Perhaps no chapter in the Children’s Friend‘s coloring book of 1923 is more dated than the drawings for September. It isn’t just that the theme for lessons that month — “Industrial Growth” — would today be an unlikely subject for children’s lessons, despite the more spiritually minded motto of “Great Works Are Accomplished Not by Strength But by Perseverance” which accompanied the lessons.

It is, rather, that every single drawing shows smoke rising into the air. Smoke was a good thing, a thing to be celebrated, a mark of civilization when it represented the domestic cooking fire of a log cabin, or the industrial power of a blacksmith’s forge, or the coal furnaces heating thousands of Salt Lake homes, or what today would be seen as the polluting, choking poisons rising from industrial smokestacks in the last three drawings. In 1923, however, those smoke stacks were proud evidence of a people’s progress: “Latter-day Saints, a Progressive People,” was the overall message of the lessons during the last four months of that year.

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Spicy

It made the young recruit hot.
No wonder he was flustered,
The foeman peppered him with shot,
Right after he was mustered.

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After a couple of weeks of ye editore’s vacation and attendant laziness, Keepa is back at full strength. Here’s what’s on tap for next week:

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Archaeologists and museum curators and private collectors all know that the most difficult items to acquire for their collections are often the smallest and simplest, must mundane artifacts of day-to-day life. Everyone recognizes the value of and knows to carefully preserve the heavy silver, the fine weapons, the material objects that gave status to their owners when those objects were new. It’s the low-cost, disposable household items and workshop tools that are treated carelessly and discarded thoughtlessly when new technology or fashion replaces them, that are sometimes the rarest items after time has passed.

I have long heard about “sand tables” as a standard fixture of LDS Primary and Sunday School classrooms. These were described to me as long, narrow tables, at a convenient height  for children either to sit or to stand, with tops framed as boxes to hold several inches of sand. My mother, talking about several years either side of 1940, said that she would stand her flannelboard figures upright in the sand and allow children to move the figures like dolls as she narrated a story, giving them a more three-dimensional experience than the typical flat flannelboard use.

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More doctrinal and procedural questions answered by George Q. Cannon through the pages of the Juvenile Instructor. Topics include the perennially discussed passing of the Sacrament and blessing of children  – I wonder why the most familiar rituals raise so many questions? — along with some novelties.

We have received an inquiry as to whether it would be better to pass the Sacrament to those coming into the meeting late – many entertaining the view that a more punctual and prompt attendance might be secured if those who come late were denied the privilege of receiving these emblems.

A question came up before the Sunday School Union Board respecting the practice which had obtained in some places of closing the doors of a meeting house while the Sacrament was being passed, and thus keeping outside, until the Sacrament had been administered, those who were not punctual. The reasons that were assigned for this custom were those mentioned by our correspondent above …

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My new friends, Iris and Phil, live in a very pretty subdivision, one side of which backs into a steep hill. They have the slope landscaped and up at the top they have some patio furniture and a grill. They look down over some really beautiful, hilly green farms.

Recently a neighbor of theirs had a barbecue to which Iris’s family was invited. A woman at the party had had one too many and finally blurted out to Iris, “But what do you people DO up there?”

Now if it had been me, of course I would have said, “We sacrifice virgins” or “We saute newts’ toenails” or something. But Iris, being Iris, simply said, “We cook hamburgers and hot dogs.”

Crazy Mormons.

There is always a debate over the question as to how far the church shall go in promoting Recreation as a part of its program. there are still a few who think that the Church has no responsibility for aught except purely ‘religious’ things. Other enthusiasts hold that the Church should provide for all the recreational life of the community. On the whole, the modern church, with a social gospel and a program of religious education, considers recreation an integral part of its program.

