“Policies and Announcements,” Ensign, Feb. 1984, 79–80
Policies and Announcements
The following items are from the November 1983 Bulletin.
Message from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve: Strengthening Priesthood Quorum Members. The Lord gave instruction in the revelations that holders of the priesthood should be organized by quorums. The Presidency of the quorum is responsible for the activity of each quorum member. Home teaching, wherein quorum members “visit the house of each member” (D&C 20:51), is one of the most effective means by which the members of the quorum are cared for and strengthened.
The bishop, as presiding high priest and chairman of the ward priesthood executive committee, which is the home teaching committee, in consultation with Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidents and group leaders, should assign families for home teaching purposes to quorum and groups. Generally, members will receive home teachers from their own quorums. However, where there is a special need, inactive Melchizedek Priesthood bearers and prospective elders and their families may be assigned to the quorum or group that can provide the most effective fellowshipping and teaching. Home teachers will report to their own quorum presidencies or group leaders.
Brethren who have special talents in teaching the inactive should be assigned by the bishop as home teachers to selected inactive families. When those families are brought back into activity, the teachers may then be assigned to work with other inactive families.
When an inactive elder or prospective elder who has been assigned to the high priests is brought to priesthood meeting by his home teacher, he may attend the high priests or seventies group or the elders quorum, depending upon his needs. The bishop makes this decision in consultation with the Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and group leaders.
When it is appropriate for a prospective elder to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, he should be ordained an elder and then become a member of the elders quorum. Age is not the determining factor for Melchizedek Priesthood ordinations of these brethren. Men are ordained to offices of the priesthood when their calling requires it and by inspiration and according to their worthiness.
LDS Scripture Stories for Children and Youth. To help children and young people understand the scriptures, 178 scripture stories are available in three different formats. These items can be ordered from the Salt Lake Distribution Center on the standard order form or on the Family Resources Order form found in the October 1983 Ensign.
Book of Mormon Stories. Twenty-five stories from the Book of Mormon presented in three separate formats as listed below:
1. Book, illustrated in color with captions under each illustration. Reading level for beginning readers (second grade). (PBIC0325, $1.75 each.)
2. Two audiocassette tapes with narration identical to the wording of the book listed above. Especially good for young children and many handicapped. (VVOT0697, $2.00 for set of two tapes.)
3. Set of six filmstrips with six accompanying audiocassette tapes, portraying the twenty-five stories contained in the book above. (VVOF4032, $16.50 for set of six filmstrips, and six audiocassette tapes.)
Old Testament Stories. Forty-eight stories from the Old Testament presented in three separate formats as listed below:
1. Book, illustrated in color with captions under each illustration. Reading level for beginning readers (second grade). (PBIC0336, $2.50 each.)
2. Three audiocassette tapes with narration identical to the wording of the Old Testament book listed immediately above. Especially good for young children and many handicapped. (VVOT0992, $4.00 for set of three tapes.)
3. Set of six filmstrips with six accompanying audiocassette tapes, portraying the forty-eight stories contained in the Old Testament book listed above. (VVOF4054, $16.50 for set of six filmstrips, and six audiocassette tapes.)
New Testament Stories. Fifty-one stories from the New Testament presented in three separate formats as listed below:
1. Book, illustrated in color with captions under each illustration. Reading level for beginning readers (second grade). (PBIC0347, $2.50 each.)
2. Two audiocassette tapes with narration identical to the wording of the New Testament book listed immediately above. Especially good for young children and many handicapped. (VVOT1044, $2.75 each.)
3. Set of six filmstrips with six accompanying audiocassette tapes, portraying the fifty-one stories contained in the New Testament book listed above. (VVOF4043, $16.50 for set of six filmstrips, and six audiocassette tapes.)
Scripture Stories. Fifty-four stories, primarily from the Bible and Book of Mormon, available in the following two formats:
1. Hardback book. Written as an intermediate reader (sixth grade level) to help prepare and motivate children to read from the standard works. Carefully selected scripture wording helps readers become familiar with the vocabulary and style of the scriptures. A full-page, high-quality, full-color picture accompanies each story, with smaller fill-in art work included. (PBIC0358, $3.95 each.)
2. Seven audiocassette tapes with the narration of the actual texts of the fifty-four stories in the book listed above. (VVOT1135, $10.00 for the set of seven tapes.)