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Show Tongan Converted at School LAIE, HAWAII Linita Fekitoa, 23, was converted to the Church when she went to the Mormon high school in Tonga. My three sisters also joined the Church, she said. Two of them have since married in the temple, and I hope to do the same.. Linita is the youngest of the sisters and has completed a mission in Tonga. I was pleased to teach the gospel to my own people. It made me appreciate the Church more, and I came to realize that there were many ways to help the people of Tonga, she said. A month after Linita was released from her mission she enrolled at BYU-Hawa- ii Campus. Linita dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center to finance her education. several dances and sing, but I a great voice, she said. Linita is active on the campus and enjoys tennis and basketball. She lives in a dormitory with six other girls. I do dont have Linita Fekitoa My life has been so full since I she explained. joined the Church, There always is something to make me happy. I want to go back to Tonga and help other people. dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Church Is Growing Faster Than Other Denominations denomination The Church is the and ninth largest in membership in the United States, according to the 1976 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches issued April 29. If growth rates for the next year continue as in the past, the LDS Church will move from ninth to fifth place next year in terms of membership in the United Stales. The LDS Church is the only denomination listed among the top 10 by membership that is included churches, according to among the six the yearbook. Largest of the U.S. denominations is the Roman Catholic Church with 48,701,835 members. Others in the top 10 are: Southern Baptist Convention, 12,513,378; United Methodist Church, 10,063,046; National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., 5,500,000; Lutheran Church in America, 2,986,970; The Episcopal Church, 2,907,293; United Presbyterian Missouri Church, 2,723,565; Lutheran Church Synod, 2,769,594; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, 2,683,573; National Eaptist Convenfastest-growin- g fastest-growin- g tion, 2,668,799. churches The yearbook said the six fastest-growin- g in the United States and their percentages of increase were: Saints, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y 21.5; Jehovahs Witnesses, 14.09; Assemblies of God, 5.27; Church of God (Cleveland), 4.97; Seventh Day Adventists, 3.3; Church of the Nazarene, 3.04. A Challenge to the Aaronic Priesthood Continued from page 9 should be opportunities for spiritual experiences, service, development of talents and skills, fellowship and brotherhood, recreation and fun, achievement and recognition. All of these activities should be tailored to allow a young man to grow, room so he doesnt feel stifled, tied down or herded. The quorum should become the most important association, next to the family, in a young mans life. Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies are given the keys of presidency over their quorums ; this means that the quorum presidencies are called upon to exercise their keys in directing the work of their quorums. These quorum presidents, said Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Council of the Twelve, are to teacn tneir quorum members how to magnify their calling, to train them in their duties and, to teach them the doctrines of the kingdom. The quorum presidency plans the quorum program, doing so in a weekly quorum presidency meeting. The quorum program must be geared to the needs of individual quorum members and must include a balance of activities. Youth activity night is as much a quorum experience as the Sunday morning quorum meeting, notes the Presiding Bishopric. Youth activity night is a quorum night when quomm members get together, often by themselves as a single quorum, sometimes with other quorums and sometimes with Young Women classes, to focus on service, brotherhood and activity. And, though the quorum presidency is responsible to plan and carry out the quorum program, that presidency is not meant to be left alone. Adult priesthood leaders have a 10 CHUiCH Nathan Sharp, teachers quorum president, presides during quorum meeting in Garden Park 2nd .Ward. for helping Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies leam to exercise these keys of presidency, the Presiding Bishopric emphasizes. They need to give wise counsel, effective training and assistance to the youthful quorum presidencies. With such assistance the presidencies can succeed without it they may not. The bishopric, as the presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward, has the first and foremost responsibility for the w ork of the Aaronic Priesthood. Members of the bishopric are responsible for seeing that the Aaronic Priesthood quorums are functioning effectively, accomplishing this through such things as holding personal interviews with quorum members, attending quorum meetings and activities, periodically attending quorum prtsidcrtcy major responsibility WEEK ENDING MAY 15, 1976 ; meetings and conducting monthly sonal priesthood interviews per- with quorum leaders. The personal priesthood interview each month is a marvelous opportunity for a member of the bishopric to train, encourage and inspire a quorum leader to magnify his calling in the Aaronic Priesthood. The ward director of Aaronic Priesthood is called to assist the bishopric, much like an executive secretary, and the Aaronic Priesthood quorum adviser is also a key man. The adviser prepares members of the quorum presidency for their leadership roles and helps them lead the quorum effectively. For an inexperienced presidency, the adviser may initially need to take a more prominent role in presidency meetings, but he should make every effort to rapidly train the presidency. Elder Packer has told Regional Representatives, We can go into the stakes as Regional Representatives and we can see a few exciting things happen and sponsor a few exciting things, and yet, when all is said and done, the boy doesnt go on a mission, they don't get married in the temple. Well, how are we going to accomplish that? Through the quorums of the the Aaromc Priesthood priesthood and the Melchizedck Priesthood. It appears to me that if you strengthen the quorums then all else will ultimately follow. I cant see how you could have a weak Sunday School with powerful priesthood quorums. I cant see where you could have poor youth conferences or poor activities if you had pow erful quorums. |
