Over the past decade, the College of Nursing has developed a unique, worldwide nursing program. Many of the pictures in the display feature nursing students teaching and healing. Some of these populations include US veterans returning from war, American Indians on reservations, children from leprosy-afflicted families in India, and families in Tonga and Africa. The College of Nursing has truly embraced the university’s motto “the world is our campus.”

Personally, as the faculty curator of this exhibition, I have delighted in discovering the rich and unique heritage of our college. Starting from our Relief Society roots in pioneer Utah and spanning to our modern, worldwide influence, our history is filled with incredible stories and inspiration.

This project was made possible through the efforts of many faculty members, nursing administrators, exhibit experts, and our wonderful students—both past and present—who make all our efforts worthwhile. I would like to extend my appreciation to all of the contributors. May the next few decade
s be as rich and fulfilling as the past.

Karen Lundberg, College of Nursing Faculty

13th Ward Relief Society

In September there was a knock at my door. When I opened it, no one was there. Looking around I saw a book lying on the doormat with a note tucked inside. The book was a new publication from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titled Daughters in My Kingdom: the History and Work of Relief Society.

While reading the preface I came across these words:  “Relief Society is not just about women who lived in the past; it is also about women all over the world today who make and keep covenants.”  Reading this made me feel special, like I was part of something larger than life.

It also made me reflect upon the place where I work. The Education in Zion Gallery is not just about men and women in the past or even those only at BYU. It is also about men and women all over the world today who make the most of their education by combining the spiritual and secular.  In this way we make an education for the whole soul and truly are part of something larger than life.

Anna Silver, Theater Arts Education Major, Education in Zion Gallery Educator Supervisor

Eliza, a renowned poet, converted to the Church in Ohio, and used her skills in writing and education to benefit the whole Church.  She was also responsible for bringing many saints into the Church, including her brother, Lorenzo Snow, who later became the fifth president of the Church.

When the Saints moved to Illinois, Eliza became a founding member of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, established in March of 1842.  Unanimously elected to be its secretary, Eliza took meticulous minutes of each meeting.  As Joseph Smith counseled the original Relief Society: “The minutes of your meetings will be precedents for you to act upon—your Constitution and law.”[i] As a result of Eliza’s exceptional dedication, the Church now has six detailed sermons Joseph Smith gave to the Relief Society in Nauvoo.

In the late 1860s, many years after the Saints left Nauvoo, Brigham Young sought to reconstitute the Relief Society for the women of the Church in Utah.  Though sporadic meetings had been held when the Saints first arrived to Utah, it had been 25 years since the Relief Society had met in an official capacity.  It was Eliza whom the Prophet called upon to take charge of the new Relief Society.  Thankfully, like any good mother in Zion, Eliza carefully preserved things, and still had all her notes from Nauvoo.

Using these minutes recorded during the early Nauvoo meetings, Eliza created a constitution to unite the sisters of the Church in name, purpose, and organization.  Traveling to several settlements with her counselors, she used her experience to train and inspire women all across the Church.  Soon the Relief Society penetrated practically every settlement of the Church.

Members of the Church, male and female, have Eliza R. Snow to thank for the foundations of the organization that Joseph F. Smith called “divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men.”[ii]

Instead of depending entirely on our husbands for salvation and position, we have

to work them out ourselves. The responsibility and labor that devolve upon

women are becoming more important. … God has put the means into your hands

to become queens and priestesses in his kingdom, if you will only live for it.

—Eliza R. Snow, Relief Society General President, 1880

- Adam Watson, Communications Major and Education in Zion Gallery Educator

[ii] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 184