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The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe's Writings on Women's Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood

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The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe's Writings on Women's Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2019-06-01 The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe's Writings on Women's Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood Ashley Marie Laneri Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Laneri, Ashley Marie, "The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe's Writings on Women's Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood" (2019). Theses and Dissertations. 7484. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/7484 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe’s Writings on Women’s Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood Ashley Marie Laneri A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Scott C. Esplin, Chair Mary Jane Woodger Byran B. Korth Lisa Olsen Tait Religious Education Brigham Young University Copyright © 2019 Ashley Marie Laneri All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT The Power of Motherhood: Leah Widtsoe’s Writings on Women’s Roles, Influence, and the Priesthood Ashley Marie Laneri Religious Education, BYU Master of Arts This thesis analyzes Leah Widtsoe’s writings in the 1930s. Her primary emphasis was on motherhood. Widtsoe encouraged women to realize the importance of their role as mothers and the positive results a good mother can have on generations to come. Each chapter examines how Widtsoe used motherhood to help women understand their role in the Church and their role in society. The first chapter outlines Widtsoe’s personal life and analyzes why motherhood was a central part of her writings. The second chapter focuses on how Widtsoe used motherhood as a construct, or in other words, a model, to motivate women and to help them understand their purpose in the Relief Society program in the Church and in the world. The third chapter focuses on the priesthood and motherhood model which Widtsoe helped originate. She used motherhood as a way to help women understand their relationship with priesthood power. Lastly, this thesis examines the contradictions, inconsistencies and patterns of Widtsoe’s writings on motherhood. This study finds that Widtsoe used motherhood as a model to empower women and help them understand their relationship with priesthood power and their role in the Church. Additionally, she taught that what women did in the home had a great impact on society. Keywords: motherhood, priesthood, power, Leah Widtsoe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I did not always see a master’s program in my future. Despite doubts I had in my abilities, I had many people who lovingly encouraged me and who supported me along the way. Without incredible family and friends, I would not have made it to this point. Here, unfortunately, I can only name a few. My parents have always taught me to do my best and have set an example of the importance of education, I am grateful for their support and love. As far as editors go, they do not get much better than Sue Laneri. Her advice and expertise were life savers to me. My committee has been so wonderful to work with. I would like to thank Brother Esplin, Sister Woodger, Brother Korth, and Sister Tait for their constructive criticism as well as the time that they put into this project. They helped me become a better writer and helped me achieve something I can be proud of. I have loved Brigham Young University, and the unique, life– changing opportunities it has provided me, as well as the amazing professors I have learned from. I feel incredibly grateful for my husband, Scott, who has listened to countless rants and probably knows as much about Leah Widtsoe as I do now. He has been a rock of a support, my best cheerleader, and has motivated me throughout this process. I am grateful that God saw something I could achieve, even if I did not always see it myself. I know as you follow His promptings, you can end up accomplishing things you never thought possible. Leah Widtsoe was an instrument in God’s hands and has made a lasting impression on me. I hope others can learn, from her example, that God has empowered women with the gift of motherhood and the priesthood to bless generations to come. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: The Life of Leah Dunford Widtsoe ................................................................................1 Childhood .............................................................................................................................2 Education .............................................................................................................................8 John A. Widtsoe .................................................................................................................10 Leah’s Contributions to Society.........................................................................................13 A Family of Her Own ........................................................................................................18 Mission to Europe ..............................................................................................................20 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................24 Chapter 2: Motherhood ..................................................................................................................27 Prevention Through Motherhood .......................................................................................30 Motherhood and the Relief Society ...................................................................................40 Motherhood as a Divine Role ............................................................................................45 Homemaking ......................................................................................................................48 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................54 Chapter 3: Priesthood and Womanhood ........................................................................................55 Changes in Priesthood Policy in the Church......................................................................56 Equality ..............................................................................................................................61 Motherhood and the Priesthood .........................................................................................70 Power as a Mother .............................................................................................................77 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................79 Chapter 4: Analyzing Widtsoe’s Writings .....................................................................................81 Married Women .................................................................................................................82 Single and Childless Women .............................................................................................87 Widtsoe as a Mother ..........................................................................................................91 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................94 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................................................98 iv Chapter 1 The Life of Leah Dunford Widtsoe The early twentieth century was a progressive time for women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for women nationwide. For example, with the passing of the nineteenth amendment in 1920, American women were granted the right to vote, however this was a right that had been given to Utah women in the previous century because of encouragement from the Church.1 Feminist author Rory Dicker referred to this time as the first feminist wave–– a time where women enjoyed freedoms educationally, politically, and professionally that they had previously not experienced.2 Although the wave was prominent during the early twentieth century, it declined greatly due to the economic depression of the 1930s.3 One author suggested that the scarcity of work and food for farmers in Utah in the 1920s and for the country in the 1930s contributed to the nation turning back “to the tried and true verities of family, hearth, and home” in the 1930s.4 Women began to use their energy in not just improving the nation but improving home life. Among those who upheld the importance of homemaking during this time was a woman named Leah Widtsoe. During the 1930s Leah Widtsoe was one who encouraged women in home, family, and motherhood.5 She believed that motherhood had the greatest power to influence society.6 It was 1 Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, A House Full of Females (New York: Vintage Books, 2018), xiii. 2 Rory Dicker, A History of U.S. Feminisms (Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008), 6. 3 Nancy F. Cott, The Grounding of Modern Feminism (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987). 4
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