Editing Elizabeth Ann Whitney

{{Short description|LDS Church leader (1800–1882)}}
{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography
| name                       = Elizabeth Ann Whitney
| image                      = Elizabeth Ann Whitney.jpg
| alt                        = Photo of Elizabeth Ann Whitney
| caption                    = ca. 1870
| birth_name                 = Elizabeth Ann Smith
| birth_date                 = {{Birth date|1800|12|26}}
| birth_place                = [[Derby, Connecticut]], United States
| death_date                 = {{Death date and age|1882|02|15|1800|12|26}}
| death_place                = [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]], United States
| death_cause                = 
| resting_place              = [[Salt Lake City Cemetery]]
| resting_place_coordinates  = {{Coord|40.777|-111.858|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Salt Lake City Cemetery}}
| spouse                     = [[Newel K. Whitney]]
| children                   = 
| parents                    = Gibson Smith<br>Polly Bradley
| relatives                  = 
| awards                     = 
| signature                  = 
| signature size             = 
| signature_alt              = 
| website                    = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| footnotes                  =
| portals                    = movement
<!-- Latter Day Saint Leadership  -->
| position_or_quorum1        = [[List of General Presidencies of the Relief Society|Second Counselor]] in the general<br>presidency of the [[Relief Society]]
| called_by1                 = [[Eliza R. Snow]]
| ordination_reason1         = 
| predecessor1               = Dormant
| successor1                 = [[Bathsheba W. Smith]]
| start_date1                = 1866<!-- {{start date|yyyy|mm|dd}} -->
| end_date1                  = {{end date|1882|02|15}}
| end_reason1                = 
| reorganization1            = 
| position_or_quorum2        = [[Relief Society#Beginnings|Second Counselor]] in the general presidency of the Relief Society
| called_by2                 = [[Emma Hale Smith]]
| ordination_reason2         = 
| predecessor2               = Founding Member
| successor2                 = Dormant
| start_date2                = {{start date|1842|03|17}}
| end_date2                  = 1844<!-- {{end date|yyyy|mm|dd}} -->
| end_reason2                = 
| reorganization2            = 
}}
'''Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney''' (December{{Citation needed|date=January 2021|reason=Conflicting with wikidata}} 26, 1800 – February 15, 1882) was an early [[Latter Day Saint]] leader, and wife to [[Newel K. Whitney]], another early Latter Day Saint leader. She went by her middle name, Ann.<ref name="Tolman"/>

==Early life and marriage==
Elizabeth Ann Smith was born in [[Derby, Connecticut]], to Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley.<ref name="js papers">{{cite book|url=http://josephsmithpapers.org/person?name=Elizabeth+Ann+Smith+Whitney|title=Whitney, Elizabeth Ann Smith|website=The Joseph Smith Papers|publisher=The Church Historian's Press|date=18 March 2014|access-date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226004415/http://josephsmithpapers.org/person?name=Elizabeth+Ann+Smith+Whitney|archive-date=26 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was the couple's oldest child.<ref name="women of mormondom" /> Her parents did not attend any church, but identified as [[Christians|Christian]],<ref name="woman's exponent 8/15" /> and Ann Smith later described her young self as "naturally religious."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=1878-09-01|editor-last=Wells|editor-first=Emmeline B.|title=A Leaf from an Autobiography|url=https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/WomansExp/id/6431|journal=[[Woman's Exponent]]|volume=7|issue=7|pages=51|access-date=2020-11-17}}</ref> As a child, she was "carefully educated according to the customs of that early period",<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=1882-02-16|title=Mother Whitney Dead|page=8|work=Salt Lake Herald-Republican|url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=10631219&q=Death+of+Mother+Whitney&sort=rel&year_start=1882&year_end=1882|access-date=2020-11-17}}</ref> such as dancing<ref name="woman's exponent 8/15">{{cite journal|editor1-last=Wells|editor1-first=Emmeline B|title=A Leaf from an Autobiography|journal=The Woman's Exponent|date=15 Aug 1878|volume=7|issue=6|page=41|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/24316/rec/147|access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> and singing.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/at-the-pulpit/title-page?lang=eng|title=At the Pulpit|publisher=[[The Church Historian's Press]]|year=2017|isbn=9781629722825|editor-last=Reeder|editor-first=Jennifer|location=Salt Lake City|chapter=Adam-ondi-Ahman: Elizabeth Ann Whitney|editor-last2=Holbrook|editor-first2=Kate|chapter-url=https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/at-the-pulpit/part-1/chapter-2?lang=eng}}</ref> When Smith was about 18 years old,<ref name="women of mormondom" /> she had some sort of disagreement with her mother and left home.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Staker|first=Mark L.|date=2003|title='Thou Art the Man': Newel K. Whitney in Ohio|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43044336|journal=[[BYU Studies Quarterly]]|publisher=[[Brigham Young University]]|volume=42|issue=1|pages=78–79|jstor=43044336}}</ref> She followed her unmarried aunt, Sarah Smith, westward to [[Kirtland, Ohio]].<ref name="women of mormondom">{{cite book|last1=Tullidge, Edward W.|author-link=Edward W. Tullidge|url=https://archive.org/details/womenofmormondom00tullrich|title=The Women of Mormondom|pages=[https://archive.org/details/womenofmormondom00tullrich/page/32 32]&ndash;42|location=New York|date=1877|access-date=5 May 2016}}</ref> 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".<ref name=":3" /> Sarah Smith bought a parcel of land within the [[Connecticut Western Reserve]], 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.<ref name=":3" />

