Home.

All usually well.

Pleasant day.

I worked at my desk in the forenoon and in the afternoon at the request of Pres. Lund I went to the temple and assisted in the sealings. Attended my Circle meeting in the evening and later held a home evening meeting enagurating the same. We are to hold it the First Wednesday evening of each month. George & Edith and Joel & Georgina & Wayne were with us. Oliver was absent playing on the Salt Lake Theatre Stage A charity play. At this meeting I gave all the unmarried children 3 cents for each year of their age and this is to be repeated at each meeting.

Home.

All well.

Fine day.

I attended regular weekly Council meeting in the temple from 10 A.M. to about 2:00 P.M. There I assisted with the regular sealing work of the temple, after which I attended to some business down town. Made a loan of $150.00 at the bank. Paid bills etc.

Made ready to leave on night [p. 210] train for St. George.

Arrived in Lund at 10:02 A.M. H. G. Smith companion. We took Auto stage for St. George 95 miles via Cedar where we took lunch and arrived in St. George in the early evening. We called at Pres. E. H. Snow’s and were directed to Pres Geo. F. Whitehead’s where we lived while in St. George Pres. Snow did not call on us while we were there but took us to supper Sunday evening where we broke our fast. Bro. Smith & I occupied the same bed at Whitehead’s.

St. George.

Am well.

Rained.

It was dusty yesterday.

At 10 A.M. meeting the attendance was 145. Stake population 5463. The speakers were in order as fol. Pres. E. H. Snow myself & Bro H. G. Smith. I occupied 30 minutes. Subj. Statistics. What they show. Improve home surroundings & cultivate every square rod of tillable land. Make St. George a Mecca for L.D.S. in winter time.

At 2:00 P.M. meeting attendance 238. Speakers Pres. Thos. P. Cottam, Principal Woodward of Dixie Academy, H. G. Smith [p. 211] and myself. I occupied 30 min. The Dixie Academy Should be a factor in the establishment of the faith of the young people in the principle of the Eternity of the marriage covenant During the past nine months there have been 26 Civil & 24 temple marriages. There are 340 students in the school & all religious principles. Stake P. Meeting at 4:15. I spoke Contest work of 71 stakes.

St. George.

Am well.

Pleasant weather.

At 10:30 A.M. meeting the attendance was 779. The children being present. Sacrament administered. Speakers, Pres. Geo. F. Whitehead, myself & Bro H. G. S. I occupied 25 min. Sub. Sacrament & Atonement. Love of the Father & the Son for us. How manifest: Love for love how manifest it. By keeping the Commandments & being good.

Between meetings Bro H. G. Smith and I walked down to, and about the temple grounds. fasting.

At 2:00 P.M. meeting, attendance 584. Authorities sustained and the Patriarch & I occupied the time.

I occupied 45 min with good liberty on the Gospel Defined &c.

At the evening meeting a previously prepared program was carried out and brother Smith & I did not speak. [p. 212]

In the early evening we administered to Mary Starr, Anna Whipple, Leren Watson & Rufus Allen.

St. George.

Am well.

Fine weather.

Pat. H. G. Smith & I left St. George soon after 7:00 P.M. and going via. Cedar 95 miles reached Lund at 4:35 P.M.

We took train at 6:31 P.M. for home. Elder Geo Albert Smith & Pres. Hart went on same train as we they to Moapa and returned on same train.

Reached home leaving the train about 6:45 P.M. Shaved & bathed & attended a meeting of our council at Bps.’ building hearing the [first and middle initials and last name redacted] & Miss [last name redacted] case from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. By appointment Elders McKay, Jos. F. Smith Jr. & I visited Miss [blank] at the S.L. Nitting factory and interviewed her as a witness in the case at hand. Spent the evening at my desk. Good letters from LeGrand & Ina today. I wrote to LeGrand.

Home.

All well.

Beautiful day.

I worked at my desk most of the day. [p. 213] Walked up into the Cemetery to my mother’s grave. Called on my Sister Nerva at her home on Center St. Attended YM. Gen Bd. meeting, my Circle Meeting and Ensign Stake Priesthood meeting.

Home.

All well.

As usual.

Attended weekly Council meeting in the temple from 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Obtained finished sheets from the recorder at temple and recorded same in my records and listed Sixty-nine couples for sealings. Attended to some business down town. Received appointment with Pres Roberts to Deseret Stake for Sat & Sund. 16th & 17th.

Home.

All usually well.

Pleasant day.

I did some work at my desk. Went shopping with Mother & Mamie. Attended to some business down town and made ready to leave on Night train for Lund, thence by Auto to Parowan.

