Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a popular Mormon feminist historian. Whenever she comes to Salt Lake City to speak, women flock to hear her–both LDS and non-LDS–because of her views on feminism. She is one of the originators of Exponent II, a Boston-based organization/journal of Mormon Feminist thought. The name Exponent II came from a magazine published by the 19th century Mormon women of Salt Lake City who used it as a platform to communicate and unite their voices in fighting for the right to vote.

Last night, Ms. Ulrich spoke, at the Salt Lake City Library, on general topics stemming from her new book, “A House Full of Females.” She brought up, in passing, the Great Indignation Meeting held on January 14, 1870, in the Old Salt Lake Tabernacle, which she feels was the catalyst for women organizing themselves to have a voice.

I’ve spent years studying, reading, and thinking about the early Mormon women. They came from all walks of life; various backgrounds, attitudes, and feelings; and besides that, they were all imperfect. We all have a lot in common with one another. Some hated polygamy, others liked it for different reasons. There were many divorces, many complaints, many many sorrows. But there were also those who had gained a testimony of Jesus Christ, which included a testimony of Celestial Marriage. They went to their God with questions, and the answers became the driving force of their indignation. They had an earnest desire to live their religion, as they saw fit, glorifying their God and His many mercies upon them.

I have a few thoughts of my own from Ms. Ulrich’s lecture:

“THEY’RE NOT JUST WOMEN, THEY’RE MORMONS”

In the beginning portion of her lecture, Ms. Ulrich used these words to state the duality of our early sisters in the valley. For me, this ought to have been the very crux of her text, however, she never mentioned it again during the course of her lecture. I realize she is an academic historian and spends most of her time addressing non-Mormons, but as a voice for Mormon women, speaking to a predominantly Mormon audience, I was disappointed she didn’t capitalize on this connection.

I believe these women, as a whole, understood that they were preparing themselves to be queens in the kingdom of God. Their motives weren’t worldly, therefore, their intentions could not be interpreted in a worldly sense. Unfortunately, Ms. Ulrich’s interpretation of them was worldly. She aligned them with feminist ideals, and for me, that will never work. Yes, I understand not all of these early women were equal in devotion, faith, and strength. Neither are we today. All of us are different shapes and sizes, both mentally and physically, but as a Mormon Relief Society, we need to talk more to one another as if we were already the “other worldly” queens we one day hope to become. Being both a Mormon and a woman gives us significant power that we need to learn to talk about, be inspired by,

and use in righteous ways.

INSTEAD OF WHINING, THESE MORMON WOMEN LEARNED TO UNITE AND TAKE A STAND

Feminists often whine about what they don’t have. Mormon women of the past were not whiners; they were doers. Ms. Ulrich mentioned how the Indignation meeting was the first of 59 Indignation meetings across the Territory. These women went home from this first meeting and initiated meetings and movements of their own, uniting their neighbors to press forward and answering the call. What was the call? Here are a few quotes from that first meeting:

(Just to clarify: The reason for this meeting was to take a vocal stand against the Cullom Bill which was being presented to Congress. The Cullom Bill demanded that polygamy be outlawed. This is why many of the Mormon leaders were put in prison or went into hiding. The women met together–and only women were allowed in–at the Old Tabernacle on Temple Square where they voiced their indignation of the government overstepping its Constitutional bounds in forcing Mormons to disavow their faith and religious freedom. The evidence of the women’s fury was proven because, in spite of a winter blizzard, the building was filled to overflowing of women who came from all parts of the Territory.)

Sarah M. Kimball said, “Why are we here today? We have been driven from place to place, and why? Simply for believing in and practicing the counsels of God as contained in the gospel of Heaven … We are not here to advocate woman’s rights, but man’s rights.”  

Bathsheba W. Smith recalled the final words spoken by David W. Patten (the first Latter-day Saint martyr) to his beloved wife, “Whatever you do, oh! Do not deny the faith.” She went on to testify of Joseph Smith’s calling as a true prophet of God.

Wilmarth East said, “I am proud to say to you that I am not only a citizen of the United States of America but a citizen of the kingdom of God, and the laws of this kingdom I am willing to sustain and defend both by example and precept.”

Eliza R. Snow said, “In the kingdom of God woman has no interests separate from those of man; all are mutual. Our enemies pretend that in Utah woman is held in a state of vassalage; that she does not act from choice but by coercion; that we would even prefer life elsewhere were it possible for us to make our escape. What nonsense! … Were we the stupid, degraded, heart-broken beings that we have been represented, silence might better become us; but as women of God, women filling high and responsible positions, performing sacred duties, women who stand not as dictators but as counselors to their husbands, and who, in the purest, noblest sense of refined womanhood, being truly their helpmates, we not only speak because we have the right, but justice and humanity demand that we should.”

There were many more valiant comments made in this meeting demonstrating that these women were spiritual giants, worthy to command an army of God.

THEY EXHIBITED MANY GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Gifts of the Spirit come because of righteousness. They come because of “holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits …” (D&C 46:7).

Ms. Ulrich mentioned that the early women spoke in tongues “a lot.” What does that mean? It means that they were righteous women. The quotes above prove that the women wanted to uphold their rights in order to obey their Heavenly Father, not for and in behalf of feminists everywhere, but because of a desire to please God.

TODAY WE MUST LEARN TO FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLES

The concluding point of the meeting seemed to be that these early women were adept at planning, organizing, and initiating whatever problem confronted them. In Utah, they had the liberty to carry out successes that marked their path as living way ahead of their time. Ms. Ulrich encouraged her audience that we too can set out to make things happen. But to what end and for what purpose?

Sister Julie B. Beck gave a talk about fulfilling the purpose of Relief Society by organizing, teaching, and inspiring one another. She said, “Relief Society women have an official role in the church with great responsibilities” (Fulfilling the Purpose of Relief Society, Oct. 2008). Our responsibility, as sisters, is to increase our own faith and righteousness, strengthen our families in righteousness, and serve others through our testimonies. Isn’t that what these early sisters did? And isn’t that what we are meant to do today?

The old feminist arguments, for me, are shallow, redundant, and limiting. At the end of Ms. Ulrich’s lecture, it was the feminists who were asking questions on what feminists should be doing in our day to make a difference.

I understand that Ms. Ulrich is an academic. She lectures to rooms full of academics, primarily non-Mormons. But, being an expert on Mormon women’s history, it seems to me she missed a golden opportunity to preach their true message: defending the religion they sacrificed their lives for.

The early women of the Territory and state of Utah were exemplary in defending their faith, standing up against tyranny, standing for religious freedom, and honoring Jesus Christ, their Savior and Redeemer. I am proud to follow their righteous example.