– The [MIA] Community Activity Manual, 1935-36

By today’s standards, with so many opportunities for private recreation, the ward recreation schedule for 1935-36 seems overwhelming, with a major activity every two weeks – and that doesn’t even count the socials held by auxiliaries other than the MIA, the Relief Society bazaar, class parties, Boy Scout outings, banquets, and a very elaborate system of tournament sports (which in 1935-36 included basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, horseshoes, and quoits). Nor does this list include stake activities, conferences, general church activities, nor the many hours of preparation that would go into any of the ward activities scheduled that year — and they were ward activities, not solely youth activities. The MIA manual includes elaborate instructions for each of the activities listed here.

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As part of its landscaping for both the Conference Center and the new Church History Library, the church has brought part of historic City Creek back to the surface (it has long been channeled through underground pipes). Shallow waters flow along rock-lined channels planted with native grasses and flowers, lending pleasant natural sounds and movement to North Temple street.

If you look closely at the granite stones piled along the stream, you’ll see that a few of them bear traces of human activity: chisel marks, and small holes drilled in straight lines. These are not signs of modern vandalism. These scars, rather, date to the 1860s, ’70s, or ’80s, and are indications that a boulder came from the granite quarries in Little Cottonwood Canyon, where pioneer laborers cut stone to build the Salt Lake Temple, and later for the Church Administration Building and the Utah Capitol. Stone for the Conference Center was cut from the same quarries in the 1990s; when workmen noted these traces of their pioneer forebears, those boulders were set aside for landscaping purposes.

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The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

– General Orders No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic

The Grand Army of the Republic – the premier fraternal organization for Union veterans of the American Civil War – came to Utah in 1872 in two forms: active duty military men stationed at Salt Lake City’s Camp Douglas and Beaver’s Camp Cameron, and discharged soldiers who had come to Utah either as miners or as appointees of the federal government. During the 1880s, Grand Army men would hold nearly every appointed office in the territory, from governor down to post office watchman, and there would be much friction – even the threat of armed confrontation – between the gentile veterans and the Mormons.

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Lesson 20: The Kingdoms of Glory

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1900: Deseret Sunday School Union Leaflets

Lesson 203: Degrees of Glory

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Temples were such scarce buildings in 1923 that the Children’s Friend increased its monthly coloring book page-allotment to seven that August, including a drawing of the Mesa Temple’s foundation in order to have a full catalog of Latter-day Saint temples. Beyond that, it is remarkable how well the Children’s Friend‘s unknown artist was able to depict the distinctive, complex architecture of each temple in a few outline strokes.

As with all other entries in this series, these pictures were intended to be colored and mounted by Primary teachers and used as visual aids during their lesson that month.

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Conundrums.

When is a pie like a poet? When it is Browning.

Upon what object in nature has every author written? Upon the earth.

Why does a hole in a pigsty conduce to the education of little pigs? Because it makes the pigs litter-airy.

Who was the straightest man in the Bible? Joseph, for Pharaoh wanted to make a ruler of him.

Why is the tailor the poor man’s best friend? Because he settles the rents.

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I somehow found myself in the new Church History Library today, wandering around on my own, doing a test-drive of the furniture, poking my nose into all public areas. Some random thoughts on the physical facilities, which will FINALLY open for business on June 22, after several weeks of public tours, open houses, and a dedication:

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This song dates to 1875:

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Lesson 19: The Plan of Salvation

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1935: The Application of Religion to Life

Lesson 6: The Plan of the Drama

“Wherefore the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself.” (II Nephi 2:16.)

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (II Nephi 2:27.)

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There’s a war on, but you might not guess that from the smiles and the keep-on-keeping-on activities of LDS church members.

And while the baby boom hasn’t technically begun, you wouldn’t guess that from the crowds of children on display, either.

Fairbanks, Alaska 

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I’m trying to visualize a day in 1925 when the Juvenile Instructor was delivered to the desk of each General Authority. Did Heber J. Grant turn first to the joke page? Did Joseph Fielding Smith?

Oh!

First Flea – Have you been on a vacation?

Second Flea – No; just on a tramp.

