Mothers of the Prophets

Thirteen men have been sustained as prophet, seer, and revelator for as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this dispensation. Much has been written about each of these men, for they have been in the center of Church action. "But what of their mothers?" ask authors Leonard J. Arrington and Susan Arrington Madsen. "Convinced that their mothers must have had an enormous influence on the early lives and beliefs of our prophets, we have taken it as a challenge to find out more about these women." Mothers of the Prophets is the result of that quest. To piece together the biographies, the authors have searched local histories and newspapers, interviewed descendants of the women, reviewed biographies and papers of the prophets and diaries of contemporaries, and even consulted general histories of the periods in which the women lived. Though not one word written by some of the women can be found, and few references exist in the papers of their descendants, the authors have been able to piece clues together to provide credible and invaluable biographical sketches. "Each of the mothers was supportive, provided stability and security, and encouraged self-confidence in the things of the Spirit as well as in the things of the world," the authors conclude. "They taught their sons about a loving God and manifested their own spiritual depth and strength." Mothers of the Prophets provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of women who, though relatively unknown during their own lifetimes, have indirectly, through their sons, affected the lives of millions of Latter-day Saints.