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 Hale Smith working as their family school teacher. She also composed two hymns for Emma's new hymnal.

Eliza again moved with her family to Missouri in June 1836. The family had been there only nine months when persecution drove the family to Illinois. Eliza was named "Zion's Poetess" by Joseph Smith, Jr., and was a frequent contributor to Nauvoo publications. She again lived in the Smith household as a teacher from August 1842 to February 1843.

Initially repelled by polygamy Eliza became to esteem it as a divine principle. She was a plural wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. (June 29, 1842), and after his death, became the wife of Brigham Young (October 3, 1844). Emma remained childless thoughout her life.

Eliza was selected as first secretary of the Nauvoo Female Relief Society. She carried the records of those meetings with her on the long journey west with the Saints.

Eliza's brother, Lorenzo Snow, became fifth prophet of the Church.