Mormon Pioneer Women

I was asked in June 2011 to prepare a talk on "Our Pioneer Heritage." In the research process, I kept veering off onto the tangent of the great contributions of Mormon women. As is most history, L.D.S. chronicles are not nearly as vocal on this subject as on the accomplishments of the men. I ended up preparing two talks. As I got up to speak, I realized that there was insufficient time to elucidate my comments and felt that it would be better left to a lesson where people could comment and participate. I gave the other talk.

Immediately after the meeting I was stopped in the hall by the Bishopric. A fifth Sunday was coming and they asked if I had something I could present to the combined Priesthood and Relief Society.

I presented this information in a hybrid form of lecture and discussion. After the block, several of the brethren commented that it was a great lesson and they learned things they hadn't known. The reaction of the Sisters was different. They approached me and said, "Thank You. That was wonderful." I don't think I've ever been thanked for a talk or lesson before in my life.

Our Sisters are incredible. How fortunate we are to have them. Here is my information:

Talk 2: Our Pioneer Heritage

I love coincidences. In July of 1776 Father Escalante entered Utah Valley and camped on the south shore of Utah Lake. This would become a stronghold of Mormon Independence as our Founding Fathers signed the document marking our separation from England. Another coincidence, John C. Fremont described the Salt Lake and Utah valleys in 1820 as Joseph Smith brought his questions to the Lord. The words he wrote are the description Joseph Smith read in 1840. It was revealed to him at this time that this was where the Saints would go; thus, “This is the right place!” not “This is the place!” To add to that coincidence, John Fremont was a polygamist. He concurrently had a wife in the East, Jessie Benton, daughter of Senator Thomas Benton, a Mexican woman in Alta California and a squaw from the Klamath Tribe. The difference in his practice is that none of his wives knew of the others.

Most of the Saint’ journeys were incredibly well planned, provisioned and lead. They had learned much in abandoning Nauvoo and on the trail to Winter Quarters. The Mormon Migration only hit the average mortality rate with the Martin and Woolly handcart companies. The Mormons were the only pioneers to include as many or more women in their companies as men.

In Elder Quentin Cook’s talk at General Conference, he mentioned a book by Wallace Stegner, a non-Mormon who had great respect for Mormon Women. The book is available at the library and I would encourage you to explore it. Stories of the pioneers and the accomplishment of the men have been told and retold in our recounting of the Mormon Exodus. What has been neglected is the amazing accomplishments of Mormon Women. We’re going to investigate some of these women briefly.

In order to be fair, I’ve verified any of the facts in at least two sources, one LDS and the other gentile.

At this point in time, the Church was still trying to become fully organized. If you read the literature, it is amazing how much this period with the Saints matched the activities of the 1^st Century Christians.

We still organize and reform our groups as modern revelation dictates. Principles are eternal. Structure is ephemeral.

Eliza Roxcy Snow

“I was born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Mass. Jan. 21, 1804. My parents were of English descent—their ancestors were among the earliest settlers of New England. My father, Oliver Snow, was a native of Massachusetts—my mother, Rosetta L. Pettibone, of Connecticut.”

Siblings: Leonora, Percy, Melissa, Lorenzo, Lucius, and Samuel.

Whatever became of Lorenzo? (5^th president}

She walked not in the borrowed light of others, but faced the morning unafraid and invincible. Joseph F. Smith

Eliza was the second of seven children of Oliver and Rosetta Pettibone Snow. The family moved to the Western Reserve in 1806. She worked as secretary in the office of her father, a justice of the peace. Trained by her mother in domestic arts, she earned income as a seamstress. She was also a schoolteacher. Between 1826 and 1832 she published more than 20 poems over various pen names in Ravenna, Ohio’s Western Courier and Ohio Star.

She was called as the first Secretary to the RS in 1842.

She is Known as Zion's Poetess

I was partial to poetical works, and when very young frequently made attempts at imitations of the different styles of favorite authors. In school I often bothered my teachers by writing my dissertations in rhyme.³

She published several poems as a young woman under several different pseudonyms, demonstrating her passion for classical literature. Her poems chronicled the history of the Church and captured snapshots of the lives of hundreds of individuals. The first of her two volumes of Poems, Religious, Historical, and Poetical appeared in 1856, the second in 1877. Several of her poems affirm a woman’s place in Latter-day Saint theology.

