25 February 1870

Among those invited were Sisters E. R. Snow, Zina D. [H.] Young, S. M. Kimbal [Sarah M. Kimball], and Sister Precinda Kimbal [Presendia L. Kimball]. [. . .] Sister E. R. Snow said her heart rejoiced greatly to meet with her sisters on these occations; the subject of retrenchment was of great importance.¹ Union is power, the sisters can do wonders, not in boasting but by relying on the power of God. Bro. [Brigham] Young says we can do more by our influence than he can, for this reason let every sister be energetic in carrying out this movement, let plainness, in respect to food become fashionable, make no apology for not haveing a greater variety, the time has come when we must live for holy purposes. We are not here by chance, we must prove ourselves faithful; the time has come when we must lay the foundation for the prolongation of life, our diet has much to do with it. Overloading one stomachs with a variety of food is not healthy we have not that clearness of intellect, we should eat slowly, and take time to masticate our food well. Said there are many evils arising from our present mode of entertaining our friends, it fosters ambition and pride. The mode we should adopt saves time; has a purifying tendency, we need not be definite as to what our food is, but let it be plain and wholsome as far as daily living is concerened there is no need of speaking. It is for extra occasions; said she had many times refrained from visiting her sisters because they spent somuch [so much] time in pre[n.p.]paring food, it prevented her from enjoying their society. If our living was plainer our babies would be stronger and our minds more active, we should take care of our bodies and spend more time in refreshing our minds.

[. . .] Sister E. R. Snow expressed herself much pleased that all had spoken, encouraged all to speake when called upon, said the only way to learn to speak was to practice, no person could become a good speaker at once. [. . .] Meeting was then adjourned sine die, benidiction by E. R. Snow. All then partook of a “Retrenchment” meal consisting of potatoes, cold beef, bread and butter, rice pudding, apple sauce, one kind of preserves, pickles, cheese and cold water, this may seem quite a supper, but when we reflect what an endless variety of pies, cakes, meats and vegatables are usually placed before such a company (25 in num.) we considered it was at least a step towards Table Retrenchments.

[. . .] [n.p.]