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BULLETIN, Nov., 1983-Dec., 1986.
1983: Nov.: Strengthening quorum members.
“The Lord gave instruction in the revelations that holders of the priesthood should be organized by quorums. The Presidency of the quorum is responsible for the activity of each quorum member. Home teaching, wherein quorum members ‘visit the house of each member’ (D&C 20:51), is one of the most effective means by which the members of the quorum are cared for and strengthened.
The bishop, as presiding high priest and chairman of the ward priesthood executive committee, which is the home teaching committee, in consultation with Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidents and group leaders, should assign families for home teaching purposes to quorums and groups. Generally, members will receive home teachers from their own quorums. However, where there is a special need, inactive Melchizedek Priesthood bearers and prospective elders and their families may be assigned to the quorum or gropu that can provide the most effective fellowshipping and teaching. Home teachers will report to their own quorum presidencies or group leaders. [NOTE THE DEPARTURE FROM EARLIER GUIDELINES, WHICH STATED THAT SEVENTIES AND HIGH PRIESTS WOULD REPORT TO THE QUORUM OF THE ASSIGNED FAMILY, I.E., ELDERS QUORUM.]
Brethren who have special talents in teaching the inactive should be assigned by the bishop as home teachers to selected inactive families. When those families are brought into activity, the teachers may then be assigned to work with other inactive families.
When an inactive elder or prospective elder who has been assigned to the high priests is brought to priesthood meeting by his home teacher, he may attend the high priests or seventies group or the elders quorum depending upon his needs. The bishop makes this decision in consultation with the Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and group leaders.
When it is appropriate for a prospective elder to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, he should be ordained an elder and then become a member of the elders quorum. Age is not the determining factor for Melchizedek Priesthood ordinations of these brethren. Men are ordained to offices of the priesthood when their calling requires it and by inspiration and according to their worthiness.” (“Bulletin,” No. 1, Nov., 1983)
Dec.: Changes in 1983 GHI.
“In order to bring your General Handbook of Instructions, 1983, up to date, please make the following corrections as indicated:
. . . .
P. 19, right column, under ‘Singles Wards.’ Add the word married to the first sentence to make it read ‘Bishops called to preside over singles wards should be mature, married, permanent residents of the community.’ Change the second sentence, ‘Their counselors normally will be single adults,’ to read ‘Their counselors should generally be married men and should be ordained high priests.’
P. 20, opposite the office ‘Stake patriarch,’ under the column ‘Called and Set Apart.’ Delete the words ‘and set apart’ to make the entry read ‘Ordained by a General Authority or by stake president when authorized by the Council of the Twelve.’
. . . .
P. 21, opposite the office ‘Presidents of seventies quorums,’ under the column ‘Called and Set Apart.’ Change the entry to read ‘By stake president.’
P. 21, opposite the office ‘Elders quorum president,’ under the column ‘Called and Set Apart.’ Change the entry to read ‘By stake president.’
P. 35, right column, last sentence under title ‘To Converts.’ Add the clause ‘who is not over twenty-one’ to make the sentence read ‘However, a worthy member may perform proxy baptisms and confirmations for the dead, and a kworthy single member who is not over twenty-one may be sealed to his parents without waiting one year.'”
(“Bulletin,” No. 2, Dec., 1983)
1984: Jan.: HT PPIs should be monthly, not quarterly.
“Effective 1 January 1984, the frequency of interviews between home teachers and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and group leaders and between quorum leaders and the bishop may be monthly rather than quarterly. Interviews should be brief so that priesthood leaders and home teachers are not unduly separated from their own families.” (“Bulletin,” No. 3, Jan., 1984)
Apr.: MP study guides will be reprints from past ones.
“In an effort to stabilize Church curriculum and to curtail ever-increasing costs of producing curriculum items, some of the best materials of the past are being reprinted. As part of this plan, several of the Melchizedek Priesthood personal study guides are going to be reprinted in future years. For example, the 1982 Melchizedek Priesthood personal study guide, Put On Thy Strength, O Zion, is being reprinted for Melchizedek Priesthood study in 1986. Since only minor changes will probably be made in future reprintings, brethren are encouraged to save all their study guides for future use.” (“Bulletin,” No. 6, Apr., 1984)
1985: Jun.: Assessing language ability for missionaries.
“When interviewing prospective missionaries, bishops should discuss the following questions with each candidate:
How do you feel about the possibility of serving a foreign-language mission and learning a new language? How well do you think you could learn and use a new language if you were called to a foreign-language mission?
The answers should be noted very briefly as a part of the bishop’s written comments on the reverse side of the form.” (“Bulletin,” No. 19, Jun., 1985)
Oct.: Dyed temple garment for military.
“The First Presidency has approved a dyed and specially treated two-piece temple garment for members serving in the U.S. Army that meets both Army and Chruch standards. The garments are available through garment distribution outlets.” (“Bulletin,” No. 22, Oct./Nov., 1985)
1986: Feb.: Changes in assignments for full-time missionaries.
“Bishops and stake presidents should help prospective missionaries understand that the call to serve as a full-time missionary, which comes from the President of the Church, is of primary importance. Assignments to particular missions are also important but may occasionally need to be changed because of illness, changing world conditions, or other factors. A change in assignment in no way affects the sacred nature of the calling as a missionary.” (“Bulletin,” No. 25, Feb./Mar., 1986)
May: New materials for temple preparation.
“A new filmstrip and audiocassette titled Preparing to Attend the Temple (VVOF3084; $3.00 each) is now available at the Salt Lake Distribution Center. It is also part of the Temple Media Kit available through the Church Educational System. This filmstrip is designed to help bishops and stake presidencies prepare members to attend the temple for the first time. It explains the function of sacred temples through the ages and emphasizes both the temporal and spiritual preparation a person must make to best benefit from an initial visit to the temple.” (“Bulletin,” No. 27, May, 1986)