Eliza R. Snow

Eliza R. Snow was the second General President of the Relief Society. Called "Zion's Poetess," Eliza is responsible for several hymns in the present day LDS hymnal and was one of the most celebrated Mormon women of the ninteenth century.

Early Life

Eliza Rocxy Snow was born in Becket, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA on January 21, 1804. She was the second of seven children born to Oliver Snow and Rosetta Pettibone Snow. Eliza worked as a seamstress, secretary, and schoolteacher. Between 1826 and 1832 she published more than twenty poems in Ohio newspapers using various pen names.

Joseph Smith visited the Snow home in 1831 and baptized Eliza's mother and sister, Leonora that year. Eliza was not as quick to join the Church. After much deliberation, Eliza was baptized on April 5, 1835, and moved to Kirtland, Ohio, in December to be with the saints. Eliza lived with Joseph and Emma Smith,

Eliza was a plural wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Her brother, Lorenzo Snow, became fifth prophet of the Church.