--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 32 number: 7 published: 1929-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Priesthood Quorums,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 7 (May 1929): 602–605." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3207unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3207unse start_page: 602 end_page: 605 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3207unse publication_year: 1929 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Priesthood Quorums Matters in this department pertaining to the Melchizedek Priesthood are prepared under direction of the Council of the Twelve: those pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood under direction of the Presiding Bishopric. Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums Suggestive Items for Reports Second Month Committee on Class Instruction Dear Brethren: The members of the committee have met regularly each week. We are glad to report that members of the quorum were in attendance at the study period each Sunday morning during the past month. There is an increased interest by the brethren in the class. The Bishop of the ward has placed at the disposal of the quorum a vacant section of the library in the meeting house. The following books have been , and by complying with the rules of the library. We suggest that the members of the quorum donate other books, as they may be able, and that the committee on be re- quested to take the matter in hand and submit suggestions as to how funds may be obtained to increase the size of the library. One month ago the committee se- lected, with the approval of the pres- ident of the quorum, Elder received by donation and by purchase , to occupy a portion and proper acknowledgment has been of the time this evening presenting the made in each case: subject: "How We Got Our Bible." The books in the library may be ob- We hope the members will take notes, tained by members of the quorum on for this is a very important subject, request to the librarian, Elder Committee on Church Service Administration of Ordinances. pare suggestive approved forms for all 1. Baptismal ordinance. of the foregoing ordinances. The en- 2. Laying on of hands for the gift tire quorum or group may be trained of the Holy Ghost and confirmation in the Church. 3. Administration to the sick. a. Anointing. b. Sealing. 4. Blessing and naming of chil- dren. The committee should secure or pre- Committee on Miscellaneous Activity The committee could study the ma- Report on: terial interests of the members of the quorum and be prepared to give some suggestions on the agricultural outlook, or other material items in which the quorum members are interested. The latest government reports, the Utah Farmer, or other sources should be con- sulted. in the proper recital of the ceremonies. With the approval of the president of the quorum (or presiding officer of the group) , assignments may be made to individual members for this purpose. It would be well to consult the bishop and secure his approval of forms that may be used. Pending legislation affecting in- terests. 2 — Sugar beet outlook. 3 — Grain. 4 — Potatoes. 5 — Poultry. 6 — Livestock. 7 — Dairying. 8 — Labor, etc. May, 1919 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 603 Committee on Personal Welfare For this month the committee on Personal Welfare might suggest that a member of the quorum be assigned the duty of speaking on Things Pro- hibited in the Word of Wisdom, or some kindred topic relating to Personal Fitness. (See Guide.) If Things Prohibited be chosen, may wc suggest ( 1 ) that the one appointed give, from other sources than Church Works, corroborative evidence of the injurious effect of stimulants and nar- cotics upon the body, and (2) that he state under what circumstances, when, and by whom tea and coffee were specified as hot drinks referred to in the revelation. Raffling, Games of Chance, Etc. Reports have been received from time to time that, in some instances, at ward fairs and other entertainments raffling and other chance games have been conducted. The argument used in favor of these contests is that such games are common in the business world and that the purpose for which they are employed is a worthy one. In other words, it is argued that the end justifies the means. In order, however, that the posi- tion of the Church may be clear, we are quoting herewith from instructions given by President Joseph F. Smith and by President Heber J. Grant which express the attitude of the Church authorities. President Smith said, "Raffling is a game of chance, and hence leads to gambling. For that reason, if for no other, it should not be encouraged among the young people of the Church. President Young declared raffling to be a modi- fied form of gambling and said that 'as Latter-day Saints we cannot afford to sacrifice moral principles to financial gain,' and advised the sisters, through the Woman's Exponent, not to raffle. President Lorenzo Snow endorsed and approved of these statements and I have often expressed my unqualified disapproval of raffling." President Grant says, "I have always understood that our people were advised to raise their money for charitable and other purposes without indulging in raffling, where chances are sold. There is no objection to creating competition in various ways in ward entertainments in order to raise money, but the selling of chances on any article has been dis- couraged." The spirit of gambling or taking chances for money is so rampant in the world at present that the moderating influence and example of the Church should be exercised in behalf of our young people toward resisting such temptations. We urge that the spirit of these instructions be followed in all ward entertainments, and that proper advice in the same direction be given all members of the Church. The Presiding Bishopric. The Modern Missionary Shall Not Lack Lesser Priesthood Training The Presidency of the Church re- cently ruled that prospective mission- aries shall be recommended to them at least three months before the date when they will be ready to leave for the mission field. It was recommended that "during this period they should be assigned to special missionary work. or ward teaching, and be given an op- portunity to speak in the sacramental meetings, and to assist in the ordi- nance work at fast meetings." In sec- 604 IMPROVEMENT ERA May, 1929 tion 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord has