27 September 1878


Utah Stake Relief Society; Provo Meetinghouse, Provo, Utah Territory

One-story, brick building with two chimneys and a steeple that includes a belfry

Provo meetinghouse, Provo, Utah Territory, circa 1865. (Courtesy B. Ashworth’s, Provo, Utah.)

Present the Presidency of the Stake Sisters Eliza R Snow, and Zina Young with many of the officers and members of the Relief Societies of the Co. [County].

[. . .]

On motion of Pres A [Abraham] O Smoot Sister Eliza R Snow was elected President of the meeting and Elder Albert Jones Secretary after remarks from Sister E R Snow, showing the power of organizations of the sisters to be vested in the Priesthood as exampled by the actions of the Prophet Joseph [Smith] in the first organization of the Relief Societies formed by him at Nauvoo.

an organization was then effected [. . .]

Sister E. R. Snow then gave instructions in regard to the Reports which would be due from each society of the Co. to the [p. 1] President of the Stake organization the report would comprise the date of organization of each Society the names of the officers in succession from date of organization until the present, number of members, average attendance no. of Deseret News taken, Juvenile [Instructor] and [Woman’s] Exponents, status of Sericulture, amount of wheat stored—with the financial statement from the treasurer, amount in treasury and all expenditures—a labor depending upon the secy. of the societies fraught with <much> responsibility on their part for the good order method and promptness of action of the societies. Reports should be forwarded a few days prior to the Quarterly Conference of the societies at which all Presidents of societies should be present and make verbal reports of the condition of their Societies in addition to the written Reports of their Secretaries

[. . .]

Sister Zina Young next addressed the meeting alluded to a new step known as the Primary Department for the purpose of the culture of the children of Zion [. . .]

Sister Eliza R. Snow explained that this Primary Movement for the instruction of the Young Children of Zion would have an organization with a President, Counselors, and secretary—Children of the age from five to ten would be enrolled and taught in such a way that at a proper age they would be ready to understandingly enter the Mutual Improvement Associations.

[. . .] [p. 2]

President Margaret T. Smoot then said [“]as the first official act of my presidency I request that Sisters Eliza. R. and Zina tarry all night and hold a meeting with us this evening” which was thouroughly endorsed by the Meeting to which Sisters Snow and Young assinting [assenting?] appointed 7.P.M. as the hour of the meeting

[. . .] [p. 3]

Source Note

Provo Utah Central Stake, Relief Society Minutes and Records (1878–1973), vol. 2 (1878–1891), pp. 1–3, CHL (LR 9629 14); Albert Jones, Secretary.

See also “Provo Organization,” Deseret News 27, no. 36 (9 Oct. 1878): 561; and Caroline Daniels, “R. S. Reports,” Woman’s Exponent 7, no. 19 (1 Mar. 1879): 200.

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27 September 1878, Utah Stake Relief Society; Provo Meetinghouse, Provo, Utah Territory, The Discourses of Eliza R. Snow, accessed October 6, 2024 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/eliza-r-snow/1870s/1878/09/1878-09-27