When she was 20 she met her future husband, [[Newel K. Whitney]]. The couple was married on October 20, 1822<ref name="js papers" /> after a three-year courtship.<ref name=":3" /> They quickly accumulated wealth and status in their community.<ref name="women of mormondom" /> They had eleven children together and adopted several homeless children.<ref name="lds.org" />

===Conversion===
In Kirtland, Ann and her husband joined the [[Disciples of Christ]], called the Campbellites at the time, led in the area by [[Sidney Rigdon]]. This group denied it had power to give the gift of the [[Holy Spirit]].<ref name="women of mormondom" /> This, along with vague answers to Whitney's questions, caused her and her husband to pray for direction.<ref name="women of character">{{cite book|last1=Black|first1=Susan Easton|author2=Woodger, Mary Jane|title=Women of Character|date=2011|publisher=Covenant Communications|location=American Fork, Utah|isbn=9781680470185|pages=365–368}}</ref> 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!"<ref name="women of mormondom" />

Sidney Rigdon converted to [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], which had been established by [[Joseph Smith]] in April 1830. In 1830, Whitney heard of his conversion and of the [[Missionary (LDS Church)|missionaries]] who were in the area.<ref name="woman's exponent 9/1" /> She agreed to hear them preach, and was particularly impressed that they did not ask for any financial compensation from their audiences.<ref name=":0" /> She went home after hearing them speak to share with her husband that she felt it was the right church.<ref name="woman's exponent 9/1" /> [[Parley P. Pratt]] then taught Ann and Newel about the faith,<ref name=":2" /> and the two chose to be baptized in November 1830.<ref name="woman's exponent 9/1">{{cite journal|editor1-last=Wells|editor1-first=Emmeline B|title=A Leaf from an Autobiography|journal=The Woman's Exponent|date=9 Sep 1878|volume=7|issue=7|page=51|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6461/rec/148 |access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> Rigdon performed their baptisms.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Newel K. Whitney Home|url=https://ensignpeakfoundation.org/newel-k-whitney-home/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=[[Ensign Peak Foundation]]}}</ref>

Joseph and Emma Smith arrived at [[Newel K. Whitney Store|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?"<ref name="woman's exponent 9/1" /> The Smiths then stayed in their home.<ref name="lds.org">{{cite journal|last1=Quinn|first1=D. Michael|title=The Newel K. Whitney Family|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1978/12/the-newel-k-whitney-family?lang=eng|journal=Ensign|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|access-date=6 May 2016|date=December 1978}}</ref> While there, Joseph received revelations that are recorded in [[Doctrine and Covenants]],<ref name="woman's exponent 9/1" /> most likely sections 41 through 44.<ref name=":4" /> 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 [their] house."<ref name=":0" /> They lodged with the Whitneys for a number of weeks.<ref name=":4" /> Joseph noticed the quality of Whitney's singing voice and accordingly dubbed her "the sweet songstress of Zion".<ref name=":1" /> <!-- info about musical talent/songwriting, esp. religiously --> Immediately after receiving her [[patriarchal blessing]] at the hand of [[Joseph Smith Sr.]], Whitney sang about the history and importance of [[Adam-ondi-Ahman]] in [[Speaking in tongues|tongues]].<ref name=":2" /> The blessing had mentioned the "gift of singing inspirationally."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gift of Tongues|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/gift-of-tongues?lang=eng|access-date=2020-11-17|website=churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref>

