Eliza Roxcy Snow
Eliza R. Snow was “an icon of faith (and) one of the best
known of all Mormon pioneer women. We
hear her name often as an example of strength and devotion.”
(Davidson and Derr, Eliza, the Life and Faith of
Eliza R. Snow, c. 2013, p. vii)
There are six themes I think about
when I consider Eliza's faithful life: her hymns, her poems, her journals, her
leadership, her love of Holy temples, and her travels.
Her Hymns
Ten of Eliza R. Snow’s hymns are in the current LDS Hymnal
(1985). I remember the time my own
mother sat me down and we talked about verse three of “O My Father”. I was probably about ten years old. It was the first time I learned that we had a
Mother in heaven.
17-Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake!
77-Great Is the Lord (in the first LDS hymnbook of 1835)
122-Though Deepening Trials
186-Again We Meet Around the Board
191-Behold the Great Redeemer Die
195-How Great the Wisdom and the Love
266-The Time is Far Spent
273-Truth Reflects upon Our Senses
292-O My Father
307-In Our Lovely Deseret
Her poems
Eliza was known as “Zion’s Poetess”. She wrote over 500 poems, and many are
funeral tributes to her close friends. One poem expressed a few of Eliza’s feelings
toward the practice of plural marriage.
It was given to Phebe Ogden Chase on the occasion of Isaac Chase taking
a second and third wife in Jan. 1846
while living in Nauvoo. Below is one stanza.
Therefore, let your
spirit rest
God will order all
things well;
And ere long you will
be blest
More than hymn speech
can talk.
(Isaac Chase
by William V. Sanders, 2000, p. 56)
Another poem was written for Phebe Ogden Chase shortly
before Phebe’s death in 1872. Phebe was
confined to her bed in the spring of 1872 and her good friend Eliza R. Snow
often visited her. Just a few days
before Phebe’s death, Eliza wrote this poem.
At the time of
Mother Chase’s Last Illness
What is this that
steals upon my frame?
Is it death?
Which soon shall
quench the vital frame
Is it death?
If this be death, I
soon shall be,
From every pain and
sorrow free.
I shall the King of
glory see,
All is well.
I now am stepping on
the shore,
All is well.
My sufferings here
are nearly over,
All is well.
My hope is full, my
title clear,
And best of all, my
Savior’s here.
My soul is free from
every fear,
All is well.
Cease, cease, my
friends to weep for me.
All is well.
My sins are pardoned,
I am free.
All is well.
The monster death has
lost its sting,
My happy soul is on
the wing.
The sweat of death is
on my brow,
All is well.
There’s not a cloud
that does arise,
To hide my Jesus from
my eyes.
I soon shall mount
the upper skies,
All is well.
Tune, tune your
harps, ye Saints of glory,
All is well.
And I’ll rehearse the
pleasing story,
All is well.
Bright angels are
from Glory come,
They’re round my bed,
they’re in my room.
They wait to bear my
spirit home,
All is well.
Hark, hark my Lord my
Master calls me,
All is well.
I soon shall see his
face in glory,
All is well.
Farwell, farewell my
friends adieu,
I can no longer stay
with you.
My glittering crown
appears in view,
All is well.
(Isaac Chase
by William V. Sanders, 2000, p. 64)
Her Journals
Eliza kept a diary while crossing the plains in 1847
in the “Big Company” under the direction of the Jedediah M Grant Company (third hundred). The Isaac Chase Family had Joseph B. Noble as
their Captain and Isaac was a Captain of Ten.
They departed June 19, 1847 and arrived in the Valley of the Great Salt
Lake on October 2, 1847.
Eliza actually submitted her diary to assist “in making up
the history of the Camp from W. Quarters.”
(Davidson, Derr, Ibid.,
p. 76) It is from Eliza’s writings that we have notes of the Isaac and Phebe
Chase family as they made their journey from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake
Valley.
 |
| Phebe Ogden Chase |
171
individuals were in the Joseph B. Noble company when it began its journey from
the outfitting post on the Elkhorn River about 27 miles west of Winter
Quarters, Nebraska. Among them were:
age
15
|
11 March 1832
|
5
May 1896
|
|
age
13
|
28 April 1834
|
3
August 1907
|
|
age
55
|
12 December 1791
|
26
May 1861
|
|
age
52
|
7 December 1794
|
10
July 1872
|
--------------------------------
 |
| Desdemona Gleason, daughter of Phebe Ogden Chase, traveled with the Isaac Chase family from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake Valley in 1847. |
Phoebe
Chase and Isaac Chase are mentioned in these Eliza R. Snow journal excerpts.