Left Home. 9:30 last night

Arrived at Lund at 10:00 A.M. and went to Parowan via Cedar with Benj. Knell in Auto [p. 214] 55 miles arriving at 1:35 P.M. My companion being Hyrum G. Smith.

We attended 2:00 P.M. Conference meeting & both spoke. I occupied 40 minutes. Subj: Works of the Gospel necessary to salvation. Individual effort and public service necessary. Referred to statistics & what they show for Parowan. Contest work for 71 stakes in all the items included in reports and between wards of each stake.

Attended High Council meeting at 4:20 P.M. I commented on the conditions in the stake as shown by the reports. Found the 7 H Counsilors & 3 alternates keeping the W. of W.

Attended 7:30 Stake officers and priesthood meeting and addressed them before they separated for department work and the priesthood meeting after the separation. Talents as applied to church offices & religious duties and ward teaching.

We staid at Pres. Marsden’s and ate two meals there and one at former Bishop Morgon Richards’ while in Parowan.

Parowan.

Am well.

Met with the Stake Presidency at 9:00 A.M. & considered tithing [p. 215] matters in the wards &c.

At 10:00 A.M. meeting I occupied 20 minutes, the S. School children being present. I spoke of love and the 9th Commandment. We will not bear false witness against those we love. Told story of Abram and Zimri and the story of the thistles. “Speak gently to the erring one”. “Nay speak no ill”. &c.

Afternoon meeting at 1:00 P.M. House well filled both forenoon & afternoon. I occupied 35 min. Subject. Missionary work and home service in the Church, auxiliaries &c. Pres. Marsden spoke briefly in conclusion & said he felt that we had one of the best conferences ever.

Wm. L H. Lyman of the Stake Presidency took us in Auto to Parowan and from there Benj. Kness took us to Lund where we got train at 6:30 P.M. for home.

Home.

Am well.

Several of the family poorly.

I arose at 5:00 A.M. shaved & otherwise cleaned up and left the train at 6:00 A.M. Arrived home before light & before any one was up. Lucena & babe & Ruby came from [p. 216] Logan yesterday and are now with us. I worked at my desk & got out eighteen sheets of temple work, sealing of parents & children. Seven of the 18 were out before. I also have 69 couples ready for sealing, listed. I intend to get this work done soon after xmas.

Attended a conjoint meeting of the Y.M. & Y.L. Gen’l Boards where in discussing a certain resolution some unpleasantness occurred.

I administered to Nina and Ray both of whom are ailing with colds &c. In the evening my son George returned from Moroni and he & family spent the evening with us. I went home with them & George, Joel & I administered to Georgina who has been sick for a week and now has quinsey.

Home.

Stormy day.

Georgina not much better, Nina & Ray improving nicely.

I wrote out a report of my visit to Panguitch and recommendations for a division of Panguitch ward of about 1600 souls into four wards. This report to be presented to the Council of Presidency & Twelve. [p. 217]

I assisted in setting apart a company of missionaries at the temple annex. I set apart the following:

1. Joseph Edward Ward of Preston to S. States

2. Daniel Morse Price of Samaria, Ida. to C S.

3. Hyrum Corry Perkins of Bluff Ut. to C. States

4. John E. Adams of Bluff to C. "¹

I instructed missionaries.

Assisted in making preparation for marriage reception for our daughter Mamie.

Home.

Some snow.

Folks better.

This day my daughter Mamie were endowed and married in the temple. Mother and I and Clarence’s mother went through the temple taking names for the dead I for Isaac Greer. I spoke at the opening meeting and performed about twenty-five marriage ceremonies including that of my daughter Mamie & her husband. Had a wedding reception in the evening, about one hundred invitations issued.

Received a letter from E Ray Miller of St. Anthony, Idaho, requesting me to mary him & a miss Welling Jan. 5th. [p. 218]

Home.

Folks better.

Cold day

I attended council meeting in the temple from 10:00 A.M. until 3:10 P.M. Attended to some business down town. Retired early.

Home.

Cold day.

Folks about as yesterday.

I went through the temple in forenoon for John Gill. Alice met me at temple at 1:00 P.M. and we were sealed for fourteen couples of our kindred after which I sealed between twenty & thirty couples for other people. I arranged with brother McAlister to use the sealing room of the temple Tuesday noon next and arranged with my sons George & Joel and Willard Smith to assist me on that day with their wives in sealing about fifty-five couples of our kindred.

