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PRIESTHOOD, 1943.
1943: Jan.: Excommunications published.
[5 excommunications; no causes] (IE 46(1):30, Jan., 1943)
Jan.: Suggestions for quorum presidencies.
“The following suggestions have been taken from a mimeographed list which was compiled by the quorum officers of Ensign Stake.
1. Secure the book Priesthood and Church Government and study its contents.
2. Always be humble and prayerful.
3. In conducting the affairs of your quorum, keep in harmony with the Church plan.
4. Meet weekly as a presidency (including secretary) to discuss quorum problems and plan your work.
NOTE: 5. Spend at least one week night each week in the interest of your quorum and members. Presidencies are responsible for every person who belongs or should belong to the quorum.
6. Keep enthusiastic. Make all members ‘quorum conscious.’
7. Don’t try to run your quorum alone.
8. The four committees should be fully organized. Keep them active and functioning.
9. Visit all sick members of your quorum.
10. Make regular personal calls to all inactive members.
11. Provide an assignment of an activity for every member of your quorum.
12. Social activities should be regularly sponsored.
13. See that all members feel at home in your quorum.
14. Foster a quorum project that will bring all members of the quorum together in activity and purpose.
15. Be careful in selecting a class instructor. He muast have a testimony and knowledge of the gospel as well as the ability to create interest.
16. Ward teaching should be completed during the first two weeks of the month.
17. Secretaries should:
a. Bring records up to date and maintain them accurately.
b. Check with ward clerk to keep roll currently accurate.
c. Send monthly report in regularly.
d. Be prompt in sending the quarterly report to the stake officer.”
(“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(1):41, Jan., 1943)
Jan.: When should the committees meet?
“Each committee is charged with the responsibility for which it was organized. Consequently it should meet at a regular time each week, or at least monthly, and dispatch its business in an orderly manner.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(1):42, Jan., 1943)
Feb.: Excommunications.
[8 excommunications, no causes.] (IE 46(2):94, Feb., 1943)
Feb.: WT to be called & assigned by bishop, not quorums.
“In some wards the bishops assign certain sections of the ward for ward teaching to each of the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums. This practice interferes with the regular Priesthood quorum program, and does not conform to the instructions from the Presiding Bishopric.
Ward teachers should be called individually by the bishop, and assigned by him to teaching districts for regular visiting.
The bishop may assign a supervisor over a section of the ward containing several districts. The report of work done should be made at the meetings called for that purpose, at which the bishop, supervisors, and teachers should be present.
Ordained priests and teachers in the Aaronic Priesthood should be assigned to do ward teaching. It is suggested, however, that these young men not be paired together or sent alone. Each one should be assigned to labor with an older and more experienced companion who bears the Melchizedek Priesthood. When advisable and expedient, deacons may be asked to assist in ward teaching.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(2):105, Feb., 1943)
Feb.: Quorum funds.
“Since one of the responsibilities of the Social and Miscellaneous committee is to secure quorum funds, it is important to know what the funds are, and for what used.
The funds are used for quorum administration. They are either given voluntarily or earned through quorum projects by the quorum membership. Funds are used for (a) remembrances for sick or deceased members, or their families; (b) missionary work, or sustaining a missionary in the field; (c) help for needy quorum families; (d) and for socials, so that no money collections will be necessary at the door during the party. Other worthy expenditures are determined by the presidency of the quorum with the approval of the membership.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(2):105, Feb., 1943)
Mar.: Excommunications.
[6 listed; no causes.] (IE 46(3):159, Mar., 1943)
Mar.: Ward teachers are under jurisdiction of bishop.
“The prime duty of the Church Service committee is to encourage and inspire activity in Church work among quorum members. An important activity often neglected throughout the Church is ward teaching. Thorough and efficient ward teaching is necessary to insure proper safeguards in the Church.
It is a calling of responsibility which rests upon the Aaronic and Melchizedek quorums of the Priesthood. Capable and reliable men should be available for this important service when called for by the bishop. All quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood can participate in it and supply teachers who are qualified to perform this activity. A well-organized quorum will be prepared, at the request of the bishop, to do a part of the ward teaching. It often happens, however, that quorum members need conversion to the importance of ward teaching before they will act in this capacity. Quorum members should bear in mind that as ward teachers they are under the jurisdiction of the ward bishop.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(3):169, Mar., 1943)
Apr.: Quorum officers to meet regularly.
“The effective administration of quorum activities depends uon the preparedness and efficiency of its officers. The quorum will be benefited or held back, depending upon the seriousness with which the officers assume their responsibilities. Therefore, officers are again reminded to hold regular council meetings where quorum work will be thoughtfully and prayerfully planned in advance.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(4):232, Apr., 1943)
Apr.: Who should ordain men to the office of Elder?
