SCHOOLS SLATERVILLE CHILDREN ATTENDED (Fig. 7-14) Plain City School (Fig. 7-15) Pioneer School (Fig. 7-16) Walquist Jr. High School (Fig. 717) Weber High School (old and New) -76- Chapter 8 RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR PIONEERS Turning to look at the religious phase of lives of our Pioneers. The fact education, as it affected them, has received first considerstion here, must not be misconstrued to mean that it is considered superior in importance to their religion. Unwavering faith in assurances proclaimed in principles and doctrines of their religion was the impelling power that prompted their coming to these valleys. However, the Church, ever since its inception, has taken a firm stand in support of education as a basic essential necessary to the salvation of man and support of our Church. These premonitions rest on the revealed eternal truth that "man cannot be saved in ignorance, for the Glory of God is intelligence." Members of the Church from the beginning until the present time, have always been strenuously urged by those in authority to strive to acquire all the knowledge possible outside the realm or pale of our religion, whether in the field of arts and sciences, technology, invention, or from any other uplifting source; but were warned that in all their searching to seek first the "Kingdom of God and its righteousness; and all else would be added." No amount of knowledge acquired from any source, they have declared, can compensate for lack of knowledge of the Gospel. It appears that three years elapsed after the first Pioneers located in Slaterville and twenty-two years before our Ward was organized, before authority was conferred on any of them to direct religious proceedings in the colony; but after the great influx of Mormon immigrants to the colony in 1853, settlers observed the Sabbath as a day to rest and worship. Religious gatherings, however, were conducted in accord with counsel and instructions from Church authorities residing in Ogden City. According to Church records, the old Weber Stake of Zion, which covered the whole of what is now Weber County, was organized 1 Jan 1851, with Lorin Farr, President; Charles R. Dana, and David Dille, counselors. Soon thereafter, the large stake was divided into two wards, separated by the Ogden River. Isaac Clark was made bishop of the area South of the River, which was called South Ward, with James G. Browning, and Captain James Brown, counselors. Erastus Bingham with Charles Hubbard, and Steven W. Perry Sr. as counselors, constituted the bishopric of the area within the North Ward, of which Slaterville was part. December 25, 1853, Thomas Richardson, devout Saint and citizen of Slaterville, was set apart by Bishop Bingham as presiding Elder, with authority to direct and officiate in religious activities in the settlement and remained as such until 1858 when a branch of the Church was organized here under direction of President Lorin Farr and Bishop Chauncy W. West, who at the time, was presiding bishop over Church proceedings in all communities of the county. Mr. Richardson, after serving faithfully for three years as presiding Elder, was set apart by Bishop West as Branch President. The branch organization was not completed until two years later when reorganization took place February 16, 1860 and Mr. Richardson was again sustained as president with Thomas Thomas and Edwin W. Smout as first and second counselors respectively. -77-