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We’ve laughed about ads in early 20th century church magazines — the garment fashion shows, the pitches to bishops to buy their sacrament trays from us and not from them, the brand of olive oil that’s purer — and presumably more efficacious — for use in healing blessings. But it’s probably not hard to believe that I sometimes see ads I wish I could take advantage of, for goods and services, at the prices prevailing in some past year.

Some deals I covet …

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Once again, Catherine Hurst of the Young Woman’s Journal “Girl Query” feature has the answers to everything from split ends to shiny noses to dating your best friend’s fiancé:

—oooOooo—

Do you think it good taste for a girl to allow a boy to kiss her at the station when bidding her good-bye? – Penelope.

If they are engaged to be married and are to be parted for a length of time, an allowance might be made for such an expression of feeling. otherwise it is better to reserve all such demonstrations for private enjoyment rather than to exhibit one’s feelings to the curious public.

—oooOooo—

In answer to “Elsina” – Chocolate or cocoa served occasionally is not contrary to the “Word of Wisdom.”
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Although Norway did not suffer the battlefield or bombing damage of much of the rest of World War II Europe, Norway was occupied by Germany early in the war and cut off from trade and free communication with the world. For four long years, church leaders in Salt Lake City heard nothing from or about the Saints in Norway.

What would you want to report about the Saints in your care under those circumstances?

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Scene at the Logan Temple, 28 May 1919:

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This is a story it will be easy to hate unless you can temporarily suspend the wisdom and judgment of your 2009 perspective. For just a few minutes, let your imagination take you back to the world of the 1930s when most of the scientists and museums shared the philosophy of an earlier age, and when environmentalists were generally not recognized for the prescience and respect the modern world generally accords them.

Gardell Dano Christensen was an Idaho boy, born in Shelley in 1907, and raised as a Latter-day Saint. He loved the outdoors, but he was an artist rather than a farmer, a modeler of clay, and he longed to devote his life to something that used his unique skills. Raising sugar beets wasn’t going to do the trick. He was in high school when he read an article about Carl Akeley, a New York farm boy who had gone on to become a great African explorer, accompanying Teddy Roosevelt on one of his expeditions. He was also one of the most notable of the early 20th century naturalists, a taxidermist who specialized in museum dioramas showing African animals in realistic poses in natural settings. Some of his pre-World War I dioramas of lions and gorillas are still displayed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

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Lesson 18: “Establish … a House of God”

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1900: Deseret Sunday School Union Leaflets

Lesson 207: Temples

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The lives of missionaries was the topic for study in the Primary classes of July, 1923, as the children learned that “He That Loveth the Lord, Loveth His Brother Also.” The lessons were illustrated by pictures that mixed Church history with the scenes from contemporary (1923) life.

As with the other chapters in this series, these pictures and verses were published in the Children’s Friend, ready for teachers to color and mount and use as teaching aids. Now they’re ready to print out for your kids to color.

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Funnies from the Church magazines of 1968, some with local flavor:

The Latter-day Saint woman on the train was anxious to use the “golden questions,” so as soon as she could, she asked the man in the seat next to her, “How much do you know about the Mormon Church?”

“Oh, a little,” came the answer.

“Would you like to know more?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I am a stake president, and I need all the help I can get.”
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As long as I can’t get my hands on the treasures in the Archives until the move to the new building is complete, I’m footloose and fancy-free, heading out to explore new (to me) places as soon as the housesitters move in.

Saturday, May 16, will find me near Philadelphia at the home of a reader/friend who has offered to host a Snacker for anyone interested in meeting and greeting. Rather than just talking history, we’ll MAKE history!

Please comment here, or write to KEEPAPITCHININ at AOL dot COM , so that we can guage potential interest. (Note that “Keepapitchinin” ends in -inin, not just one -in.)

Janne Mattson Sjodahl (1853-1939) was a highly educated Swedish convert (in fact, he emigrated to Utah before he converted, specifically to investigate the church). He trained for the Baptist ministry in Stockholm, earned a further divinity degree in London, and studied German, Greek, Hebrew, and a handful of other languages, as well as his native Swedish and the fluent English he learned in London.

