On New Year’s day the inhabitants of the Fourteenth Ward assembled at the New School House, which is situated on the north side of the centre block, at 10 o’clock, a.m. We arrived at a late moment, found the house well filled, and elder P.P. Pratt, busy at preaching on education, and improvement, (as we understand from these words, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,”) and expatiating on its diversified forms, which he continued for a long time, in a most interesting manner, congratulating his friend son the pleasing prospect before them in the enjoyment of their new and commodious house, in which they might advance in science and cause their children to be trained up in the way they should go, hoping that the same proceedings would not be permitted in that house as were practiced in some parts of the valley. For instance some of his young people rode out to the north country, at Christmas, spent the Sabbath, &c; when they returned, he inquired how they had spent their time, been gratified, &c.—and was informed they had been to a party, ate and drank, fiddled and danced. Did they sing and pray at their party? No! Did they ask a blessing at the table? No! Did they pray in the family? No! Did they have a meeting on the Sabbath? No! Why? There wasn’t folk enough together to make a meeting. And the speaker told his folks he did not wish them to attend any more dances among a people who had no time to sing, pray, ask a blessing, or go to meeting. The dedicatory prayer was offered by W. Richards, followed by appropriate and interesting addresses by Judge Phelps, Elder Woodruff, Bishop Murdock, &c….
[Deseret News, 1:188]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jan. 1, 1851, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]