--- 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: 9 published: 1929-07 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. 9 (July 1929): 780–783." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse 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: improvementera3209unse start_page: 780 end_page: 783 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3209unse 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 PRIES 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 Presidina Bishopric Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums Suggestive Items for Reports Fourth Month Committee on The attendance at the Sunday Gos- pel Doctrine class has continued the same as during the past month. All the brethren except four are now in regular attendance. Elder of this quorum has been appointed as class instructor. We all realize his peculiar fitness for this position. With the approval of the presidency of the quorum our librarian has sub- scribed for several current magazines which add to our library. However, we take this opportunity to suggest that it is well for each member of the quorum to build up a good reference library at home. Each home should have the standard works of the Church and as many other books on Gospel subjects as they are able to obtain. Committee on Church Service Class Instruction Other works on scientific, literary, and all other useful subjects should be se- cured as the means of the brethren will warrant. We have purchased a very excellent atlas and a general history of the world. The Lord has said: "And I give unto you a command- ment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth. "And I give unto you a command- ment that you shall teach one another the doctrines of the kingdom." Doc. and Cov. 88:76-79. Elder is appointed to speak to us tonight, his subject being: "The Pearl of Great Price, What it is and How it was Ob- tained." Methods in Stake or Ward Missionary Work. The committee may outline plans to be followed in carrying forward mis- sionary work among non-members of the Church resident within the stake or ward. The following is merely suggestive: missionary service, of the missionary I. Preparation for A. Cultivation spirit. 1. By love of fellow-men. 2. By humility and prayer. B. Preparation of the message. 1 . Acquisition of the funda- mental principles of the Church. C. a. By study. b. By experience. 2. Practice in expressing fund- amental principles within the quorum or group, and as occasion presents oppor- tunity, in Sunday School classes and public meetings. 3. Assembling of convincing reasons and illustrations to re-enforce exposition of Gos- pel doctrine. 4. Assembling of literature and material for study and ako for presentation to persons visited. Investigation and study of atti- juiy, 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 78 tudc and environment of per- sons to be visited, where such course is feasible. Knowing the person as well as possible be- fore presenting the message. The foregoing topics may be as- signed, with the approval of the quo- rum president or the presiding officer of the group, to committee or quorum members for presentation and discus- be devoted to a report of the committee on this subject. After careful consider- ation of it, the committee may recom- mend that the entire group, or certain members of it, tender their service to the bishop or to the president of the stake or to such organized body as may be charged with the responsibility of carrying on missionary work among non-members in the district. sion. At least one meeting may well Committee on Miscellaneous Activity The committee could bring recom- mendations on some out-door activity for members of the quorum, during the month of May: such as a baseball game between members of the elders' quorum of the ward and members of the seventies. This might be followed with a horse-shoe pitching contest be- tween members of the high priests' quorum. They are to choose up sides for this game. In the evening all members of the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums with their wives and companions might meet on the lawn of a member where a lawn social could be held, including games, and a program. Light refresh- ments could be served. Committee on Personal Welfare Recommend as an intellectual ac- tivity the reading of The Strength of Being Clean, by David Starr Jordan, or some other valuable and appropriate pamphlet. All who have copies may lend them to others who have not, or one may be appointed to present the important items to the quorum or group at a regular meeting. A Real Investment [This talk on tithing was given by a priest sacramental meeting on May 12. 1929. This college boy. He is assisting in the support of h If one of your friends came to you and told how you could invest your money so that it would be absolutely sure of bringing a big dividend and your holdings were increasing all the time, would you take it? I can tell you of an investment which nets us an income daily, and if you are of an open mind, and will look for these daily returns, you can easily recognize them at the close of each day. God has promised us that the windows of heaven shall be opened, and we will not be able to contain all the gifts he has to bestow, if we make this invest- ment, which is termed in our Church. "Tithing." of the Garvanza ward, Hollywood stake, at the boy prepared his subject himself, and is not a is widowed mother] We have innumerable testimonies of people who have tried this out and who testify they have been paid back a hundred fold. Only ten per cent of our income is required to bring us this assured divi- dend. We look at a little dime, but that little dime represents all that is asked of us out of that great, big dollar. Can't we do it? Of course we can. No joy comes to our hearts like the giving of that tenth, for we know that it is written in the record of heaven and God will be, and always is. ready with his rewards. We, as members of Garvanza ward, or I might say Hollywood stake, have 782 IMPROVEMENT