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Read Ebook: Missing Friends Being the Adventures of a Danish Emigrant in Queensland (1871-1880) by Weitemeyer Thorvald Peter Ludwig
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Ebook has 410 lines and 83733 words, and 9 pages
REPRESENTATIVE
WOMEN OF DESERET,
A BOOK OF
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
TO ACCOMPANY THE PICTURE BEARING THE SAME TITLE.
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY
AUGUSTA JOYCE CROCHERON,
AND DEDICATED TO
O, Spirits dear! Ye light the path That else were lone and dim; I follow where your sainted feet Lead onward, up to Him, And hear above life's discords, still,-- Your heav'n inspired hymn.
SALT LAKE CITY: PRINTED BY J. C. GRAHAM & CO. 1884.
INTRODUCTORY.
In presenting this picture, REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF DESERET, before the public, an explanation may be appropriate that the object may be rightly understood. The picture is intended to represent the Latter Day Saints Women's Organizations rather than to draw attention to those intellectual gifts and acquirements which in this connection are but secondary to the spiritual or missionary labors of those represented. As in Salt Lake City is the head of these organizations, so these spiritual laborers were selected by the precedence they hold.
Throughout our Territory, indeed beyond, are many as sincere and faithful, noble women, well deserving of every honor contained herein, but there is of necessity a limit in the present work and that which would have been a pleasure to the author became an impossibility at this time, but it is the purpose in due season to present another work which will be of interest to our people.
It is not the purpose of the compiler of these sketches to present a complete history of the subjects of the picture, to which this book is merely an accompaniment to acquaint the many who are strangers to them with their labors and their virtues, to show as it were, what manner of people these "Mormons" are. To do full justice to the originals would require more space and ability than are mine. But if the eyes of the stranger may thereby be opened to a knowledge of their purity, integrity and faith in God, their heroic firmness and the trials they have endured without wavering in allegiance to their cause; if any may be convinced that this people are in earnest and in the right, and that God is with them; if they can realize that for men, Mormonism is not a cloak, a subterfuge and a selfish system; that our women are not from the dregs of civilization, led and controlled by stronger minds without a knowledge within themselves for their course, it will prove a joy and delight, a sweet return for my humble but earnest efforts. O, that these truthful testimonies falling upon hearts that are as blocks of ice toward us, might, like burning bullets melt their way therein, until, like Joseph's brethren, they should weep for injuries these have borne!
And to the young of our people, if this work shall cause them to appreciate their honored parents more by the nobility they have proven; if it shall cause them to weigh the object for which these sacrifices were endured against the poor temptations of the present time; if they shall question themselves, shall my parent's sacrifices count for naught? shall their example and their labors be lost on me? their hopes meet disappointment? If that command, "honor thy father and thy mother" shall prevail, and the sweet testimony of the Holy Spirit convince and strengthen them in the same service and faith unto their God, still sweeter and richer shall be the reward.
That this work may go forth from my humble home as a missionary, a silent worker of great good is my fervent hope.
A. J. C.
PREFACE
In presenting the picture and book, REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF DESERET, to the public, I desire to first express my thanks to the ladies of the picture for their kindness and confidence.
I thank Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith for her approval and sanction; Sister Emmeline B. Wells for her steadfast encouragement, and Bishop Hiram B. Clawson for his kind interest and advice. Published, as it has been, in part by subscription, I thank also my generous patrons.
Through a disappointment, so many embarrassments occurred that at one time I felt that no inducement, however beautiful, could again tempt me to so great an undertaking; but for me the Lord in His goodness opened the way; and towards James R. Miller, Dr. A. Farr and Zina D. H. Young, each, my heart thus expresses itself:
As Hagar in her lone despair Gazed hopeless o'er the desert drear, Nor saw until her steps were led, The living waters, sweet and clear; So I who strove through tedious days 'Mid hopes that fled and fears that frowned-- Turned at thy name, and in thy heart, The boon I sought so long was found.
Not hers alone the story old-- The earth is thronged with hearts distressed That little dream how close beside The angel walks--to save and bless.
Eliza R. Snow Smith
Zina D. H. Young
Mary Isabella Horne
Sarah M. Kimball
Prescendia L. Kimball
Phoebe W. Woodruff
Bathsheba W. Smith
Elizabeth Howard
Elmina S. Taylor
Mary A. Freeze
Louie Felt
Ellen C. Clawson
Emmeline B. Wells
Romania B. Pratt
Elvira S. Barney
Emily Hill Woodmansee
Hannah T. King
Augusta Joyce Crocheron
Helen Mar Whitney
Zina Y. Williams
Louise M. Wells
Explanatory
ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH,
PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
Her grandfather was a revolutionary soldier, and his reminiscences created impressions upon her youthful mind that became part of her nature, developing into an intense national devotion.
"Two volumes of her 'Religious, Historical, Political' poems have been published, the First in Liverpool, England, in 1856, the Second in Salt Lake City." Her poems are life like and embody most of our Church history. To select her best poems would make a volume. The one by which she is best known, perhaps, is, "O, My Father, thou that dwellest," and ranks in its individuality and popularity as a Latter Day Saints' doctrinal hymn, with "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning." It is safe to say that these two hymns have wielded an influence beyond our power to estimate, in conveying the spirit of the Gospel to the hearts of the hearers. I have witnessed throngs of people standing outside a "Mormon" place of worship, listening to the singing forgetful for the time of their own personal affairs. They have fixed themselves upon the memory of all who ever heard them. "O My Father" contains doctrine that was new to the world, it was the essence of Mormonism. Every Mormon child is familiar with it and would recognize it in any country. It has been sung to many tunes, several have been composed for it. Of these, I once heard Pres. Brigham Young, in the St. George Temple, designate his preference thus: "Will the Parowan choir please sing 'O My Father,' to that sweet, gentle air I love so well?" The air was "Gentle Annie," a strange choice it sounded, but the effect proved the correctness of his taste.
"Sister Eliza early devoted her attention to the Scriptures and in her girlhood formed the acquaintance of the famous preacher and scholar, Alexander Campbell, and other noted divines. In 1835, she went to Kirtland, Ohio, and boarded in the family of the Prophet Joseph, teaching a select school for young ladies. Miss Snow returned home to visit her parents but on the 1st of January, 1837, bade farewell to her paternal home, to share the joys or the afflictions of the Latter Day Saints.
"She became a governess to the children of the Prophet, and was a companion for Emma, his wife, for a number of years.
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