6 December 1880


Pinto Primary; Pinto Schoolhouse, Pinto, Utah Territory

Faded image of schoolhouse with people gathered in front of it and trees surrounding.

Pinto Schoolhouse, circa 1865. (Courtesy Washington County Historical Society.)

[Editorial Note: This discourse was reported in the Primary Minute Book and recalled later in an article from the Juvenile Instructor. Both are transcribed below. For more information, see the source note following each transcript.]

I. From the Primary Minutes

[. . .]

Present Sisters Eliza R Snow Smith, Zina D. [H.] Young, Minerva [W.] Snow, and brother A.P. Windsor [Anson P. Winsor] and a general turn out of the people of the ward

[. . .] Singing “O My Father thou that dwellest,”

The Sisters then gave the children some good instructions and advice; after which Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith called for a show of hands of the children who wished to be Organized into a Primary Association, when all hands were raised; Sister Eliza R then appointed the following officers,

Mary [W.] Thornton—President,

Irene U Haskell—First} Counselor,

Clara A Knell—Secd} [Second Counselor]1

Joseph E Robinson—Secretary,

Lily A Knell—Asst– Secty,

Walter J Knell—Treasurer,

These were unanimously sustained by the meeting.

Sister Eliza R Snow Smith <gave the children> some more instructions asking some questions on the Organization of the Church, which were promptly answered by the children. She also showed the children the watch of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

[. . .]

Prayer by Sister Eliza R Snow Smith, which the children repeated.

[. . .] [p. 3]

Source Note

Pinto Ward, St. George Stake, Primary Association Minutes and Records (1880–1890), p. 3, BYU (MSS 3153); Irene U. Haskell, Clerk.

II. From the Juvenile Instructor

[. . .]

Our president was telling us not long ago of one of our boys who was healed in the primary meeting when it was first organized. Sisters Eliza R. Snow and Zina D. [H.] Young were here at the time. This boy was very sick and weak, and had to be carried to meeting. He wanted to be prayed for, so at the close of the meeting Sister Snow told the children to arise to their feet, close their eyes, and repeat after her the prayer, one sentence at a time. She prayed for the sick boy. When they got through praying he got up, walked home, and got into a wagon without help. He was well from that time.

This boy is a young man now, but I guess he will never forget how he was healed in primary.

[. . .] [p. 301]

Source Note

Mabel Knell, “Our Primary,” Juvenile Instructor 28, no. 9 (1 May 1893): 301.

Cite this page

6 December 1880, Pinto Primary; Pinto Schoolhouse, Pinto, Utah Territory, The Discourses of Eliza R. Snow, accessed March 19, 2024 https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/eliza-r-snow/1880s/1880/12/1880-12-06