When men were called on their missions, many of them were married.  We have heard of these men leaving their wives behind (with a household of children and a working farm) to serve these missions.  But there were some men who took their wives with them.  Many women served in the Hawaiian Islands.  When men were sent to Europe to study, their wives were often “called” in the areas they lived. 

The first sister missionary ever called was Harriet Maria Horsepool Nye.  She was the wife of Ephraim H. Nye, who was presiding over the California Mission in 1898.  She was actually set apart as a missionary as her husband served.  How this was different from the women called earlier, I’m not sure, other than this was a more formal call.

Two very good friends would go down in history as being the first companionship, thus the first sister missionaries called to a specific area.

Lucy Jane Brimhall, known by everyone as Jennie, grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah.  She was the daughter of Professor George H. Brimhall, who would later become President of Brigham Young Academy and University, and Alsina E. Wilkins Brimhall.  Jennie had graduated from the Academy, and was teaching school, at the time.  

Inez Knight was the daughter of Jesse Knight, the famous philanthropic, and Amanda McEwan Knight.  She grew up in Payson, Utah.  When her father struck it rich, he moved the family to Provo, where she too attended the Academy.

Jennie recalls the night she was called as a missionary. “I had accepted an invitation to accompany Inez on a trip of two or three months to Europe; one day while at home making preparations for our journey, Bishop Keeler called and asked me if I would accept a call to go on a mission.  I told him that I would.  Later, I received word to be present at Brother Jesse Knight’s home and there be set apart as a missionary to Great Britain.  We met according to appointment, and found the bishop of our ward, and the presidency of our stake, Presidents Partridge, John, and Smoot.  A letter was read from the first presidency of the Church authorizing the Brethren to set us apart as missionaries.  We were then set apart, President David John being mouth in my own case.  I was also given a certificate, and am thus numbered among the full-fledged missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

The sisters, upon arriving in Great Britain, spoke at conferences, often speaking in the meetings.  Inez recorded in her journal, “Public speaking I knew would try me, but tracting I had an idea would be very easy.  My first day at that was in Bristol.  At three houses they took my tract and spoke civilly to me.”  But then she knocked at the door of a woman who had been offended by a Mormon.  She took the girls to the rest of the doors along the street and told the nieghbors not to let these girls into their homes.  “I went home and cried,” she laments.

In August of 1898, they distributed approximately 523 tracts, tracted 295 houses, got into 14 homes, had 22 gospel conversations, and distributed two books.  Inez also recorded that it wasn’t easy being the only sister at a Priesthood meeting, which happened occasionally.

“So effective was (Jennie’s) testimony that after twenty years an unbeliever who listened to her speak wrote, saying he could never forget her sincere, guileless expression and was led further to investigate and receive the blessings of membership.”

Jennie served until 1899, then went home to marry Inez’s brother, whom she was previously engaged to.  Inez was given another companion by the name of Liza Chipman for six months, but Inez would serve on her own until 1900 in London.

When Inez finally returned home, she became Dean of Women at Brigham Young Academy.  She married, had five sons, served in leadership positions, as well as on the General Board of the Relief Society.  She was also active in politics and the Red Cross.

Jennie married, had two sons, moved to Canada, and served in leadership positions there and in Provo.  In 1921, she was called as first counselor to Clarissa S. Williams in the General Relief Society Presidency.

Young Woman’s Journal, June 1898

The First Sister Missionaries, Ensign, Jul 1980