I read this in an article about Eliza and Brigham Young this morning, and thought it worth sharing. Eliza wrote this in a letter to Brigham while traveling through Europe and the Middle East with her brother Lorenzo and George Albert Smith:

“Br. George A smith wishes to be kindly remembered to you-  says his health is now good but I think it is difficult to judge of his health by his face for he has not shaven since leaving NY and of course by this time there is but little of his face to be seen.”

     The article itself is a great one. It describes a very admirable, though particular, marriage. Eliza was the eigth of Brigham’s wives. They were married only for time, and there is no indication that they ever consummated their marriage. In many ways Eliza was more of a counsellor to Brigham than a wife. Though, through their three decades together, they became dear friends, and shared a unity and friendship that is inspiring. The article titled: The Lion and the Lioness by Jill Mulvay Derr describes these two incredibly devoted and powerful figures in the history of the church. Together they brought to pass an organization of women that is still unsurpassed in the world. Eliza’s testimony of woman’s place before God is clearly more magnified than most. It was this assurance of her divine nature that fortified her and gave her the confidence to lead out in such extraordinary ways.
     I want to be like Eliza when I grow up!