In July, I posted several excerpts from Ruth May Foxe’s Diary (1). This post continues where that one left off. As mentioned there, Ruth was an ardent suffragist and leader in several civic, political and religious circles. She is perhaps most frequently recognized as being on the board of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association and as its president from 1929 to 1937. Clarifications to her text are added in between [ ] and comments between { }.

Wednesday, September 22, 1897
In the eve. Bro. Hodges remarked that it was just 70 years since Joseph received the Plates, and Uncle Ben [F. Johnson] said that on that same eve. 70 years ago a ball of fire was seen to cross the heaves from east to west. (2)

Monday Apri 25, 1898
Went to special meeting called by Stake Board at Sister Nellie Taylor’s to make Sister McKune and Sister Brixon and myself Aids before Sister Brixton left for Europe. Pres. Elmina S. Taylor came over and explained her need for us, whereupon S. B. graciously gave us up. We had a lovely meeting, all seeming to feel it was as it should be, all expressing themselves. The Spirit was there in great abundance. Sister E. Taylor prophesied that from that time the Sisters should stand by Apostles and other leading men in the M.I. work, and our influence should extend and be appreciated more and more from that time. Sister Nellie Taylor also predicted that Sister McKune’s husband should yet stand beside her in the Temple. We three that were to have been Aids received a blessing under the hands of S. B., Sister Mary Young Counsellor [sic] giving me mine. Sister Benbow Erickson also received a blessing.

Sunday, May 29 [30], 1898
2 more meetings. Spiritual meeting in the afternoon. The Spirit poured out in great abundance. Sister ______ of Provo spoke in tongues, Lucy B. Young and Maria Y. Young interpreting. Sr. Lilly Freeze sang in tongues, Susy Y. Gates int. Also a message to us thro Emma Goddard.

Monday, June 6, 1898
Grant being some better I attended Gen. Board meeting at Sister Taylor’s. Some members reported that Sisters had told them they heard music and others singing while Sister Lillie Freeze sang in tongues similar to that heard in Manti Temple.

Monday, July 18, 1898
Attended Gen. M.I.A. Board of Y.L. Sister Lillie Freeze, who is an invalid, was present. She spoke a few minutes of her desires to do her part in a very touching manner. Sister Maria Y. Dougall spoke in tongues to all of us. Sister Susa Y. Gates interpreted it. Told me that I should speak before many nations some of whom would not be able to understand only as it should be given them by the spirit, or in other words the spirit should enable me to make them understand although we spoke different languages. Oh that we could all appreciate the blessings we enjoy.

Wednesday, January 4, 1899
To Sister Horne’s to W. Coop Directors meeting. In the eve attended a spiritual meeting of the Gen. B. Y.L at Sister Elmina Taylor’s home. We had a very good meeting, and anointed and blessed Sister Taylor for her health, Sister Mary Freeze anointing and Susa Y. Gates blessing her, which she did in Eng. tongue and also by the gift of tongues promising her a renewal of health.

Tuesday, May 30, 1899
Held a spiritual meeting 4 hours long. Sister Cornelia Clayton spoke in tongues, Aunt Zina interpreting blessing officers. In the eve held our banquet, Pres. Snow present. I responded to a toast. Had a very pleasant time, 500 present. Also visited Cemetery.

Sunday, July 2, 1899
an important meeting of the Priesthood was held in the Temple today (3), lasting from 10 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. sister Elmina S. Taylor and some other sisters present. I consider this a very glorious day for women. I went to Fast Meeting and Conjoint in the eve.

Monday, November 13, 1899
Went to the conference. Held a spiritual meeting Sun. morning. Sr. Susie Gates spoke in tongues, Sister Mecham(?) interpreted, blessing many. Passed her hands over my arms and hands and said, “You shall have health and strength and be the means of saving hundreds of souls, and be a great help to your President.” I think God all the day long for His goodness to me. I reached home this morning. Called immediately on Sister E.S.Taylor, had a nice talk with her. In the aft. Went to Fr. class.

Tuesday, March 6, 1900
To Miss. class, also to Relief Society. From there went with Sister Elizabeth Stephenson to wash and anoint Sister Edith Smith Pendleton previous to her confinement, my first time. In the eve went to Mutual.

Saturday, April 7, 1900
morning was called out of Tab. about 12 noon. On reaching home found my Baby, Emeline B. had swallowed Carbolic Acid. The neighbors were doing all they could for her. Had sent for a Physician who had used a stomach pump. We gave her Consecrated Oil in large Quantities, had her administered to several times. {next day was fine}

Thursday, October 18, 1900
Have been with Sister Stephenson to wash and anoint Annie Butler West. We also blessed Sister West for her health (the mother-in-law).

