Young Womanhood in the Mormon faith (circa 1916)

Like the Jews of Old Testament times, and members of Christ’s church in New Testament times, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from their beginnings in the early 1800’s gladly took on the appellation of being called to be a ‘peculiar’ people: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself….” (Deuteronomy 14:2)  “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praise of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)  The Latter-day Saints still view themselves as a ‘peculiar’ people in the sense that the scriptures suggest—the Hebrew word segullah meaning ‘special’ or ‘chosen’ or a ‘treasure,’ instead of the popular usage of being odd or eccentric.  

Nevertheless, the 1916 requirements for rural young women (ages 13-19) in the Mormon faith to receive awards included (among others) the following requirements. [Not performing up to the standards which follow would not label the young woman as being sinful or not worthy—just as not earning a bandoleer of merit badges for young male Boy Scouts—but rather would suggest that she (or he) might want to strive to work hard, learn some skills, and distinguish herself in some useful or unique way.  

·        Care successfully for a hive of bees for one season and know their habits.

·        Give the distinguishing characteristics of six varieties of hen and cattle and tell the good and weak points of each.

·        Exterminate the mosquitoes over an area of ½ mile square by pouring a little kerosene on the surface of all standing pools of water twice each month during April, May, or June. 

·        Make two articles of underwear by hand.

·        Cover 25 miles on snowshoes in any six days

·        Learn to float in the Great Salt Lake and propel yourself 50 feet.

·        During three successive months abstain from candy, ice cream, commercially manufactured beverages and chewing gum. 

·        For one month masticate your food so thoroughly that it slips down without any visible effort at swallowing it.

·        Successfully put on a new washer on a faucet.

·        Care for at least two kerosene lamps daily.

·        For three months take care of milk and cream from at least one cow and see that the pails, pans, strainer, and separator are thoroughly cleansed. 

·        During two weeks keep the house free from flies and destroy at least 25 flies daily.

·        Have your toilet moved to an isolated place in the garden.  Have a frame of chicken wire built about three feet away and plant quick-growing vines  such as cucumber or morning glories to screen it from observation.

·        Whitewash your toilet inside and out.

·        Know and describe three cries of a baby

·        Without help or advice care for and harness a team at least five times; drive fifty miles in one season. 

·        Clear sage brush, etc., off of one-half acre of land. 

·        Know 6 blazes used by Indians.