The contributions of women in the Church
From the earliest days of the Church, women have worked to bring the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Women hold leadership positions, sit in leadership councils, and regularly teach and pray in congregational worship services. Faithful women also serve as missionaries; teach the gospel throughout the world, and work to relieve suffering in their own communities as well as abroad.
In addition to caring for their families, women in the early Church drove wagons, pulled handcarts, and helped build communities.
Emma Smith, the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, acted as an early scribe as Joseph translated the Book of Mormon. She supported Joseph through persecutions and mob violence and helped him establish the Church. Emma Smith became the first president of the Relief Society. Under her capable direction, women of the Church built the Relief Society, which has become the largest women’s organization in the world.
Eliza R. Snow followed Emma Smith as president of the Relief Society. She was a prolific poet, publishing hundreds of poems and many texts for hymns that are still used throughout the Church today. She also helped found the Church’s Young Women and Primary organizations and energetically promoted numerous civic projects.
Emma Smith and Eliza R. Snow are just two of the thousands of women who contributed to the early establishment of the Church through their strength, courage, and faith in God.
Women of the Church today continue to build and strengthen the Church across the world.
|
The Church
