In 1923, The Children’s Friend – then a magazine aimed almost exclusively to the parents and teachers of children (their “friends”) rather than to the children themselves – provided line drawings to illustrate every month’s issue. Primary teachers could color and mount the pictures and use them as visual aids. Children whose families subscribed to the magazine could color the pictures and paste them into the scrapbooks that the children were encouraged to keep.

They could work just as well today as coloring pages for Primary or Family Home Evening use.

The theme for all Primary lessons (all classes, all ages) in January 1923 was “loyalty to principles,” illustrated by the loyalty of Latter-day Saints to the principle of unity, as shown by our willingness to cooperate in the building of new towns and settlements.

We are moving, can’t you see?
So we all shall have to work;
For we’re called this very day
On a mission far away.
We are happy as can be,
Never, never will we shirk!

“Who will hold the darling babe?”
Mother called, “While I get in?”
“I,” “Let me,” the children shouted.
“No,” said father, with a grin,

“I will hold her here beside me.
Maybe she will help me drive.”
So he took our darling gently
While our mother got inside.

“Now, all ready?” shouted father.
“Hurry up, for we must start!”
So they went upon their journey,
Each one with a happy heart.

When our father told us how
We were called to country new,
We just pitched right and helped
Get things ready, wouldn’t you?

“Boys,” said father, “catch the chicks,
Ned a rooster, Jack a hen.”
So they ran and caught them, and
Mary put them in the pen.

Now where do you think we’re going?
We’ll challenge you all to tell!
And why do we look so happy?
And why do we work so well?

We’ll whisper to you the secret,
Listen closely as you can:
We’ve been called to fill a mission,
And we’re loyal to a man.

“Come Charlie!” called out brother Joe,
“We both can help, I think;
While father yokes the oxen up
We’ll let the horses drink.”

“For soon we will be ready, Joe,
To leave Salt Lake, you know.
We’re called to start a settlement
To help the Church to grow.”

 The girls would always do their part
Their duty was,you see,
To help to spin and sew and cook,
And mother’s helpers be.

Some tore the carpet rags in strips
While others sewed them strong,
And wound them firmly into balls
With merry laugh and song.