in this program the stake presidency and members of the stake Aaronic Priesthood Committee entertained 102 ward workers in Mill Creek canyon on the afternoon and evening of June 13. The ward workers constituted members of the bishoprics, Aaronic Priesthood super- visors, presidencies of the Young M:n's Mutual Improvement Associations, scout masters, and others connected with Aaroni; Priesthood work in the wards. The program consisted of out-door games and recreation, with a banquet and program in the evening. During the course of the evening, the program of Mu- tual Improvement work in connection with Priesthood activity work was carefully out- lined, and those present were urged to carry this program into effect. Stress was also laid on the responsibility of the Mu- tual Improvement and the scout leaders to the Aaronic Priesthood work, and those in charge of this phase of activity were asked to see that the scout program was so or- ganized as to work into the leisure time of the boys. Attention was called to the gift of five watches by Elder John C. Cutler, to be awarded to five boy scouts of Pioneer stake attaining the highest average of de- velopment and progress in scouting during the year, this award to be made for the purpose of stimulating activity among scout leaders and the boys of the various scout troops. As a result of this evening's entertain- ment and the splendid organizing in the stake and wards, it is expected that the Lesser Priesthood program will be success- fully continued on Tuesday night through- out the summer months, without a very marked decrease in the attendance. Last Words of Infidels Charles IX King of France: "What blood, what murders, what evil counsels have I followed! I am lost, I see it all." Tom Paine: "I would give worlds, if I had them, if The Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me, Christ help me; stay with me, it is hell to be alone."