I had a dream last night which impressed me with the fact that I am not doing my temple work as fast as I should. I saw in my dream a large orchard of fruit trees of heavy foliage. [p. 219] I was irrigating the orchard but had neglected to watch closely the water. Now I observe that the leaves are all brown and withered from the drouth. I thought what a shame the trees had been so neglected. I saw a woman who may have been my mother or grand mother who seemed to be living on the place. She called my attention to the effects of the drouth and as near as I can remember she indicated to me that if watered well now these trees would come out in the Spring. I apply this to my responsibility to do or have done our temple work. I fear if I were to go on the otherside I would realize my neglect of temple work as I felt my neglect of the orchard. I made ready and took night train for Oasis, thence to Deseret.

Arrived at Oasis at 6:30 A.M. Took breakfast at Day’s hotel. A brother Bennett came from Deseret in Auto and took brother Nephi and. Jensen & me over to Deseret a distance of about two miles. [p. 220]

At the opening session of the Deseret Stake Conference I was one of the speakers and occupied about 45 min. on statistics & reports, Comments &c.

At afternoon meeting I occupied 45 min. Subj. Missionary work at home, abroad, preceptive & example, arround the non members & members and in auxiliaries &c. for love’s sake and in discharge of a religious obligation.

At 7:30 P.M. Stake priesthood meeting I spoke about 15 min. on Contest work and loyalty to wards, Stakes &c.

Deseret, Ut.

Am well

Temperature one degree above Zero.

At 10:00 A.M. meeting I occupied 25 minutes with exceptional liberty & spirit, Subject. Sacrament and Atonement. I tried to magnify the name of the Father & the Son. Their love for us, how they have shown it. Love for love We should be willing to die or to live for them as Christ lived & died for us. Under these circumstances we could partake [p. 221] of the sacrament worthily. The temple obligations would be easy to make.

At 2:00 P.M. meeting I occupied 35 min. Subj. Church organization, read complimentary clippings & made comments. At 7:30 P.M. meeting I occupied about 45 min. Subj. Character defined and the power of thought in its formation.

While in Deseret brother Jensen and I staid at the Hales’ home. Ate one meal away i.e. at Bp. Damron’s.

Bro. Geo. Cahoon of Deseret took us to Oasis in his auto after meeting where we took train for home at 11:08 P.M. Had a good confernce, the attendance was at the various meetings as fol 101—181—103—281—437.

Home.

Arrived home before 7:00 A.M.

I went to Farmington on 11:00 A.M. train taking Ray with me, Mama having gone up there last Saturday on hearing of the Sudden death of Aunt Annie’s husband Frank D. Steed. [p. 222]

While in Deseret Saturday I received a telegram from my Son Joel saying that Uncle Frank Steed died Suddenly that morning.

Today I went up to visit Sister Annie & family and Mother returned with us on 12:40 P.M. train. While in Farmington I administered a blessing to aunt Annie.

I had planned to go with some of our folks to the temple tomorrow to do some sealing but some of the folks find it inconvenient so have deferred it until after Christmas.

Returning from Farmington I looked after correspondence & wrote up my work from notes for the past three days.

Mother & some of the children have colds. Retired early.

Home.

Ideal weather for this country and this season of the year, except that the ground is bare. I went down town and attended to some business and made some purchases. Called on Pres. A. H. Lund and reported to him my visit to his farm and [p. 223] my findings.

Called at temple and by the courtesy of Bro McCallister I got the book of Ceremonies and retiring to another room memorized the ceremony of sealing children to parents.

Hyrum & Estella Lee came in from Tooele on the evening train and later accompanied mother and me down to our daughter Mamie’s. I got a bottle of oil at the store and Clarence & Hyrum and I consecrated the oil and administered to Mamie who has the Quinsy.

Home.

Slight sprinkle of rain most all day. Moderated temperature.

Alice, Hyrum & Estella Lee and Ruby went with LeGrand Robinson & wife to Farmington leaving L.L. in Auto at 10:00 A.M.

George, Edith, Joel & I took 11:00 A.M. train and were met at the depot by Henry Robinson with Auto & taken to Aunt Anna Steeds home. We surrounded the bed and kneeled and I prayed

At the services in the meeting [p. 224] house. the speakers were in order as follows; Joseph E. Robinson, myself and Bp. Iverson of 2nd Ward in Liberty Stake.

I occupied about 20 min. with deliberation yet freedom. Went to the Cemetery and Geo., Edith & I took 4:35 P.M. train for home. Attended my Circle meeting at 6:30 P.M.

Received letters from LeGrand & Ina in Holland intended for our Christmas.

Mother returned by Auto from Farmington arriving home about 8:35 P.M.

Home.

Warm night last & rain.

Cold wind after noon.

I met Pres. Lyman, Jos. F. Smith Jr. & Geo. F. Hickman at Pres. Lyman’s office at 9:00 A.M. and attended regular weekly Council meeting from 10: A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Received appointment to Heber City for Sunday the 26th.

