18 March 1880


Weber Stake Relief Society; Ogden Tabernacle, Ogden, Utah Territory

A long, rectangular building with triangle roof, a single chimney, and three arched, front-facing windows.

Original Ogden Stake Tabernacle. (Used by permission, Utah State Historical Society.)

[Editorial Note: This discourse was reported in two different sources. Both versions are transcribed below. For more information, see the source note following each transcript.]

I. From the Relief Society Conference Minutes

[. . .]

There were present on the stand [. . .] Sister E. R. Snow, Sister Zina [D. H.] Young, Sister [Jane S.] Richards and Counsel, and many others, [. . .]

[. . .] sister Richards made a few opening remarks. [. . .] was pleased to see Sister Snow, and Sister Zina. Sister Snow had a severe cold, but through faith in God, was able to attend the meeting. [. . .] [p. 69]

[. . .]

Presid, [David H.] Peery. said Sister Snow is now seventy six years old. and if she could come all the yway [way] from Salt Lake City, to attend our Conferance, that we surely could attend who lived here. [. . .] [p. 70] [. . .] had heared of Sister Snow all over the States long before he came to Utah. and her name will be spoken of by many yet unborn. who will look back with pride and pleasure, upon the great work the women have done. and they will be blessed. [. . .]

The Afternoon session Commenced with singing and prayer, after which Sister E. R. Snow, spoke, said I am not here because I particularly desire it. Some some of us are more at home, and others less than they should be. It is sometimes difficult to tell when we are doing the most good. We should seek wisdom and learn to know our—Father in Heaven and to keep open the channel of communation [communication] between us and him. for there is such a connection between our spiritual and temporal natures. that refreshing influences upon one effect the other. The wisdom of God has placed us in these institutions, that by finding intercourse with each other we may improve. The institution of the world will not elevate us, as the requirements of the Gospel will. We must stoop not rise to conquer, and be more united than we are, allision [allusion] has been made to what we have done, this is not enough we want as many as can, to take a share, and show an interest in the culture of silk. the bretheran as well as the sisters, An association is all ready organized and incorporated with Br. W. [William] M.—Jennings as its presidend [president]. The resignation of Sr Josephine R. West having been accepted, Sr. E. [Elizabeth] Y. Stanford was elected corrosponding Secretary in [p. 71] her place. Sister Snow presented the nomination of Sister Hannah <M.> W. Poulter as Secretary of the Ladies Relief Society of Weber Stake, and she was unan[i]mously voted in. Sr. Snow approved and commended the labors of President Jane S. Richards and her counselors, Sisters [Harriet C.] Brown and [Sarah A.] Herrick. Said they had been diligent and faithful, and she was pleased to hear President Peery speak so approvingly of their labors. and closed with a blessing upon the Sisters and their Societies.

[. . .] [p. 72]

[. . .]

Counselor L. [Leonard] J. Herrick endorsed the sentiments advanced by the speakers, especially alluding to the remarks of Sister’s Snow and Young. and dwelt upon their efforts with the rising generation.

[. . .] [p. 73]

Source Note

Weber Stake, Relief Society Conference Minute Book (1855–1899), pp. 69–73, CHL (LR 9970 29); Hannah Monta Poulter, Secretary.

See also Weber Stake, Relief Society Minutes and Records (1867–1968), vol. 6 (1877–1900), pp. 70–75, CHL (LR 9970 14); and “Home Affairs,” Woman’s Exponent 8, no. 21 (1 Apr. 1880): 164.

II. From the Woman’s Exponent

The Quarterly Conference, of Ladies Relief Society, held in Ogden City, in the Tabernacle, March 18th, 1880.

There were present, [. . .] Sister E.R. Snow, Zina D. [H.] Young, and J. [Jane] S. Richards and Counselors Sisters [Sarah A.] Herrick and [Harriet C.] Brown, and many others, both here and from the different parts of the county

[. . .] Sister Richards made a few opening remarks. [. . .]

Felt thankful to see Sister Snow and Sister Young. Sister Snow had a severe cold, but through faith in God, was able to attend today. [. . .]

[. . .]

President [David H.] Peery said: Sister Snow is now 76, years of age, and if she could come all the way from Salt Lake City to attend our conference, that we surely could attend who live here. [. . .] The speaker had heard the name of Sister Snow all over the States long before he come to Utah, and said her name will be spoken by thousands yet unborn, who will look back with pride and pleasure upon the great work the women have done; and they will be blessed.

After the usual singing and prayer President Eliza R. Snow said: I am not abroad because I particularly desire it; some of us are more at home, others less than we should be. It is sometimes difficult to tell when we are doing the most good; we should seek wisdom and learn to know our Father in Heaven and to keep open the channel of communication between us and Him, for there is such a connection between our spiritual and temporal natures that refreshing influence upon one affects the other. The wisdom of God has placed us in these institutions, that by finding intercourse and associations we may improve. The institutions of the world will not elevate us as the requirements of the Gospel will—we must stoop, not rise, to conquer, and ought to be more united than we are. Allusion has been made to what we have done, but this is not enough; we want as many as can to take a share and show an interest in the silk culture, the brethren as well as the sisters, if they will. An association is already organized and incorporated, with Bro. Wm. [William M.] Jennings as its president.

The resignation of Sister Josephine [R.] West having been accepted, Sister Elizabeth Y. Stanford was elected corresponding secretary instead.

Sister Snow presented the nomination of Sister Harriet [Hannah “Monta”] M.W. Poulter for secretary of Weber Stake Relief Society, and she was unanimously voted in.

[. . .]

Counselor L. [Lester] J. Herrick and Bishop F. A. Hammound [Francis A. Hammond] endorsed the sentiments of the speakers alluding especially to the remarks of Sisters Snow and Young.

[. . .] [p. 174]

Source Note

H. M. W. P., “R. S. Reports: Weber Stake,” Woman’s Exponent 8, no. 22 (15 Apr. 1880): 174.

Cite this page

18 March 1880, Weber Stake Relief Society; Ogden Tabernacle, Ogden, Utah Territory, The Discourses of Eliza R. Snow, accessed March 19, 2024 https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/eliza-r-snow/1880s/1880/03/1880-03-18