| Show THE PRIESTS OFFICE ANET graduation wic WB understand that steps are being taken in some of the wards of the church toward introducing the office of priest into more active utility than heretofore this is a 8 alep tep in the right direction and sure to in good if persistently and intelligently followed up it is not necessary necea sary perhaps to specify here the particular duties of the office as they have been explained in former articles they are distinctive and should be either performed by one holding the office pure and simple or by ope one holding a higher official position specially appointed in the organized branches of the church the office cannot be rop prop erly dispensed with every part of of the organization having its uses and as paul aptly places it no one part of the body can say to any other portion 1 I have no need of thee akee placing the subject in condensed shape it may be properly stated that the most conspicuous duty of the priest is aft to carry the gospel 1 nto into the homes of tae people and to administer its ordinances so far as hla his official jurisdiction extends A prominent duty of the teacher I 1 is t to 0 s see e that the precepts and doctrines of the church are practically carried out by its ito members and anat its laws are not violated that the religious body be kept practically pure thus the latter officer legitimately aud and logically follows in the wake of the former the high council of the salt lake i stake of zion has wisely resolved that the practise of suddenly advancing young men from the lower offices of the priesthood or from simple membership ber ship to more or less elevated 0 offices shall be discouraged and that more mor e attention shall be paid to official graduation gradation L in accordance with the law of general fitness the principle is beautiful and at once commends itself to every intelligent tell igent latter day saint the pries priests 0 office presents itself especially as affording excellent opportunities for progressive experience adapted to the young while it might not be well for or the inere mere youthful members of the priesthood to preponderate in official irig in the office now specially considered si a large proportion could doubtless be profitably introduced numbers of young men who have excellent desires and no small degree of natural aptitude combined with rectitude of conduct would find fina an excellent field in oper aliue atiue in that office it would be a school for them in ity graduating for more extended usefulness numbers of that class of youths have shown weir disposition tiu 4 tor for progress by engaging ea in class exercises for the study of the first principles of the gospel and in attaining efficiency in explaining them in public this training gives them a special qualification to officiate as priests one of whose duties is to m 1 la in the families of the saints in this would be helps to parents who according to the covenants and commandments ats of the church are required to teach their children the necessity ot of faith I 1 repentance baptism for the remission of sins and the laying on of the hands bands of the elders for the of the holy gfrost these young men who have made those principles a study could do great good among the children and at the same time benefit themselves by the exercise inthe in the first place there efforts were induced br by a desire to prepare thease themselves ves to preach the gospel abroad in case they should be called to carry the divine message to the nations He rethen is a golden opportunity port unity chica should be afforded them chem to preach the principles at home the importance of this consideration is strengthened ened by the fact that the fireside efforts of the missionary elders are more f fruitful ruita al of conversions than their preaching from the pulpit as a rule hence this peculiar experience in the home gospel department will do much to qualify them for aiding in its spread among the peoples abroad in this connection it can be appropriately pria tely stated that the young should te be generously encouraged in ane study of the first principles of the gospel no impediment should be placed e d in the way of that laudable pursuit and every facility practicable should be furnished tor for the formation and conducting of classes for the attainment of that object the word of the lord as spoken through his prophet As witti the priests so with the people may not have been intended to have its f ull full force upon the office of priest standing alone at the same time it appears to have a valid application in that direction if the people have the principles of the gospel carried into their homes by the official whom the lord has designated for that purpose there is sure to be spiritual life and activity permeating the body at least it is bound to be much more the case than when there is either official omission or neglect and it should be specially remembered that if the youth are to graduate in the priesthood they must climb up progressively through the various offices of the organization |
