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Eliza Roxcy Snow

As a leader of women, Eliza Roxcy Snow’s influence was unparalleled. She was present at the organization of the Nauvoo Female Relief Society on March 17, 1842, and as its first secretary carefully preserved and transported the organization’s minutes across the plains to Utah. She instructed the women from these minutes when Brigham Young called her in 1867 to travel to individual wards and stakes to reestablish the society Churchwide. She led the Relief Society in enterprises such as grain storage, silk culture, medical training, home industry, and political activism. She chaired the governing board of Deseret Hospital and presided over women’s temple ordinance work in Salt Lake City and St. George. Proclaimed “Zion’s poetess” by the Prophet Joseph Smith, she left a legacy of nearly five hundred poems on historical, occasional, doctrinal, and sometimes personal themes. Eliza’s gift for versifying became apparent as a schoolgirl when she surprised her teachers by submitting her assignments in rhyme. Beginning in 1825 her poems appeared in more than a dozen different publications, including the Messenger and Advocate, The Wasp, Times and Seasons, Nauvoo Neighbor, Deseret News, Millennial Star, Juvenile Instructor, The Mormon, and Woman’s Exponent. Early work appeared under pen names such as Angerona, Narcissa, Tullia, and Ironica. Her first volume of poetry, Poems, Religious, Historical and Political, was published in 1856 with volume two following in 1877. A promise made in her patriarchal blessing that many songs that “were dictated by [her] pen” would be heard by future generations has seen fulfillment as Latter-day Saint hymnbooks from 1835 to the present have included her compositions. In a fitting tribute, the annual poetry contest sponsored by the Relief Society bears her name. [from Discoveries: Two Centuries of Poems from Mormon Women, 100] Included in 75 Significant Mormon Poets
Eliza R. Snow, Eliza Roxey Snow, Eliza Snow
LDS
LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Plural wife of Joseph Smith on June 29, 1842. After his death, she married Brigham Young in 1849.
Resided in the Lion House until her death.
1804
Becket, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
1887
Teacher in a school for girls in Kirtland, Ohio and Nauvoo, Illinois. Governess to the Prophet Joseph Smith\'s family. Secretary of the first Relief Society organized in Nauvoo in 1842 President of the Relief Society, 1866. Director of the women\'s work in the Endowment House. Assistend in organizing the Primary Association. President of the board of directors of the Deseret Hospital Association in 1881.
Female
Author
English

37 Works by Eliza Roxcy Snow

Title Role Year Genre
Poems, Religious, Historical, and Political Author 1877 Poetry
Eliza R. Snow's Nauvoo Journal Author Diary / Journal
How Great the Wisdom and the Love Author Poetry
Be Not Discouraged Author Poetry
My First View of a Western Prairie Author Poetry
Mental Gas Author 1969 Poetry
Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake! Author Music Lyrics
Great Is the Lord Author Music Lyrics
Again We Meet Around the Board Author Music Lyrics
Behold the Great Redeemer Die Author Music Lyrics
How Great the Wisdom and the Love Author Music Lyrics
The Time Is Far Spent Author Music Lyrics
Truth Reflects upon Our Senses Author Music Lyrics
Though Deepening Trials Author Music Lyrics
The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow Author 1995 Diary / Journal
To Mrs. V. Kimball Author Poetry
In Our Lovely Deseret Author Music Lyrics
Evening Thoughts Author 1941 Poetry
The Transformation Author Poetry
My Own- My Country's Flag Author Poetry
On the Mount of Olives Author Poetry
Response to the Power of Song Author Poetry
O My Father Author Music Lyrics
Recitation - No Title Author 1902 Poetry
The "Mormon" Battalion Author 1921 Poetry
My Epitaph Author 1916 Poetry
Zion Prospers, All is Well Author 1916 Poetry
A Tribute to the Birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith Author 1917 Poetry
Apostrophe to Jerusalem Author 1918 Poetry
The Year Has Gone Author 1925 Poetry
What Is It? Author Poetry
Poems, Religious, Historical, and Political Author 1856 Poetry
Invocation, or the Eternal Father and Mother Author 2018 Poetry
Excerpt from "To Mrs. Sylvia Sessions Lyon" Author 2018 Poetry
Adams and Jefferson Author Poetry
"And ye are not your own-- you are bought with a price" Author Poetry
Elegy Author 1903 Poetry
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