Bathsheba Wilson Bigler Smith (May 3, 1822 – September 20, 1910) was an early member of the
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...
. She was the fourth general president of the
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 18 ...
of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
(LDS Church),
matron of the
Salt Lake Temple, member of the Board of Directors of Deseret Hospital,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
, and a leader in the western
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
woman's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
movement.
Early life and Missouri
Born near Shinnston, Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia), she was the daughter of Mark Bigler and Susanna Ogden.
When she was young, Bathsheba traded names with a friend as a symbol of their friendship, which is where the "Wilson" part of Bathsheba's name comes from.
When Bathsheba was 15, she heard about the Mormon gospel from members of the
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...
. She believed in the church's message, and she was baptized on August 21, 1837, alongside her family.
Soon after the family's conversion, they desired to move to Missouri along with other members of the church.
These excerpts from her autobiography tell how her family moved from Virginia, first to Missouri, and then to Illinois:
On September 23, 1839, her father, Mark Bigler, died in Quincy.
Nauvoo, Illinois
In Nauvoo, Illinois on July 25, 1841, Bathsheba Bigler married
George A. Smith
George Albert Smith (June 26, 1817 – September 1, 1875) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
who was the youngest member of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly (a body that uses parliamentary procedure, such as a legislature) necessary to conduct the business of that group. According to ''Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised'', the ...
of the
Church of Christ Church of Christ may refer to:
Church groups
* When used in the plural, a New Testament designation for local groups of people following the teachings of Jesus Christ: "...all the churches of Christ greet you", Romans 16:16.
* The entire body of Ch ...
at that time. Bathsheba gave birth to their first child, George Albert Jr., on July 7, 1842.
Several months after the birth, George A. left to the Eastern States to serve a mission. Upon his return to Nauvoo in 1843, George and Bathsheba received the ordinances of endowments and sealing. In 1844, Smith's husband left once again on a mission. He returned in August in time for the birth of the couple's daughter, Bathsheba, on August 14, 1844.
Smith kept a diary and sketchbook for most of her life which included drawings of prominent members of the Latter Day Saint community. Among the best known is a profile of church president
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he ...
.
Bathsheba and
Eliza R. Snow
Eliza Roxcy Snow (January 21, 1804 – December 5, 1887) was one of the most celebrated Latter Day Saint women of the nineteenth century. A renowned poet, she chronicled history, celebrated nature and relationships, and expounded scripture an ...
designed the original temple garment, at Joseph Smith's request.
Salt Lake City, Utah
During the
succession crisis A succession crisis is a crisis that arises when an order of succession fails, for example when a king dies without an indisputable heir. It may result in a war of succession.
Examples include (see List of wars of succession):
*Multiple periods dur ...
that occurred after the assassination of Smith, Bathsheba Smith, her husband and two children joined the Latter Day Saint group following
Brigham Young
Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his ...
. They traveled west and established themselves first in
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
. While other members of the family later moved to southern Utah, Smith spent the rest of her life in Salt Lake City. Bathsheba and George A. Smith were the parents of three children. Their son, George A. Smith Jr., was killed by Navajo while on his way to serve a mission with
Jacob Hamblin to the Hopi. Their daughter, Bathsheba, married Clarence Merrill, among whose children was
Alice Merrill Horne. Their third child, John, died the day of his birth, April 14, 1847, in
Winter Quarters, Nebraska. Smith also largely raised her sister's daughter,
Julina Lambson, who later became a wife of
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith Sr. (November 13, 1838 – November 19, 1918) was an American religious leader who served as the sixth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was the nephew of Joseph Smith, the founde ...
.
During the early 1870s, George A. Smith served as first counselor in the
First Presidency under Young. He and his wife traveled to many emerging Mormon settlements, preaching and promoting church affairs.
After the death of her husband in 1875, Smith became active in civic affairs and locally involved in the
women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
movement, primarily through articles she wrote for the
Woman's Exponent.
For many years, starting at Nauvoo, Smith was also heavily involved in
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
work, and was the matron of the Salt Lake temple.
[Watt, "Smith", p. 206]
General Relief Society leadership
In 1888, Smith became the second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency. In this position, she heavily encouraged home production of clothing. She was called to serve as general president of the Relief Society in 1901 and served in the position until her death in 1910. During her administration, the original Relief Society Building was completed (in 1909) and helped introduce classes on childrearing, industry, and marriage.
In addition, the General Relief Society established an employment bureau for young women, educational nursing and mother's courses, and food storage plans under Smith's leadership.
Smith was also on the board of directors at the Deseret Hospital and served in the Retrenchment Association presidency.
She was among those called to testify before the
Smoot hearings
The Reed Smoot hearings, also called Smoot hearings or the Smoot Case, were a series of Congressional hearings on whether the United States Senate should seat U.S. Senator Reed Smoot, who was elected by the Utah legislature in 1903. Smoot was an ...
, but due to ill health, was only able to file an affidavit.
Death and burial
Smith died on September 20, 1910, and was buried at
Salt Lake City Cemetery. She was the first woman to have her funeral in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
See also
*
Annie Taylor Hyde
Anna Maria Ballantyne "Annie" Taylor Hyde (October 21, 1849 – March 12, 1909) was the founder and first president of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and was a women's leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Anna M ...
*
List of General Presidencies of the Relief Society
Notes
References
*
*
External links
George A. Smith Family Papers, University of UtahDiary of Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith, University of Utah
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Bathsheba W.
1822 births
1910 deaths
American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Suffragists from Utah
American women's rights activists
Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Converts to Mormonism
Counselors in the General Presidency of the Relief Society
General Presidents of the Relief Society
Latter Day Saints from Illinois
Latter Day Saints from Missouri
Latter Day Saints from Utah
Latter Day Saints from West Virginia
Mormon feminists
Mormon pioneers
People from Shinnston, West Virginia
Smith family (Latter Day Saints)
Temple presidents and matrons (LDS Church)