The Women of MormondomTullidge, Edward W. (Edward William)
History
The Women of Mormondom
Tullidge, Edward W. (Edward William)
Latter Day Saint churches -- History; Latter Day Saints -- History; Polygamy
Not so the grand economy of Mormonism. In the Mormon temple, woman is
not merely implied, but well defined and named. There the theme of the
song of the New Jerusalem is faithfully rendered in her personality.
If man is anointed priest unto God, woman is anointed priestess; if
symboled in his heavenly estate as king, she is also symboled as queen.
Gentile publishers, making a sensational convenience of apostate
sisters, have turned this to the popular amusement; but to the faithful
Mormon woman it is a very sacred and exalted subject.
But not presuming to more than cross the threshold of the temple,
return we now to the Mormon woman in her social sphere and dignity. The
grand organization of fifty thousand Mormon women, under the name of
"Relief Societies," will sufficiently illustrate woman in the Mormon
economy.
The Female Relief Society was organized by the prophet Joseph, at
Nauvoo. Here is a minute from his own history:
"Thursday, March 24.--I attended by request the Female Relief
Society, whose object is, the relief of the poor, the destitute,
the widow, and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent
purposes. Its organization was completed this day. Mrs. Emma Smith
takes the presidential chair; Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Whitney and
Mrs. Sarah M. Cleveland are her councilors; Miss Elvira Cole is
treasuress, and our well-known and talented poetess, Miss Eliza R.
Snow, secretary. * * * * Our ladies have always been signalized for
their acts of benevolence and kindness; but the cruel usage that
they have received from the barbarians of Missouri, has hitherto
prevented their extending the hand of charity in a conspicuous
manner."
On another occasion he says:
"I met the members of the Female Relief Society, and after
presiding at the admission of many new members, gave a lecture on
the priesthood, showing how the sisters would come in possession of
the privileges, blessings, and gifts of the priesthood, and that
the signs should follow them, such as healing the sick, casting out
devils, etc., and that they might attain unto these blessings by a
virtuous life, and conversation, and diligence in keeping all the
commandments."
But it is in Utah that we see the growth of this society to a vast
woman's organization: an organization which will greatly influence the
destiny of Utah, religiously, socially and politically, for the next
century, and, presumably, for all time.
From 1846, the time of the exodus from Nauvoo, the Relief Society was
inoperative until 1855, when it was re-organized in Salt Lake City.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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