As I continue reading through the Women’s Exponent, I am struck by how great all these 19th Century women were.  I truly feel the sisterhood of our organization.

Back then, each Retrenchment group would report on their meetings; the minutes were published in the Women’s Exponent.  Typically, the secretary would write a short summary and send it on to Salt Lake.  The report would say that they met together, who their speakers were (if anyone came visiting from Salt Lake), how they were doing on the grain project, sericulture (silkworms), care of the poor, etc.  What I love about these little synopses is that the women were working toward something, toward the same things, and it was shared by everyone reading the Women’s Exponent.  I love how Emmeline B. Wells said, “Many hands make labor light, and union is strength.”

Following are excerpts written by these wonderful women who gave of themselves, knew they were fighting alongside one another, and shared their testimonies in each of these reports filed away for the eternities:

“In our sewing meetings, we always introduce subjects of conversation pertaining to matters of interest to us as a body of people, and no gossip is ever allowed or introduced.  We take great pleasure in hearing of the progress of our sisters everywhere.”

“I ask God to bless us, to inspire us with a sense of our religion, that we may interest ourselves in the progress of this glorious work.  How many of us realize the importance of studying our religion, of seeking a knowledge for ourselves that this is the everlasting gospel and only true gospel on the face of the earth.”

“We feel a determination to do what we can to obey the voice of the good shepherd, knowing that the Lord will not command His people to do anything that they cannot perform.  It is through obedience we realize the greatest blessings.”

“We were organized into societies to retrench from everything that is evil; not only in extravagance of dress, but everything that is not of the Lord.  We are counseled not to backbite nor speak evil of each other or our neighbors.  My young sisters let us now go forth and help to build up the kingdom of God that we may come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection, among the Saviors on Mount Zion.”

“The sisters in the Relief Societies have really manifested an earnest zeal which does them great credit.

“We are not personally acquainted with our sisters who preside in SLCity, yet we feel drawn towards them in love and good wishes for we are all striving for the same object, a salvation in the kingdom of God.”

“Hoping that God will bless our Society and labors, and the labors of all who are working for the advancement of truth and righteousness upon the earth.”

“My husband and myself were down since, and commenced the work for our dead.  My heart is filled to overflowing when I contemplate the great plan of redemption, and the great privileges we have that no other people have ever had.  Do the Latter-day Saints realize the responsibilities resting upon them, and the days in which we are living?  We have no time to trifle away.

Sisters, let us quit following after foolish and disgraceful fashions, and try to do the will of our Father in Heaven, and see that we have oil in our lamps and be prepared to receive the blessings in store for the faithful.”

“There is a lively interest taken in the Society, and great desire to do good is manifested in caring for the poor.  The sisters need not be idle, and think they have no mission to perform, for even that of wife and mother is, to me, a vast and noble one.  We can find time to speak words of kindness and comfort to those who are cast down, administer to the wants of the poor, and visit the sick.  My prayer is that God will open the hearts of those who have means to give to those who have not, and both will receive a blessing. “

“I send you a few words from our little place, to let you know how we are getting along with our meetings.  How proud our parents would be to have their sons and daughters grow up to be mighty men and women in the church of Jesus Christ, and if we do not improve ourselves while we have a chance we will have to endure the consequences, for we will never have the opportunity to come back and retrace our footsteps after we pass away from this earth.”