We have received EIGHT new memberships! We welcome Kathy Keysor and Sharon Alexander to Co. "A" ; Mary Beecher-Lewis, Thelda Garrick, and Gwen C. Reed to Co. ',B" ; and Janice Ottosen, Linda Millward, and Bertha Flicknet to San Diego Co. "B" . Please note: ANNUAL DUES ARE DUE!; in fact, are far past due. Dues are $10. per year, but Life Memberships are only $50.--and you wouldn't have to pay dues any more! Please make your payment as soon as you can. You may send them to me at 605 E. 8680 So., Sandy, UT 84070, or to Pres. Maynes. Sales of Women of the Battalion ($10.) and our cookbook ($7.50) have been very brisk. We thank you!
The National Ladies Auxiliary would like to have a current list of members and officers (include position held) in each company. The roster should include the Name, Address, Phone #, Spouse (where applicable), Membership status (life or annual), date of last dues paid. Since we are new to the Board, we would like additional information (such as names of those who have died, and, where possible, a copy of the obituary), information on last year's activities, and plans for the future. Please send this information to me at 178 E. 600 So., Kaysville, UT 84037. ASAP! Thank you for your devotion to our Cause.
We are thrilled to welcome two new life memberships: Beverly B. Thompson of Sandy, UT., and Mary P. Smith of Mesa, AZ. I wish to highlight Mary today (We will save Beverly for later!). Mary and her husband work in the Mesa Temple. She is interested in family History, especially the preserving of items from her ancestors and learning their history, so many antiques tastefully adorn her home. Raised near Burley, ID, Mary is a soft spoken, petite lady who has made many quilts, some of which she has kept to beautify her home. If you would like to be featured on our page, let us hear about you--and your ancestor, if appropriate.) Send to Merle Shurtz, 7254 Dorset Circle, Salt Lake City, UT 84121, or to Pres. Shirley Maynes.
The Church logo for this year is "Faith in Every Footstep," to remind us of the ordeal of pioneers in getting to the "tops of the mountains." As pan of the celebration this year, I encourage each of us to be more involved in the Auxiliary memorialization program. Virginia Crum, Shirley Maynes, and Marcia Smith have been exemplary in locating grave sites, so many are known which have not been memorialized. Families need to be contacted NOW and have the memorialization process explained-especially in this Sesquicentennial year. Each company president should know the location of these graves in her area and make plans to memorialize them. Contact me at 623 So. 1700 E., Spanish Fork, UT 84660, or call me (801) 798-3661. Lets set a goal of memorializing two graves this year.
There are many ways to promote the Mormon Battalion this year. Wards, stakes, and communities are planning activities, and we can join them, or do something on our own. Contact your ward activities chairman or the bishopric to learn if they are aware of such activities as firesides, Church history presentations, etc. YOU could be the resource person for any activity about the Battalion. For example, my stake is having a fireside, to be followed by each ward having a booth demonstrating some aspect of pioneer history or life. My ward booth will feature the Mormon Battalion, where we can provide information on the successes of the original Battalion and information on the modern Battalion. If such a stake or ward plan is not contemplated, why not initiate the idea? Also, (in Utah) city offices could be contacted to learn what the community is planning, since every community has been asked to sponsor a commemorative activity. So take an active approach, and be involved.
Because this is the Sesquicentennial year of the arrival of the pioneers in Salt Lake
Valley, many events are and will be taking place during this year to remind us of the many
hardships and sacrifices that our pioneer ancestors endured so that we might enjoy the
luxuries, the opportunities and blessings of today.
This is a great opportunity to recapture some of the pioneer spirit. Additional
information may be obtained from the Utah Pioneer Sesquicentennial Celebration
Coordinating Council 300 Rio Grande Salt lake City, Utah 84101 or call (801) 533-3597 or
3513. Ask for the Sesquicentennial Calendar of events.
As a member of this great Ladies Auxiliary, I feel the need to get information out to our people on the women of the Mormon Battalion, to recognize these women for what they did, and to see the example they are to us. We are lucky to have this beautiful book, Women of the Battalion. written by Shirley Maynes and Carl Larson, which can help us get the word out. I encourage each of you to have a copy, read it, and use it to tell the story. These special women, who were a part of the Mormon Battalion march, deserve to be known. Tell the story, and get someone else interested in reading the book. That way, we can fulfil the promise that "men and nations will hold them in honorable remembrance." Let their story be an inspiration to us to write our own histories, to keep the legacy alive.