Emily H. Woodmansee facts for kids

Emily Hill Woodmansee was a talented poet and hymn writer. She was born in England in 1836. Later, she moved to America. She wrote many songs for her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of her most famous hymns is "As Sisters In Zion." This hymn is still sung today. She passed away in 1906.

Emily's Early Life in England

Emily Hill was born in Warminster, England. When she was 12 years old, she learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She wanted to join the church. At first, her family did not agree. But they later accepted her decision. Emily was then baptized.

In 1856, Emily and her sister Julia traveled to the United States. They sailed on a ship called the Thornton. They were part of a group of church members. This group was led by James G. Willie.

Crossing the Plains by Handcart

After arriving in America, Emily and Julia continued their journey. They crossed the plains with the Willie Handcart Company. This was a very difficult trip. People pulled their belongings in handcarts.

Emily's Family Life

In 1857, Emily married Dr. William G. Mills. He later went on a church mission to England. When he returned, he left Emily and their family. Emily never saw him again.

In 1864, Emily married Joseph Woodmansee. They had eight children together. They also adopted a daughter named Allie Bray. They raised Allie until she was married in 1870.

Emily's Creative Pursuits

Emily Woodmansee was a gifted writer. She wrote many poems and hymns. Her writings often shared her experiences and feelings.

Handcart Songs and Poems

She wrote a "Hand-cart Song" that showed the hopeful spirit of the pioneers. This was when they started their journey west. In 1881, she wrote another poem. This poem described the hardships of the handcart journey. She knew about these struggles firsthand.

Writing for Women's Causes

Emily also wrote a poem for the "Mormon" Women's Protest. This protest happened on March 6, 1886. It was against a law called the Edmunds–Tucker Act. She also wrote a special hymn for the Sunday School's Jubilee celebration.

Where Her Works Were Published

Her poems and hymns were published in several church magazines. These included the Improvement Era, the Young Women's Journal, and the Women's Exponent.

Other Activities

Besides writing, Emily was also active in her community. She worked as the treasurer for the Women's Cooperative Store. She also supported the Women's Suffrage Movement. This movement worked to give women the right to vote. Emily was also involved in buying and selling land in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Emily's Lasting Legacy

Emily Woodmansee's hymns and poems have touched many lives. Her work continues to be remembered.

• The 1927 church hymnbook included eight of her hymns. One of these was "O the Daughters of Zion, The Friends of the Poor."
• One of her poems was featured in a special collection in 1941. This collection was about poems by Latter-day Saint women.
• The 1948 hymnbook had two of her hymns. These were "Up! Arouse Thee, O Beautiful Zion" and "When Dark and Drear the Skies Appear."
• Her hymn "As Sisters in Zion" was first published in the 1985 hymnbook. It is still a popular hymn today.
• A collection of Emily Woodmansee's poetry was published in 1986.
• In 2004, some of her poems were published again. They appeared in a book called Discoveries: Two Centuries of Poems by Mormon Women. This book was published by the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History at Brigham Young University.