specifically enumerated three of these special preparatory ac- tivities as duties of the Lesser Priest- hood. The ruling provides that the modern missionary shall not lack some training in these Lesser Priesthood duties even if his quorum work has been neglected. The era of the un- trained, uninformed missionary is passing. It is true that the Lord has per- formed and still does perform miracles with the missionary material we send him. "Mormons" and non"Mor- mons" alike have marveled at the de- velopment which has come during brief missionary terms to the multi- tude of young men whose first public utterances were abbreviated, halting words of thanks for the funds raised for them at their farewell entertain- ments. Our Heavenly Father is espe- cially good to those whose opportuni- ties for training are limited. At the same time he is continually blessing us with better means of learn- ing and greater facilities for training, to the end that we may be really pre- pared to represent him. There is now scarcely a case where the missionary may conscientiously plead lack of op- portunity to be prepared. We bear an authoritative message to mankind. The "Thus saith the Lord" of modern revelation takes prec- edence over any opinions of men. While our humility must not be lost, our preparedness to speak and act must be raised more closely to the standard of our message if we would gain the ears of the multitude of honest-hearted people among the so-called higher classes. Manifestly the three short months of special training just before the mis- sionary departs should be a finishing course only. For years before that day, the boy who takes advantage of the Lesser Priesthood activity program is preparing for his call to "go into the world." Let Aaronic Priesthood leaders and members bear this objec- tive in mind. There is an old adage which reads: "Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside." During the last year many of us have seemingly found it difficult to let go of the old and take on the new in Priesthood activities, or rather that which seems to be new, for the Gospel plan and Priesthood require- ments have been the same from the very beginning, differing only in the method of operation during the dif- ferent stages of development of man. In our day, with the law clearly stated, with experiences of a generation to build upon, our improvement is only slight. It is true that a great elfort is put forth through the Sabbath School to teach us the fundamentals of the Gospel principles. Our Priest- hood periods have been mainly lecture periods, our seminary work drill pe- riods. Theoretically all good and very necessary, but have we not neg- lected the laboratory as a necessary part of our training, that carefully planned training offered through the Priesthood quorums when functioning in the true meaning and purpose of Priesthood work, and especially as this work applies to the activities of the Aaronic Priesthood, "which Priest- hood holdeth the keys of the min- istering of angels and the preparatory Gospel; which Gospel is the Gospel of repentance and of baptism and the remission of sins and the law of carnal commandments." Let us compare the above statement with the duties of those holding the Aaronic Priesthood, with a view to determining, if possible, the relation- ship between the Aaronic and Mel- chizedek Priesthood, and of fixing the responsibility for Aaronic Priesthood activity duty training. First, through revelation, the Bishopric is charged with this duty. Through the leaders we sustain they are advised to select competent assistants to look after the May. 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 605 detail and work under their super- vision and direction. The law as given by the Lord provides that "The teacher's duty is to watch over the Church always, and be with and strengthen them; and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking; and see that the Church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty; and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest; and is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the Church, by the deacons, if occasion requires." This is a part of the duty training of the preparatory Gospel, thus laying a foundation built of the theoretical and practical applications of Gospel prin- ciples, carefully mixed and applied through contrast of the weak with the strong. "And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor, and go on your way rejoicing. And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also. Therefore, take with you those who are ordained unto the Lesser Priesthood, and send them before you to make appointments, and to prepare the way, and to fill appointments that you yourselves are not able to fill. Be- hold, this is the way that mine apos- tles, in ancient days, built up my Church unto me. Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand? Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified to- gether, that the system may be kept perfect." Unless those who hold the higher Priesthood magnify their calling, how can we hold those who bear the Aaronic Priesthood for their failure to qualify and magnify their calling? Surely they cannot take these duties upon themselves; and without careful planning and supervision they are de- prived of the spiritual growth the Lord intended they should have. And again: "The priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament. And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. And he may also ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons, and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present; but when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize. And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder if occasion re- quires." How many of our young mission- aries make their first speech at their farewell, and how few have stood be- fore a congregation of the Church a half dozen times before they are sent out to declare the Gospel message? May we suggest that a careful study of the present Aaronic Priesthood plan as outlined be carefully made by the Priesthood leaders with a view to en- couraging young men to prepare for missionary service, which cannot be done in a few weeks, but requires years of patient effort, following the plan of our Lord. Let us keep in mind the promise that "the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit en- lighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit." The Presiding Bishopric.