Orange Seely ~~~ The Leader of the First Settlers of Emery County ~~~Orange and Hanna Seely

 

Second District Court John D. Lee Criminal Case File

Second District Court John D. Lee Criminal Case File

Second District Court John D. Lee Criminal Case File

John D. Lee (seated) awaiting his execution at Mountain Meadows on March 28, 1877 (source Wikimedia Commons) 

Mt. Pleasant Relief Society held December 14, 1877

Meeting held December 14, 1877.

Opened with singing: "Our Father, Thou That Dwellest.

Prayer by Sister Bramstead

Sister Morrison addressed the Sisters and said this was a business meeting  and we would attend to that first.  The minutes from the former meeting were read and accepted, then the donations for the poor, the disbursements of donations for the Temple and donations for the wheat.

Then Sister Morrison instructed the sisters to bear Testimony and speak their feelings. 

Sister Scovil bore a faithful testimony of the Latter Day work and felt greatly blessed to have a standing in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Female Relief Society ~ September 3, 1877

Meeting held September 3rd, 1877

Opened with singing and prayer by Sister Peel.
Reports of donations and disbursements were read and also a letter of condolences to the family of President B. Young sent from the Sisters of Mt. Pleasant.

Sister Morrison addresssed the Sisters with a penful (sp) feeling for the loss of our beloved Pres. B. Young.  She said it was hard  trial and a great loss for the Latter Day Saints but the Lord gives and the Lord only takes what he gives and he finished his work upon the earth and was ready to go beyond the veil to dwell with the Gods.  Sister Morrison exhorted the Sisters to live so that we always may remember the good counsel and wise instruction that our beloved Prophet had given when he was amongst us.

Sister Peel also felt the great change and heavy loss of our dear Prophet and the same feeling was spoken of of every Sister that rose to speak.

Some business matter were arranged and a Sewingbee was selected of Mondy 24, September and meeting was closed with singing, "Let Those Who Would Be Saints Indeed" and prayer by Sister Morrison

MFC Morrison, Pres
K. Louise Hasler, Sec

Beginnings of Relief Society in Mt. Pleasant ~ August 6, 1877

Meeting held August 6, 1877.
Opened with singing and prayer by Sister Madsen. Minutes of the former meeting were read and accepted;  also a report of disbursements and donations.
Considerable business was transacted such as providing a sick nurse for Anna.  Also, boarding places for Jens Nelson and Hannah Nygaard.

Reports were also read of the donations of the weekly donations of the sisters for the purpose of paying a cook to cook for the temple hands, which donations amounted to about $8.oo  eight dollars.

Sister Morrison thanked the sisters for attending so promptly to that ...... and said without their ....and assistance she could do but little, but with the united efforts of all we able to do considerable.  "Unity is Strength" and that if we would like our religion and give up backbiting and gossiping and everyone put a stop to it, would soon cease to be.  "Sisters try to observe these instructions and ... them out in our every day life and you will increase in wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  Your mind will become enlightened and the Spirit of the Lord will teach you things past, present and to come so that you shall receive blessings more than you will be able to contain."

Sister Madsen said she felt well and was always glad when she could come to meeting, and it was her heart's desire to do the will of God and keep his Commandments as far as she was able and said she believed in works. That precept was good, but example was much better.  She said she did not feel able to teach, but with the help of the Lord she could do her part." "And would board Jens Nelson two weeks."

Sister Peel said she was glad to be able to attend the meetings and also that she had a ......in this church, she thought a good deal about the young folks.  They caused her much anxiety and she thought the time was now come when we would have to go to the one side or the other.  Said she would board Jens Nilson 2 weeks.  sister Simpson said she felt there was a good spirit here lately and rejoiced that she was again able to meet with the Sisters.  She said we all know what we had come up here for and said that she was glad to have the desire to do good and was willing to do her part all the time.

Sister Fechser said she felt well and hoped the young sisters would come out and attend  these meetings.