In about 1842 while in Missouri and living with Emma she says,

I remember it was about this time I “first understood that the practice of plurality was to be introduced into the church. The subject was very repugnant to my feelings...I consoled myself with the idea that it was far in the distance and beyond the period of my mortal existence.” However, a few months later, on June 29, 1842, Eliza married Joseph Smith. She wrote, “I was sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, for time and eternity, in accordance with the Celestial Law of Marriage which God has revealed

Characteristically she expressed her feelings about plural marriage in a poem:

[We are] apt to conclude, from the medly of things;
We’ve got into a jumble of late-
A deep intricate puzzle, a tangle of strings,
That no possible scheme can make straight

From the midst of confusion can harmony flow?
Or can peace from distraction come forth?
From out of corruption, integrity grow?
Or can vice unto virtue give birth?

Will the righteous come forth with their garments unstained?
With their hearts unpolluted with sin?
O, yes; Zion, thy honor will be sustained.
And the glory of God usher’d in.

How She felt about Joseph

Throughout her life Eliza referred to Joseph as "her first and only love . . . the choice of her heart and the crown of her life." and when Joseph was martyred in 1844 she was so overcome by grief that she could not eat or sleep and even pled with the Lord to allow her to die. It was during this time of grieving that Joseph appeared to her in vision and told her that she must not desire to die. He then explained that her mission on earth was not yet completed and counseled her to be of good cheer and service to those around her.

Second Husband: Brigham Young
Married: 1844

According to Brigham, it was “a marriage to take care of her.”

She remained at Brigham’s right hand in all business matters. She was his confidante and counselor.

She was moved into the Lion House when it was completed.

She encouraged sisters to attend society meetings, sustain priesthood leaders, and support Brigham Young's program for economic self-sufficiency by establishing cooperatives, storing grain, raising silk, and obtaining medical training. Though not officially set apart as general president of the Relief Society until June 1880, she had essentially functioned in that capacity since 1867 when it was again organized.

She admonished the Relief Society to:

"Let your first business be to perform your duties at home," she said. "Inasmuch as you are wise stewards, you will find time for social duties, because these are incumbent upon us as daughters and mothers in Zion. By seeking to perform every duty, you will find that your capacity will increase, and you will be astonished at what you can accomplish."

She had a significant impact on the Church development.

Instrumental in:

She assisted the Bishops in organizing the Relief Society (1866)

She started The Retrenchment Association for Young Ladies (1869)

She created the Primary Associations (1878)

She actually organized started it, then went and asked permission. This was her way of “getting men to do what she wanted.”

Some of her poems include:

· "How Great the Wisdom and the Love”

· "Invocation, or the Eternal Father and Mother" ("Oh, My Father")

· "Be Not Discouraged"

· "My First View of a Western Prairie"

· "Mental Gas"

· "Think not When You Gather to Zion Your Troubles and Trials are Through"

· "O Awake! My Slumbering Minstrel"

· "Truth Reflects upon Our Senses

She was set apart as a healer. She was witnessed administering to many. When she helped a boy that the Elders had considered too far gone, he was witnessed to get up and walk along his way after her blessing.

This is her recorded testimony:

I will go forward. I will smile at the rage of the tempest, and ride fearlessly and triumphantly across the boisterous ocean of circumstance... and 'the testimony of Jesus' will light up a lamp that will guide my vision through the portals of immortality, and communicate to my understanding the glories of the Celestial kingdom.

Eliza R. Snow

Patty Sessions

She is not as well known. Many have never heard of her.

She was born in 1795 Maine and at 17, married David Sessions. She did not receive much formal schooling, but she loved to read and write.

One of the greatest accomplishments of the immigrants who settled in the Northeast was the establishment of Sunday Schools. They were not created to teach Bible stories; they were founded to teach every person to read so they could read the Bible. Literacy in 19^th century America was really quite good in the North. The ability to write was far less practiced. This seems strange to us as we learn both skills together, but if you’ve learned a foreign language, you can relate to the ability to read much better than compose.

In 1834 she was baptized and brought along some of her family.

By 1837 in Missouri she had delivered 7 children, 4 of whom died. This fits the normal practice for women who would have a child every two years and lose a tooth in the same period of time. Childbirth was the greatest cause of death among women. The mortality rate was between 1% and 1.5%. On the average women bore eight children. This meant that a woman had a 1 in 8 chance of death or that for every eight women, one would perish. Literacy among women is considered one of the factors that improved the odds as information was transferred between mothers and midwives.

She was also “spiritually married” to Joseph Smith, hough she spent mortality with David.

Her circle of friends included “Brigham’s Girls” or “Heber’s Girls”. She was part of the elite women in Salt Lake City.

She worked with her mother-in-law as a midwife and learned the profession. She kept a meticulous diary covering 40 years.

She was set apart as a healer and followed her mother as a midwife. She drove her own wagon across the plains.

She was part of the “Big Company” which arrived in the Salt Lake valley in September, 1847. She once delivered three babies in six hours during the trek. She was witnessed as a powerful healer and performed a “laying on of hands” on many occasions.

