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Prince’s Research Excerpts: Priesthood & Mormonism – 1924

Below you will find Prince’s research excerpts titled, “Priesthood, 1924.” You can view other years here.

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PRIESTHOOD, 1924.

1924:  22 Nov.:  On the nature of the Apostleship.

“When I was called to be an Apostle I had a similar experience to that related by my brother Fred.  The same spirit that pursued him pursued me and endeavored to get me to resign my position as an Apostle, telling me that I was unworthy of the office.  The particular temptation was to make me feel that I had no right to testify of the divinity of the Gospel, and that I could not testify in truth that Jesus was the Christ, as I had never seen Him.  It was true that I had not seen Him.  One of the quorum of Twelve, who afterwards lost his standing in the Church, preached on this subject, and he said that no man was fit to be an Apostle who had not seen the Lamb of God.  A man asked me if I had seen the Lamb of God?  and I told him no.  He then said to me that Brother So and So had said that no man should be an Apostle unless he had seen the Savior.  I answered this man: ‘Whom would you sooner believe, the Lord or this brother?’  He answered, ‘The Lord.’  I then said, ‘Seeing the Lord has called me, I take it for granted that I was fit to be called.’  This answer was given me by inspiration, but it was not sufficient testimony to me.  It was not until I was traveling on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, alone on the road, that the Lord manifested to me as plainly as though I saw and heard, that it was not because of any labor I had performed that I had been called, but that it was because of the labors and influence of my father and of the Prophet Joseph Smith that I was called to be an apostle.”  (Heber J. Grant, remarks at a family gathering for his birthday, 22 Nov., 1924; in Anthony W. Ivins papers)

13 Dec.:  Calling of Priesthood Conventions.

“OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY CALLING PRIESTHOOD CONVENTIONS.

Salt Lake City, Utah,

December 13, 1924.

We desire that Priesthood Quorums and Priesthood activities shall receive especial attention during the Stake Quarterly Conferences, to be held in the first quarter of 1925.  We recommend, therefore, that the Presidencies of Stakes set aside the first day of the Quarterly Conferences, also the morning of the second day [note the change from the previous years, which were restricted to one day], for the consideration of work pertaining to the Melchizedek and the Aaronic Priesthoods: and in the case of Stakes holding a one-day conference only, that arrangements be made to carry out the Priesthood Convention Program in special meetings appointed for that purpose, if necessary, before or after the conference day.

Where deemed advisable, arrangements may be made for separate meetings for the sisters, to be held while the Priesthood Convention meetings are in session.

The program of procedure for the Priesthood Conventions has been prepared by the Council of the Twelve, with our full concurrence.

Heber J. Grant,

Charles W. Penrose,

Anthony W. Ivins,

First Presidency, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

. . . .

[Included in the suggested program were the following talks:]

“Specific Benefits Derived from Patriarchal Blessings.”

“How May the Elder’s Quorum Function to 

a.  Better Prepare Young Men for Missions?

b.  Better Prepare Young Men for Marriage in the Temple?”

(“Program for Priesthood Conventions . . . 1925,” [pamphlet], xerox)

Dec.:  Ages for AP ordinations.

“It has been decided by the First Presidency and the Presiding Bishopric that for the future the course of study for the deacons shall cover a period of two years; the course of study for the teachers, a period of two years; and the course of study for the priests, a period of three years.  As a rule, young men leave for the mission field between the ages of 18 and 20.  To give them an opportunity for serving in each of the offices of the Lesser Priesthood, it is expected that, for the future, boys ought to be ordained to the office of deacon at about the age of 12 years, or as soon as they show, by their ability to serve and their knowledge of the gospel, that they are capable of performing the labors required in this office of the Priesthood.”  (“Priesthood Quorums,” IE 28(173-174, Dec., 1924)