[. . .]

Sister M. J. [Mary Isabella Hales] Horne. said [. . .] We are delighted to have Sister E. R. Snow Smith in our midst.

She has blessed many of The Mothers in Israel not only by her voice but by her pen. [. . .] [p. 122] [. . .] E. R. Snow Smith. It is impossible for me to describe the interest I feel in you this evening in looking around. The priviliges you enjoy are so far superior to what we older ones enjoyed at your ages. Still when I was young I did not want to live so that when I died I should be soon forgotten so I determined I should fit myself for usefulness. Had I the advantages you have I should have been a much more useful individual, but I always tried to do my best. I regret that some of the girls rather than get up to speak, will leave these meetings. Do not yield to your first feelings in regard to speaking in meeting, but overcome them by perseverance. The glory of the world is soon going down. The saints of God will bear rule and I hope the time is very near. You want to be noble, useful women, and in order to do this you want healthy bodies for your spirit to operate in. Avoid extremes that have a tendency to weaken the body. Cultivate yourselves mentaly. Secure all useful knowledge that you can grasp. Then you want to cultivate yourselves morally. Yet you may cultivate yourselves mentally, morally, & physically. Then you will only shine as the woman of the world; therefore you want spiritual cultivation.

Write matter of importance in your journal. If I were educating a child I would rather not let it know a letter, than to neglect the spiritual training. I like the idea of the young [p. 123] ladies bearing testimony. I used to think that in order to know anything I should be able to prove it by some one of my facilities, but now I believe there is such a thing as knowledge being given to us from God. The time is coming when we cannot lean on others for support. we will have to stand alone. Now is the time to make a firm foundation for your character. Be determined to do right no matter what others do. With regard to diet. Some eat just what suits them <their> taste, but we must study our diet for health. I organised the first organisation of Yound [Young] Ladies under Prest [Brigham] Young’s own eye, & I am proud of the progress they have made. Give the most importance to the most important things & God will bless you.

[. . .]

Sister [Jane S.] Richards [. . .] I was thinking while Sister Eliza was speaking, if the young ladies were asked what kind of a testimony they had in regard to the gospel, what would their answer be? There never was a time when faith was more necessary than it is now, and we should exercise it for the safety of our brethren. [. . .] [p. 124]