After Sis. Spafford served for 30 years, you might well imagine how Sis. Barbara Smith must have felt as she filled her shoes. But not to worry, Sis. Smith had a mission to fulfill and she was fully capable of it.

Barbara was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She had an uneventful childhood; everyone thought of her as the “good” girl. Her upbringing may have been ordinary, but I love the story of her grandmother, Caroline Daniels Mills, who after being married and in the middle of raising three children, decided to go to medical school to become a surgeon. This required moving to Iowa, which she did, bringing her mother and husband along with her. They took care of the children and worked to pay the school fees, while she completed her studies.

As we all know, that may not be right for every family, but it turned out well for them. That fierce independence would dictate the heart of Barbara, who stayed home to raise her children, yet grew up to uphold every woman’s independence in defense of the Lord’s way.

Yes, Barbara Smith is best known for her role as one of the strong voices behind the fight that defeated the Equal Rights Amendment. She appeared on the Phil Donahue Show with Sonja Johnson, an excommunicated member of the Church, and Beverly Campbell, an active member, and leader of the anti-ERA effort. As I recall, Sonja Johnson did most of the talking during the show.

One regret Sis. Smith had of the show was not being able to finish her list of “five points of emphasis that make Mormon women different from other women.” I will list them here, but I just might explore these in more detail in a future post:

1. The importance of Relief Society visiting teaching
2. No tobacco, tea, coffee, or alcohol
3. A year’s supply of food
4. Family Home Evening
5. The Book of Mormon

Along with her stand against the ERA movement, she argued that, indeed, women needed to be equal to men in more ways, just not in the ways the ERA subscribed. The amendment was broad and vague in too many ways that would eventually undermine equality and make all women prisoners, even losing rights they had already won.

She spoke against women joining the military. “I would not encourage any young Latter-day Saint woman…to become a military enlistee.” In times of war, women have always been of great service to their country, but they should be home to “save families” first.

Another great achievement of Sis. Smith’s presidency was planning and dedicating the Relief Society’s Nauvoo Monument to Women. This was an opportunity for women, all over the world, to donate and participate, under one common cause of the Sisterhood.

During her service, the Church began holding worldwide area conferences. She was the first Relief Society President to travel, along with the Brethren, to speak to the sisters all over the world, meeting with them in their homeland. With such travels, came the idea of providing services for health and welfare, and sending out trained missionaries to help more people across the globe.

Sister Smith became involved with several world councils and committees offering an LDS perspective. Once when asked to contribute welfare ideas, she explained the Church Welfare Program to those on the committee. The group was overwhelmed with the organization of it.

In fact, it was Sis. Smith who, after receiving a sustaining vote from the sisters, at the Fall 1978 Welfare session of General Conference, signed over all of the wheat, and its earnings, to the Priesthood. The men would finally be responsible for all of the wheat for welfare purposes. The sisters had always maintained that one-hundred-year-old responsibility completely on their own.

The consolidated meeting schedule came about during her presidency. This was a significant change from meetings being held during the week to sisters now having to sacrifice their time on Sundays. Those called to the Primary, or Young Woman, would not be able to attend the spiritual messages offered each week. But the Relief Society adapted by adding weekly and monthly get-togethers.  

The Relief Society Building became a resource center, full of ideas for sisters from around the world. Sis. Smith had an “open door” policy where anyone was welcome to sit and visit with her. “Many women came because they were troubled…on the ERA…so they would phone me or come in.”

After serving for ten years, Barbara B. Smith was released, having served well. Her husband was called, that same conference, as a Seventy and an area president to Asia. Upon their release of those duties, they settled into their old home and ward where Sis. Smith was called as her ward’s Relief Society president.

Sis. Smith passed away September 13, 2010, having served faithfully. She has maintained a wonderful legacy of our Sisterhood.

From Faith, Hope, and Charity by Peterson and Gaunt as well as several Ensign articles from the 70s.