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1. Ruth May Fox. Diary 1894-1939. LDS Church Archives. MS 5469.
2. This is the only account of such a manifestation of which I am aware.
3. An account of this meeting is available in several diaries. While it has never been published, the account of Joseph C. Bentley (LDS Archives) is similar to that of Rudgar Clawson as published in A Ministry of Minutes (pg. 70-72):
   

   Salt Lake City. Clear and warm. This being the day for the Solemn Assembly called by the First Presidency, a large number of brethren were admitted to temple at 10 o’clock and were seated in the Celestial and Terrestrial Rooms. There were about 700 present, as follows, the First Presidency, Twelve, First Seven Presidents of Seventies, Presiding Patriarch, Presiding Bishopric, presidency of stakes, the bishops of wards, stake presidencies of Y.M.M.I.A., Y.L.M.I.A., Relief Society, and Sunday Schools, and a few others. Meeting was called to order by President Lorenzo Snow.

   Pres. Snow said, it may seem strange, your being called together, but when you understand the object of the meeting you will understand the importance of it. Read Section 104 and a portion of Section 85, D.&C. Said that if the brethren present lived 10, 15, or 20 years, or perhaps less, they would go back to Jackson County. The time for returning to Jackson County is much nearer than many suppose and it is the faithful that would be selected to go and they will be required to accept the United Order. Read of the troubles and curses that are visited upon apostates. Said he would tell us what the Lord requires of us today. Read Section 119, D.[&]C. Talked upon the subject of tithing. If the people, he said, had paid an honest tithing for the past year, we would have received $1,000,000.00 more than we did receive, and if a full tithing had been paid for the past 12 years, we would have received $10,000,000.00 more than we did receive. Bp. Preston says, and the books prove it, that only about a 50% tithing is paid. A half tithing or a third tithing is no tithing at all, but simply an offering. If we do not observe this law, we have no promise that we shall remain in this land an hour. Said that while visiting in St. George on his recent trip, the Lord revealed to him what counsel he should impart to the people, and the word of the Lord was that the Saints should pay their tithing. Trouble has come upon the people. In the south stock is dying off and crops are drying up, and in the north crops were partially destroyed by frost. An effort is being made to influence the Government to disfranchise the Latter-day Saints by a constitutional amendment. How far this is due to the disobedience of our people in observing the law of tithing, I do not know, but the saints are certainly under condemnation.

   Bp. Preston followed. So far as he could ascertain, he said, there is about one-fourth of the saints that pay no tithing at all, while the average tithing paid by those that do pay is not more than 50%, and many fall below that percentage.

   The following brethren spoke briefly but strongly upon the subject of tithing: Apostles A. O. Woodruff, F. D. Richards, B. Young, Jr., R. Clawson, M. W. Merrill, A. H. Lund, and H. J. Grant.

   President Snow read Sec. 86, Book of D.&C. Said, we are the sons and daughters of God, and descendants of the prophets and apostles. Said, the Lord has forgiven us for our carelessness in paying our tithing in the past, but he will forgive us no longer—and if we do not obey this law, we will be scattered as were the saints in Jackson County, and this by reason of the knowledge we have attained to. What I say is as true as God lives. We must teach the people this law of tithing—first by paying tithing ourselves. Just as sure as we live, if we do not honor the law of tithing, we will never possess the land of Jackson County, except it be by the shedding of blood, but it will not be by the shedding of blood because you will listen to my voice and the voice of my brethren. We are the sons of the prophets and the sons of God. The Lord will not send hornets to drive the people out of Jackson County, as he promised to drive the people out of the land of promise before the children of Israel, but he will send cyclones, earthquakes, and pestilences.

   Apostle M. F. Cowley made brief remarks upon the law of tithing.

   Recess. Lunch was served in assembly room on the upper floor, and consisted of ham sandwiches, cheese, buns, and cakes. In view of the long fast, the lunch seemed to be greatly relished by all.

   At about 5 o’clock meeting was resumed in the Celestial and Terrestrial Rooms. Instructive remarks were made by the following brethren upon the law of tithing: LeRoi Snow, Apostle Geo. Teasdale and Pres. Jos. F. Smith. The latter, in speaking of tithing, said, the books should record not only what we do, but what we ought to have done and did not do. A man is in a poor business as president or bishop of a ward who says to the people, do as you ought to do, not as I do. The poor of a ward—widows and orphans—all should pay their tithing. Pres. Smith was followed by Apostles Smith and Lyman, who also dwelt upon the law of tithing.

   Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon also spoke upon the law of tithing. Among other things [he] said, “there are those in this audience who are descendants of the old 12 Apostles and, shall I say it, yes, descendants of the Savior himself. His seed is represented in this body of men.”

   Pres. Snow made closing remarks. Said he hoped the brethren would take the spirit of these meetings home with them and impart the same to the people. A resolution to the effect that the brethren present would accept the law of tithing, obey it themselves, and teach it to the people was adopted by a rising vote with uplifted hands. Pres. Snow then led in the Sacred Shout, and the meeting came to a close.