I ran across a book a while ago that made me appreciate what the early sisters in our church had that was denied so many other women for so long. Freedom to think for themselves. 

The book is called, The Woman They Could Not Silence, by Kate Moore. It’s about a woman, Elizabeth Packard, who lived in Manteno, Illinois in 1860. She was a mother of six with a preacher husband. She had always been the “obedient wife,” but more and more she was hearing about the Woman’s Rights Conventions in Seneca Falls, New York. It gave her ideas and thoughts that she could think for herself. She began to be somewhat vocal about different ideas she had from her husband. Her husband was so threatened by this, he began setting the stage to put her in an insane asylum. She spent over three years locked up simply because her husband didn’t like how outspoken she had become. And while there, she discovered several other sane women in her same situation. The whole time she was in the asylum she wrote her thoughts in great detail. Some of these writings became books and can be purchased on Amazon. When she finally was released, she went to court to try to create legislation where women would have more rights and protection from husbands wanting to get rid of their wives.

Women today can rejoice in her efforts and thank her for demanding justice for the hardship she endured. Her efforts have certainly added to the rights and privileges women have today under the law. 

But, this is what I realized as I read her sad story. Eighteen years earlier, in 1842, and only 240 miles away, Joseph Smith called the women (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), living in Nauvoo at the time, together to organize them and set them apart from the world. He turned a key that opened the door to eternal blessings that speak of freedom to choose for themselves. Within the structure of the church, women were given rights and privileges, and it was promised that angels would be sent to help them achieve all that they were capable of. He informed them that the church was not fully organized until the women were organized. And women were needed, just as much as the men, to build the kingdom of God. As the temple reached completion, these women would be able to go inside and receive all the necessary ordinances of exaltation. They, together with their husbands, would be sealed for time and all eternity, with a secured place where God lives, according to their personal righteousness. 

The temple was completed and these promises were all fulfilled. Soon after, the entire membership of the church was forced to leave the state to find refuge across the plains in a place, outside of the United States, they named the Salt Lake Valley. They settled in the desert where they had to create everything they needed from scratch because the railroad wasn’t connected from west coast to east coast until 1969.

Life wasn’t easy for these women, but they forged on. With the understanding of their greatness, as women, and the full support of their prophet leader, Brigham Young, they started schools, hospitals, industry, sanitation practices, wheat storage, even helping Indians with food and clothing. They had to be inventive, proactive, and resourceful. The men simply stood back and watched with awe as the women used their God-given gifts and talents.   

If only Elizabeth Packard had met these women. If only she had been made aware of the freedoms these women had that she wanted and deserved. If only women all over the world had known of the freedom given to these Latter-day Saint women.

The Women’s Rights Movement was coming into existence around this time. Brave women have always tried to step forward to be heard. After Latter-day Saint women arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they were heavily involved in speaking out for women’s rights. They knew and felt the injustices that existed and wanted other women to see the freedoms they had.

Government officials thought that Latter-day Saint women were being oppressed and held against their wills; trapped in a patriarchal church, forced to serve the men. In 1870, a meeting was held in the Old Tabernacle on Temple Square, which was overflowing with women. They were there to speak against a bill being legislated to take away their rights. In that meeting, Eliza R. Snow said, 

“Were we the stupid, degraded, heartbroken 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.”

God loves His daughters. He has given us sharp minds to think for ourselves. He has given us compassionate hearts to bless the lives of many. He has given us the ability to choose right from wrong. When we act in faith we represent our God well and show Him all the gratitude in our hearts.