Amanda Barnes Smith facts for kids

Amanda Barnes Smith (born February 22, 1809 – died June 30, 1886) was a brave American Mormon pioneer. She is known for surviving a terrible event called the Haun's Mill massacre in Missouri in 1838. Amanda also played a big part in starting the first Relief Society in Salt Lake City, which was a group that helped others.

Amanda's Early Life

Amanda Barnes was born on February 22, 1809. Her family lived in Becket, Massachusetts. She was the fifth of nine children born to Ezekiel and Fanny Johnson Barnes. Her father did not belong to a church. Her mother was Presbyterian. After Amanda was born, her family moved to Ohio, where she grew up.

Becoming a Member of the Church

When Amanda Barnes was 18, she married Warren Smith. He worked as a blacksmith. Amanda learned about the Campbellite faith from Sidney Rigdon and Orson Hyde. She decided to join them. Her husband did not join at first, but he agreed with her choice. Rigdon baptized her.

Later, after Amanda had twin babies, Alma and Alvira, missionaries from the Church of Christ taught her. Simeon Carter taught her about their beliefs. She was baptized on April 1, 1831. Her husband, Warren, was baptized soon after.

In 1832, Amanda and Warren sold their house in Amherst, Ohio. They moved their family to Kirtland, Ohio. Amanda's parents did not like their decision to join the new church. They said they would never see them again. As members of the church, Amanda and Warren helped build the Kirtland Temple. They also helped start the Kirtland Bank.

Surviving the Haun's Mill Massacre

In 1838, Amanda's family moved to Missouri. They traveled with ten other families. Joseph Young led their group. On their journey, a large group of angry people stopped them. They were held for three days by guards. Then, they were let go.

On October 28, 1838, they arrived at Haun's Mill, Missouri. They were on their way to Far West, Missouri. After only two days at Haun's Mill, a mob of over 200 men attacked the settlement. This attack is known as the Haun's Mill massacre. At least 17 church members were killed.

Amanda Smith was shot at, but she was not hurt. She escaped with her two daughters. The family's house was robbed. All their money was stolen. Amanda wrote in her journal that she lost many valuable items.

During the attack, Amanda's son Sardius and her husband, Warren, were killed. Her son Alma was shot. His left hip was badly damaged. Amanda's son Willard wrote about the massacre. He said his mother felt that God would help her heal Alma. She used ashes and water to make a special solution. She put this on his wound. Then, she used elm roots to make a soft pack, called a poultice. Alma's hip slowly got better. He had to lie in the same position for five weeks.

While Alma was getting better, the family had to stay in Missouri. Alma could not be moved. They were worried the mob might attack again. Amanda remembered crawling to a corn field. There, she offered a prayer to God.

Amanda said she had faith that her family would be okay. She believed God would heal her son.

When Alma was healed, the family moved to Quincy, Illinois. They arrived on February 1, 1839. News of Alma's amazing recovery spread. Several doctors came to Amanda. They asked how she had performed the "surgery" to heal her son. She told them that Jesus Christ had healed him. In Quincy, Amanda became a schoolteacher to support her family.

Later Life and Contributions

Amanda Smith later married another man named Warren Smith. He was not related to her first husband. They had three children together. The couple later divorced.

Amanda saw the Nauvoo Temple completed in July 1847. There, she received her endowment. She was a member of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo. She traveled with Emma Smith and Eliza R. Snow. They went to visit the governor of Illinois, Thomas Carlin.

In 1850, Amanda Smith traveled west to the Salt Lake Valley. She helped start the first Relief Society in Salt Lake City. On January 24, 1854, she became the Assistant Secretary of this group. She served until Brigham Young reorganized the Relief Society. Later, she became the President of the Relief Society in the 12th Ward. She also helped organize the Sunday School.

Amanda Barnes Smith died on June 30, 1886. She was visiting her daughter Alvira Hendricks at the time. She was buried in Richmond, Utah.