Priesthood Quorums

All matters pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood in this department are prepared under the direction of the Presiding Bishopric. The Aaronic Priesthood Several times recently questions haw been received regarding the approved form of ordaining brethren to the Lesser Priesthood. An answer is to be found on page 14 of the last "Hand- book of Instructions" issued by the Presiding Bishopric. We quote: "The form of ordination authorized by the First Presidency is as follows: By (or in) the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I (or we) lay my (or our) hands upon your head and ordain you a deacon (or other office in the Lesser Priest- hood) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and confer upon you all the rights, powers and authority per- taining to this office in the Aaronic Priest- hood, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.' " The Priesthood and Education The program of study and activity, as arranged in Sunday School and in M. I. A. meetings, is but a move to- wards something which, in the very nature of the Priesthood itself, was sure to come. The Priesthood, per- haps more than any other order or or- ganization among men, calls for and implies education. This education is peculiarly and vitally related to action, and it reaches its loftiest functions of purpose only through performance. Its most im- portant lessons were impressed ancient- ly by works, and it achieved its most glorious height of comprehension through service to mankind. Enoch, Moses, Isaiah, Elijah and others, with knowledge far in advance of their con- temporaries, made their splendid pro- gress through the rights of the Priest- hood. Abraham desired to be "one who possessed great knowledge," and he sought to be ordained to the Priesthood that he might "possess greater knowl- edge." Approving of this aspiration the Lord told him, "In thee [that is in thy Priesthood] shall all nations be blessed," and though it is too much to explain here how literally that promise is fulfilled, it may be observed that the wonderful truths which thus came to him are still echoing down from Egypt through Greece with great benefit to the modern world. This Priesthood training may not agree in every respect with popular fads in education, but it does include the kind of working knowledge and skill which makes men efficient for a wide variety of labors. This is amply proved by the masterful accomplish- ments of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and a glorious list of splendid men who have achieved worthy ob- jectives in many fields to build up the Church in modern times. Chief among the purposes of Priesthood education is preparation for greater service to mankind, for "the greatest among men are the servants of all." Let no aspiring soul imagine this education is too narrow in its scope, for it requires that its recipients make "diligent effort to be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doc- trine, in the law of the Gospel, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God that is expedient for you to un- derstand; of things in heaven and in earth and under the earth; things

Mac, 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 423 which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; conditions at home and abroad, the wars and perplexities of peoples and nations." Truth hitherto unrevealed is to be given through this means, "for the enlarging of knowl- edge." The Priesthood holds the "keys of the knowledge of God." This does not contemplate con- demning nor discarding the schools of men; those schools are to be useful sup- plements by supplying much that "is virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy," such as we are ever eager to accept from any source. This Priesthood course of education, as now offered by the Church, is a broad and generous one, extended to all who are eligible, and it makes its labors and exercises simple and easy enough for any beginner. It provides suitable training for all quorums, and the great goal of these lessons and activities, if followed faithfully, is the highroad of celestial understanding which was fol- lowed by the great worthies. And in their hearts these great ones cherished the inspiring thought, "The glory of God is intelligence." At the meeting Tuesday evening, every Priesthood member is assigned something profitable to do, if he will accept it, — something which will lead surely and directly to the perfect goal ahead. And in the classes Sunday morning, every Priesthood member will find something beautifully appro- priate to think about, something nicely fitted for the growth of his under- standing in the climb for the loftiest places which the best men of the ages have reached. — Albert R. Lyman. Lindbergh Tobacco Offer Gets Out By Will H. Brown A war department flyer, according to the Youth's Instructor, is authority for the statement that when Lindbergh was about ready to start on his epoch- making flight to Paris, a representative of a certain brand of cigarette approached him with what would have been a very tempting offer to many young men — but not to "Lindy." It was an offer of $25,000 if, when he landed in Paris, he would turn to some one and ask for a cigarette of that make. Lindbergh absolutely refused even to consider the proposition, saying: "I do not smoke." This is just one more incident showing that Lindbergh is too smart to be tricked by the tobacco men. They have apparently quit trying — but not until after they used every conceivable and contemptible means possible to profit in some way by linking Lindbergh with the product that has blasted the hopes of countless thousands of boys and young men. The eagerness of the tobacco trade and organs to profit in every way possible from events that come and go was perhaps never more clearly demon- strated than in the wide publicity given a three-year-old Seattle boy who smoked cigars. The physicians were puzzled, and examined the child for ab- normalities, physical or mental. The Ann Arbor News truly comments: "It strikes us that the physicians are examining the wrong subject. That a child of three could contract the tobacco habit without some encouragement from adults is a preposterous assumption. The adults of the household, rather than this innocent babe, ought to be examined by the physicians, and likewise by the psychologists."