(Continued from yesterday’s post)

To the youth from fifteen to twenty years of age organization appeals more strongly than at any other period of his life. In this age his heroes are generally military men. and yet at this age our priesthood organization is weakest. What we need is such concentrated attention on this matter that every boy will feel that his ordination to a teacher brings him into as much stronger and more active a quorum, as twenty-four is greater than twelve and the office of teacher larger than that of deacon.

Every bishop, no doubt, feels a general interest in the welfare of the Church, but he feels a particular interest and responsibility in the welfare of his ward. In much the same way he feels a general interest in the priesthood of his ward, but he should feel a particular interest in those holding the office of priest, for he is the president of this quorum, and is responsible for it. His relation to it is identical to that of the president of the deacons’ quorum to his body of twelve deacons. In practice we have generally forgotten that the bishop has a quorum. where there are priests’ classes he often gives them only general attention.

The Lord’s plan seems a very beautiful one. Under it the little boys, innocent and enthusiastic, enter the holy order of the priesthood in groups of twelve, a unit allowing close companionship, as is natural with the boy. As puberty begins to come, and he feels the mysterious awakening within, a larger field of activity opens before him. He is now becoming a man, a man’s work is put upon him and he is allowed to labor in the companionship of men. During this time he feels himself under the watchful eyes of the bishop and his counselors. They should be jealously guarding him through this work, preparatory to his becoming a priest. If he falls away and loses interest now, they will have lost him, possibly forever, for this is a critical time indeed. But if they can keep him active and interested and thus prepare him to enter their own quorum, the ship of his soul will have passed safely through its first great storm, possibly the very greatest of its voyage.

As the youth is ordained to the office of priest, he should feel himself in a different atmosphere. How greatly his powers have been enlarged! He has now the authority to baptize for the remission of sins, to bless the emblems of the body of Jesus, and for the first time he is given that wonderful creative power, the privilege of transmitting to others the authority of the Lord which he holds. His presiding officer is not now one of his own number merely; it is the bishop of the ward himself. Where in the world could be found choicer leaders of young men than the bishops of the Church? They should draw from their band of forty-eight priests the loyalty of a guard of honor. They should make this to the young men of the ward the most instructive period of their lives, a period of close companionship and warm sympathy that will last as long as they live. What quorum presidents in all the body of the Church are so well fitted to establish the gospel in the hearts of young men at an age when skepticism begins to attack them as are the bishops? For the sake of such leadership it would be better rather to hold the young men back than to hurry them on to ordination in the Melchizedek priesthood.

Responsibility of Quorum Presidents.

What is said in regard to the responsibility of the bishop as president of the priests’ quorums is equally applicable to other presidencies.

There are today in the Church 62 quorums of high priests, 164 quorums of seventy, 302 quorums of elders, (there should be) 49 quorums of priests, 274 quorums of teachers, and 1,1342 quorums of deacons, comprising a membership of over 80,000.

Over each of these quorums men are specially chosen and set apart to preside, whose duty it is to sit in council with them and to teach them their duties according to the covenants. If in an army of 200,000 and over, every man’s duty can be assigned and his daily actions known, as was the case in Napoleon’s army, Grant’s and others; surely in the war against evil and unrighteousness every man in this army of priesthood divinely organized, may also be taught his daily responsibility to himself and his fellowmen. Officers are too prone to leave this instruction to stake presidents and bishoprics, when in reality the Lord explicitly states that it is the duty of the respective quorum presidencies to instruct their members. Such officers are among those set in the Church “for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness – whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

In this “work of the ministry,” then, let quorum officers be more active. If there be a man in your organization who, for instance, is violating the word of wisdom, teach him according to the covenants.

If there be one “tossed to and fro,” by the so-called “Higher Criticism,” or by a mistaken conception of the theory of evolution, teach him the gospel to the convincing of his vacillating mind that to be a true follower of Jesus Christ is to be in harmony with all truth.

Teach tithing to the non-tithepayers, respect of the authorities to the fault-finder; industry to the idler; temperance to the intemperate, etc. But let the quorums do much of this as quorums and not leave all such teachings to the bishops and stake authorities.

In this way the high priests, seventies, and elders will be qualified for the service required of them, as directors of the young in Mutual Improvement work, in the Sunday School and Religion Class, and particularly as class instructors in Priesthood meetings.

Class Instructors.

In this connection, it is urged that any member of a class or quorum should be readily excused from attendance at his particular class recitation whenever the bishop requires his services as a teacher in another department; for that quorum has attained the highest record whose members are all serving either as missionaries, presiding officers or instructors. If this idea be kept in mind, bishops will have less difficulty in securing efficient help. Quorum books should indicate just what service each member is rendering the Church. As a means of qualifying to be a successful class instructor, “How to Teach Religion,” will be found helpful.

Fellowship.

If then, all members of a quorum be employed as teachers in other quorums, how, it may be asked, can we foster the spirit of brotherhood? We answer, by daily ministry among the members. The fraternal spirit and true brotherly love develop and flourish best in an atmosphere of kind deeds, such as:

(1) Quorum members teaching one another as suggested above.

(2) Rendering each other help and comfort in time of misfortune or sickness.

(3) Expressions of sympathy and love from the quorum when a member is in bereavement.

(4) Sending letters and means to missionaries.

(5) Administering to the needs and comfort of missionaries’ families.

In these and many other ways try to make each of your members say:

“I think, am sure, a brother’s love exceeds all the world’s loves in its unworldliness.”

True brotherhood in quorums demands common interests, mutual service, and lofty purposes. Indeed the bond of priesthood alone should be sufficient, for

”Great souls by instinct to each other turn,
Demand alliance, and in friendship burn.”

Summary.

In conclusion, then, brethren, let the interests of the priesthood be fostered by teaching the importance and sacredness of an ordination to the priesthood, and by so doing make higher the character of membership, and lessen the spirit of indifference now manifest.

Let special attention be given to the organization, duties, and privileges of teachers’ and priests’ quorums, so that during the year every ward in the Church may be profited by the services of this army of young men now left, in too many instances, undisciplined, untrained.

May the 3,000 presiding officers in quorums be more diligent in the work of the ministry among their own members, and by a hundred deeds of kindness, thought out and acted upon each week, foster the spirit of true fellowship – the brotherhood of Christ.

Signed

David O. McKay,
David A. Smith,
Joseph J. Cannon.

Committee.

In behalf of the General Priesthood Committee.