Did some shopping with Mother after which we took car and went down to Mamie’s. Her throat was lanced this morning but is very bad to-night. Clarence ordered an Auto and we brought her home.

Later— 11:00 P.M. We kept hot packs on Mamie’s throat for about 30 minutes and Clarence rubbed her [p. [244]] throat with menthelatum and we administered to her Clarence using the oil for his first experience of the kind and while he was anointing her the swelling in the throat broke and she got immediate relief after the administration. May the Lord be praised.

Home

Mamie better. Others well.

I spent most of the day and most of my money shopping & got thoroughly tired. Pleasant day. The usual good Xmas time is anticipated.

Sarah, Nina, Edna, Oliver and Estella stayed at George’s and Joel’s at Night.

George & Edith & children, Joel and Georgina & baby, Rega & Lucena & baby, Clarence and Mamie stayed with us over night and we retired about 12:45 A.M. A nicely decorated tree and numerous presents. All seemed surprised and satisfied. Many tears shed as our feelings were moved. [p. 245]

[end of eighteenth volume]

Geo. F. Richards

Salt Lake City, Utah

Dec. 25, 1915 to. Oct. 29, 1916.

No. 19—² [p. [0]]

[p. [0]]³

Home.

Cloudy & smoky.

A Christmas tree beautifully decorated and well laden with good things when we arose this morning about 6:00 A.M. My son George took a flashlight picture of the tree and of the family in a group. All enjoyed the morning and we breakfasted at 10:30 A.M. after which the crowd scattered to return in afternoon for dinner except Joel & family who dine at Felts.

A package was received from Holland a few days ago which was opened this A.M. and most of us received a present. Packages were also received for Nerva & family & Estella & family from LeGrand & Ina at Holland. A splendid dinner and general good time was had. Snowed at night.

Home.

All well.

Cold & clear.

I arose at 5:15 A.M. Shoveled snow making paths. Made ready and with Pres. F. M. Smith and Jos. F. Smith Jr. took 8:15 A.M. train [p. 1] for Heber City via Provo. We arrived at Heber at 12 o’clock noon and were met at the train by the members of the Stake Presidency I was taken to Bp. Duke’s of the Heber First ward and took dinner. Pres. Lyman & Elder Smith were taken to the Second and Third wards. At 1:00 P.M. meetings were convened in the three wards and dedicatory services of meeting house were held at same time in the three wards. I addressed the meeting in the First ward for about 50 minutes & offered the dedicatory prayr of 10 minutes. The building cost $13,000. of which $4,000. was contributed by the Trustee & Trust.

There are eight class rooms. The Assembly room will seat about 350 people. Electric lights and water system installed. The ward population is 543 and the attendance was 294 or 54%. We took train for home at 2:40 and arrived in Salt Lake at 6:45 P.M. Saw Joel & Georgina & my son George at our home.

Lucena & Rega and baby left for Logan on 6:00 P.M. train. Mamie & Clarence had gone to their apts and conditions begin to assume a [p. 2] normal state.

Ruby is entertaining tonight a young man named Butt of Lehi, a student of the A.C.

Home.

All well.

Cold day.

I wrote to Nerva, and spent the day at home reading &c. In the evening we played games, ate raisins & nuts &c. A pleasant day with home folks.

Home.

Snowed most all day & at night.

I made a trip down town in the afternoon occupying about two hours time. Attended to several items of business. Spent the remainder of the day at home reading, writing &c. Folks usually well.

Home.

All usually well

I had to shovel snow.

Wrote letters to Pres. James Houston of Panguitch and Bp. Edward Leavitt of Glenwood, Canada. Worked at my desk. Attended Circle meeting and spent the evening after 8:00 P.M. at my son George’s with my daughter Ruby & my son Joel and family. [p. 3]

Home.

All well.

Cold day.

Weekly Council meeting day. Was in the temple from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Called at my son’s office, had a haircut, attended to sundry items of business while down town and got home at 3:15 In the evening Mother & I went up to Joels. George lanced Wayne’s gums and we three administered to him.

Home.

All usually well.

Very cold weather.

Good sleighing in Salt Lake City. I spent the time until noon at home and from 12: to 2:00 o’clock attending to business downtown and Alice & I took the 2:00 P.M. train for Farmington where we visited at Alice’s sister Anna Steed’s taking the 5:36 P.M. train for home.

Had a talk with James Miner who called to see Ruby in the evening. Ruby had tried to repress his attentions to her but not with much success. I think an understanding was had.

This is the closing day of the year and the closing hours of the day. We are at home in quietude. [p. 4]