Richard E. Turley Jr. and Brittany A. Chapman - Seek by Deseret Book

Myra Mayall Henrie (1803–1893) 35
Sister Henrie said she had been trying the past week to
find out some information pertaining to our society. She
said the young sisters there would be places where they
could do much good. She said she would like the teachers
to go round and meet before fast day. She thought it would
be best to hold our next meeting then. And for the teachers
to give in their reports. There is a poor family come in. . . .
They are in need of assistance. She thought that Sister Mary
Ann Procter and Martha Norton had better go and visit this
family and see after their nessesities. She wished the sisters
to assist them by giving in something to relive them. 15
On February 19, 1870, the women of this struggling little outpost
penned an audacious letter, preserved in the Relief Society minute
book, to the editor of the Deseret News:
Dear Sir—The ladies of this place met to day in Mass
Meeting to give expression to their feelings in common with
their sisters of the same faith in other parts of the Territory
on the Cullon & Cragin Bills now before Congress. Meeting
opened by singing and prayer. On motion Mrs Myra Henrie
was called to the chair. She stated she was pleased to see
so many of the ladies of Panaca together on this interesting
occasion. She felt that the Cullon and Cragin Bills were
an insult to the good sences and moral and religious sentiments
of the Ladies of Utah. Several Ladies made many very
appropriate remarks. They spoke in strong condemnatory
terms against submitting to such oppressions as the said bills
contemplate imposing on this people. . . .
We accept Polygamy or plural marriage and are determined
to sustain the principle against all opposition. If the
Husbands are imprisoned they will have to take the wives
15. Relief Society Minutes, December 18, 1869, Panaca Ward, Uvada Stake,
Church History Library.