In Utah, Sjodahl was the first person to be endowed in the Manti Temple. He translated the LDS scriptures into Swedish, and, after serving a mission to Palestine, he began a notable editorial career with the Deseret News, Salt Lake’s various Scandinavian-language newspapers, and the church magazines. He assisted apostle James E. Talmage in revising the footnotes that appeared in the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon, authored commentaries on the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and entered the debate over Book of Mormon geography. There is no question that he made a solid and lasting contribution to Mormon intellectual life.

… Which is why I was a little surprised to run across his challenge of Einstein’s theory of special relativity:
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As usual, the answers to these questions found in the Juvenile Instructor are presumed to have been provided by the magazine’s editor, George Q. Cannon:

Is it necessary in blessing an infant for the elder to speak the entire name, as, John James Smith? Or would the child be properly named if the Elder gave it the name of John James, when the father’s name is Smith, and in reality the child’s name is John James Smith?

The mention of the given name or names is all that is essential to the correct blessing of a child, as its name at birth is the same as that of its parents, and therefore it is not necessary to again confer upon it this name. Sometimes in blessing children, however, the original as well as the Christian name is mentioned, which is, of course, not in the least improper.

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I know little about Nancy Ann Childress (sometimes Childers) beyond the barest genealogical facts:

She was born 10 September 1848 in Clark County, Missouri, the daughter of John Milton Childress and Nancy Conyers.

She married three times, first to James Osburn on 11 February 1868 in Lewis County, Missouri; he disappears from her life within a couple of years, and I don’t know what happened to him. Nancy married again to George W. Armour, on 12 November 1871, in Lewis County. She raised seven children with him before he died on 12 September 1890, still in Lewis County. And third, she married James T. Turner on 21 December 1897, in Lewis County. Nancy outlived this third husband by many years – he died in 1907, and she lived until 1924, when she died in Illinois.

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Three weeks ago, Eric Russell posted at By Common Consent a description of Going to Church in Iraq, featuring a photograph of the bright, well furnished chapel annex where his Al Asad Group meets. He described the order of their services, their equipment, the organization of the Church – these servicemen’s groups in a seemingly unlikely region of the world are part of a formal stake structure, and the Church has developed a rhythm to provide leadership by setting apart potential group leaders before Latter-day Saint soldiers are even deployed.

These servicemen’s groups are the modern successors to a long history of providing religious support to LDS soldiers. I suppose we could say that goes back at least as far as the Mormon Battalion of 1846, or even to the march of Zion’s Camp in 1834. Here at Keepa, we’ve talked about the World War I chaplaincy of B.H. Roberts and about a serviceman finding smoothly running LDS services in the jungles of New Guinea toward the end of World War II.

In the opening days of World War II, before many LDS chaplains were in place or even before the Church had really organized itself to support servicemen away from home, LDS soldiers still managed to find each other and experiment with ways of continuing LDS life in war zones. One such group of soldier-elders, calling themselves “The Three Musketeers,” formed an unofficial group at Fort Clayton, in the Panama Canal Zone, in the early summer of 1942.

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Charles Denney, Jr. (1849-1937) was the son of English converts of London, baptized when he was 9, and ordained a deacon when he was 15 (which seems unusually early to me, for that time and place). He emigrated when he was 15, ahead of his parents, although he had an uncle and aunt, whom he did not know, to meet him when he reached Utah.

Denney wrote a biographical reminiscence in 1876-77 which includes one of the most engaging (if brief) accounts of emigration I ever recall reading. He remembered the trip as if he were still a 15-year-old rather than as an adult looking back, and recorded the details a boy would notice: the drowning of another boy about his age, his first taste of chewing gum, how his leader on the trail christened each wagon with a name as if it were a ship (Denney traveled with the “Weber Sal”), how he “washed” his shirt by wearing it into the river and rubbing it as best he could, then laying it out on the bank to dry while he went back into the river to wash his body. (You can read his short autobiography to 1877 here.)

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