Daughter of Gibson Smith & Polly Bradley
Married Newel Kimball Whitney, 20 Oct 1822, Kirkland, Lake, Ohio
Children - Moudalina Whitney, Mary Jane Whitney, Orson Kimball Whitney, Anna Maria Whitney, Newel Melchizedek Whitney, Joshua Kimball Whitney, Don Carlos Whitney, Franklin Kimball Whitney, Sarah Ann Whitney, Horace Kimball Whitney, John Kimball Whitney, Mary Elizabeth Whitney
History - Whitney, Elizabeth Ann (familiarly known as "Mother Whitney"), first counselor to President Emma Smith in the initial organization of the Relief Society at Nauvoo, Illinois, was born Dec. 26, 1800, in Derby, New Haven county, Connecticut. She was the eldest child of Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley, and received in early life the most judicious training, being carefully educated according to the customs of that early period.
When about eighteen years of age she went with a maiden aunt to Ohio, and subsequently became acquainted with Newel K. Whitney, a young merchant at Kirtland, to whom she was married Oct. 20, 1822. Some time after their marriage they both joined the Campbellite Church, and remained members of it until converted to the true gospel of Christ, through the preaching of Oliver Cowdery and other Elders, who came to Ohio on their way to Missouri. Mother Whitney was baptized in November, 1830, and from that time to her death was a faithful and devoted member of the Church.
In its early days she was designated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as "the sweet songstress of Zion." She was among the first members of the Church to receive the gift of tongues, which she always exercised in singing. The Prophet said that the language was the pure Adamic tongue, the same that was used in the garden of Eden, and he promised that if she kept the faith, the gift would never leave her. It never did, and many who heard her sing never forgot the sweet and holy influence that accompanied her exercise of this heavenly gift. The last time she sang in tongues was on the day she was 81 years old. It was at the home of Sister Emmeline B. Wells, the latter having arranged a party in honor of Mother Whitney's birthday. At a meeting held in the Kirtland Temple, Sister Whitney sang in tongues and Parley P. Pratt interpreted, the result being a beautiful hymn descriptive of the different dispensations from Adam to the present age.
She is said to be the second of her sex to receive the endowments, being a High Priestess in the House of the Lord, in which capacity she served until a short time before her death, or until she was obliged to relinquish her labors on account of ill health. In that position it became her privilege to bless hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the daughters of Zion.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney and family left Kirtland for Missouri in 1838, but hearing that the Saints were being driven from that State, they remained in Carlton, Illinois, during the winter, and in the spring of 1839 went up to Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo). There Mother Whitney endured much hardship and privation, but never a murmur escaped her lips. She was always cheerful and looked on the bright side of life, ever encouraging her husband in the performance of his duty, even when it left her destitute and alone.
In March, 1842, when the first Relief Society was organized, Sister Whitney was chosen and set apart as first counselor in its presidency, which office she filled with honor and credit. At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo, in 1846, she crossed the Mississippi river on the ice with a family of little children, and from sleeping on the ground she contracted a cold which settled in her limbs, causing rheumatism, from which she never entirely recovered.Her youngest son, Newel M., was born at Winter Quarters, and she passed through such scenes of sorrow and suffering as no pen can portray. Her two eldest sons, Horace and Orson, were among the original Utah pioneers of 1847.
Bishop Whitney and family arrived in Salt Lake Valley, October, 1848, having crossed the plains in Heber C. Kimball's company. Bishop Whitney died Sept. 23, 1850, leaving Sister Whitney with a family of nine children. She resided in the 9th Ward, Salt Lake City, where she died Feb. 15, 1882. Her death was caused by general debility, incident to old age.
She was the mother of eleven children (seven sons and four daughters), six of whom survived her. At the time of her decease she had 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Sister Whitney was gifted with many of the most amiable qualities of womanhood—patience, meekness, humility and the power of self sacrifice being among them. The spirit of peace seemed ever to rest upon her. She was often alluded to as "the comforter," so powerful were her blessings upon those needing such help. Her ministrations among the sick and afflicted endeared her to the community at large and made her truly a mother in Israel.
