23 October 1877

[. . .]

Sister Eliza R Snow addressed the congregation. She said “The men have their mission to preform [perform] and so have the sisters, and we must pray for the Lord’s assistance; you must make up your minds to respond when called upon.

I made my mind up to respond when called upon to do anything in the church capaccity and have always done so;

If we do what is right we are sure of our reward; I have no other interest than the forwarding of Zions Cause. My heart has mourned for the daughters of Zion Because of their condition why is it that they follow the fashions and follies of Babylon, when they are born heirs to the priesthood of God. The young men have been filled with Book learning But they know nothing of the principles of the Gospel. we have infidels growing up in our midst through the neglect of the cultivation of the mental faculties. Prest. [Brigham] Young first organized the young Ladies association, he called upon one of his daughters to preside but she refused he called another who was willing, but who was after ridiculed for responding to the call of her father. Some of the girls would take a round about way home from meeting to prevent being laughed at. some of the organizations [p. 16] were broken up, but were reorganized and they are now organized throughout the community. Prest. Young gave Juni[u]s F Wells the mission of organizing the young men and they meet and improve their minds. how soon the young men of Zion will be called upon missions no one knows hence how neccessary that they should be taught the principles of the Gospel from infancy.”

The speaker, entreated the young ladies to strive to do the “will of the Lord.”

[. . .]

Bp. [Henry] Hughes [. . .] bore his testimony to the truth of what had been said by the sisters.

[. . .] [p. 17]