Evan Call Family

Historical Context

Lydia Vilate Michaelson, a returned missionary from the Eastern States Mission, wrote this letter to Evan on October 20, 1932, after returning from a General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Despite the economic hardship of the time, Lydia focuses on community, faith, and the simple joy of "radio work" and "riding in that old Lizzie" (a Ford Model T).

Lydia refers to her "Missie Days," her "release," and attending the General Conference in Salt Lake City. The "Missionary Reunion" she mentions was a staple event for returned missionaries to reconnect.

She mentions Pres. Heber J. Grant (the 7th President of the Church) and Apostle Melvin J. Ballard being ill in Chicago. This is a specific historical detail that aligns with the health struggles of church leadership during the late 1932 period.

The mention of "M. Men and Gleaners" refers to the Young Men and Young Women organizations of the time, which were heavily focused on social activities, speech, and dance. M-Men, standing for "Mutual Men," was the group for young men, established in the early 1920s. The Gleaners was the organization for young women. The name was inspired by the biblical story of Ruth, who "gleaned" in the fields. It symbolized young women gathering spiritual "wheat" or wisdom to prepare for their futures.

The M-Men and Gleaners were often the "engine room" of a local congregation:

M-Men Basketball: This became a massive phenomenon. At one point, the M-Men basketball league was the largest amateur basketball league in the world.
The Gleaner Manual: Young women studied lessons on marriage, homemaking, and Church history, often working toward a "Golden Gleaner" award, which required significant service and personal development.

The M-Men and Gleaner programs were eventually phased out in the 1970s as the Church moved toward the modern "Young Single Adult" (YSA) and "Young Men/Young Women" structures we see today.

Lydia lived to the age of 107 (1894-2001).

[Top note: Pres. Young has moved from Schryver and Nedra said they felt plenty blue. How I would love to drop in on them. I wrote them a letter not long ago. That maybe it would cheer them a bit. They were surely grand to us. I never shall forget them--will you—all those good dinners—& everything else.]

Afton, Wyoming
October 20, 1932.

Dear Evan.

Was I thrilled over your letter. It made me lonesome for the dear old "Missie Days." How I would of loved to have gone to Buck Valley to your Conference. There are a number of people that were grand to us and we missionaries had lots of fun riding in that old Lizzie over hill and dell. How are all the Saints there? Are there any Elders there now? When you go next time give them my greetings please.

How I would love to drop in on you some night when you were giving them the word over the broadcast. That was one big thrill I enjoyed was the radio work at New Bedford—and then I never had the opportunity to speak. If I come to Altoona will you let me be the speaker of the day? And I know you have spoken at the jail. Did you get a thrill out of it? I surely did, and thank to Pres. Thorn as he was the one that gave me the opportunity. How is Warden Hamilton? Did I get his name right? To me he is about one of the strongest character when it comes to personality I have met. Maybe

[right side: Say Evan was it on our Kodak we took the picture of Clifford you & I. If it was it did not turn out very good.]

he does not appeal to you that way.

How is the Radio coming at Harrisburg? And how are the old friends as well as the new ones doing? Tell the Jone's hello when you see them for me won't you?

Nedra & Lucile are still in New Bedford. She said she would come in November. That everyone were about as usual.

Edna N. was expecting her release this month so she will soon be home. How I would love to go down & visit with her. She is surely a sweet pal. Nedra & Edna have been sending me the Messengers—so I have had a check on the work and what a joy it is to get them. I see B.R. is certainly staying right in the lead. You should be proud, I know you are.

What a thrill I had when I went to Conference at Salt Lake a week ago. Delas, Maurine, Bernice and I left Thursday after school. We went as far as Bear Lake that nite then we went on into Salt Lake Friday. If it did not seem good to get out and go once more--We took in a show that nite. The big event Saturday was the Missionary Reunion. It made you feel like you were in the field. There were lots there I knew and a goodly number that were not there. Berrett was there with his wife she surely is sweet they make a dashing two.

Sister Jones, Wright, Wayne, Burnup, Snow, Erma Jones, Lemmon’s, Ott, Barnes, Palmer, and many of the first ones that you did not know. Elders Brown, Bird, Olsen, Thomas, Anderson, Taggart, Stevens, Peart, Mason, oh & a oodle of others. And if it did not seem good to see them. Pres. Moyle was the first one I saw that I knew after I arrived. The Conference was an inspiration. The recital that the Choir gave Sunday morning from 10:00 – 10:30 was great. Did you hear it over the Radio? It surely seemed funny not to see Pres. Grant, both he & Apostle Ballard were ill in Chicago. Sunday after church we saw a number of the other Missionaries both from the Eastern States as well as other missions. Pres. Bluth was there and what a pleasure to see him. They were so grand to us when we were in Canada. We rushed back Sunday after church, leaving Salt Lake at 6:00 P.M. and arrived home at 12:00. We made good time and enjoyed the whole affair very much. The only trouble we did [not] stay long enough to satisfy me. But of course I had to be home for school.

School is keen back on the same old job—but have the darlingest group of Kiddies to work with. Your little brother is the cutest thing so tiny and you would think he own the whole world. If it wasn’t

for this job I don't know what I would do. Oh yes I am so thrilled I received my Elementary Life Certificate the other day.

Have been busy going to other wards. Three weeks ago I talk at Osmond, last Sunday I was at Bedford and, on the 30th, I speak at Turnerville on Genealogy work. Beside this I teach the Gleaner Class in Mutual and they are sure sweet girls. How I would love to see them all go on Missions. Mutual is good I certainly enjoy it a lot. The first Tues. in Nov. the M. Men & Gleaners have a party together. They are planning on games, eats and then end with a dance. Does it make you home sick? I teach in the Church History Class in Sunday School. Then they put me back in the Stake Primary as Sec. Even before I got home and never said a word about it to me. I suppose I have so many jobs that they will go flop—But what a blessing it is to be kept busy.

The circus is in town and the Kiddies especially are getting a treat.

Will promise you that if I am here we will sure go through with the dinner. And how we will talk. Sr. Johnson is expecting Clifford about the end of the year. And your time will pass all to soon as we all hate to leave when it does come.

Here is wishing you more power and loads of success in every phase of your work. Tell all the Blue Ridge friends & Saints hello. Have any more been baptized?

As ever

Sincerely,

Lydia M.

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