An adult Sunday School lesson from our grandparents’ era:

November 25, 1928

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” – Matt. 5:38-42

Basal Readings

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:14-21

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I’ve decided that we need to wrap up this monstrosity this week, recover over the weekend, and get a fresh start on something more pleasant on Monday. Hence, this “bonus” chapter today, with the concluding chapter noonish tomorrow. Repeat with conviction: “It’s only a historic artifact … It’s only a historic artifact …”

Expatriation

By Hugh J. Cannon

Previous Chapter

Chapter 9

Dick and Mrs. Brooke had carried a couch to the porch and laid Nell’s unconscious form upon it. The sea breeze and the solicitous attentions of her friends revived the girl, and she was by no means certain as sensibility returned that Dick had not been kissing her. He was kneeling by the couch and holding her hand. His face was radiant.

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Pictures of Juarez

By Grace Zenor Pratt

Springtime in Juarez – let me return once more –
Fragrance of blossoms, humming of the bees;
The lacy, flowering beauty of the trees. –
Apricot, peach and apple, pear flowers, white
While yards of roses quicken my delight.

Summer in Juarez – let me feel thy breath
From canyon’s shaded gloom and silver streams.
Peace dwell beside me while I sit and dream,
Rest me beside the wide-flung alamo trees,
Breathe the rain-freshened air on every breeze.

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Marba Cannon Josephson (1897-1965), a leader in the YWMIA and later a participant with Belle Spafford in some of the international women’s conferences supported by the Relief Society, was general manager of the Improvement Era when she penned this article:

Woman’s Changed World

… [C]hanges [since the founding of the Improvement Era 40 years earlier] have revolutionized woman’s sphere particularly. Where formerly woman’s work kept her constantly bent over the tub or the stove, modern conveniences have emancipated her and brought a new, hitherto unheard of freedom. Hours of drudgery have dwindled into minutes of rapidly completed work. Where in years past woman was confined almost literally to the kitchen, today she has leisure to do much as she pleases.

What is woman doing with this new-found leisure? Therein lies the secret of her success or failure. Is she frittering away her time with senseless amusements or is she employing her time wisely to benefit herself, her family, her community, her Church?

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For you who have given up on our awful serial, here’s something a little different.

From the Relief Society Magazine, September 1932 –

A Day in Bed

By Estelle Webb Thomas

The doctor was grave. “Yes, a complete rest is what you need, Mrs. Carson, but you absolutely must learn to relax in any case. Whenever you feel one of those nervous attacks coming on spend a day in bed!”

“But Doctor –” began Anne Carson, weakly.

“Oh, I know all the reasons why you cannot possibly take a day off and spend it in bed,” the doctor interrupted briskly. “Nevertheless, it is necessary unless you prefer to spend a year or so in a sanitarium.”

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Expatriation

By Hugh J. Cannon

Previous Chapter

Chapter 8

The visit of the Redfields and Jessie was made shorter than had been anticipated. An unexpected demand was made for the judge’s services at home, but, though important, this call alone would perhaps have remained unheeded except for the fact that the tropical climate did not agree with Mrs. Redfield who was advised by the local doctor to return to the States as soon as possible.

In vain Nell was urged to accompany them, but they all were forced to acknowledge her good judgment in determining to remain until after Nate and Jessie were married and away for Egypt.

The most trying of all farewells are those said to loved ones who are leaving on board ship, the pain of parting is so greatly prolonged. As the vessel steamed slowly out of the harbor of Pago Pago, to which place the travelers were obliged to go because through steamers do not touch at Apia, the dispirited Nell felt as one who, after tasting of heavenly bliss, has suddenly been cast down to infernal darkness.

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The Church’s decades-long operation of Beneficial Life
meshes with mid-century ideals of middle class
family values in this series of advertisements from 1958 –

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Cardston’s Jubilee

By Helen Kimball Orgill

O Cardston fair, with glowing pride, we greet thy natal morn.
All hail to thee who fifty years ago today was born!
With hearts in tune, we’ll sing the praise of stalwart sons and true
Who built in faith with vision bright, built better than they knew!
Unwavered by the tempest’s blast, cold winter’s hoary hand,
They proved unto the doubting ones, this is a favored land.
And Heaven looking down upon the sacrifice they made
Beneficently smiled and said, “Thy glory shall never fade!”
And Truth and Justice from that hour have held unbroken sway,
O’er hearts that beat in unison, down to the present day.
O Canada, we gaze in pride across thy land far-flung
And view achievements great as e’er were told by mortal tongue;
And as in vision bright, we see the future loom in sight,
Across the eastern horizon in rainbow colors bright.
It is for us to keep the faith, our emblem e’er to wave,
And trust in One who ever has been strong and sure to save,
To lead us past the reefs and rocks that lie along the way
While darkness brooding o’er the land, shuts out the light of day,
Our heritage we will hold dear, attuned our minds will be,
Until our love of country will be felt from sea to sea.

(1937)

Part 1 here

In the 1820s and 1830s a great wave of Southerners moved to Indiana. Perhaps the most famous of these were Abraham Lincoln and his family. One young couple, John Jeter and Elizabeth Coleman Crosby, joined this migration. Their family later became influential in the early history of the church.

John was from an old South Carolina family and Elizabeth was from an old Virginia family. Their parents and grandparents served in the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth’s parents moved from Virginia and settled in Union, South Carolina. [1] Elizabeth married John Jeter Crosby and they went to settle in Indiana.

The Crosbys had six children: William, Ann, Susan, Syntha, Elizabeth, and Nancy.

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Lucky you! I just discovered that I hadn’t typed the last two installments in this series (did I lose heart at some point?) — there are *ten* chapters to this tale! O, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! That much more of this to appreciate!

Expatriation

By Hugh J. Cannon

Previous Chapter

Chapter 7

Mail from the United States did not reach Apia often. Frequently a month would elapse between these interesting periods, but when it did arrive it invariably caused great excitement. Strange it was how eagerly men and women, native and white, waited at the post office though some of them had never received a letter in their lives and had no reason to expect one.

As no mail boat ever reached port without having something for Nell Redfield, she was always an early caller at the post office. A few days after Lieutenant Hawley’s last visit, she was handed more than the usual quota of letters and papers. A bulky one from her father was the first to be opened. After recording a number of unimportant items, it went on to say:

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