Footnotes

1. [1]

   See Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 6, 24.

2. [2]

   Sarah Granger Kimball, Reminiscence, 17 Mar. 1882, in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 495.

   Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

3. [3]

   Freemasonry was a strictly fraternal organization. Both of JS’s references to the women of the society as Masons related to the importance of society members being able to trust their fellow members and to keep the society’s business confidential. The letter, written and presented to the society on 31 March 1842, stated that “there may be some among you who are not sufficiently skilled in Masonry as to keep a secret.” Similarly, in concluding the authors warned, “Let that epistle be had as a private matter in your society & then we shall learn whether you are good masons.” (Letter to Emma Smith and the Relief Society, 31 Mar. 1842.)

4. [4]

   Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, xviii.

5. [5]

   Revelation, July 1830–C [D&C 25:3, 7].

6. [6]

   The note reads: “This Book, was politely presented to the Society by Elder W. Richards; on the 17th of March, AD. 1842.” (Relief Society Minute Book, [4], in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 27–28.)

   Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.

7. [7]

   At the next meeting of the society, held 24 March, Emma Smith “read from the Book of records [the minute book], the proceedings of the first meeting of the Society.” (Relief Society Minute Book, 24 Mar. 1842, 17, in Derr et al., First Fifty Years of Relief Society, 38.)

   Derr, Jill Mulvay, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Kate Holbrook, and Matthew J. Grow, eds. The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History. Salt Lake City: Church Historian’s Press, 2016.