We in the 9th Ward have been spoiled for many years to enjoy beautifully designed and well written ward newsletters. The purpose of these seem obvious. They are meant to communicate and inspire. In the process, they bind our hearts together and create community.
Have we considered what important historical records they are? Sometimes we need to look at historical sources to appreciate what we have in the here and now.
What may have been the first 9th Ward Newsletter, the Messenger, was published in January, 1963. If anyone is aware of something earlier than this, please let me know. I will keep an eye out for earlier newsletters as well.
The ward's manuscript history has the following small note for August 5, 1962. "Frances L. Moss was sustained as editor of the ward paper."
Here are the pages of the first newsletter from January, 1963. If you were to study this as a historical document, what would stand out?
Did you notice the drawing of the chapel? The words "Bountiful 9th Ward?" Yes, no mistaking it. That is our ward and building. Did the "Meeting Schedule" stand out to you? Priesthood Meeting and Sunday School in the morning? Sacrament Meeting at 6 pm? Perhaps even more surprising is Relief Society on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. and Primary on Thursday evening at 3:45.
The bishopric appropriately noted goals for their January message and wrote, "There are Ward goals requiring determination. We should be able to almost liquidate our Building Fund debt this year and e ready to dedicate our lovely building to the Lord in early 1964. It will require concentrated effort and increased participation from a majority of us, but it can be done. ... We need the blessings of a dedicated building."
What parts of the upcoming events look familiar and which are foreign? I pictured Brother Brand and Sister Carr when I read, "Do you know the two golden Genealogical questions? Find out in our Brand spankin new Genealogy Workshop Class starting January 6, 1963 in Sunday School."
Overall, this old newsletter felt vaguely familiar. I guess the purpose of these monthly publications hasn't changed much in 60 years.
Someday, perhaps 60 years down the road, someone will be reading our newsletters trying to understand how we did things in the distant past. I think they'll be impressed with the quality, first of all. Help keep that quality high. Next time the Vanderwoods reach out to you for some photos or something to share with the ward, think to yourself, "I have an obligation not only to the Vanderwoods and to my ward, but to future generations."
And thanks to all of our ward newsletter editors, past and present. Future generations will know us through your work.
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