The Role of Women in the Founding of the Latter-day Saint Movement

Exploring the significant and diverse contributions of women in the early days of the Latter-day Saint faith.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 2, 2026

Branched from Lucy Mack Smith: Matriarch, Chronicler, and Pillar of Early Mormonism

Quick take

Women were foundational to the early Latter-day Saint movement, serving as spiritual leaders, chroniclers, and community builders.
They played crucial roles in missionary work, economic sustenance, and establishing social structures.
Their contributions, though often overlooked, were essential for the movement's survival and growth.
Early Latter-day Saint women navigated unique challenges while actively shaping their new faith.

The role of women in the founding of the Latter-day Saint (LDS) movement refers to the diverse and essential contributions made by women from its inception in the 1820s through its early organizational and migratory phases. These women were not merely passive participants but active agents who shaped the theology, community, and survival of the nascent church.

Spiritual Leadership and Record Keeping

Many early Latter-day Saint women held significant spiritual influence, sharing testimonies, prophesying, and organizing. Emma Smith, Joseph Smith’s wife, was the first Relief Society president and helped compile the first hymnal. Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph’s mother, was a key chronicler, providing invaluable historical accounts of the family and early church events. Other women, like Eliza R. Snow, were prolific poets and hymn writers, articulating theological concepts and inspiring members through their verse.

Community Building and Economic Support

As the movement grew and faced persecution, women were central to establishing and sustaining communities. They managed households, raised children, and contributed to the communal economy through various skills like weaving, teaching, and nursing. In times of migration, women organized supplies, cared for the sick, and maintained morale, often enduring immense hardship alongside men. The Relief Society, founded in 1842, became a powerful organization for women to pool resources, provide charity, and offer mutual support, demonstrating their organized capacity for community welfare.

Missionary Work and Theological Discussion

While formal priesthood leadership was reserved for men, women actively engaged in missionary efforts, often accompanying their husbands or sharing their faith within their social circles. They were also active participants in theological discussions, contributing to the understanding and application of new doctrines. Their personal conversions and unwavering commitment were powerful testimonies that often persuaded others to join the movement.

Understanding the roles of women in the founding of the Latter-day Saint movement is crucial because it reveals a more complete and nuanced history of the faith. Their contributions ensured the survival and growth of the church during its most vulnerable stages, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and spiritual depth. This legacy continues to inform the roles of women within the modern church and highlights the historical importance of women as active participants in religious innovation and community formation, particularly in the face of societal challenges.

Did women hold priesthood authority in the early church?

While women were not ordained to the priesthood offices held by men, they were endowed with spiritual gifts and authority through temple ordinances. They exercised leadership within the Relief Society and were understood to have spiritual power and influence within their sphere.

What was the Relief Society's main purpose when it was founded?

The Relief Society was founded in 1842 to provide charitable aid to the poor, nurse the sick, and strengthen the moral and spiritual lives of its members. It quickly became a significant organization for women's self-governance and collective action.

How did polygamy affect women's roles?

Polygamy, practiced by a minority of early Latter-day Saints, created complex social dynamics. For some women, it presented unique challenges and hardships, while for others, it fostered strong sisterhood networks and a sense of shared purpose in building a new society. It definitely shaped their communal and familial roles significantly.

Sources

Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Women of Faith in the Latter Days series (Richard E. Turley Jr., Brittney Chapman, et al.)
Rough Stone Rolling: A Cultural Biography of Mormonism by Richard Lyman Bushman