Women and Authority: Re-Emerging Mormon Feminism

Mormon women today might be surprised to learn about their foremothers views on feminist theology and womens issues according to Maxine Hanks. In 1842 founder Joseph Smith foresaw the LDS Womens Relief Society as "a kingdom of Priests " that he "would ordain them to preside over the society...just the Presidency preside over the church." Originally the LDS Womens Relief Society paralleled the LDS mens priesthood quorums. Women were "ordained" to various positions as well as set apart to be healers "with power to rebuke diseases." In the 19th-century Mormon theology also spoke of a Mother God having "all power and glory" with the Father in Heaven. Mormon doctrine also hinted at the divine status of Eve Mary and Mary Magdalene. The 19th-century Womans Exponent published by the LDS Womens Relief Society editorialized in favor of "equal rights before the law equal pay for equal work equal political rights." The magazines masthead read "The Rights of the Women of Zion and the Rights of Women of All Nations." One Relief Society founder Sarah Kimball referred to herself as "a womans rights woman " while another leader Bathsheba Smith was called on a Relief Society mission in 1870 to preach "womans rights" throughout southern Utah. According to the Womans Exponent a womans place was not just "in the nursery" but "in the library the laboratory the observatory." Women were encouraged to pursue formal education and career opportunities study medicine and involve themselves in politics. Mormon women were assured that "when men see that women can exist without them it will perhaps take a little of the conceit out of some of them." Women who served inside LDS temples were termed "priestesses " while LDS Womens Relief Society president Eliza R. Snow was known as a "prophetess." Snow discouraged women from confiding their personal issues to male bishops saying that such matters "should be referred to the Relief Society president and her counselors." In 1875 LDS Womens Relief Society president Emmeline B. Wells could say with confidence: "Let woman speak for herself; she has the right of freedom of speech. Women are too slow in moving forward afraid of criticism of being called unwomanly of being thought masculine. What of it? If men are so much superior to women the nearer we come up to the manly standard the higher we elevate ourselves."