"To be able to do Father's will is what I wish to live
for"
Eliza R Snow
The Snow's first learned about the church in Mantua, OH. Shortly after Eliza was baptized she moved to Kirtland to teach the prophet's daughters and nieces. Before even joining the church Eliza was known for her poetry and met some very famous people for her time (Queen Victoria of England; Victor Hugo, a French Poet; Susan B. Anthony, a Civil Rights Leader, and even President Abraham Lincoln). She was sealed to Joseph Smith June 29, 1842. After the Prophet's death Eliza wrote " Invocation, of the Eternal Father and Mother." The poem is in our hymn book titled, "O, My Father".
"She wrote this poem in a little attic room in the home of Stephen Markham in Nauvoo in the spring of 1845, about a year after the martyrdom of the Prophet. She had been given temporary shelter in the Markham home, and her little room had bare walls and floor, except for a small rag rug beside her bed. On a small bedside table lay the Holy Bible, her beloved Book of Mormon, and a tiny gold pencil the Prophet had given her and with which she wrote this immortal poem." Ensign 1973
Sometime after Joseph Smith's death and before the Saints left Nauvoo, Eliza married Brigham Young. Brigham held her in high esteem and cared for her financial needs.
From Kirtland, Missouri, Nauvoo, to Salt Lake Eliza spent her time serving the women of the Church. She uplifted, strengthened, held hands, prayed for them, and counseled them.
She counseled, "Let your first business be to perform your duties at home...But, inasmuch as you are wise stewards you will find time for your social duties...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 helped organize the Primary and Young Women Mutual Improvement Association. Eliza and her counselors expressed and taught the importance of self-reliance. The sisters with her guidance learned how to grow and store grain, operate cooperative stores, manufactured fabrics, sent women to go to medical school to become doctors, nurses, and midwives. They opened Deseret Hospital where she became the first president of the hospital. In her 21 years of service as the General RS president Eliza helped grow and nurture Relief Society to the foundations it is today. Eliza died while serving as Relief Society President on December 5, 1887.
