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GENERAL HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS, 1910 (#11).
1910: 1 Jan.: Reduction in clerical work effected.
“It will be seen that a material reduction in the amount of clerical work heretofore called for has been effected in the reports required for 1910. Without enumerating here in detail these reductions, it may be broadly stated that for the present year the work for wards is about one-third less, and for stakes about one-fourth less, than last year.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, p. 2)
1 Jan.: PBO a clearinghouse for membership records.
“Attention is also specially directed to the new instructions regarding recommends of members of the Church who move their residence from one ward or stake to another. Earnest efforts have been put forth in recent years to purge and correct ward records, and to trace transient members, perhaps long lost sight of. In the course of this work it was found that through neglect, or thoughtlessness, or carelessness, a surprisingly large number of members have failed to identify themselves with wards into which they have moved; and by the lapse of time, as well as from various other causes, they would seem to have lost all evidence of their membership in the Church. It is hoped this deplorable condition will be corrected in the future by the system referred to elsewhere in this circular. According to this plan the Presiding Bishop’s Office becomes, as it were, a clearing-house for recommends; and if authorities of wards from which members move, and authorities of wards to which they come, will comply promptly with the instructions now given, it is believed that much of the difficulty and embarrassment of the past will be avoided.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, pp. 2-3)
1 Jan.: Progress report on quorum activities.
“A single year’s experience with the weekly ward meetings of the Priesthood quorums has sufficed to confirm abundantly the high hopes entertained for this plan as an agency in increasing the efficiency of the Priesthood. Every excellent result which was looked forward to has been shown to be within reach–every doubt or objection has been swept away. Where regularity of attendance at meetings and intelligent study of the ‘Outlines’ have prevailed, the anticipated benefits have invariably been attained. The ward authorities have been brought into close and frequent touch with the male members of their wards, by means of which they have acquired accurate personal knowledge as to the status of those under their watch care. The social assect of the meetings is altogether valuable, while their educational and faith-promoting character can be exactly what the members and instructors choose to make it. We applaud the good work already done in this direction, and commend the matter further to you as worthy of your best attention.
The system of an annual house-to-house canvass of their wards by bishops and their counselors has again yielded splendid results. It is most heartily recommended as an ideal means of (1) affording encouragement to acting ward teachers; (2) establishing a bond of brotherhood and affection between shepherd and flock; and (3) detecting lukewarmness, indifference, or even iniquity–should such exist–while there is yet time to apply a remedy. In this connection, previous counsel as to the importance and value of cottage meetings is renewed and emphasized. The Saints are stimulated to further good works by that interest in their welfare which is shown by a personal visit with them. Surely in no other surroundings can the true feelings and condition of a family be so well observed as when mingling with them at their own fireside.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, pp. 3-4)
1 Jan.: Annual home visits of bishopric.
“The bishopric will make a personal visit to every family in their ward during the months of November and December, and as far as practicable meetings should be held with each family. The bishopric should sing and pray with the family, teach them their duties, and try to get those who are dilatory to be more diligent and faithful, not only taking up a labor with the heads of families, but with the young people as well. Members of the stake presidency, high council and other leading brethren may be asked to assist in making these personal visits when the size of the ward is such that the bishopric cannot attend to it all in person. A surprising amount of good can be done by coming into personal contact with the members of the Church in their own homes.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, p. 21)
1 Jan.: Discontinuance of membership recommends.
“The First Presidency appointed a committee, consisting of President Francis M. Lyman, Elders John Henry Smith and Rudger Clawson of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, Bishop C. W. Nibley and John Wells, for the purpose of considering the subject of recommends. This committee suggested that, commencing January 1st, 1910, the present system of issuing recommends be discontinued; that when a member leaves a ward, a notice of such removal should be sent to the Presiding Bishop’s Office; and that when a new member arrives in a ward a request for recommend should be sent to the Presiding Bishop’s Office. These recommendations, being approved by the First Presidency and also by vote at the special priesthood meeting held in the Assembly Hall on Tuesday, October 5th, 1909, are now operative.
The bishopric of each ward are requested to hold monthly acting teachers’ report meetings, at which every teachers’ district should be represented, so that a complete report can be rendered monthly to the Presiding Bishopric of those who have arrived in and departed from the ward. A request should there and then be made to the Presiding Bishop’s Office for recommends for those who have arrived in the ward and notice of removal sent for those who have departed from it. Upon receipt of the ‘Request for Recommends,’ the Presiding Bishopric will procure and send them. All notices of removal will be preserved in the Presiding Bishop’s Office until request for recommend is received from some bishop reporting the arrival in his ward of the person or persons mentioned.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, pp. 27-28)
1 Jan.: Members wishing to withdraw from the Church.
“If a recommend is received by a bishop for a person residing in his ward who expressly desires not to be a member thereof, or of the Church, and who requests that his name be stricken from the records, such person should be summoned before the bishopric, and if he still feels that he does not desire to have a membership in the Church he should be dealt with.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, p. 29)
1 Jan.: Basis for membership in quorums.
“When a person is ordained to an office in the priesthood he is entitled to a certificate of ordination which he should carefully preserve. Whenever necessary it should be presented to the proper authority as an evidence of his ordination and accepted by the quorum having jurisdiction in the ward or stake where he resides; and he should be permitted to join that quorum without any recommend from the quorum where he formerly resided, provided he has been accepted as a member of the ward. If he does not possess a certificate of ordination, and the recommend upon which he was received in the ward gives his priesthood and last ordination, it should be accepted as evidence that he holds that office, and he should be admitted to fellowship in the quorum provided there is no evidence to the contrary.” (First Presidency and Presiding Bishopric, Annual Instructions, Circular No. 11, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and all Church Authorities, 1 Jan., 1910, pp. 29-30)