Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-14


On the first Monday OF January, II
3 1909, the new work win begin. The les
sons are divided into two parts Th.
81 first relates to the theoretical studies
the second to the practical duties II
q religious work. The plan contemplates
a course of three years for each OF the
4 auoruns. These meetings will be helG
weekly. All the quorums will assemble
4 In Il general meeting under the direc-
ton of the bishopric After opening ex-
4 ercises. the quorums will take up their
separate work. AS there are few high
4 priests in some OF the wards, and as
many of these brethren are aged and
1 infirm, it may not be possible in all
cases to have classes for the high
/ priests, but If there are enough to JUS
tify the formation of q class they will
/ take up their work just as the other
/ quurums viii do. 1t is not proper to
| have the deacons conduct their own ex-
| ercises. This should be done by some
| older person. Select some brother who
1 has conspicuous ability as a#teacher to
I take charge of these classes.
! The movement will require study at
| home and viii thus make it possible for
men to spend Il little time with their
/ families. One OF the objects of this
| undertaking is to make better acting
| teachers in the Church. There is no
| higher calling than that Of teacher No
| man Is too good to be Il teacher, and
| few are good enough to be teachers.
| The first step m preparing to be q
| teacher amnog the people Is to remove
| everything iniquitous in yourself. You
must attend to your prayers morning
and evening and go to the meetings OF
the saints frequently. We must labor
until all come to a unity OF the faith.
The man who neglects his first duty
In the Church Is more or less III, danger.
Soon he may overlook another ohliga-
ton. and finally he will refuse to do
anything for the Lord. Then he is on
the verge of apostacy. 1t Is a good
spiritual tonic to do some missionary
work in your ward under the direction
of your bishop. In some of the wards
there has been aggressive work on the
part of members of the high council la
boring as acting teachers. The favor of
God has been manifested in the results
of their efforts Men who have become
cold in the faith, who have neglected
their meetings and have failed to pay
their tithing, have been warmed up
and have repented in tears of their neg
lect of duty.
The acting teachers and the visitors
Z to newcomers should give particular at
tention to those who come from foreign
lands and are unfamiliar with our Gus
toms and language. They should be
treated kindly and helped temporarily
as we'll as spiritually.
We desire the sisters to CO. operate
with this movement. They have many
sacrifices to make. 1t is natural that
they should like to have their hus-
bands at home in the evening after be-
ing at work all day, but it Is far bet
ter for a woman to urge her husband
to perform his duty to God than to
neglect it for her pleasure. Yet men
must not forget that they owe some
thing to their families. The first or
ganization upon the earth was the
family-the father, mother and child.
This is a most sacred group. The man
who Is not true as a husband or faith
er or brother is not doing his duty
to the Church. If a man honors his
family he is source of strength to
the Church and to the country. The
man who Is successful in his home life
can WELD greater influence among
Others than he who is unsuccessful.
livery man who desires to do good
Will be saved in some degree of our
Fathers kingdom. Salvation is a gor-.
sious thing, but exaltation Is better
still. should be our aim to live in
such manner that we may merit the
privilege of dwelling in the presence of
God and Christ. AS members 9of the
Church, we are required to live pure
lives. Let us overcome our weaknesses
and make some progress toward the eX-
altation we desire to REACH Each
man must save himself. The good
works of another will not be counted
in your favor. No man is progressive
who does not realize his own short
5comings.
The Word of Wisdom has been be-
fore the people for about 70 years, and, i
judging from a worldly point of view,
1t has brough wonderful results, but
how many there are in the Church who
do not observe 1t. A census of the
members of the Salt Lake stake re-
gartllng this law has been taken, and
it has been found that many in the
most important quorums OF the priest
hood are violators of this command
ment.
Each has q great work to perform in
the reformation of himself. Let us
overcome, one by one, our Weaknesses
and go steadily onward toward perfec
ton.
The Twenty-second ward orchestra
rendered a selection.
PRESIDENT A. II. sLUND.
President Anthem Fl. Lund made
these remarks hope that everyone
who holds the priesthood will feel that
he has not accepted it as an honorary
position merely. but as a calling re-
qulring constant work for the cause Of
Christ. Jesus on one occasion called
his disciples the salt of the earth be-
cause they were the preserving pow
er of His Church. In ancient times,
salt was used for preserving many
kinds of food. The Master took this
illustration to impress upon the minds
of his hearers their Importance in his
sight. The priesthood today may be
called the salt of the earth. Let those
who posses this divine power not lose
1t by neglecting their duties to God.
No one in the Churcn should De
ambitious to occupy any position of
prominence Be humble and accept the
calling that Is assigned you, No place
in the Church is Insignificant in the
sight of God.
Counselor Edward T. Ashton said
that Salt Lake City had been divided
by the railroads into an east side and
Il west side. Among some persons
there seemed to be a disposition to
dump Objectionable things upon the
people Of the west part of town. At
the present time n strenuous effort was
being made to establish within the |
boundary lines of the Salt Lake stake
q quarter to be dedicated to immor-
ality. He said that this effort was OPP
posed by those who lived in the vcin-
ity of the proposed establishment and
he appealed to the people of the stake
to raise their voices against the con-
outrage.
Singing "Mighty Jehoyahn