Priesthood Quorums

Matters in this department pertaining to the Metchizedek Priesthood are prepared under direction of the Council of the Twelve: those pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood under direction of the Presiding Bishopric. Instructions Concerning Summer Adjournment The following letter has been sent to all presidents of stakes: Dear Brethren: In view of the fact that in some of the stakes the Mutual Improvement Associations have discontinued their weekly meetings during the summer season, the presidents of these stakes have felt that it may be desirable for the Melchizedek Priesthood to discon- tinue their weekly meetings also, of course with the understanding that a monthly quorum meeting be held as usual. If the conditions in your stake are such that you prefer to make this adjustment, that will be entirely satis- factory to us. Trusting that this will find you in the enjoyment of your ministry and wishing you every possible success in the same, we are, Your brethren in the Gospel, The Council of the Twelve, By Rudger Clawson. President. Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums Suggestive Items for Reports Third Month Committee on Class Instruction We desire to report that members of the quorum have been in attendance at the class Sunday morn- ings during the past month. The great interest in the lessons is main- tained. However, there are a few of the brethren who leave the preparation of the lessons until they are crowded for time before the meeting of the class. We have endeavored to encourage pre- paration early in the week. We have prepared some additional material bearing on the topics to be discussed this coming month which we will have mimeographed so that the members may obtain it. Committee on Church Service We are glad to report that we have been able to obtain six other volumes for our library, including a good en- cyclopedia and Lodge and Garner's History of the United States. Elder and family are temporarily away from home and expect to be gone several weeks. We have arranged to have lessons forwarded to them and will keep in touch with them while away. Elder has been assigned the subject for this evening's discussion, which is, "The Book of Mormon: what it is, and how it was obtained." Methods in Ward Teaching. In order to prepare members of the quorum or group for more effective ward teaching, the committee may pre- sent for consideration the "Suggestive Outline for a Demonstration of Ward Teaching," presented during Priesthood conferences of 1928, which follows: Suggestive Outline for a Demonstration of Ward Teaching First Episode, "The Preparation" — by Scene — The home of a Priest. an Elder and a Priest. Greeting at the door — Statement of

June, 1919 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 689 the purpose of the Elder's call — Re- sponse of the Priest to the invitation extended — Preview of the work for the evening — Discussion of the fam- ilies to be visited and their needs — Agreement on the plan to be pursued — Assignment of the parts to be taken by each in the presentation of the message to be delivered — The ques- tions to be asked and the work to be done — The leaving for the visits. Second Episode, "The Visit" — by an Elder, a Priest, and a family. Scene — The home of a representa- tive family of the Church. Time — Shortly after the evening meal. The coming of the Teachers — Greetings at the door — Inquiry as to convenience of visit — Assembling of the family — The teaching introduced by tactful in- quiry as to the welfare of each member of the family, spiritually, physically, and morally — Commendation for ac- tivities of members of family as they have been observed by the Teachers — Presentation of the teaching message for the month (by one of the Teachers, standing) — Stimulating dis- cussion of it — The leaving of a bless- ing and suggestive remedies for prob- lems which may have developed — De- parture of the Teachers. Third Episode, "The Result" — by the family. Scene — In the same home with the same family after departure of the Teachers. The father calls attention to the application of the message left by the Teachers in the home — presen- tation of intimate personal problems by members of the family, such, for example, as the keeping of the Word of Wisdom, the payment of tithing and fast offerings, attendance upon meetings and Church appointments, the keeping of good hours and good associations, regularity of family prayers and blessing of the food — The resulting resolution to improve and conform to the requirements of the Church — The separation of the fam- ily with affectionate partings. The foregoing may be presented as a demonstration to the quorum or (group) or by the way of topics for discussion. Assignments for thorough preparation should be made, with the approval of the quorum president (or the presiding officer of the group) . The committee may recommend that the entire quorum or group tender their services to the bishop to do such ward teaching as he may require, pref- erably by becoming responsible for a given part of the ward and report- ing as a quorum or group to the bishop on the work accomplished. Committee on Miscellaneous Activity The committee could give consider- ation to the subject of maintaining at- tendance at the weekly quorum meet- ings as well as the monthly meeting. Transportation to weekly and monthly meeting. Attention to those who have no means of travel. Combining in travel to monthly meeting. Committee on Personal Welfare The Overcoming of Bad Habits. The Forming of Good Habits. With the object of helping one an- other to form good habits, suggest Topics of day, particularly those which have a bearing directly or in- directly upon the preaching of the Gospel. New advancements in radio. Inventions. New discoveries in science. Archaeological discoveries, etc. that the following practical rules, formulated by Professor Wm. James, of Harvard, be studied, and carefully considered by the quorum:

