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YOUNG WOMAN'S JOURNAL.

ORGAN OF THE Y. L. M. I. ASSOCIATIONS.

VOL. IV.

SALT LAKE CITY, APRIL, 1893.

No. 7.

TEMPLE WORKERS.

INTRODUCTION TO SKETCHES. WE have been at great trouble to prepare this picture and the accompanying sketches of this band of sisters who have worked in the five temples built by this people. Some of the sisters have not sent in sektches of themselves, and while this is a great disappointment to me, it will be

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greater loss to this article, which I hoped to make complete. It is the design to present a large group of these temple sisters to each of the four temples, accompanying the picture with this number of the JOURNAL containing the sketches. Some of the matter contained in the JOURNAL has already been chosen as history, and in the future the suitable material now being gathered and published by the JOURNAL will be earnestly sought for and appreciated. Among the sisters who labored in the early years of the Church in the ordinances of the House of the Lord, the following names are worthy of our most reverent and grateful memory: In the Nauvoo Temple, Sisters Billings and Cutler, Emma Smith having done the work in the room over the Nauvoo Store. In the Council House here in Salt Lake City worked Sisters Pre

scenda Kimball and Elizabeth Ann Whitney; in the Endowment House Sister Marinda Hyde. Others who have worked in the present temples are more or less known to all the Saints.

Sister Edna L. Smith was a faithful worker in the Endowment House.

Sisters Barber and Parkinson, whose sketches I did not receive, are both workers in the Logan Temple, and are active and beloved sharers in the duties and glories of the work in that lovely temple.

In making a special temple number, the plan I have here followed seemed to be most fitting and appropriate. I feel sure my readers will thank me for this happy inspiration, and excuse the deficiency in the number of sketches, knowing it has not been. caused by lack of earnest effort.

SHETCH OF SISTER MERCY R.
THOMPSON,

WORKER IN THE NAUVOO TEMPLE.

The subject of this brief sketch. is one of the beautiful historical figures that some day will appear on the pages of history with the truest sort of halo of glory about their heads, the light and brightness whereof will emenate from

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what that name calls up to my mental vision? An image of sweetest modesty, of deepest sanctity, of the noblest and purest gifts given to woman below. She is one of those few souls who do good by stealth, and whose left hand never is aware of the sacrifices made by the right hand. She is one of those rare spirits who shrink from being known in all her purity and goodness, as the tender mimosa shrinks from the contact of humanity. Hardly does her own soul recognize the high purpose and noble life which has been lived in mortality by the mighty if silent spirit. I would love to dwell on her life and character, for it is one that is deeply attractive to me, but the purpose of these sketches will not permit of this, and I shall have to wait for a future, which 1 trust and pray may give me the opportunity of presenting to my readers a glipmse of this beautiful woman. Beautiful, said I? How sadly Aunt Mercy would smile if her modest eyes were to rest upon those words. But I mean, truly mean it. Her aged face is beautiful to me, and I gaze upon the lines of loving care and righteous endeavor which time and mortality have graved, and behind this thin veil looks out the lovely and loving spirit, clothed with effulgent light and

celestial beauty. I want you all to study the face, and if it takes you moments or hours, to see what I see there, do not begrudge the time so spent, for it will be profitable for you to study the results of a god-like life written in poor, mortal ink, with a fragile temporal pen bearing the message of life eternal.

Sister Thompson was born on June 15th, 1807. Eighty-six years old, think of it! She was born in England, in a small village called Honeydon, in Bedfordshire. She came with one of her brothers to Canada to assist him in the care and cultivation of a gentleman's farm, and meanwhile to procure land for themselves. Hardly had they arrived, when the gentleman died, and thus the two were left alone in a strange

country. The young girl must then have possessed a sweet, attractive nature, for numbers of wealthy families. opened their houses to her, and from one to the other on protracted visits she went until her brother had secured a farm to work upon shares. The terms were advantageous, and in a very short time, comparatively speaking, he and his sister were independent of other help.

The youth, and even the childhood, of this girl was full of religious light and inspiration. She speaks tenderly of the given name she bears, because of the circumstance connected with the bestowal of the same. Her parents had been discussing the

choice of a name, and could not

agree upon any one, when an older sister came into the room and remarked that she had been reading Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and she had become deeply attached to the name of Mercy. Would they not choose that name for the tiny infant? It was at once accepted, and forthwith the ittle one entered upon her mission suitably named and christened, with her great life mission before her.

She tells of the many dreams and comforting testimonies she received when a child and young girl, having always a deep devotion to the Bible and its holy truths. She would hear something in the night, a voice of surpassing sweetness, addressing words of promise or consolation to her. an everlasting love;" or, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will crown thee with everlasting life;" or, "Lo, I am with thee to the end." Her prayers were faithfully offered, and always received an answer from the God who led her youthful footsteps to the fount of everlasting truth.

"I have loved thee with

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private lives through relationship and association, she was very intimately acquainted with the early history of the Church. She received her endowments in Nauvoo in 1844. She went to work in the Nauvoo Temple the very first day, November, 1845, and worked there constantly until the work was over. She had one child, a daughter, and she was obliged to take her with her. She lived in the temple, the baby sometimes being in there for days. without ever seeing outside the temple. She, Sister Mercy, worked as clerk the first week, until Sister E. R. Snow came and relieved her of that duty. She had charge of the washing and ironing of clothes for the workers, a labor that often kept her up nearly all night. She also at one time had charge of the cooking department, until Sister Huldah Kimball relieved her, of that heavy duty. As Aunt Mercy says, she worked at one time or another in every department of work in the Nauvoo Temple. She, with the body of the Saints, left Nauvoo in September, 1846, and came with them to the Valley. Her health has not been of the best, and of late years, partly, through an accident, she has been confined to her room. She sits all day and thinks lovingly and happily of the past, the waiting present, and the glorious future. She is always engaged in reflections upon the power and glory of truth, and it is like an odor of sweet herbs to visit the noble soul and to hear

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