She frequently would “speak in tongues” or would interpret for another sister speaking in tongues.

Though she was sealed to Joseph, she had some different feelings about David taking on a second wife. Rosilla had a “saucy tongue”, was younger and threatened to “take David for herself”. This led to months of complaining and disagreement. Rosilla eventually gave up and went back to Nauvoo.

Patty was president of the Council of Health and presided over the Mormon Women’s Group that later became the Relief Society (it had lapsed for the period between leaving Nauvoo and reorganization in Utah in 1869).

In her mid-fifties David died. A year later she was married to the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, John Parry. He too, took a second wife but by then she states she “…was rather unfazed by the whole thing.”

In 1883 she owned $16,000 worth of shares in ZCMI which made her not just one of the richest women in Utah, but one of the richest people in Utah. Still, she took in borders and weaved to make extra income. She always paid her tithing and contributed liberally to charities and the PEF.

In 1868 John Parry died and she moved to Bountiful which her son had helped found.

Patty was the first person seen by 3,977 babies. I doubt there are many modern obstetricians or midwives that can rival her efforts and her records.

Jane Manning James

I preface the next discussion with a quote from Bruce R. McConkie. You will recall that in his book Mormon Doctrine he stated, Negroes in this life are denied the priesthood; under no circumstances can they hold this delegation of authority from the Almighty. Fortunately, the atonement covers even the misspeaking by those who have received full enlightenment. I response to President Kimball’s announcement of the revelation extending the Priesthood to all worthy males, he repented:

“There are statements in our literature by the early Brethren that we have interpreted to mean that the Negroes would not receive the priesthood in mortality. I have said the same things, and people write me letters and say, "You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?" All I can say is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or George Q. Cannon or whoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world.

It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June 1978. It is a new day and a new arrangement, and the Lord has now given the revelation that sheds light out into the world on this subject. As to any slivers of light or any particles of darkness of the past, we forget about them. We now do what meridian Israel did when the Lord said the gospel should go to the Gentiles. We forget all the statements that limited the gospel to the house of Israel, and we start going to the Gentiles.”

I would reiterate that there was never a reason given by doctrine limiting the blessings of the Temple and the Priesthood to those of African descent. This practice did not come into effect until Brigham Young started it in 1849 and lasted until 1978. African-Americans had been ordained to both Priesthoods, one, Green Flake was made a seventy when sent to Canada on a mission. They also received their temple endowment and sealing.

Jane Manning James was also in the “Big Party” that went west. She had been born in 1822 (sometimes listed as 1813, but 1822 seems more correct) in Wilton, Connecticut. She joined the Church in 1841 and brought most of her family with her. In 1842 Jane walked with her family in the winter 750 miles to Nauvoo. She had arranged and paid for travel, but when the captain of the riverboat saw her, he refused to let her and her family board. He did take her luggage though, which was never returned.

She was the first free African American to arrive in Utah. She prided herself for having always supported her family and never been in servitude.

Jane walked with her family in the winter 750 miles to Nauvoo. She had arranged and paid for travel, but when the captain of the riverboat saw her, he refused to let her and her family board. He did take her luggage though.

They walked until their shoes wore out and their feet were cracked and bleeding. Their red tracks were visible on the road and commented on by other voyagers. When they arrived at Nauvoo they were directly shown to the house of Joseph Smith who informed other boarders that they would make room for them. When the rest of the family found work, Jane was found in tears by the prophet who admonished her that his was a happy house. She told him that she was the only one not to find work and was destitute. Joseph immediately consulted with Emma who agreed that she would be a part of their household.

She was treated as an equal in all things and Emma offered to adopt her. She didn’t know what that meant and declined. Later in Utah she would reconsider. She asked many times to perform the sealing, but permission was not granted. She was also forbidden to attend the Temple and receive her endowment which caused her great anguish as she feared for her soul not having received the required ordinances of salvation. She was finally adopted into the Smith family; sealed not as a daughter, but as their “eternal servant.” This is the engraving on her headstone in the Smith family plot of the Salt Lake cemetery. As far as I can tell, she is still the only worthy person who was living at the time of her temple ordinance but required a proxy in the temple as she waited outside.

She asked multiple times to be allowed to “gain her salvation through the required temple ordinances.” Ironically, her persistent and earnest queries may have contributed to the steadfast feeling against African Americans in the church.

Conclusion

In the short amount of time available we have just seen the barest snippets of the contributions of Mormon Women. I have researched a great deal on this subject and can testify that in the present day as in the past, Mormon women are the pinnacle of God’s creation. I am grateful to be married to one.