“The Melchizedek Priesthood in a stake is under the jurisdiction of the stake presidency. The office of elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood is, therefore, conferred uopn a man by the authority of the stake presidency. If the stake presidency are personally unable to perform the ordination, they may call upon others to do so. Preferably the ordination should take place in an elders’ quorum meeting. The stake presidency may authorize the presidency of the elders’ quorum to ordain men who have been called to the office by proper stake authority.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(4):232, Apr., 1943)
5 Apr.: Priesthood Arbitration Committees.
“I would like to discuss another thought here today. I do not know how right I am in this, but I am going to give Paul the responsibility for the thought. I do not know just what the mechanics ought to be, but I have had an idea for a long time that if we could go out into the stakes and establish arbitration committees among the Priesthood there would be many fine men who could be brought into service.
I spent a good many years in the real estate business. We had what we called a multiple listing system, where we all worked on the sale of the same homes. That naturally brought us into groubles because often two or three men would sell the same home, sometimes the same day; and we settled all our differences through an arbitration committee. I know the Lord set up the bishop’s court; I know He set up the high council court, where men can be tried for misconduct. But why couldn’t we have an arbitration committee where men could go when they have differences? I do not know a great deal about the law, but my experience in the execution of the law among the ordinary laymen is that it is not so much the righteousness of the law which governs the decisions of the courts as it is the ability of the attorneys who represent those who go to law. And so the decisions are not always righteous. If the brethren of the Church were making decisions, I think the decisions would be righteous. To my friends who come to me inquiring whether they should sue their brethren for this or that, I say, ‘Brother, if you win, you lose,’ and that is almost invariably true when you go into the courts.” (LeGrand Richards, 5 Apr., 1943; CR Apr., 1943, pp. 49-50)
5 Apr.: 75% of Elders inactive.
“In our elders’ quorums we find that seventy-five percent and over of the membership is inactive–just think of it, seventy-five out of every hundred of the men in this Church that should be active are indifferent to the opportunities and blessings that come through service in the Church.” (Clifford E. Young, 5 Apr., 1943; CR Apr., 1943, p. 52)
5 Apr.: 70s pres. not released when inducted into Army.
“We are proud that we have in the seventies’ quorums many representatives among this group [military]. We are so proud of them that we refuse to allow those who are presidents in our quorums to be released from their responsibility for the simple reason that they are going into the service. We would like all of our stake presidents to take notice that that is our sentiment, and unless there be some other reason, that they do not recommend to us the release of the president of a seventy’s quorum because he puts on the uniform of his country. We feel that he will be a better representative of the Church and that he will have a stronger anchor if we retain him in his position of trust and honor.” (Antoine R. Ivins, 5 Apr., 1943; CR Apr., 1943, p. 74)
May: May non-members attend quorum meetings?
“Is it proper to invite non-members of the Church to attend the quorum meetings?
No, they should not attend such meetings. (Priesthood and Church Government, pp. 155-6). However, non-members are welcome at Sunday School, sacrament meeting, Relief Society, M.I.A. meetings, or quarterly conferences.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(5):296, May, 1943)
May: Excommunications.
[4 listed, no causes.] (IE 46(5):298, May, 1943)
Jun.: Responsibility of stake presidency vs. bishopric.
“The stake presidency is responsible for the quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the stake. The stake presidency should directly, and through their stake committees, keep in close touch with these quorums. All the assignments to the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums should be approved by the presidency.
The bishops, on the other hand, are responsible for the Aaronic Priesthood quorums of the wards, and should give them first attention. They should not undertake to direct or make assignments to the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums, but, of course, have full right to deal with Melchizedek Priesthood holders as members of the ward, though not as quorum members.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(6):360, Jun., 1943)
Jun.: Frequency of quorum and group meetings.
“It seems necessary to remind the Melchizedek Priesthood again that every quorum which meets as a group should meet as a quorum at least once a month. Every effort should be made to maintain and continue the monthly meetings of the quorums which meet weekly as groups.
It should be remembered also that this monthly quorum meeting is entirely distinct from the monthly Priesthood leadership meeting, which has been authorized by the First Presidency.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(6):360, Jun., 1943)
Jul.: AP quorums to meet separately.
“One of the reasons why young men do not care to attend Priesthood meeting, in many instances, is the tendency of some ward bishops to have the priests meet with the elders, or the teachers meet with the deacons, or all of the Aaronic Priesthood meet together, or some other combination when there are only a few present in each group. These objections are registered by the boys themselves. Their contention is right, and should be borne in mind by all Aaronic Priesthood leaders.
