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GENERAL HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS, 1903 (#5).
1 Dec.: Bishoprics to meet weekly to discuss ward members
“The Bishopric should meet in council once a week and discuss the affairs of the ward, including the receipt and disbursement of tithes, and thus become familiar with those who are paying their tithes, so that the indifferent and negligent may be visited by the Priests and Teachers and taught to pay their tithes in the time and season thereof. Similar arrangements should be made for regular Bishops’ meetings where more than one ward is using the same Storehouse.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1 Dec., 1903, p. 2)
1 Dec.: Duties of Bishop to Aaronic Priesthood.
“An annual report of the organization, duties, and labors of the Aaronic Priesthood will be required for the year 1903, which we trust will form a basis for reviving an interest in this important branch of the Priesthood.
Many Latter-day Saints are holding the office of Priests, Teachers and Deacons, and in some instances very little attention has been given to training them in their several duties and callings. These quorums of the Priesthood are admirably adapted for teaching them their duties and preparing them for higher callings as missionaries and presiding officers.
The Bishop as President of the Lesser Priesthood of the ard, shoulid take a fatherly interest in the young men, and whenever, in his opinion, a person is eligible for the office of Priest, Teacher or Deacon, he should be ordained and set to labor in such office and calling, under the Bishop’s direction.
We earnestly hope that presiding officers, both in Wards and Stakes, will give this subject careful consideration, and make every reasonable effort to organize these quorums throughout the several wards.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1 Dec., 1903, pp. 15-16)
1 Dec.: AP to collect fast offerings.
“A fast meeting should be held in every ward on the first Sunday of each month, at which time the Saints should remember the poor and donate for their benefit, which should at least equal the amount saved by the person or family so fasting. Whenever practicable, these donations should be paid at the meetinghouse on fast day; in scattered communities, where it would not be convenient to do so, the Bishop should call upon the Aaronic Priesthood to visit the houses of the Latter-day Saints and collect their fast offerings.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1 Dec., 1903, p. 12)
1 Dec.: List of Non-Tithepayers to each quorum.
“We request that the Stake Tithing Clerk provide the Presiding Officers of the several Priesthood quorums of the Stake with a list of the non-tithepayers of their respective quorums, so that a labor can also be taken up in a quorum capacity.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1 Dec., 1903, p. 21)
1 Dec.: Stake President to make report of state of AP.
“When the Stake reports have been compiled, the Presidency of the Stake will carefully consider them in council, and make a general report of the condition of the Stake in the place provided on the Stake Financial Report, including the report of the condition of the Aaronic Priesthood.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1 Dec., 1903, p. 26)