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.<ref name="women of character" />

==Traveling westward==
Whitney and her family traveled with the members of the church. They left Kirtland to move to [[Far West, Missouri]] in the fall of 1838 due to persecution.<ref name="woman's exponent 11/15">{{cite journal|editor1-last=Wells|editor1-first=Emmeline B|title=A Leaf from an Autobiography|journal=The Woman's Exponent|date=15 Nov 1878|volume=7|issue=12|page=91 |url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6502/rec/153 |access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> However, when they reached [[St. Louis]], they were informed that Latter-day Saints were being kicked out of [[Missouri]]. They settled in [[Carrollton, Illinois]] during the winter of 1838&ndash;39. They then moved to [[Quincy, Illinois micropolitan area|Quincy, Illinois]] during the next winter. By the spring of 1840, they had reached [[Nauvoo, Illinois]], then called Commerce.<ref name="js papers" /> When the family reached Nauvoo, most of them were sick, and Whitney had her ninth child.<ref name="woman's exponent 11/15"/> The couple received their [[Endowment (Latter Day Saints)|endowments]] and were [[Sealing (Mormonism)|sealed]] in the [[Nauvoo Temple]] by Joseph Smith.<ref name="lds.org" />

The family continued moving with the Saints, and went to [[Winter Quarters (North Omaha, Nebraska)|Winter Quarters]] in February, 1846 before migrating to the Salt Lake Valley.<ref name="js papers" /> During the difficult trek west, Whitney developed [[rheumatoid arthritis]] in her arms and legs. She also gave birth to a son, Newel M., at Winter Quarters.<ref name=":1" /> They arrived in [[Salt Lake City]] on September 24, 1848.<ref name="js papers" /> Two years later, her husband died.<ref name="women of character" />

==LDS Church service==
In March 1842, Whitney became one of the original leaders of the [[Relief Society]], with [[Emma Hale Smith]], [[Sarah M. Cleveland]], and [[Eliza Roxcy Snow]]<ref>{{Cite news|date=1842-04-01|title=Ladies' Relief Society|work=[[Times and Seasons]]|url=https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-april-1842/9#source-note|access-date=2020-11-17}}</ref> (who had been her acquaintance in Kirtland). Whitney served as the second counselor under Emma Smith.<ref>[http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book#5 Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book, p. 8]</ref><ref name="Madsen">{{cite book|last1=Madsen|first1=Carol Cornwall|title=In Their Own Words: Women and the Story of Nauvoo|date=1994|publisher=Deseret Book Company|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|isbn=0875797709|pages=196–198}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Tolman">{{cite book|last1=Tolman|first1=Jan De Hoyos|editor1-last=Turley|editor1-first=Richard E.|editor2-last=Nash|editor2-first=Brittany Chapman|title='I Have Been a Living Witness': Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney (1800–1882)|publisher=Deseret Book Company|pages=596–606|edition=digital|oclc=871316993}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Tolman" />
[[File:Three Women of Mormondom.png|alt=three women posing together for a portrait in 1876. the two on the left and right – Elizabeth Ann Whitney and Eliza R. Snow, respectively – are sitting, while the one in the middle – Emmeline B. Wells – stands|thumb|Elizabeth Ann Whitney (left) with Emmeline B. Wells (center) and Eliza R. Snow (right), ca. 1876]]
After the Nauvoo temple was completed, Whitney was the second woman to receive her endowment (after Emma Smith).<ref name="Tolman"/> Whitney worked there daily during the winter of 1845–46 to help other members receive their endowments.<ref name="lds.org" /><ref name="Madsen"/> In 1850, Brigham Young called her to be in charge of the women's department of the [[Endowment House]].<ref name="Madsen"/> Whitney also served as second counselor to [[Eliza R. Snow]] in the Relief Society presidency from 1880&ndash;82.<ref name="women of character" />

