May 5, 1850: Sept. 19, 1866: Louie 1867–69: Louie and Joseph leave Sarah Louisa meets Joseph H. Felt, a in November 1867 for the Muddy Aug. 25, 1878: (Louie) Bouton is returned missionary River Mission (in present-day Aurelia Spencer born in Norwalk, escorting the Saints Nevada). Eventually, due to harsh Rogers organizes Connecticut. on their journey from living conditions and other fac- the first ward (Right: Engraving Omaha to Salt Lake tors, Brigham Young orders the Primary (illus- of Norwalk, circa City. They marry on mission abandoned. Louie and trated at right). 1855.) December 29, 1866. Joseph return to Salt Lake City. Louie B.DEDICATING HER LIFE TO FeltCHILDREN Although Louie B. Felt did not have children of her own, her deep love for all children and her intense desire to better their lives manifested themselves throughout her lengthy service in the Primary organization. By Janet Peterson ouie B. Felt, the first Primary general president, and her counselor May Anderson were walking along a street in Salt Lake City, Utah, one afternoon and saw a boy, BY LYNN FAUSETT AND GORDON COPE FAUSETT BY LYNN L apparently disabled by polio, having difficulty maneuvering on his crutches. As they continued their walk, they discussed the plight of sick children, especially those whose parents could not afford adequate medical care. Louie and May conceived the idea of providing a room for children at a local hospital. In 1911, the First Presidency approved establishing one room for boys and another for girls at the Groves LDS Hospital. While a small beginning, these convalescent rooms provided a way to help ailing children and led to the founding of the Primary Children’s Hospital. Louie always wanted the best for children; the hospital was just one example of this desire. LIBRARY; HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY THE FIRST MEETING OF PRIMARY ASSOCIATION, 60 Ensign Aug. 25, 1878: Sept. 14, 1878: June 19, 1880: Oct. 5, 1889: President Aurelia Spencer Louie is called as Louie is sustained Louie B. Felt conducts Rogers organizes Primary president as Primary gen- the first Primary the first ward in the Eleventh eral president. convention for stake Primary (illus- Ward (pictured leaders. trated at right). at right). During her 45 years of service as Primary general president, Louie B. Felt “mothered” 100,000 children and guided 30,000 Primary leaders. 1895–96: Louie attends July 1897: Jan. 1902: May 29, 1902: The training classes of the Pioneer The first first Primary general Utah Kindergarten jubilee issue of the conference is held in the Association. She and her celebrations Children’s Assembly Hall on Temple counselors implement in Salt Lake Friend is Square to aid communi- child-centered education include a published. cation among Primary and age-group classes children’s units. All Primary in Primary. parade. leaders are invited. Although Louie did not have children of her own, her outings gathering berries and nuts, dredging for clams and deep love for all children and her intense desire to better oysters in the Long Island Sound, and tapping maple sap. their lives manifested themselves throughout her lengthy She especially liked to ice skate in the winter. Louie learned service in the Primary organization. Despite suffering ill health homemaking skills from her mother and strict observance of most of her life, she was described as being full of life: “Her the Sabbath from her father. During her youth, Louie devel- face is pale, refined and spiritual in its expression; her spirit oped a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. buoyant and cheerful, and her animated manner and smile as When Louie was 14 years old, the Bouton family decided frank as a child’s.” 1 Louie’s strong testimony of the gospel and to join the Saints in Utah. While they were en route by train desire to serve others, coupled with her determined nature, to Omaha, Nebraska, a fire in the baggage car destroyed all shaped how she approached challenges in her life. their belongings. They thus returned to Norwalk to prepare for the trek once more. Louie’s father, Joseph, however, Childhood to Marriage became seriously ill while they were en route again. Part of Known throughout her life as Louie, Sarah Louisa Bouton the family stayed near Omaha to care for him, but he insisted Felt was the third of Joseph and Mary Barto Bouton’s five that Louie and two of her brothers continue traveling to Zion. children and was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on May 5, It was during this part of the journey that Louie met 1850. The Boutons had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Joseph H. Felt, the leader of the wagon train and recently Latter-day Saints prior to her birth. Louie enjoyed many family returned from a Scandinavian mission. Joseph was attracted When the Primary Children’s Hospital was built, the Church donated necessary equipment and reno- vated the Hyde home north of Temple Square. After it opened, the Primary was responsible for care and expenses of patients and for adminis- trative matters. Surgery was performed at LDS Hospital. Top right: The Hyde home as it looked when it was converted to the first Primary Children’s Hospital. Bottom left: Children singing in MAY NOT BE COPIED MAY the interior of the 1922 Primary 62 Ensign Children’s Hospital. 