Comments on: Latter-day Saint Images, 1949

By: Maurine Ward

Maurine Ward — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:39:36 +0000

I was in plays put on by the MIA. After I married I sang with the Singing Mothers and loved making things for the annual RS Bazaar. I also danced in all-church dance festivals, taught music to choruses and quartets for the music festivals, and cheered our boyfriends on when they played in all-church basketball. These are things my children have missed out on.

By: CurtA

CurtA — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:00:48 +0000

What a crowd of guides! More than thirty, and our aging (and aged) ward has two deacons and only one coming up soon.

By: Maxine Crow

Maxine Crow — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 19:38:43 +0000

Bookslinger – We lived in Waterbury, Conn 1968-1970 with our 5 children. There was only one other LDS family in our city. Church was almost a 30 minute drive and we did go to Sunday School in the morning and Sacrament meeting in the evening on Sunday. Primary was during the week after school and Relief Society was in the morning once a week. Yes, I was a stay-at-home Mom. I appreciated the opportunity for our children as well as me to get together with other members that often, as it rarely happened otherwise. Our friends in the neighborhood were almost all Catholic and Jewish – nice people and good friends, but it’s not the same. Maxine C

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:53:44 +0000

re: taking time for more church activities.

In those times, especially in areas of high LDS concentration, I think members’ social lives revolved more around church and fellow church members. And, most wives did not work outside of the home, and there was no TV in 1949, was there?

If members in less LDS-dense areas (the “mission field”) were expected to implement all the church social programs that were invented or promulgated from Utah, I can see how LDS got a reputation for being “insular” among non-members.

I’m surprised that the block schedule of meetings (everything in 3 hours on sunday) was so late in arriving. Making 2 trips to church on Sunday, and at least 2 trips to church during the week, is okay if your chapel is only a few blocks away.

The density of Mormons in Utah makes/made it easier for all those church-centered social program. But in the “mission field”, especially with modern life pulling us in more directions, I can see how those things faded away.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:08:48 +0000

That was the oldest boys’ Primary class, Bruce — 11-year-olds turning 12 during the year.

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:22:49 +0000

I had to look close to see if my father was in the “Temple View Stake, Salt Lake City, Guide Class” photo. But after not finding him I notice the date and I think he was too old for that class in 1949. None of the boys look over 12. What age range did it cover?

By: Mina

Mina — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:35:33 +0000

Bandlos and Relief Society Bazaars. *sigh*

By: The Other Clark

The Other Clark — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:01:41 +0000

Also, it’s fun to see the costume choices of kids mid-century. I see a few Lone Rangers, pirates, a wolfman, and a few that seem to be inspired by the Wizard of Oz. In any case, they all look homemade. I bet there was no trunk-or-treat in the parking lot after the activity, though

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:01:32 +0000

In my youth (not so very long ago — late 60′s / early 70′s), we had MIA plays, and my mother sang with our stake’s Singing Mothers. (And that photo of the Bankstown Bazaar reminded me of the RS Bazaars of my early days.) But you’re right: not so many of these things any more.

By: The Other Clark

The Other Clark — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:57:31 +0000

So many of these pictures depict activities that I can’t imagine the Church ever taking time for. MIA plays? Kite festivals? Singing mothers?