Founder of the Primary Association
This bust was created as a birthday gift for my second wife, Gaylene Rogers Fitt, the great-granddaughter of Aurelia, who passed away before it could be placed on exhibit in the General Primary office. Gaylene fell in love with Aurelia after a thorough study of her life history. And while on a mission to Saint George, performed a one-woman theatrical performance in which she donned period costumes and depicted Aurelia as she progressed through her life. A brief history of Aurelia follows:
“Aurelia Spencer Rogers was the one the Lord chose to originate the organization for the children of His church. Following their mother’s death on the trail, twelve-year-old Aurelia and her fourteen-year-old sister, Ellen, were responsible for bringing the younger children across the plains. Aurelia later married Thomas R. Rogers, a handsome young man she had met during the trek. They settled in Farmington, Utah.
When Aurelia was 44 years old, she began to feel strongly that something should be done about the behavior of the neighborhood boys. She said to her dear friend, Eliza R. Snow: “Eliza, I have thought seriously upon the necessity of more strict discipline for our little boys. What will our girls do for good husbands if this state of things continues? Could there not he an organization for little boys wherein they could be taught everything good and how
to behave?” Eliza, who was the presiding officer of the Relief Society, talked with President John Taylor, and approval was given for such an organization. However, it was to include both boys and girls. It was decided to call this organization, “Primary,” and on August 11, 1878, Sister Rogers was set apart by Bishop John W. Hess as the president of the very first Primary.
Aurelia and her two counselors visited every home in the ward and took the names and ages of 224 children. They held the first Primary on Sunday, August 25, 1878, and thereafter on Saturdays. They had the children sing, recite poetry, participate in service projects and learn character-building qualities, such as not going into melon patches that are not their own and not hanging onto wagons as they go by.” (Life Sketches. History of Primary Work-Letter From Eliza R. Snow)