Married Newel Kimball Whitney, 20 Oct 1822, Kirkland, Lake, Ohio
Children - Moudalina Whitney, Mary Jane Whitney, Orson Kimball Whitney, Anna Maria Whitney, Newel Melchizedek Whitney, Joshua Kimball Whitney, Don Carlos Whitney, Franklin Kimball Whitney, Sarah Ann Whitney, Horace Kimball Whitney, John Kimball Whitney, Mary Elizabeth Whitney
History - Whitney, Elizabeth Ann (familiarly known as "Mother Whitney"), first counselor to President Emma Smith in the initial organization of the Relief Society at Nauvoo, Illinois, was born Dec. 26, 1800, in Derby, New Haven county, Connecticut. She was the eldest child of Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley, and received in early life the most judicious training, being carefully educated according to the customs of that early period.
When about eighteen years of age she went with a maiden aunt to Ohio, and subsequently became acquainted with Newel K. Whitney, a young merchant at Kirtland, to whom she was married Oct. 20, 1822. Some time after their marriage they both joined the Campbellite Church, and remained members of it until converted to the true gospel of Christ, through the preaching of Oliver Cowdery and other Elders, who came to Ohio on their way to Missouri. Mother Whitney was baptized in November, 1830, and from that time to her death was a faithful and devoted member of the Church.
In its early days she was designated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as "the sweet songstress of Zion." She was among the first members of the Church to receive the gift of tongues, which she always exercised in singing. The Prophet said that the language was the pure Adamic tongue, the same that was used in the garden of Eden, and he promised that if she kept the faith, the gift would never leave her. It never did, and many who heard her sing never forgot the sweet and holy influence that accompanied her exercise of this heavenly gift. The last time she sang in tongues was on the day she was 81 years old. It was at the home of Sister Emmeline B. Wells, the latter having arranged a party in honor of Mother Whitney's birthday. At a meeting held in the Kirtland Temple, Sister Whitney sang in tongues and Parley P. Pratt interpreted, the result being a beautiful hymn descriptive of the different dispensations from Adam to the present age.
She is said to be the second of her sex to receive the endowments, being a High Priestess in the House of the Lord, in which capacity she served until a short time before her death, or until she was obliged to relinquish her labors on account of ill health. In that position it became her privilege to bless hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the daughters of Zion.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney and family left Kirtland for Missouri in 1838, but hearing that the Saints were being driven from that State, they remained in Carlton, Illinois, during the winter, and in the spring of 1839 went up to Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo). There Mother Whitney endured much hardship and privation, but never a murmur escaped her lips. She was always cheerful and looked on the bright side of life, ever encouraging her husband in the performance of his duty, even when it left her destitute and alone.
In March, 1842, when the first Relief Society was organized, Sister Whitney was chosen and set apart as first counselor in its presidency, which office she filled with honor and credit. At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo, in 1846, she crossed the Mississippi river on the ice with a family of little children, and from sleeping on the ground she contracted a cold which settled in her limbs, causing rheumatism, from which she never entirely recovered.Her youngest son, Newel M., was born at Winter Quarters, and she passed through such scenes of sorrow and suffering as no pen can portray. Her two eldest sons, Horace and Orson, were among the original Utah pioneers of 1847.
Bishop Whitney and family arrived in Salt Lake Valley, October, 1848, having crossed the plains in Heber C. Kimball's company. Bishop Whitney died Sept. 23, 1850, leaving Sister Whitney with a family of nine children. She resided in the 9th Ward, Salt Lake City, where she died Feb. 15, 1882. Her death was caused by general debility, incident to old age.
She was the mother of eleven children (seven sons and four daughters), six of whom survived her. At the time of her decease she had 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Sister Whitney was gifted with many of the most amiable qualities of womanhood—patience, meekness, humility and the power of self sacrifice being among them. The spirit of peace seemed ever to rest upon her. She was often alluded to as "the comforter," so powerful were her blessings upon those needing such help. Her ministrations among the sick and afflicted endeared her to the community at large and made her truly a mother in Israel.