Their overland travels were recorded by Eliza and are found here: https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/trailExcerptMulti?lang=eng&pioneerId=1400&sourceId=5211
Snow,
Eliza Roxey, Journals, 1846-1849, vol. 2
Tu.
15th. The brethren call a meeting around a Liberty pole which was
erected yesterday, for the purpose of organizing the camp—judg'd to be more
than 300 wagons cross'd over at noon this day—This afternoon several of the
sis. met in a little circle on the prairie in front of our wagons. Br. Pierce
met with us—fath[er] Smith stay'd until sent for on business—we had a good
time, altho' the prairie wind was somewhat annoying. Sis. Sess., Chase & E.
present. Rec.[eived] a letter from S. M. Kimball.
Su.
20th This mor. heard the painful news of a combat between Jacob Weatherbie
& another br. & three Indians. Br. W. was shot by one of the Indians
thro' the body, while endeavoring to prevent them robbing his wagon. Those 2
brethren had been sent back to Winter Quarters on business, & were at the
time of the encounter about 7½ ms. on the other side the Horn. My health ill
today, not able to attend the general meeting, but sis. [Phoebe Ogden] Chase,
Sessions, &c, met with us at br. [Robert] Peirce's wagons, & we had a
rejoicing time.
Wed
30. The day cool—Capt. P's ten take the lead of J[edediah]. G[rant].'s hnd
[hundred]—soon after we start P.'s & the other com.'s come in sight—J. T.
is moving on in front—we are on an extensive prairie with little shrubbery
& the camp can be view'd at once, which presents a very imposing sight—had
the pleasure of seeing a herd of antelopes running in every direction. Stop'd
about one o'clock by the side of a stream & near its mouth. P. rides
forward—thinks best to cross the Platte.
Sis.
Chase, [Hannah Harvey] Peirce, Hendricks, &c, call into br. [Joseph Bates]
Noble's with me—sis. [Mary Adeline Beman] N[oble] receives the gift of
tongues—sis. Hunter call'd at the carriage—had a good time—she said had been
better since sis. Sess. & I call'd on her. Trav. 8 ms.
Tu.
27th Start 10 min. past 7. at 10 arrive opposite Ash hollow, where
we halt for the purpose of getting timber to repair wagons in case of accident.
Ate our bread up for supper & have no wood, expecting to find it last
night, but thro' the kindness of Moth. [Phoebe Ogden] Chase, we are supplied
with the addition of b. chips & we have a good breakfast This is the 3rd
time I have done so much cooking as to bake the pan—cakes since we started—The
Ind. that annoy'd us last night, pass us & strike their tents & travel
with us till near night, when they fall in our rear & we encamp near them—a
large com. on the other side the river. It commenced raining just as we
stopped—no time to cook supper—I am quite sick this aft.—glad to crawl to bed.
Trav. 12 ms.
Fr.
30th Bro. Woodard came to Capt. N this mor.—told him he should leave
the 50 unless he could either be paid for the work he had done or have his
tools carried. We start ten min. past 7—the 2nd 50 in sight in our rear & 2
or more comp. in front. Move rapidly on with the same tranquility as yest.,
except Fath. [Isaac] Chase stopping a few min. to arrange his oxen. Capt. P.
drove past him. The bluffs truly present views wildly magnificent. We arrive
nearly opposite the peak, which we saw yest. mor., & encamp. The sun has
been scorching thro' the day, tho' the nights are like Oct. I went to see sis.
[Esther Shaffer] Ewing at noon, who has been very sick for some time. Br.
[James] Hendricks' oxen which almost gave out yest. still travel on. Our people
saw a man across the way—found him to be from California. Trav. 22 ms.
Fr
6th
Moth.
Chase & I have a treat in the eve. Jacob Cloward baptiz'd, &c My health
much better. A Spaniard supp'd with us. Taylor enc[amped] on the other side the
Island.
Mo.
