2 February 1878
Retrenchment Association; Fourteenth Ward Meetinghouse, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
[. . .] Mrs. M. I. [Mary Isabella Hales] Horne spoke upon the coming election, the priviliges of the ballot, and the necessity of naturalization. She spoke upon sericulture and reminded the sisters that the Presidents of Relief Societies and of Mutual Improvement Associations were sustained as local presidents of the silk-culture in their respective districts. She urged upon them the necessity of setting out mulberry trees in the season, and not postpone planting them out in time. President Horne suggested the sisters should speak upon the subject which had been presented before the meeting. Counselor E. R. Snow expressed herself as coinciding with the views of Sister Horne, and exhorted the sisters to the spirit of union, aud [and] repeated the words of Jesus “If ye are not one ye are not mine.” Sister Snow remarked the two subjects Mrs. Horne had spoken upon were closely connected, one was for the establishing of the kingdom of God and one for sustaining us in it. President [Brigham] Young gave to the sisters the mission of raising silk, and said if they would take hold of it they would succeed. There are some settlements in which mulberry trees will not grow—yet those sisters in that vicinity are not excused from this mission. Those who cannot labor with their hands can exercise faith and pray. [. . .]
[. . .] Miss Snow then informed the sisters that they could obtain mulberry-trees of all sizes from President Young’s farm, by applying to Mr. [William A.] Rossiter at the President’s office, and that silk-worm eggs could be bought of Mrs. Dora Robinson of Farmington, or of Paul A. Schettler in this city.
[. . .] [p. 146]