Elizabeth Ann Whitney
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Ann Whitney born Elizabeth Ann Smith, was an early Latter Day Saint leader, and the wife of Newel K. Whitney
, another early Latter Day Saint leader.
Born in Derby, Connecticut
to non-sectarian parents, Ms. Smith left her parents at about age 18 and moved with her liberated aunt Sarah Smith to Kirtland, Ohio
, where at age 20 she met her future husband Newel Whitney. Married on October 20, 1822, the couple quickly accumulated wealth and status in their community.
In Kirtland, Elizabeth and her husband joined the Disciples of Christ led in the area by Sidney Rigdon
. The teachings of this group, which denied it had power to give the gift of the Holy Spirit
, led the couple to pray for that gift. In response to that prayer, the couple claimed to have seen a vision and a voice stating, "Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming!"
In November 1830, Ms. Whitney and her husband met Mormon
Elder Parley P. Pratt
, who had been serving a mission in Kirtland. Because of Pratt's preaching they were baptized into the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints). The answer to Ms. Whitney's prayer, as she tells it, came later in February 1831, when she and her husband met Joseph Smith, Jr., who arrived in Kirtland and stayed at their house.
In 1842, Ms. Whitney became one of the original leaders of the Relief Society
, with Emma Hale Smith
, Sarah M. Cleveland
, and Eliza Roxcy Snow
(who had been her acquaintance in Kirtland). Whitney served as the second counselor under Emma Smith.
Whitney and her husband were among the inner circle of early Mormonism
with Joseph Smith, Jr. and later Brigham Young
, with whom they traveled west and settled in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
Newel K. Whitney
Newel Kimball Whitney was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an American businessman. He served as Bishop of Kirtland, Ohio, Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois. He also served as the second Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1847 until his death...
, another early Latter Day Saint leader.
Born in Derby, Connecticut
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
to non-sectarian parents, Ms. Smith left her parents at about age 18 and moved with her liberated aunt Sarah Smith to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
, where at age 20 she met her future husband Newel Whitney. Married on October 20, 1822, the couple quickly accumulated wealth and status in their community.
In Kirtland, Elizabeth and her husband joined the Disciples of Christ led in the area by Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
. The teachings of this group, which denied it had power to give the gift of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, led the couple to pray for that gift. In response to that prayer, the couple claimed to have seen a vision and a voice stating, "Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming!"
In November 1830, Ms. Whitney and her husband met Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
Elder Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt...
, who had been serving a mission in Kirtland. Because of Pratt's preaching they were baptized into the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints). The answer to Ms. Whitney's prayer, as she tells it, came later in February 1831, when she and her husband met Joseph Smith, Jr., who arrived in Kirtland and stayed at their house.
In 1842, Ms. Whitney became one of the original leaders of the Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
, with Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
, Sarah M. Cleveland
Sarah M. Cleveland
Sarah Marietta Kingsley Cleveland was the first counselor to Emma Smith in the presidency of the Relief Society from 1842 to 1844....
, and Eliza Roxcy Snow
Eliza Roxcy Snow
Eliza Roxcy Snow Young was one of the most celebrated Latter-day Saint women of the nineteenth century. A renowned poet, she chronicled history, celebrated nature and relationships, and expounded scripture and doctrine...
(who had been her acquaintance in Kirtland). Whitney served as the second counselor under Emma Smith.
Whitney and her husband were among the inner circle of early Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
with Joseph Smith, Jr. and later Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, with whom they traveled west and settled in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.