9th Move on—leave the 2nd 50 doing their blacksmith work with coal
that father Chase burnt for us, &c We are now among the much celebrated
"black hills"—pass Hunter & find that P. P. has gone on—we stop
by the river where we find a patch of grass, currants & buffalo berries—the
country here is rugged enough—A scene fil'd with scrubby pine, hemlock,
cottonwood, &c, very thinly scattered, with bluffs presenting the
appearance of well fortified castles, the inhabitants of which exclude
themselves from our view, altho' 2 grizzly bears have been seen. Last night had
a fine shower.
Mo.
16th A motion is made to start—when the cattle are brought up, 16
are not to be found—do not find them thro' the day. William is out on foot
& alone for his ox which is gone with the rest—we feel very anxious for him
on account of the large wolves & Indians. I go to Moth. Chase's—hear that
Pioneers [Pres. Brigham Young's company] have arrived at the upper camps—that
the City [Salt Lake City] is laid out &c sis. H. calls while we are having
a rich treat from on high. Call on sis. Meeks. find her better—sup at home on a
rabbit pot-pie.
Fr.
27th. Start in good season—the road is very smooth insomuch that
Capt. P. wishes me to record the circumstance of fath. Chase riding up hill for
the first time. We pass sev. saltpeter springs & the carcasses of 10 or 11
cattle. We encamp in an environ with majestic bluffs—a slue [slough]—creek
& a cold spring. The country is very mountainous & rocky. Large piles
of rock lying strew'd about the barren surface, & ornamented with a red moss—Trav.
20 ms.
Th.
9th Last night all guard was neglected & about 20 horses &
mules stolen. An arm'd com. was put on the track—late this eve. 2 horses are
brought in by one of the com. The forepart of the day very cold—I spent it with
moth. Chase. Had a spiritual treat wherein both rec'd great blessings. She said
certain intelligence should come to me thro' the proper channel, &c We then
enjoy'd a treat of tea & pancakes.
Wed.
22nd The cattle cannot be found till too late & the majority
move to stop till morning—the day spent trafficking—the 2nd 50 come up. Last
night Br. Vance arrived—speaks of a frost there that injur'd the crops. I am
quite sick in the forenoon—much better in the eve. Moth. Chase & I have a
rich treat in the carriage—with a promise of new int. if diligent &
submissive—Br. Love, lost an ox—Capt. P. buys a pair & a cow & calf.
Her Leadership
Eliza was sometimes called the “Presidentess” among the
early LDS pioneer women.
Eliza was secretary and taking minutes of the first meeting
of the Relief Society in Nauvoo on March 17, 1842. (You can see the actual RS minute book at http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/eliza-roxcy-snow.)
Phebe Chase was not in the congregation that
first day, but she was a charter member of the LDS Relief Society as were her
daughters, Sylvia Vanfleet and Desdemona Gleason. (Isaac Chase by William V. Sanders,
2000, p. 26)
In April 1868, Eliza R. Snow began re-establishing the Ward
Relief Societies throughout the Utah Territory.
She served as the General Relief Society President from 1880 until her
death in 1887. Of course, being a plural
wife of Joseph Smith and then of Brigham Young placed her in immediate circles
of the general church leadership.
 |
| Salt Lake Endowment House |
Her Love for Holy
Temples
She loved the temple and presided over women’s ordinance
work in the Salt Lake Endowment House beginning in May 1855. She came to Logan, Utah in 1884 for the
dedication of the Logan Temple. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the day the Logan Temple
began receiving patrons, Eliza was there working. She was 80 years of age.
 |
| Historic Logan Temple |
Her Travels
Eliza traveled all over the Utah Territory to build up the Ward Relief Societies, the Young Ladies Retrenchment Society (later known as Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association) and the Primary Association. She went on a nine month tour of Europe and Palestine with her brother,
Lorenzo Snow, and others when she was 68 years of age. Having personally made the trip to Israel in 2014, I
thought of Eliza often and especially when I visited the Mount of Olives. (See Davidson, Derr, Ibid, pp. 128-129)
Eliza is the first given name of one of my granddaughters. I hope my granddaughter Eliza
will look to her namesake with the same respect and admiration I have come to
feel for Eliza R. Snow. Eliza was, like
gold, purified.
 |
| Eliza Roxcy Snow |
====
For more information, see http://josephsmithpapers.org/person/eliza-roxcy-snow
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