Daughter of Gibson Smith & Polly Bradley
Married Newel Kimball Whitney, 20 Oct 1822, Kirkland, Lake, Ohio
Children - Moudalina Whitney, Mary Jane Whitney, Orson Kimball Whitney, Anna Maria Whitney, Newel Melchizedek Whitney, Joshua Kimball Whitney, Don Carlos Whitney, Franklin Kimball Whitney, Sarah Ann Whitney, Horace Kimball Whitney, John Kimball Whitney, Mary Elizabeth Whitney
History - Whitney, Elizabeth Ann (familiarly known as "Mother Whitney"), first counselor to President Emma Smith in the initial organization of the Relief Society at Nauvoo, Illinois, was born Dec. 26, 1800, in Derby, New Haven county, Connecticut. She was the eldest child of Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley, and received in early life the most judicious training, being carefully educated according to the customs of that early period.
When about eighteen years of age she went with a maiden aunt to Ohio, and subsequently became acquainted with Newel K. Whitney, a young merchant at Kirtland, to whom she was married Oct. 20, 1822. Some time after their marriage they both joined the Campbellite Church, and remained members of it until converted to the true gospel of Christ, through the preaching of Oliver Cowdery and other Elders, who came to Ohio on their way to Missouri. Mother Whitney was baptized in November, 1830, and from that time to her death was a faithful and devoted member of the Church.
In its early days she was designated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as "the sweet songstress of Zion." She was among the first members of the Church to receive the gift of tongues, which she always exercised in singing. The Prophet said that the language was the pure Adamic tongue, the same that was used in the garden of Eden, and he promised that if she kept the faith, the gift would never leave her. It never did, and many who heard her sing never forgot the sweet and holy influence that accompanied her exercise of this heavenly gift. The last time she sang in tongues was on the day she was 81 years old. It was at the home of Sister Emmeline B. Wells, the latter having arranged a party in honor of Mother Whitney's birthday. At a meeting held in the Kirtland Temple, Sister Whitney sang in tongues and Parley P. Pratt interpreted, the result being a beautiful hymn descriptive of the different dispensations from Adam to the present age.
She is said to be the second of her sex to receive the endowments, being a High Priestess in the House of the Lord, in which capacity she served until a short time before her death, or until she was obliged to relinquish her labors on account of ill health. In that position it became her privilege to bless hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the daughters of Zion.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney and family left Kirtland for Missouri in 1838, but hearing that the Saints were being driven from that State, they remained in Carlton, Illinois, during the winter, and in the spring of 1839 went up to Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo). There Mother Whitney endured much hardship and privation, but never a murmur escaped her lips. She was always cheerful and looked on the bright side of life, ever encouraging her husband in the performance of his duty, even when it left her destitute and alone.
In March, 1842, when the first Relief Society was organized, Sister Whitney was chosen and set apart as first counselor in its presidency, which office she filled with honor and credit. At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo, in 1846, she crossed the Mississippi river on the ice with a family of little children, and from sleeping on the ground she contracted a cold which settled in her limbs, causing rheumatism, from which she never entirely recovered.Her youngest son, Newel M., was born at Winter Quarters, and she passed through such scenes of sorrow and suffering as no pen can portray. Her two eldest sons, Horace and Orson, were among the original Utah pioneers of 1847.
Bishop Whitney and family arrived in Salt Lake Valley, October, 1848, having crossed the plains in Heber C. Kimball's company. Bishop Whitney died Sept. 23, 1850, leaving Sister Whitney with a family of nine children. She resided in the 9th Ward, Salt Lake City, where she died Feb. 15, 1882. Her death was caused by general debility, incident to old age.
She was the mother of eleven children (seven sons and four daughters), six of whom survived her. At the time of her decease she had 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Sister Whitney was gifted with many of the most amiable qualities of womanhood—patience, meekness, humility and the power of self sacrifice being among them. The spirit of peace seemed ever to rest upon her. She was often alluded to as "the comforter," so powerful were her blessings upon those needing such help. Her ministrations among the sick and afflicted endeared her to the community at large and made her truly a mother in Israel.
