Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18

TN THE year 1878 Aurelia Spencer
Rogers WAS inspired with the
thought that something should be
done that would assist tho many
boys and girls growing up to a better
moral and spiritual development.
Many of the children in her home
town appeared to have an undue
amount Of liberty. much time being
spent on the street corners. where
speech and actions indicated lack OF
the training and education necessary
to tho growth of good character.
The parents of these children were all
very busy providing homes. food. cloth
ing. and in maintaining schools for
their elementary education.
The Sabbath schools were doing much
good, but throughout the week the
boys and girls seemed to have no time
or place where they could receive sys-
tematic moral and religious training,
The idea which came to the mind
OF this woman WAS, to gather the chill
dren together once a week and teach
them to sing and pray; to be honest.
kind. truthful and helpful in their
homes and to each other.
The matter was presented to Presi-
dent John Taylor, who approved of
the plan suggested, Eliza R. Snow
was appointed to organize the chill
dren's meetings throughout the Church.
The name Primary Association" was
chosen by Miss Snow for such meet
ings.
The work prospered from the begin
MI Nj
In Utah. 1t has been increased to 700
associations with about $500 women
officers who are laboring for the moral
and spiritual growth of more than 50,-
600 boys and girls between the ages
of and IA.
At this time there were no stake
or general boards to systematic or
supervise plans or programs. The off,
GERS who were appointed to preside had
little or no training In tho control or
management of children but were filled
with love and an earnest Willingness
to do the best under the circumstances.
Exercises consisting OF songs and
recitatlons, with opportunities for the
bearing of simple testimonies, prayers
individually and I'm concert. the mem
or1zing of such scriptural selections
as the Ten Commandments, and the
Lords Prayer; also the Word Of Wls-
dom, Articles of Faith. etc, formed n
large part of the regular program
The value of the industrial side was
not overlooked. and all the simple ac-
tlyltleS of the home and the farm
were taught and encouraged Many
fairs have been held which were a
credit to the promoters and the chill
dren who labored to produce exhibits
of excellence and merit
SYSTEMATICALLY ORGANIZED.
The Primary associations are now
more Systematically organized with
stake boards, who look carefully after
the local associations. and general
board which visits annually each stake
and whose business 1t Is 10 advise and
encourage stake officers and keep up
a systematic growth of the work gem
orally.
When parents and officers understand
the object OF this association and are
united by a common interest In the
moral and religious training of the
children. much good can be accom-
plished and a greater measure of sue
cess Is assured,
The officers of an organization are
supposed to know all the children of
Primary age who reside In the ward
where they live; to understand enough
about the environment and home In
nuences OF each to be able to encour-
age and assist intelligcntly those who
need help. to know why certain do.
or do not, belong to tho association.
To gain this information local off,
GERS are supposed to visit. at least once
each year. every home In the ward
where there are children. to become
acquainted with the parents. explain
to them the value of the organization
and obtain their sympathetic co-opera-
ton in the development of the plans
which have been instituted for the
benefit of the children Parents arc
invited to visit the meetings and when
child needs special help a united ef-
fort on the part of parents and teach
ers will often produce beneficial re-
suits
The association meets weekly. the |
session usually lasting one hour. The