ERA July, 1929 just recently been recipients of a big dividend from our tithes, seeing our beautiful stake house completed. Our tithes have come back to us doubly. We think of it standing there, a mute testimony and evidence of the great effort and sacrifice of a people who have appreciated the goodness of the Lord. If we want to know further where our tithes and offerings are expended, we have only to read the opening ad- dress of President Heber J. Grant at the last semi-annual conference, in a powerful address to the Saints there gathered. He praises the Saints for their efforts, promising them that their storehouses shall be filled, and the blessings of the Lord will come to them in unexpected ways. We are proud of our Garvanza ward, as it stands second to none in the payment of tithing. Let us keep up the good work and support the best of ward leaders, our Bishop Hoglund, thereby relieving him of any anxiety that might attend the non-payment of our tithes. This morning I heard a mother say to her son, "The most wonderful gift you can give to me is to make me proud of you." The best way to make our mothers proud of us is to pay our tithing, thereby receiving the Lord's blessings and guidance in mak- ing ourselves successful. Field Notes Aaronic Priesthood Centenary Celebration The accompanying description of the preparation made for the one hun- dredth anniversary of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood in the Gar- vanza ward, of the Hollywood stake, is so excellent and interesting that it is presented here for the information of all connected with the work of the Aaronic Priesthood. Bishop Albin Hoglund writes as follows: The pro- gram for the Aaronic Priesthood cele- bration as outlined by the Presiding Bishop's Office was carried out so suc- cessfully in the Garvanza ward that I thought you might be interested in the way it was planned and carried out. We hold a monthly meeting in which the affairs of the ward are dis- cussed with the auxiliary organization heads and the Priesthood officers. We find that a meeting of this kind tends to promote harmony in the organiza- tions. We realize how much we need each other; how necessary it is that we cooperate in carrying on the work of the Lord. At this meeting the Aaronic Priesthood program was submitted to the workers and each officer was given the responsibility of assisting a boy in the preparation of his subject, and was also expected to see that the boy was able to deliver his talk intelligently. We selected boys and young men to deliver these talks who had no previous experience, as we wish to develop our boys who are backward and retiring as well as those who push themselves for- ward. All the boys did exceptionally well. It was an inspiration to those who were in attendance. A former mission president and an ex-stake pres- ident were among those present. Both said it was the finest thing they had witnessed anywhere. The pageant and program as out- lined for Tuesday evening was carried out Wednesday, May 15, which was just one hundred years from the day that the Priesthood was restored. Elder James E. Talmage of the Coun- cil of the Twelve was present and expressed himself as being well pleased with the program. We followed your outline and feel that all credit should go to those who prepared it. It was fine. We also took advantage of this op- portunity to ordain all eligible boys to the office of deacon, teacher or priest I believe the memory of the occasion will remain with them always. July. 1929 PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS 781 Celebration — Germ an- Austrian Mission A grand celebration of the one hun- I am happy to say that throughout dredth anniversary of the restoration the German-Austrian mission we hold of the Aaronic Priesthood was held by a weekly Priesthood meeting and I do the German-Austrian mission in Leip- not know how we could get along sic, Germany, on the 17th, 18th and with our work if this meeting were to 1 9th of May. It consisted of an elab- be suspended. orate program covering the three days, ,,T . , .. ... • , , r, with a pageant and other important . * 1S hel(J conjointly with the Re- features, and was attended by a large huef Society .for opening exercises and gathering of people, including many of $f n separation for department work, the missionaries in that mission. Pres- Jhls.ls a weI! tried-out plan, having ident Valentine reports that the results beeJn in °P«/tion now for nearly two were very satisfactory. He writes fur- and one-half years. We are also using ther as follows- t"e suggestlve lesson plan of part-time "Many thanks for your suggestive £* consideration of the work to be outline of activity for the Aaronic done h? the P""thood and the other Priesthood in the wards and stakes of portion to give consideration to the Zion as well as in the mission fields. theory or doctrinal lessons." Faith Without Works is Dead "O ye of little faith, why stand in doubt, Can you not see that love's the cause Of every act, that nothing moves without? That every truth is based on laws: Without a cause the world would cease to move, The sun and moon would never shine, Life were not worth the living without love, Death (without hope and faith ) were yours and mine. There is no limit to the strength and power Of faith and hope (love's willing slaves) . We but exist unless dear love is ours, This principle of life is all that saves. "All things are possible if we believe;" Doubting, we fail ere we begin; Why entertain a doubt — ourselves deceive, We must believe if we would win. "And now abide faith, hope and love, these three," And an eternal life ahead; Without these attributes we are not free — To the extent we lack, are dead — Increase your faith, hope, love, while it is day, While it is day, walk in the light. All these material things will fade away, The day's far spent, soon comes the night. Membership in churches cannot save us, Too often they provide excuse to shirk. Mere faith alone can but deprave us, "But if ye love me, ye will do my work." M. M. Johnson.