The Seventh Meeting was held on the 13th of May, 1942.
Joseph Smith opened the meeting with prayer.
Every week there is a long list of women wanting to be voted into membership. That still amazes me: sisters BEGGING to be a part of Relief Society.
Brother Joseph felt strongly that anyone “who refused to pay poor widows what is due them be forever discontinued by this Society.” This makes me think of two things:
1) This was the beginning of dues for the Relief Society.
2) ALL of us, today, need a system to pay for, and perform, consistent humanitarian service, lest we be “forever discontinued by this Society”.
The Eighth Meeting, held on the 17th, opened with prayer and the choir sang.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty cool: They’ve already formed a choir. I think that is very significant; we really need to pay more attention to the music around us. Choirs and various groups singing will help us do that.
I have to quote this next part—
“Councillor Whitney then rose and said she was burthened in mind in thinking of existing evils in the church—was desirous that this Society become more obedient to the gospel in keeping all the commandments. Exhorted them to humility and watchfulness—said the more she had heard and seen of corrupt numbers, the more she was stimulated to faithfulness—that the gifts and blessings of the gospel were ours, if found faithful and pure before God, etc.”
In all of this warning, I hear a tender regard for her beloved sisters.
Sis. Whitney continued, “There is as much evil in this as in any other place—said she would that this Society were pure before God—that she was afraid that under existing circumstances, the sisters were not careful enough to expose iniquity—the time had been when charity had covered a multitude of sins, but now it is necessary that sin should be expos’d that heinous sins were among us—that much of this iniquity was practiced by some in authority, pretending to be sanctioned by Pres. Smith.”
Wow! These are pretty strong words for their day. What would these women think of our day?
And I wonder…instead of completely rejecting evil (like these ladies are talking about), don’t we talk about way to DEAL with evil? It reminds me of the Nephites tolerating Korihor, and the People of Ammon kicking him out of town.
Emma stood up and said, “Would that this Society were pure before God…that under existing circumstances, the sisters were not careful enough to expose iniquity…heinous sins were among us”. She exhorted everyone to repent and forsake their sins. “Satan’s forces are against this church…every Saint should be at their post.”
Sis. Cleveland stood up and said the Gentiles may not be able to curse Israel, but they can draw them into iniquity, so be watchful always.
A motion was made to suspend a woman from Relief Society; no reason given. A list of sisters and their donations was given, as well as a list of services to be rendered.
It seems they talked a lot about warning against sin and evil; striving to live a pure life. I guess that never stops. We must always be warned and urged to forsake sin. We think our temptations are so much more than theirs were, but maybe not so much. Maybe they dealt with some pretty awful things in their time period. Satan doesn’t rest. Clearly, these women knew they were destined to be the light of the world.
The Minute Book is now online at Joseph Smith Papers.