Amy B. Lyman
Encyclopedia
Amy Brown Lyman was the eighth general president of the Relief Society
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1940 to 1945.
Born in Pleasant Grove
, Utah Territory
, Amy Cassandra Brown was the 23rd of 25 children born to her polygamist
father, John Brown. John Brown was a leader of the Mississippi Saints, a group of Mormons from Mississippi who knowing that Brigham Young
and the rest of the Quorum of the 12 had began the exodus of the Mormons from Nauvoo
early in 1846 decided that the best way to join up with the main body of the LDS Church was to go west and meet in the mountains. They spent the winter in Pueblo, Colorado
where they were joined by the Mormon Battallion sick detachment, and then traveled north to meet up with the advanced company under Brigham Young
.
Amy Brown attended high school at Brigham Young Academy (BYA). It was here she met Richard Lyman. For part of her time at BYA Amy lived in the home of Karl G.
and Anna Meith Maeser.
Amy and Richard's plans to marry were postponed because the University of Michigan did not allow married students at the time and that was where Richard was studying. Amy worked as a teacher at BYA from 1888-1894. Amy and Richard's marriage in 1896 in the Salt Lake Temple
was performed by Joseph F. Smith
. After this Amy went with Richard as he studied at Cornell University
and the University of Chicago
. While in Chicago Amy became involved in Settlement House programs and associated with Jane Addams
.
Lyman founded and headed the LDS Church's social welfare department
for 16 years. She also served a term as a member of the Utah House of Representatives
. Prior to the Second World War, Lyman accompanied her husband, Richard R. Lyman
, to England
where he presided
over the Europe
an Mission
of the church.
From 1928 to 1939, Lyman was the first counselor to president Louise Y. Robison
in the Relief Society general presidency. In 1940, Lyman succeeded Robison as president and, in turn, was succeeded by her own second counselor, Belle S. Spafford
.
Lyman served until 1945, when she requested to be released due to her marital problems resulting from her husband's infidelity. Lyman's husband Richard was an apostle of the LDS Church. In 1943, while she was serving as Relief Society president, Richard was excommunicated for cohabiting with another woman. Richard Lyman is the most recent apostle to have been excommunicated from the church.
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1940 to 1945.
Born in Pleasant Grove
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,798 at the 2008 census estimates.-History:...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, