Seven months after Pearl Harbor, with the United States finally joining the war that has been raging in Europe for two years, the atmosphere of wartime has become a major element in Church culture, too. Thousands of young Mormon men have been called into the service, and the Church is scrambling to set up organizations to provide worship opportunities and emotional and spiritual support for these young men away from their usual networks, and to reassure the people at home that the Lord was in control of events which called for the best behavior and efforts of every member.
Category Archives: Way We Were
The Way We Were: March 1961
David O. McKay was president of the Church, with counselors J. Reuben Clark and Henry D. Moyle. The twelve apostles were (not in order of seniority): Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Marion G. Romney, Howard W. Hunter, Mark E. Petersen, Hugh B. Brown, Delbert L. Stapley, LeGrand Richards, Richard L. Evans, and George Q. Morris. Joseph L. Wirthlin was the Presiding Bishop.
Joseph T. Bentley was superintendent of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association, Bertha Stone Reeder was president of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association. George R. Hill was superintendent of the Sunday School. LaVern W. Parmley was the Primary president, and Belle Spafford was president of the Relief Society. Continue reading The Way We Were: March 1961
The Way We Were: February 1985
For some of us, February 1985 was little more than a week ago last Tuesday – we remember where we were living, who our favorite teachers were that year, or what job we were working. For one of Keepa’s readers, though (who may identify him/herself or not, at the reader’s discretion), February 1985 is as exotic as any point from earlier in the 20th century: it was the month s/he was born.
What were we like as a Church that month?