The Presiding Bishopric recommends that, without exception, separate quorum or group meetings be held, even though only one or two are present in each group. Some of the finest Priesthood group meetings being reported are held when only one or two boys attend. Why should any young man who resides in a ward where there are only two or three of his age group be denied the opportunities and care he would enjoy if he lived in a larger ward?” (“Aaronic Priesthood,” IE 46(7):427, Jul,. 1943)
13 Aug.: Lowering of age of elders to 18.
Setting of the draft age at eighteen years of age for young men for military service brought about certain considerations on the age at which young men should be ordained elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. On the basis of individual worthiness young men might now be ordained elders at the age of eighteen. The former recommended age was nineteen. (First Presidency Circular Letter, 13 Aug., 1943. In Clark, Messages of the First Presidency 6:198. Clark’s resume of letter.)
Sep.: Quorums should train members in ordinances.
“It would be well for the Church Service committee to educate quorum members to perform the ordinances ordinarily used in the church. While there are but few set forms, the formal prayers required when officiating in the ordinances should be learned and the manner of administering them thoroughly understood.
A quorum project to bring about a better understanding of the authorized methods of performing these ordinances is worthy of consideration by those who are charged with the responsibility of promoting church service in the quorums.” (“Melchizedek Priesthood,” IE 46(9):552, Sep., 1943)
Oct.: Excommunications.
[19 listed, no causes.] (IE 46(10):606-607, Oct., 1943)
Oct.: Individual Certificate of Award.
“The presiding bishopric have issued 6,500 individual Certificates of Award to members of the Aaronic priesthood who excelled in priesthood and other church work during 1942. This feature of the program is very popular and young men all over the church are working diligently to receive this recognition for the current year.
The requirements for this Certificate of Award for 1943 are:
1. Seventy-five percent attendance at priesthood meeting.
2. Twelve priesthood assignments filled.
3. Full payment of tithing.
4. Observance of the Word of Wisdom.
5. One public address in a church meeting.
6. Participation in a church Welfare project.
7. Participation in an Aaronic priesthood quorum service project.”
(“Aaronic Priesthood,” IE 46(10):619, Oct., 1943)
2 Oct.: AP who slip through the cracks.
“I thought tonight I would like to say a few words about the Aaronic priesthood program of the church. . .
For instance, through this program we found in one ward thirty-three boys between the ages of twelve and twenty-one who held no priesthood. Another ward had twenty. When the bishop discovered this, he was as much surprised as anyone could be. He had never checked before.
When visiting a stake recently, it was reported to me that a son of one of our recent general authorities had never been ordained, even to the office of a deacon. When his own son was to be ordained, the bishop asked him if he held such priesthood that he could officiate, and he had to apologize and tell the bishop that he had never even been ordained a deacon. A time had been set, but for some reason he could not come, and no one followed the matter up to find out why.
Only this week I learned that one of our present general authorities was not baptized until he was fifteen, because there was no checkup in the ward. We now have a program whereby every boy is being looked after–and we are trying to consider the boys more individually rather than in groups. It is my impression that we will come to a day in the church when our greatest achievements will be through individual work.” (LeGrand Richards, General Conference, Priesthood Session, 2 Oct., 1943; IE 46(11):683, Nov., 1943)
3 Oct.: Strength of Church is in Priesthood quorums.
“The Priesthood quorums and the auxiliary organizations are the carefully guarded channels provided within the Church through which precious truths are to be disseminated. Some have speculated that the strength of this Church lies in the tithing system; some have thought in the missionary system; but those who understand rightly the word of the Lord understand full well that the strength of the Church is, fundamentally, in neither of these. The strength of the Church is not in a large membership, but the real strength of this Church lies in the power and authority of the holy Priesthood which our Heavenly Father has given to us in this day. If we exercise properly that power and magnify our callings in the Priesthood, we will see to it that the missionary work shall go forward, that the tithing shall be paid, that the Welfare plan prospers, that our homes shall be safe, and that morality among the youth of Israel shall be safeguarded.” (Harold B. Lee, 3 Oct., 1943; CR Oct., 1943, p. 102)
Nov.: Excommunications.
[4 listed, no causes.] (IE 46(11):686, Nov., 1943)
12 Nov.: Excommunication of Richard R. Lyman.
“The evidence presented against Elder Lyman showed that officers of the law together with several Church members, had discovered him in a compromising situation with a woman not his wife. Elder Lyman confessed his guilt and stated that he had been involved in such conduct for over ten years. Moreover, he confessed to similar association with other women before his call to the apostleship.” (Mouritsen Diss., p. 162; also George F. Richards diary, 12 Nov., 1943)