17 October 1874
Retrenchment Association; Fourteenth Ward Meetinghouse, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
[. . .]
Remarks by Coun. Miss E. R. Snow.
I was just on my way home from Ogden where Sister Zina [D. H. Young] and myself have been to meet with the sisters. We met with the young sisters on Wednesday evening with the Young Ladies in the City Hall which was [n.p.] crowded and on Thursday we met with the Relief Society which was also crowded. I never felt a sweeter or holier feeling manifested among the Saints. In looking upon the sisters that are here how few out of the many that profess to be Saints assemble here to worship God. What kind of a report will the angels bear up to heaven of our City To me it is painful to reflect upon the lack of interest manifested by the majority of this people towards their religion. Every thing that is calculated to lead the saints astray is resorted to. Those who are openly opposed to us are not so bad as the insidious, those who are <appear to be> full of charity and kindness.
There are only two parties upon the earth one is for the Kingdom of God and the other for Satan. Jesus says those who are not for me are against me. We cannot be leaning on one side and then on the other but we must pursue the right path if we wish to gain eternal happiness. Many who profess to be Latterday Saints send their children to the gentile schools. I would rather a child of mine would never see a book than have it attend such schools even if it is gratuitous. As I <before> remarked those who are not for us are against us
I am for the kingdom of God; come life com[e] death come freedom come bondage. Let us my sisters be prepared to stand in the presence of God. We do not know who is for this kingdom only by the holy Spirit God is going to have a people who will not be ashamed to own Him. There is yet to be a temple built, in this generation, in Jackson County [Missouri] which will be gaurded by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night [n.p.]