Editing Woman's Exponent (section)

==Goals and approach==
The ''Woman's Exponent'' (''A Utah Ladies' Journal'') was a periodical published from 1872 until 1914 in [[Salt Lake City]] with the stated aims of defending and inculcating right principles, and sharing useful knowledge, and to "discuss every subject interesting and valuable to women."<ref name="FirstFifty_WE">{{cite book |title=The First Fifty Years of Relief Society |publisher=The Church Historian's Press |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |page=3.21 |url=https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/part-3/3-21?lang=eng |access-date=4 May 2020 |chapter=Woman’s Exponent. A Utah Ladies’ Journal, June 1, 1872}}</ref> Its goals have been summarized by later commentators as uplifting and strengthening women of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church){{sfn|Bennion|1976|p=226}} and educating those not of the faith about the women of the Church. The prospectus of ''The Woman's Exponent'' cited grievances with the portrayal of Utah women in the press as a reason for the paper's creation, asserting: "Who are so well able to speak for the women of Utah as the women of Utah themselves? 'It is better to represent ourselves than to be misrepresented by others!{{'"}}{{sfn|Maughan|1872|p=}}

Though not an official LDS Church publication, the ''Exponent'' was owned, operated and edited by LDS Church members in a private capacity. The periodical was closely tied to the Church's women's organizations, the Female Relief Societies, unified as the [[Relief Society]].<ref name="EoM_Exp_article">{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Shirley W. |title=Woman's Exponent |url=https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Woman%27s_Exponent |website=Encyclopedia of Mormonism |publisher=Brigham Young University |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref> It was approved by the General Authorities of the Church,<ref name="EoM_Exp_article" /> and often published news of Church events and essays relating to doctrine,{{sfn|Bennion|1976|pp=224,237}} but was editorially independent.<ref name="EoM_Exp_article" />

Throughout the time of its publication, the newspaper, as it was generally described, covered many topics<ref name="EoM_Exp_article"/> and featured conflicting points of view.{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=173-174}} It was a strong voice in support of [[History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints#Mormons and the women's suffrage movement|woman's suffrage]]. It also actively supported [[Mormonism and polygamy|plural marriage]], which was a religious practice of the Church at the time. Home, family, and the overall role of women were also frequent topics.{{sfn|Bennion|1976|p=239}} The ''Exponent'' both expressed that the "woman's sphere" in the home was a noble construct of society and encouraged women to expand beyond it; education for women was often urged to the audience.{{sfn|Bennion|1976|pp=224,237}} [[Lucinda Lee Dalton]], an early Mormon feminist, was a frequent contributor.<ref name="Dalton thesis">{{cite thesis |last=Bench |first=Sheree |date=2002 |title="Woman Arise!": Political Work in the Writings of Lu Dalton |type=M.A.|publisher=[[Brigham Young University]] |oclc=52790774 |url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4518/ |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> The ''Exponent'' also published excerpts from [[Elizabeth Cady Stanton|Elizabeth Cady Stanton's]] ''[[The Woman's Bible]]'' and passages on the Mormon doctrine of [[Heavenly Mother (Mormonism)|Heavenly Mother]].{{sfn|Petersen|2014|p=140-141}} In addition to these religious, social, and political topics, the ''Exponent'' included poems and stories, tidbits of humor or wisdom, and current news.{{sfn|Bennion|1976|pp=229–230}} Recipes and other housekeeping tips and notes on dress were also published.{{sfn|Bennion|1976|pp=224,237}} To promote a more financially-independent Utah, the ''Exponent'' "constantly exhorted women to consume only locally made products."{{sfn|Wallis|2003|p=316}} Reports from meetings of Relief Society bodies and other auxiliary organizations, such as young women’s and primary groups, were often included.{{sfn|Bennion|1993|pp= 111-130}} Though it was a private publication, women of the Relief Society were actively encouraged to subscribe, as well as contribute to the paper.{{sfn|Bennion|1976|p=224}}