A Friend in Deed

The staff of the Friend magazine was saddened as were countless others at the sudden death of Lucile C. Reading, managing editor of the magazine from its beginning in 1971.

Sister Reading’s love and concern for the children of the world was unbounded. As a member of the Primary General Board for eight years and as a member of the General Primary Presidency, she traveled extensively, encouraging Primary workers to respect the worth and potential of children everywhere. She was ever desirous that children would come to know their true relationship with their Heavenly Father.

A gifted storyteller, Sister Reading often shared her wide knowledge of children’s literature at writers’ conferences and with Church groups. The keynote of many of her talks was that children deserve the best in literature. Her spare and lean style of writing caught the reader’s attention for years in the Children’s Friend through her “Shining Moments” series. Carefully drafted, yet simple in format, these vignettes made gospel truths clear in a rich and varied language that children understood. And most recently with the Friend magazine, Sister Reading’s abiding love for children and her deep understanding of the human condition radiated from its pages.

Sister Reading had an incredible capacity for work and service. As a third-term president of the Davis County Board of Education, she brought to her task a finely honed sense of justice and integrity and a determined effort to help provide the kind of education so necessary for young people in a changing world. Besides her valued and effective membership on several hospital boards, her participation in other civic and literary organizations was varied and numerous. She had been recognized by a number of groups and received the following awards: “Woman of the Year” from Davis County chapters of Beta Sigma Phi, honorary Golden Gleaner from Davis Stake, “Service to Mankind” from the Sertoma Club of Bountiful, “Family Award” from the Utah Association of Women, “Distinguished Service Award” from Utah State University, and “Woman of Achievement” from the Utah Business and Professional Women clubs.

But it was with the children that Sister Reading found her greatest joy. As a working editor, everything in the Friend magazine came under her purview. When each month’s selection of photographs was examined for the “Friends in the News” feature, her comment was, “Just look at those beautiful children!” The comment seldom varied and it was always genuine.

A listening ear and an understanding heart were extended to all who came to Sister Reading for counsel and encouragement—and their numbers were legion. Always she was a friend in very deed and always without guile.

To all who knew her and were blessed by her largeness of soul and generosity of spirit, our unfathomable loss is tempered by a sure knowledge that a choice and unstinting reward awaits Sister Lucile in our Father’s heavenly kingdom.