1912–13: 1913: A two-room children’s ward opens in Groves LDS Hospital 1915: The Pioneer Day Primary revises in Salt Lake City, with partial funding from voluntary donations parade includes a its curriculum of pennies from Primary children. (Below: Example of a fund- horse-drawn float by to focus on raising bank used in later years for Primary Children’s Hospital.) the Primary. It features social and children dressed as ethical training flowers inside a huge and activities. woven basket. to the tall, blue-eyed, blonde her co-workers observed: Louie and she to him. Once “Louie had a most wonderful settled in Salt Lake City, influence over the little chil- 26-old-year-old Joseph and dren of the Eleventh Ward. 16-year-old Louie married on They were fascinated by her December 29, 1866. gracious manner. Every child was willing and anxious to do Family Life whatever she suggested.” 4 The following October, Primary quickly spread President Brigham Young throughout other Latter-day called the Felts to help settle Saint communities, aided by the Muddy River Mission (near Spanish Fork Primary , circa 1917 Relief Society general pres- today’s Moapa in southeastern ident Eliza R. Snow, who Nevada). They stopped in St. George, Utah, along the way, encouraged the organization of Primaries as she traveled and it was around this time that Louie suffered a miscarriage throughout Utah and surrounding Latter-day Saint settle- (leaving her unable to have children). Joseph asked Louie ments. By 1888, almost every ward had its own Primary. All about the possibility of staying in St. George. She characteris- the children met together and participated in singing and tically replied, “We were not sent to St. George; we were sent other activities. to the Muddy. You may do as you please; I am going on.” 2 At the morning session of a special women’s meeting Once they had arrived at the Muddy, the colonists suf- in June 1880, President John Taylor (1808–87) created fered extreme conditions in the arid, hot weather as they presidencies for the three reorganized auxiliaries. Louie B. lived in tents and wagons until they could build adobe huts. Felt was sustained as the Primary general president. In the Sandstorms filled irrigation canals and cut off water to the afternoon session, Eliza R. Snow was sustained as general young shoots and plants that simply wilted in the heat. Two president of the Relief Society and Elmina S. Taylor as gen- years later, when President Young saw the Saints’ harsh living eral president of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement conditions, he closed the mission. Upon the Felts’ return to Salt Association. Thirty-year-old Louie knew this calling came Lake City, Joseph found work at ZCMI, a co-op general store. from the Lord. While she felt unqualified and unprepared and did not want to be in the limelight, she nevertheless Becoming a Leader of Children said, “I will do the best I can.” 5 That determination, com- Though “denied the great privilege of being a mother,” bined with her faith, fostered organizational as well as Louie found fulfillment in loving, teaching, and serving oth- personal growth during her lengthy administration. ers’ children. She firmly believed that God gave her “many, Louie visited Primary leaders, held conferences, and many lovely children through other mothers, that I may pray conducted meetings in many parts of Utah, despite health for, think of, and love.” 3 challenges of partial paralysis and rheumatism. During one In 1878, shortly after Aurelia Spencer Rogers started train trip, Louie met May Anderson, a young convert from the first ward Primary in Farmington, Utah, leaders called Liverpool, England. That initial introduction led to a lifelong HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY LIBRARY; LIBRARY; HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH OF COIN BANK COURTESY OF CHURCH HISTORY Louie as president of the Eleventh Ward Primary. One of friendship; Louie was like an older sister to May, and they July 2014 63 1917: Primary girls 1918: May 11, 1922: President Heber J. Oct. 6, 1925: At age join in the effort Primary is not Grant dedicates the Primary 75 and in failing to knit socks and held during Children’s Hospital, a 35-bed facility health, Louie, upon bandages for World the worldwide across the street from Temple Square.