I found this address, given by Aurelia S. Rogers, explaining the origins of the Primary Organization.
The first Primary Association was organized in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah on the 11th of Aug. 1878, with Aurelia S. Rogers, President; Louisa Haight and Helen M. Miller, Counselors; Rhoda H. Richards, Secretary; and Clara A. Leonard, Treasurer. As the move was a new one our Bishop, John W. Hess, suggested that we visit the ward and get the names of all the children between the ages of five and fourteen years, which was accordingly done; a meeting was then appointed which was the commencement of Primaries. Soon afterwards a Primary was organized in the 11th ward, Salt Lake City, with Louie Felt, President.
Although I may have been the originator of the idea of such a move, to Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith should be given the credit of doing the most work. It was Sister Eliza, who in company with Sister Zina D. Young and others, traveled through the Territory of Utah, and with the assistance of the Bishop organized a Primary in nearly every settlement. It was Sister Eliza who compiled the Primary hymn book and prepared a book of questions and answers on the Bible. And may the name of Sister Eliza be remembered with honor, by the children of the Latter-day Saints.
I would like to liken the organizations of this Church to a fruit tree, which when fully developed has a root, body, branches and fruit, the leaves might be compared to the clothing of the tree. In order to make my comparisons plain, we will commence at the beginning, when this Church was first organized with six members on the 6th day of April 1830, the priesthood of God was restored to the earth, and this might be likened unto man as the root of the tree. As time rolled on the gospel spread and the Church grew till it formed quite a body, and finally the Saints settled in the beautiful City of Nauvoo. Then, and not until then, was a Relief Society organized, the Prophet Joseph Smith himself stated that such an organization was necessary, and even blessed and set apart certain sisters to preside over the same. Our attention must now be drawn to the fact that no man was a member of said society or held any office therein.
This organization then can be likened unto woman as the body of the tree. We will now skip over a lapse of years till the Saints have arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, have begun to make themselves comfortable homes, and also raise up branches of the Church in Europe and in other parts of the world. About this time it was thought best by President Brigham Young, to have what was then called a Retrenchment Association, especially for young women. This was on account of the fashion and style that prevailed in our midst at the time, this move afterward led to an organization of the Young Men, which was the starting point of the Mutual Improvement Associations. This we think will compare with the branches of the tree. So far, we have the tree in its perfect state, with the exception of the fruit, and this we all know is the last to make its appearance, and even then it takes some time to mature. In the summer of 1878 Primary Associations were first thought of and brought into existence, and through the unceasing efforts of Sister E. R. Snow Smith and others have been organized throughout the Territory. If then Primaries are typical of the fruit, we have the tree in all its beauty.”
Just to clarify: Aurelia was called as the first Primary President, but only in a ward setting. The first General Primary President, over all of the children in the Church, was Louie Felt. As you tour the Relief Society Building and see the presidents of the Primary, you will see both women with Aurelia first and Louie second, in the order of their service.
It makes me love Eliza all the more to realize that she took someone else’s idea, worked and developed it, and gave her complete credit for it. You will not see Eliza’s picture along with the other Primary Presidents. For that matter, her picture isn’t alongside the Young Women’s Presidents, or with the Young Men’s Presidents, even though it was because of her we have these organizations.
Thanks to all of the early sisters who contributed to the beginnings of all the organizations. Today, we enjoy their inspiration, creativity, initiative, and love in working together to make things better for us today.
From an article written in the Woman’s Exponent, Nov 1, 1891