Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney (December 26, 1800 – February 15, 1882) was an early
Latter Day Saint
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by J ...
leader, and wife to
Newel K. Whitney, another early Latter Day Saint leader. She went by her middle name, Ann.
Early life and marriage
Elizabeth Ann Smith was born in
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, approximately 8 miles west-northwest of New Haven. It is located in southwest Connecticut at the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers. It borders the cities of Anson ...
, to Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley.
She was the couple's oldest child.
Her parents did not attend any church, but identified as
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
,
and Ann Smith later described her young self as "naturally religious."
As a child, she was "carefully educated according to the customs of that early period",
such as dancing
and singing.
When Smith was about 18 years old,
she had some sort of disagreement with her mother and left home.
She followed her unmarried aunt, Sarah Smith, westward to
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, Lake County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,937 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Kirtland is known for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement from 1831 to 18 ...
.
In this venture, the two women displayed what Mark L. Staker, a faculty member of the
LDS Church History Department, calls "a strong sense of self-reliance".
Sarah Smith bought a parcel of land within the
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was a portion of land claimed by the Colony of Connecticut and later by the state of Connecticut in what is now mostly the northeastern region of Ohio. The Reserve had been granted to the Colony under the terms ...
, and soon one of Ann's uncles joined them in Ohio. Her father also tried to move west, but was prevented from doing so by his wife.
When she was 20 she met her future husband,
Newel K. Whitney. The couple was married on October 20, 1822
after a three-year courtship.
They quickly accumulated wealth and status in their community.
They had eleven children together and adopted several homeless children.
Conversion
In Kirtland, Ann and her husband joined the
Disciples of Christ
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. The denomination started with the Restoration Movement during the Second Great Awakening, first existing during the 19th ...
, called the Campbellites at the time, led in the area by
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon (February 19, 1793 – July 14, 1876) was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Biography Early life
Rigdon was born in St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1793. He was ...
. This group denied it had power to give the gift of the
Holy Spirit
In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts ...
.
This, along with vague answers to Whitney's questions, caused her and her husband to pray for direction.
In response to that prayer, the couple claimed to have seen a vision and a voice stating, "Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming!"
Sidney Rigdon converted to
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The ...
, which had been established by
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, h ...
in April 1830. In 1830, Whitney heard of his conversion and of the
missionaries
A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...
who were in the area.
She agreed to hear them preach, and was particularly impressed that they did not ask for any financial compensation from their audiences.
She went home after hearing them speak to share with her husband that she felt it was the right church.
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt Sr. (April 12, 1807 – May 13, 1857) was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement whose writings became a significant early nineteenth-century exposition of the Latter Day Saint faith. Named in 1835 as one of the first ...
then taught Ann and Newel about the faith,
and the two chose to be baptized in November 1830.
Rigdon performed their baptisms.
Joseph and Emma Smith arrived at
Newel K. Whitney's store in Kirtland in December 1830. Joseph said, "I am Joseph the Prophet; you have prayed me here; now what do you want of me?"
The Smiths then stayed in their home.
While there, Joseph received revelations that are recorded in
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C or D. and C.) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Originally published in 1835 as Doctrine and Covenants of the Ch ...
,
most likely sections 41 through 44.
Whitney felt that the Joseph and Emma's coming was fulfillment of a vision she and Newel had previously witnessed, in which "a cloud of glory rested upon
heirhouse."
They lodged with the Whitneys for a number of weeks.
Joseph noticed the quality of Whitney's singing voice and accordingly dubbed her "the sweet songstress of Zion".
Immediately after receiving her
patriarchal blessing
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarchal blessing (also called an evangelist's blessing) is an ordinance administered by the laying on of hands, with accompanying words of promise, counsel, and lifelong guidance intended solely for the re ...
at the hand of
Joseph Smith Sr.
Joseph Smith Sr. (July 12, 1771 – September 14, 1840) was the father of Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe ...
, Whitney sang about the history and importance of
Adam-ondi-Ahman
Adam-ondi-Ahman (, sometimes clipped to Diahman) is a historic site in Daviess County, Missouri, Daviess County, Missouri, about five miles south of Jameson, Missouri, Jameson. It is located along the east bluffs above the Grand River (Missouri) ...
in
tongues
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by tast ...
.
The blessing had mentioned the "gift of singing inspirationally."
Whitney and her husband hosted a three-day feast for the poor in January 1836. They lost some of their wealth when the Kirtland Safety Society Banking Company collapsed and people began persecuting members of the church.
Traveling Westward
Whitney and her family traveled with the members of the church. They left Kirtland to move to
Far West, Missouri
Far West was a settlement of the Latter Day Saint movement in Caldwell County, Missouri, United States, during the late 1830s. It is recognized as a historic site by the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, added to the register in 1970. It ...
in the fall of 1838 due to persecution.
However, when they reached
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
, they were informed that Latter-day Saints were being kicked out of
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
. They settled in
Carrollton, Illinois
Carrollton is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,484 as of the 2010 census.
Geography
Carrollton is located in south-central Greene County at (39.296662, -90.408059). U.S. Route 67 pas ...
during the winter of 1838–1839. They then moved to
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy ( ), known as Illinois's "Gem City", is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Illinois, United States, located on the Mississippi River. The 2020 census counted a population of 39,463 in the city itself, down from 40,633 in 2010. ...
during the next winter. By the spring of 1840, they had reached
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo ( ; from the ) is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River near Fort Madison, Iowa. The population of Nauvoo was 950 at the 2020 census. Nauvoo attracts visitors for its historic importance and its ...