Sister Morrison  exhorted the sisters to faithfulness and
Meeting closed with singing "Oh My Father, Thou That Dwellest"
Prayer by Sister Peel.

MFC Morrison, Pres.
and Sect .........

Life's Lessons Learned ~ Dallin H. Oaks

Dallin H. Oaks in his book "Life's Lessons Learned" tells about his childhood years.  For two of those years he lived with his grandparents and worked on their farm for five years.  He tells of the influence of his grandmother who would tell him stories of her pioneer ancestors who had lived in Castle Dale, Utah.  It tells us of his link to Mt. Pleasant and the Seely Family.  I quote:  "When she (his grandmother) was six and a half years old, her father, Abinadi Olsen, received a mission call from "Box B" in Salt Lake City.  He was called to preach and teach in the Samoan islands, a place so unknown and far away from Castle Dale that his pioneer mother knit him pairs of heavy wool socks to wear on his mission.  In January 1895, Abinadi obediently left his wife and four children, my grandmother, being the eldest.  During his absence of three and a half years, his faithful wife, Hannah, my grandmother's mother labored as a school janitor, house cleaner, and dressmaker to support him and their family"..

"Hannah's cheerful obedience to a prophets's call was inborn.  Her parents, Orange and Hanna Olsson Seely, had done the same.  In 1877, they were happily established in Mount Pleasant, Utah where Orange was serving as a bishop and where their industry had earned them what Hanna later described as the finest home in Mount Pleasant.  Then President Brigham Young called for leaders to go east over the mountains to colonize what is now Emery County, at that time barren and unpromising.  Obediently, Orange and a pioneering party set forth over the mountain in October 1877.  Two years later, Orange moved Hannah and their seven children, then ages one to sixteen, constructing their own wagon road as they struggled up the steep canyon.  They spent their first year in a one-room log cabin with a dirt floor. Many years later, toward the end of her long life, Hannah wrote:

"The first time I ever swore was when we landed here.  I said, 'Damn a man that would fetch a woman to such a God forsaken country.'"

"Some may wonder why I find those words so faith promoting.  They speak to me of a great-great-grandmother who did not deny her very moral emotions but nevertheless went forward in obedience to do what she was called to do.  She and her husband, who gave long and honored service in the Church community, and state legislature, are great examples of the fruits of obedience to priesthood direction."

Female Relief Society Held In Social Hall July 8, 1877

Meeting held in Social Hall July 8, 1877

Opened with singing and prayer by Sister Johansen. Minutes of former meeting was read and accepted.
Sister Morrison talked considerably about the privileges we as a people enjoyed here in these mountains and have greatly blessed we were in being able to live here in peace and tranquility and worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences without fear of molestation.

While many of the nations of the earth there was nothing but tumult and strife failing them with  fear.  But hear we had it in our power to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, and do the will of God and keep his commandments as we desire so to do.  This was our privilege and the fault would be ours if we did not hold onto it.  Sister Morrison also talked about the Sisters voting to sustain and supply the Mt. Pleasant Home in Manti with Sisters to cook for the men and hoped they would consider that vote as binding as any other covenant that they made, and do their best to sustain the same, that we ought not to forget the blessings to be derived from having our temple right in our own county and do all that lay in our power to help it along in our humble way.  And she said that those that did so in honesty of heart would receive blessings more than they would be able to contain.

Bro. Jacob said he had been to Manti and heard the teachings of President Young and with great satisfaction; that he urged the necessity of us being a self-sustaining people and that the time was not distant when we would realize it to its fullest extent, and the sooner we could get machinery in our midst and have all kinds of Home Industry carried on amongst us the better it would be for this people.

President Young also said Polygamy was one of the greatest principles in this church and that we ought to strive to enjoy peace and good will one towards another and live unitedly, pray with each other and for each other and by so doing we would gain power over the power of darkness and live in full enjoyment of every principle of the Gospel.

