One of the more well known children of Brigham Young was Susa Young Gates. She was a mover and a shaker in the Kingdom of God, and heaven help us if we forget all the good that she did during her time on the earth.

Susa Amelia Young was born on 18 March 1856, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Brigham and Lucy Bigelow Young; the forty-first child of her father. When Zina D. H. Young, the midwife, announced a female child was born, Lucy exclaimed, “Shucks! No!”  But Zina insisted, “It isn’t all shucks, it’s wheat, and full weight too!” This story is such a great example of close relationship, humor, and love between the wives of Brigham Young.

Education was important in this household and Susa pursued hers all her life, breaking ground all along the way. At age thirteen, she entered the University of Deseret (University of Utah). At fourteen, she was editor of the school’s literary magazine. Later, she would establish the music department at the newly formed Brigham Young Academy. She became proficient at telegraphy and shorthand, acting as recorder at conferences.

Clearly bright for her age, it is interesting to note that she was quite willful and determined to show her independence toward her father. She helped her older sister elope, and she, herself, would marry against her father’s wishes.

Sent to St. George as punishment for helping her sister, Susa met and married Alma Dunford. She was only sixteen years old at the time; very willful, but very unprepared for this marriage. In spite of having a drinking problem, Alma was sent on a mission. While he was gone, Susa decided to divorce him. Sadly, when he returned, he took their two children away from her. She assumed she would be a spinster and alone.This was a horrible regret she endured the rest of her life.

She moved north to Provo, and lived under the watchful eye of Karl Maeser, attending Brigham Young Academy. While there, she organized a choir, bought a piano for the school, and taught music lessons, all while attending classes herself. Yet, Pres. Maeser counseled her to pursue a literary career.

The next year she sailed to Hawaii, accompanying Zina, who went for her health. Susa met and married Jacob Gates with whom she had eleven more children. Of the thirteen, only five grew to maturity. She must have suffered so much at the deaths of her children. Two died shortly after birth, one at age five, two died of the croup, one was shot to death while playing with a friend. Another died of dye poisoning from a candy wrapper. The eldest son was blown up in a powder factory explosion.  Jacob was a wonderful support to her, and she likewise honored his authority. Grandchildren would later say, “Her husband held the priesthood; he was her lord and master. His word was law. She always asked him before she did anything, and he always approved.”

In spite of all of her heartbreaks, Susa’s effervescent character could not be diminished. She was usually in the middle of many major happenings at the headquarters of the Church. She, at one time, had a (very small) office in the Church offices where the Brethren referred to her as “The Thirteenth Apostle.”

Susa was hard to resist. She described herself as “5’ 3”, 115 pounds, with dark blue or grey eyes and light, ‘rather curly’ brown hair. I must confess my teeth are the only redeeming feature of my face.”

It was Susa’s idea to start the Young Woman’s Journal, a magazine that focused on the young girls.  She was the editor for eleven years. During this time she was also a trustee for both Brigham Young Academy and the state college in Logan. Not only that, she was known as “the mother of physical education in Utah,” and helped establish the domestic science department at Brigham Young Academy.

This woman had an amazing amount of energy and initiative. Here are more of her accomplishments:

• Attended summer school at Harvard University.
• Wrote two novels, many articles, and short stories.
• Represented the YLMIA seven times at the National Council of Women. Was asked to be the Secretary of the Council if she was willing to not mention the Church during her appointment.  She refused.
• Spoke for Women’s Suffrage.
• Served as chairman of the Press Committee for three years.
• And she was Young Women’s President in her ward during much of this time.

This is the Susa we need to remember. If you passed her on the street she might stop to say hi, but hurry off saying she was terribly busy. As an expert in domestic science, she created a system for everything. She was an incredible cook, and her home clean, but void of fancy frills.

Susa had an abiding love for genealogy work. As the first president of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, she gathered many records of her father’s family. As well, she wrote what was viewed the best biography on her father for many years. This love for the work was amplified with an amazing experience.

While traveling abroad, Susa became very ill. Francis M. Lyman, then president of the European Mission, gave her a blessing with the expectation of “dedicating her to the Lord.” That means he thought she was going to die.

Suddenly, he stopped, and after pausing for about two minutes continued with these words, ‘There has been a council held in heaven, and it has been decided you shall live to perform temple work, and you shall do a greater work than you have ever done before.’

She got well and created and taught genealogy lessons, setting the standard for genealogy work throughout the Church. But, apparently, that wasn’t taking up enough of her time. During this time, she accepted the call to be the first editor of the new Relief Society Magazine and was acting correspondence secretary of the Relief Society.

There is more I could write about this amazing woman, but suffice it to say she finally gave up the ghost after living a very, full life.

Information from:  Sister Saints by Vicky Burgess-Olson