=== 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]]''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} In November 1879, she purchased a plot of land that had previously belonged to Brigham Young.<ref>{{Cite archive|collection=Newel Kimball Whitney papers|institution=L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University|item-url=https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/SCMisc/id/62023|item=Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney deed|box=6|item-id=VMSS76_S2_SS2_B6_F23_I7}}</ref>

==Death==
Elizabeth Whitney was affectionately called "Mother Whitney" by members of the church for her service and compassion.<ref name="lds.org" /> It is noted that she had the [[spiritual gift|gift of tongues]], and that she even sang in tongues.<ref name="women of character" /> Whitney also used seer stones.<ref name="Staker">{{cite journal|last1=Staker|first1=Mark|title='Thou Art the Man' Newel K. Whitney in Ohio|journal=BYU Studies|date=2003|volume=42|issue=1|page=101|url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol42/iss1/5/|access-date=29 September 2016}}</ref> She died in Salt Lake City in 1882<ref name="js papers"/> and was buried in [[Salt Lake City Cemetery]]. At the time of her death she was the second oldest member of the LDS church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mother Whitney Dead|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/79984596/|access-date=3 October 2016|work=The Daily Herald|date=16 February 1882}}</ref> [[Daniel H. Wells]], Lorenzo D. Young, and [[Joseph F. Smith]] spoke at Whitney's funeral and praised her for her faith and service in the church.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1882-02-22|title=Funeral Services of Sister Elizabeth A. Whitney|work=[[Deseret News]]|url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2664982&facet_paper=%22Deseret+News%22&q=funeral+services+of+elizabeth+ann+whitney+1882-02-22&sort=rel|access-date=2020-11-17}}</ref> A residence hall at [[Brigham Young University]] was named after her in 1957.<ref>{{cite news|title=Historic Dedication Conducted on Y Campus|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/6780747|access-date=3 October 2016|work=The Daily Herald|date=7 May 1957|page=9}}{{closed access}}</ref>
[[File:ElizabethAnnWhitneyGrave.jpg|thumb|Elizabeth Ann Whitney's grave marker]]

==Publications==
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6421/rec/146 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 33, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Aug, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/24316/rec/147 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 41, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Aug, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6461/rec/148 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 51, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Sept, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/24356/rec/150 Leaf from an Autobiography, page 71, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Oct, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6671/rec/152 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 83, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Nov, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6502/rec/153 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 91, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Nov, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6548/rec/155 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 105, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Dec, 1878]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6715/rec/156 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 115, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 1 Jan, 1879]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/WomansExp/id/6304/rec/159 Leaf from an Autobiography, p. 191, ''Woman's Exponent,'' 15 Feb, 1879]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://archives.lib.byu.edu/repositories/14/archival_objects/62151 Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney papers]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SCMisc/id/67153 Newel and Elizabeth Whitney's Patriarchal Blessings 1835, BYU]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SCMisc/id/62032 Elizabeth Whitney's Patriarchal Blessing 1855, BYU]
*[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/SCMisc/id/62009 Elizabeth Whitney Court Summons, BYU]
{|
|-
|{{S-start}}
! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #FABE60;" |[[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titles]]
{{s-new | First}}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[Relief Society#Beginnings|Second Counselor]] in the general<br>presidency of the [[Relief Society]]| years = {{start date|1842|03|17}} &ndash; 1844}}
{{s-vac|1=dormant}}
{{s-rel|mo}}
|-
{{s-vac|1=dormant}}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[List of General Presidencies of the Relief Society|Second Counselor]] in the general<br>presidency of the Relief Society | years = 1866 &ndash; February 15, 1882}}
{{s-aft | after  = [[Bathsheba W. Smith]] }}
{{s-end}}
|-
|{{LDSreliefsociety}}
|}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitney, Elizabeth Ann}}
[[Category:1800 births]]
[[Category:1882 deaths]]
[[Category:American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
[[Category:Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery]]
[[Category:Converts to Mormonism from Restoration Movement denominations]]
[[Category:Counselors in the General Presidency of the Relief Society]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Illinois]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Ohio]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:Mormon pioneers]]
[[Category:People from Derby, Connecticut]]
[[Category:People from Kirtland, Ohio]]