690 IMPROVEMENT ERA June. 1929 First Maxim: "We must make our nervous system our ally instead of our enemy." COMMENT: "We must make auto- matic and habitual, as early as pos- sible, as many useful actions as we can, and as carefully guard against the growing into ways that are likely to be disadvantageous." SECOND MAXIM: "In the acquisition of a new habit or the leaving off of an old one, we must take care to launch ourselves with as strong and decided an initiative as possible." COMMENT: "Accumulate all the pos- sible circumstances which shall re- inforce the right motives; put yourself assiduously in conditions that encourage the new way; make engagements incompatible with the old; make a public pledge if the case allows; in short, envelop your resolution with every aid you know. This will give your new beginning such a momentum that the tempta- tion to break down will not occur as soon as it otherwise might; and every day during which a break- down is postponed adds to the chances of its not occurring at all." THIRD MAXIM: "Never suffer an exception to occur till the new habit is securely rooted in your life." COMMENT: Professor Bain points out well the importance of this maxim: "It is necessary above all things, in such a situation never to lose a battle. Every gain on the wrong side undoes the effect of many conquests on the right. The essential precaution, therefore, is so to regulate the two opposing powers that one may have a series of un- interrupted successes, until repetition has fortified it to such a degree as to enable it to cope with the opposition under any circumstances. This is the theoretically best career of mental progress." Fourth Maxim: "Seize the very first possible opportunity to act on every resolution you make, and on every emotional prompting you may experience, in the direction of the habits you aspire to gain." COMMENT: "A tendency to act, only becomes effectively ingrained in us in proportion to the uninterrupted frequency with which the actions actually occur, and the brain 'grows' to their use. When a resolve or a fine glow of feeling is allowed to evaporate without bearing practical fruit, it is worse than a chance lost." Fifth Maxim: "Keep the faculty of effort alive in you by a little gratui- tous exercise every day." COMMENT: "That is, be systematically heroic in little unnecessary points; do every day or two something for no other reason than its difficulty, so that when the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not un- nerved nor untrained to stand the test. Ascetism of this sort is like the insurance which a man pays on his house and goods. The tax does him no good at the time, and pos- sibly may never bring him a return. But if the fire does come, his having paid it will be his salvation from ruin. So with the man who has daily inured himself to habits of concentrated attention, energetic volition, and self-denial in unneces- sary things. He will stand like a tower when everything rocks around him, and his softer fellow-mortals are winnowed like chaff in the blast." This Quorum Believes in Gospel Service The Era is indebted to the First Granger, Apr. 10, 1929. Council of Seventy for the following First Council of Seventy, letter: Dear Brethren:

June, 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 691 The accompanying picture shows some of the results of committee work being carried out by the 14th Quorum of Seventy. The day this picture was taken, there were 25 men, 52 horses, 4 manure spreaders, 8 plows, 2 har- rows, and 1 leveler, engaged in prepar- ing the soil for seeding on the farm of one of the quorum members who has been sick for a long time. This practice has been carried out by this quorum for some time past with very encouraging results. It may be stated that five committees are or- ganized and at work in the quorum as given below: Personal Welfare Committee: Dur- ing the last year the quorum has helped its members on four occasions in the way of planting and harvesting crops. In one instance 12 acres of land were manured, plowed, harrowed, leveled and sown; the second instance was when four acres of beets were dug and delivered to the loading station; the third, when the seventies joined with the elders' quorum in Granger ward and harvested five acres of po- tatoes; the fourth, four acres of beets were dug and delivered to the loading station in Hunter ward. Missionary Committee: This com- mittee consists of twenty members who have visited some 96 families since the first of January, 1929, the president of the stake requesting that both members and non-members be visited. The missionaries feel highly encouraged with what has been done and with the splendid reception ac- corded them. Social Welfare Work: In the past year four splendid socials have been had by the quorum. On these occa- sions the wives of the members also participate, and the fraternal and social spirit manifested binds the members closer in the bond of brotherly love. Finance Committee: Consists of three members who collect quorum, missionary and general funds during the months of September to December, and at Christmas missionaries in for- eign missions are sent remembrances in the way of money. Attendance Committee: Consists of three members who call on all mem- bers and encourage and solicit their attendance at all quorum, priesthood and sacramental meetings. The result of this activity is that a larger attend- Why Not Have More Such Quorum Activity?