, then called Commerce.
When the family reached Nauvoo, most of them were sick, and Whitney had her ninth child.
The couple received their
endowments and were
sealed
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
in the
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.''Manuscript History of the Church'', LDS Church Archives, book A-1, p. 37; reproduced in Dean C. Jessee (comp.) (1989). ''The Papers of Jose ...
by Joseph Smith.
The family continued moving with the Saints, and went to
Winter Quarters in February, 1846 before migrating to the Salt Lake Valley.
During the difficult trek west, Whitney developed
rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects synovial joint, joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and ...
in her arms and legs. She also gave birth to a son, Newel M., at Winter Quarters.
They arrived in
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, th ...
on September 24, 1848.
Two years later, her husband died.
LDS Church service
In March 1842, Whitney became one of the original leaders of the
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 1 ...
, with
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon (July 10, 1804 – April 30, 1879) was an American homesteader, the official wife of Joseph Smith, and a prominent leader in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement, both during Smith's lifetime and afterward as a ...
,
Sarah M. Cleveland
Sarah Marietta Kingsley Cleveland (October 20, 1788 - 1856) was the first counselor to Emma Smith in the presidency of the Relief Society from 1842 to 1844.
Cleveland was born in Becket, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Ebenezer Kingsley. She wa ...
, and
Eliza Roxcy Snow
Eliza Roxcy Snow (January 21, 1804 – December 5, 1887) was one of the most celebrated Latter Day Saint women of the nineteenth century. A renowned poet, she chronicled history, celebrated nature and relationships, and expounded scripture an ...
(who had been her acquaintance in Kirtland). Whitney served as the second counselor under Emma Smith.
Whitney presided over many of the Relief Society's last meetings in Nauvoo, as Emma Smith was away travelling, ill, or struggling with Joseph Smith's doctrine of plural marriage.
Ann and Newell Whitney consented for Joseph Smith to marry their daughter in 1842. Shortly after Joseph Smith's death in 1844, Newel took another wife. Ann wrote that she was "more favorably disposed to women as a class" since she had a sister wife.

After the Nauvoo temple was completed, Whitney was the second woman to receive her endowment (after Emma Smith).
Whitney worked there daily during the winter of 1845-46 to help other members receive their endowments.
In 1850, Brigham Young called her to be in charge of the women's department of the
Endowment House
The Endowment House was an early building used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to administer temple ordinances in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. From the construction of the Council House in 1852, Salt Lake City's ...
.
Whitney also served as second counselor to
Eliza R. Snow
Eliza Roxcy Snow (January 21, 1804 – December 5, 1887) was one of the most celebrated Latter Day Saint women of the nineteenth century. A renowned poet, she chronicled history, celebrated nature and relationships, and expounded scripture an ...
in the Relief Society presidency from 1880–1882.
Later years
Beginning in August 1878, Whitney's autobiography was published in a series called ''A Leaf from an Autobiography'' in the ''
Woman's Exponent
The ''Woman's Exponent'' was a semi-official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that began in 1872. It published articles advocating for women's suffrage and plural marriage, in addition to poetry and other writings. ...
''. In November 1879, she purchased a plot of land that had previously belonged to Brigham Young.
Death
Elizabeth Whitney was affectionately called "Mother Whitney" by members of the church for her service and compassion.
It is noted that she had the
gift of tongues
Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds, often thought by believers to be languages unknown to the speaker. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of sp ...
, and that she even sang in tongues.
Whitney also used seer stones.
She died in Salt Lake City in 1882
and was buried in
Salt Lake City Cemetery
The Salt Lake City Cemetery is a cemetery in northeastern Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, that is one of the largest city-operated cemeteries in the United States.
Description
The cemetery is located above 4th Avenue and east of N Street in ...
. At the time of her death she was the second oldest member of the LDS church.
Daniel H. Wells
Daniel Hanmer Wells (October 27, 1814 – March 24, 1891) was an American apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the 3rd mayor of Salt Lake City.
Biography
Early life
Wells was born in Trenton, New Yo ...
, Lorenzo D. Young, and
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith Sr. (November 13, 1838 – November 19, 1918) was an American religious leader who served as the sixth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was the nephew of Joseph Smith, the found ...
spoke at Whitney's funeral and praised her for her faith and service in the church. A residence hall at
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
was named after her in 1957.
Publications
Leaf from an Autobiography, page 33, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Aug, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 41, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Aug, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 51, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Sept, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 71, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Oct, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 83, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Nov, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 91, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Nov, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 105, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Dec, 1878Leaf from an Autobiography, page 115, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Jan, 1879Leaf from an Autobiography, page 191, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Feb, 1879
References
External links
Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney papersNewel and Elizabeth Whitney's Patriarchal Blessings 1835, BYUElizabeth Whitney's Patriarchal Blessing 1855, BYUElizabeth Whitney Court Summons, BYU
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitney, Elizabeth Ann
1800 births
1882 deaths
American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Converts to Mormonism from Restoration Movement denominations
Counselors in the General Presidency of the Relief Society
Latter Day Saints from Connecticut
Latter Day Saints from Illinois
Latter Day Saints from Ohio
Latter Day Saints from Utah
Mormon pioneers
People from Derby, Connecticut
People from Kirtland, Ohio
Harold B. Lee Library-related 19th century articles