On August 19, 1933, in Ogden, Utah, Mary Ellen Wood Smoot was born to La Vora and Melvin Wood, the fifth of six daughters. She was born of Mormon pioneer stock on both sides of the family. James Grace Wood settled long ago in Layton, serving as mayor, and the first bishop of the Clearfield Ward.  

On Mary Ellen’s mother’s side, William and Mary Blood arrived in Nauvoo in early 1844. Three weeks later, William died of swamp fever. Four days after that Mary gave birth to a daughter, who died a month later. Two weeks later, Joseph and Hyrum were killed. Mary Ellen remarks, “With her husband and child gone, and the leader of her chosen people murdered, Mary could have turned on her heels and gone back to her family in England, where she would have had security and help…Instead of shrinking, she looked forward to a better day.” Mary Blood trekked to Utah, remarried, and settled in Kaysville, Utah.

Mary Ellen grew up during the Great Depression. Her mother taught her how to gather, preserve, and store everything. All of the girls worked at the Smith Canning Factory, a business started by her grandfather.

The family worked hard and played hard together. She often saw her parents kneel in prayer. She recognized her own testimony when she saw her father save her mother’s life. When Mary Ellen was twelve years old, the family was in a car accident. La Vora was pinned under the car and they were far away from any help. Mary Ellen’s father first bowed his head in prayer and asked for help from the Lord. Then he instructed her to pull her mother out as he lifted the car. La Vora had several broken bones and suffered from the accident the rest of her life. Her constant prayer was that she would live long enough to see all six of her daughters married in the temple. Her prayer was answered.

Mary Ellen was a natural born leader. She held many positions in student government and was a cheerleader. Musically gifted, she served as organist and chorister while still in high school.

Mary Ellen went to school with her husband, Stanley Millard Smoot; Elder Harold B. Lee sealed them in the Salt Lake Temple. They moved into what Mary Ellen at first described as her “dream home.” Water problems soon made the home frustrating to live in. There wasn’t enough water to complete a whole cycle of laundry, and she complained a lot. Finally, she decided to quit whining and take her laundry to the Laundromat. She then turned her laundry room into a sitting room. They stayed in the house for twenty-five years.

The Smoots have seven children, and they fostered five children.

Mary Ellen was a teacher, counselor, and president of all the auxiliaries, but never served on the general board of any of them. She did, however, serve on the editorial board of the Children’s Friend magazine, reviewing manuscripts and stories. Later, while serving on the church writing committee, she wrote the orientation program for 11-year-old boys, known as Priesthood Preview.

Family History is Mary Ellen’s passion. Every 24th of July, she and her sisters organize the Wood Family reunion. This reunion is very elaborate with guest speakers, dances, competitions, parades, and of course, family histories made available to the family. Mary Ellen even co-authored a history of Centerville and organized the Centerville Historical Society.

In 1983, her husband was called to preside over the Ohio Columbus Mission. After one year of service, they were asked to open a new mission in Akron, Ohio which included Kirtland. To prepare for the dedication of the Newell K. Whitney Store, Mary Ellen handled all the public affairs as they hosted all the visitors to the site. When they returned to Utah, they both were called to serve on the public affairs committee of the Church. This is where Mary Ellen was when she was called to be the General Relief Society President. Virginia Urry Jensen and Sheri L. Dew served as her counselors.

Under her administration, both the Relief Society and the Melchizedek priesthood quorums would align their curriculum using a series of manuals entitled Teachings of Presidents of the Church, starting with Brigham Young.

Mary Ellen suggested they organize large-scale service events at the BYU Women’s Conference. During her presidency, when 30,000 quilts were requested to be sent to Kosovo refugees, Relief Societies everywhere sent in 350,000 quilts.

In 1995, during the General Women’s Meeting, the First Presidency issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”. Seeing how families were under attack, Sis. Smoot was invited to speak at the World Congress meeting, in 2000, held in Geneva, Switzerland, where she received a standing ovation.

During the General Women’s Meeting in 1999, Sis. Smoot introduced the Relief Society Declaration. At that same meeting, Homemaking became Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment. Mary Ellen served as president during the Winter Olympics. She organized some Relief Society sisters in volunteering and hosting receptions for the visiting athletes and dignitaries.

After accomplishing so much as a president, Sis. Smoot was released in 2002. Shortly after, she and her husband were called to teach the eight-year-olds in their ward Primary.

She continues her work with Family History. For her family, she writes a bi-monthly newsletter keeping her children informed of one another, and they hold monthly family home evenings.

I love learning about the extraordinary lives of these ordinary women. If there is one thing I know, everyone lives a story.

Information is taken from Faith, Hope, and Charity by Peterson and Gaunt