Comments on: Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd: Chapter Seven

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:51:28 +0000

I remember the days when not only did the RS and the priesthood quorums have dues, but there was also a ward budget to pay. Each family was assessed an amount based on the bishop’s evaluation of their ability to pay (family size, income — based on tithing records — whether you were supporting a missionary or college students, but all subject to negotiation with the bishop, too). To raise additional necessary funds for the ward budget, wards held “budget night” activities; they might show a movie, for instance, with members charged two different admission prices depending on whether they were current with their budget payments or not. Before that, there were “nickel Sundays” to raise funds to allow the general auxiliary boards to travel to the various stakes. Birthday pennies were collected in Primary to support Primary Children’s Hospital. Youth activities all cost money — as did bandlos and flags and the other trappings of class groups. There were missionary farewell testimonials which usually carried the expectation of donations. And don’t forget the building fund — the constant building fund!

It probably did frustrate some people, but I think perhaps not as much as it would frustrate you and me who have a different financial history with the church. Everyone understood that it took money to run the church, and who would pay it if the members didn’t? There were people who were conscientious about their ward payments, and others who were not — pretty much like there are conscientious bill payers and otherwise today — but I’m really sure they thought about it that way. It’s what they had always known, so expected.

By: kew

kew — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:25:53 +0000

I got the impression that at this time RS membership was already extended to all adult women (as the president was so eager to coax women back to activity). I did not realize that the times of dues and the times of all women being members overlapped. It would be frustrating to be told that you must be a member of an organization, and by the way, here is a bill for your membership.

By: Coffinberry

Coffinberry — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:13:03 +0000

“But we still need to convince some of the women in the ward that Relief Society, instead of being just another place to go, is a way of life. It has so many phases, that each member can develop along the line of her interest.”

Hmmm…. I’m almost sure I’ve heard something like this lately, somewhere….

(From someone who attended a Relief Society Sunday Meeting yesterday, for the first time in over four years, and to her surprise, actually liked it.)