Sister Peel also spoke in her own language and said she felt well

The meeting closed with singing and prayer by Jacob Christensen.

MFC Morrison, Pres.
and Sec. Pro Tem

Female Relief Society Meeting Held June 25, 1877

Meeting held June 25, 1877

Opened with singing
Prayer by Sister Madsen
Sister Madsen addressed the Sisters and said that Sister Morrison could not attend the meeting, but hoped that the Sisters felt free and bear their testimony and the good Spirit will be with us.  The minutes from the former meeting were read and accepted, also a letter was read from E. R. Snow that Sister Morrison sent in for the Sisters to hear.  Sister E. R. Snow sent the things back that was sent from Mt. Pleasant to the Fair, and thanked the Sisters for all they have done towards it.  And also stated that she received the money as our share in the Book "Women of Mormondom", saying that the book will be printed and leave the press in a few weeks.
Sister Peterson bore her testimony also many of the other sisters in their own language.  All felt well.
And meeting was closed with singing "We Thank Thee O God for the Prophet" and Prayer by Sister Hasler.

MFC Morrison, Pres
Louise Hasler, Sec.

Female Relief Society June 11, 1877

Meeting held June 11th 1877
 Opened with singing
Prayer by Sister Morrison
Sister Morrison addressed the sisters and said that business called her away and prevented her to attend fully to this meeting and she hoped that all the sisters  .... for a good purpose, so they will have a good time anyhow.

 After she left most all the sisters bore their testimonies in a faithful manner. Sister Josephsen spoke and felt like she would try to do good, but she can not .......she seeks to be a good Latter Day Saint and a good member of the Society, but she thought she could not come  ..... to it.

Sister Christine Jensen then testified that she visited Sister Josephsen's house almost from the beginning of the Society, and that she never left her home without a gift for the poor, and as a general thing treated the sisters with something good to eat

Sister Fechser brought in the report how she was getting along at Manti, looking for the Brethren felt well and was glad to do a little good towards the great work and was glad to have been chosen.

Sister Peterson spoke some about the silkworms and encouraged the sisters to take an interest in it and also she bore a faithful testimony to the truth; said that she was baptized in the church for 24 years and never faltered a minute, that this kingdom? was not the only truth in this world.

All felt well and a good spirit prevailed.

Meeting was closes with singing "We Thank Thee God for the the Prophet and prayer by Sister Peterson.

MFC Morrison Pres.
Louise Hasler, Sec

Female Relief Society February 19, 1877

                     Meeting held February 19, 1877.

Opened with singing:  Praise Thee The Lord

Prayer by Sister Jensen

The minutes from the former meeting were read and accepted.

Sister Madsen addressed the sisters and said that Sister Morrison could not be present for an accident that happened to poor Sister  B.....in the Fort, who broke her leg this morning.  Sister Morrison assisted her.  When the Doctor fixed her leg, and not been well before, so she is not able to attend meeting.  Sister Madsen brought in mind of the Sister to remember this  poor sister that was low spirited before and now felt very l....; to go visit her and comfort her both temporally and spiritually.  She said that it was our duty to try to get somebody to stay with her at least in the night time.  Then she talked about the Book of Mormon,....... as some misunderstanding was among the sisters about it.  She corrected the meaning of .... certainly was not the meaning of the danish and told them that would certain that Book would be a good work.

She encouraged the sisters to remember our President, Sister Morrison with their faith and prayers and said that we not realize the callings she has to come up to, as her constitution is so much tried, that she is not as well as she could be.  Then she gave place for the sisters to bear their testimony and feel free .  Many of the sisters bore their testimony and most in their own language and talked a good deal about polygamy.  A good spirit prevailed and the meeting was closed with singing "Come to My ......To the Saints.  And prayer by Sister Jensen.

M.C. Morrison, Pres.

Louise Hasler, Sec