692 IMPROVEMENT ERA June, 19 29 ance is noticed at these various meet- ings. The officers of the quorum feel highly encouraged, and a good fra- ternal spirit exists between the mem- bers and officers of the quorum. There is a membership in the 1 4th Quorum of Seventy of 52. The quorum district comprises Granger and Hunter wards of the Oquirrh stake of Zion. We trust this will be of interest to you and to the Era. We remain, Your brethren, W. G. Bawden, Aaron Smith, J. N. Smith, Cecil Robinson, O. R. Bawden, Geo. C. Marshall, Emil Feulner, Council. Leonard Wendell, Secy. Ward Teaching Recently Hugh J. Cannon, associate editor of the Era, related to us some of his experiences in the training of young ward teachers. He kindly consented to embody some of his thoughts in a letter, and it is published herewith. Because of Brother Cannon's long experience as a ward teacher, a mission- ary, president of a mission and of a stake, and the fact that he now finds time to continue to engage in this work, we feel that his article should be a source of inspiration to all those who are connected with Aaronic Priesthood work. We sincerely hope that all stake and ward officials will carefully read this article. Presiding Bishopric. Presiding Bishopric, City, Dear Brethren: This is in response to your request that I put in writing some of my thoughts and experiences in regard to ward teaching. For many years this has been a very interesting subject to me, and I was therefore much pleased when Bishop George S. Spencer and his counselors of the Forest Dale ward, Granite stake, assigned six families to me and gave me as a teaching com- panion a young and somewhat inex- perienced, but very willing, priest. As my home is almost in the center of our group, we meet there before entering upon the work of the evening and en- gage in prayer together, then go out with a sincere desire to do our work well and, I believe, thankful for the opportunity of teaching the principles of righteousness. Through the telephone our families are notified in advance of our coming, so they are prepared for us and there is no embarrassment because of untidy homes or from other causes. Our mes- sage is briefly presented. We pray with each family and leave. Parents have testified that their chil- dren have been more obedient because of these visits, and we have felt that good results have come to each member of the family. At first my companion was very diffident, and his mother confided to me that he was fearful of being called upon to take the lead in some of the homes. While he has not overcome that feeling entirely, he is now willing to take part in the presentation of our subject and has several times expressed himself as really enjoying the work. In this connection, may I say that in my opinion, formed after a good many years of experience, our young men are not used nearly so much as they should be in teaching work and perhaps in many other lines. The Lord clearly states what the duties of an or- dained teacher are, and he certainly knows whether young boys can do this work or not. Many experienced men have come into my home in this capacity and have left a real blessing with me and my family, but the best teaching I have ever seen in all my life was done by two boys, neither one more than fourteen years old, in the

June. 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 693 Third ward of this city, with whom I had the privilege of going out on one occasion. I have always felt indebted to Bishop Roscoe W. Eardley for hav- ing given me this opportunity. I met the boys by appointment on a street corner. They asked me what my desires were and were told to go ahead as they usually did. Together we went into the home of one of the boys, where prayer was offered. From that moment until the last family was visited not a word was said that did not pertain to the matter in hand, the carrying of the particular message given them by the bishop into the homes of the people. The first house visited was that of Bishop Eardley. A hymn was sung, and the earnest young fellows presented their message. Then they asked me if I had anything to say and received a negative reply. The truth of the matter was that I was so deeply touched by the whole proceedings that I could not have said a word without shedding tears. These young lads demonstrated to me what the Lord had in mind when he placed this responsibility upon the ordained teachers. After all, the most any visiting teacher can hope to do is to touch the hearts of the people, and it was done in this instance better than I have ever seen it done. Moreover, the boys were receiving a splendid train- ing. One of them is already on a mission, and I hope the other will be able to go before long. Praying the Lord to bless you in your responsible positions, I remain Yours sincerely, Hugh J. Cannon. Field Notes Cottonwood Stake: The Cotton- wood stake Aaronic Priesthood com- mittee, with Hyrum Bennion as chairman, are seeking systematically to promote this work. Committee meet- ings are held the second Scnday of the month at 1:00 p. m., following which a meeting is held by the stake presidency and the committee with all bishoprics and ward supervisors. A monthly report is obtained from each ward, showing the activities and as- signments performed for all grades of the Aaronic Priesthood. A scoring system is adopted for stimulating friendly competition between the va- rious wards. The basis for this is as follows: ( 1 ) One point for each quorum, sacramental, Sunday School and M. I. A. meeting attended: (2) one point per month for each member observing the Word of Wisdom; (3) one point per month for each member paying tithing during the month: (4) one point per month for each quorum meeting attended by the supervisor or bishopric; (5) one point for each topic discussed by the supervisor or bishopric; (6) one point for each as- signment of duty filled. Estimated maximum score for four weeks, 25 points. The ward reports are com- piled into a stake report showing the activities of the various wards by com- parison and the relative rating. Mem- bers of the stake committee visit the various wards regularly and seek to stimulate the performance of all duties by the various members and to pro- mote quorum unity and enthusiasm. Father: "Better be satisfied to stay on the farm. Remember the farms have given the United States the most of her great men." Son: "What you say is true, father, and just look what a fix it has placed the farms in."- — D. C. Retsloff.