Married Newel Kimball Whitney, 20 Oct 1822, Kirkland, Lake, Ohio
Children - Moudalina Whitney, Mary Jane Whitney, Orson Kimball Whitney, Anna Maria Whitney, Newel Melchizedek Whitney, Joshua Kimball Whitney, Don Carlos Whitney, Franklin Kimball Whitney, Sarah Ann Whitney, Horace Kimball Whitney, John Kimball Whitney, Mary Elizabeth Whitney
History - Whitney, Elizabeth Ann (familiarly known as "Mother Whitney"), first counselor to President Emma Smith in the initial organization of the Relief Society at Nauvoo, Illinois, was born Dec. 26, 1800, in Derby, New Haven county, Connecticut. She was the eldest child of Gibson Smith and Polly Bradley, and received in early life the most judicious training, being carefully educated according to the customs of that early period.
When about eighteen years of age she went with a maiden aunt to Ohio, and subsequently became acquainted with Newel K. Whitney, a young merchant at Kirtland, to whom she was married Oct. 20, 1822. Some time after their marriage they both joined the Campbellite Church, and remained members of it until converted to the true gospel of Christ, through the preaching of Oliver Cowdery and other Elders, who came to Ohio on their way to Missouri. Mother Whitney was baptized in November, 1830, and from that time to her death was a faithful and devoted member of the Church.
In its early days she was designated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as "the sweet songstress of Zion." She was among the first members of the Church to receive the gift of tongues, which she always exercised in singing. The Prophet said that the language was the pure Adamic tongue, the same that was used in the garden of Eden, and he promised that if she kept the faith, the gift would never leave her. It never did, and many who heard her sing never forgot the sweet and holy influence that accompanied her exercise of this heavenly gift. The last time she sang in tongues was on the day she was 81 years old. It was at the home of Sister Emmeline B. Wells, the latter having arranged a party in honor of Mother Whitney's birthday. At a meeting held in the Kirtland Temple, Sister Whitney sang in tongues and Parley P. Pratt interpreted, the result being a beautiful hymn descriptive of the different dispensations from Adam to the present age.
She is said to be the second of her sex to receive the endowments, being a High Priestess in the House of the Lord, in which capacity she served until a short time before her death, or until she was obliged to relinquish her labors on account of ill health. In that position it became her privilege to bless hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the daughters of Zion.
Bishop Newel K. Whitney and family left Kirtland for Missouri in 1838, but hearing that the Saints were being driven from that State, they remained in Carlton, Illinois, during the winter, and in the spring of 1839 went up to Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo). There Mother Whitney endured much hardship and privation, but never a murmur escaped her lips. She was always cheerful and looked on the bright side of life, ever encouraging her husband in the performance of his duty, even when it left her destitute and alone.
In March, 1842, when the first Relief Society was organized, Sister Whitney was chosen and set apart as first counselor in its presidency, which office she filled with honor and credit. At the time of the exodus from Nauvoo, in 1846, she crossed the Mississippi river on the ice with a family of little children, and from sleeping on the ground she contracted a cold which settled in her limbs, causing rheumatism, from which she never entirely recovered.Her youngest son, Newel M., was born at Winter Quarters, and she passed through such scenes of sorrow and suffering as no pen can portray. Her two eldest sons, Horace and Orson, were among the original Utah pioneers of 1847.
Bishop Whitney and family arrived in Salt Lake Valley, October, 1848, having crossed the plains in Heber C. Kimball's company. Bishop Whitney died Sept. 23, 1850, leaving Sister Whitney with a family of nine children. She resided in the 9th Ward, Salt Lake City, where she died Feb. 15, 1882. Her death was caused by general debility, incident to old age.
She was the mother of eleven children (seven sons and four daughters), six of whom survived her. At the time of her decease she had 32 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Sister Whitney was gifted with many of the most amiable qualities of womanhood—patience, meekness, humility and the power of self sacrifice being among them. The spirit of peace seemed ever to rest upon her. She was often alluded to as "the comforter," so powerful were her blessings upon those needing such help. Her ministrations among the sick and afflicted endeared her to the community at large and made her truly a mother in Israel.
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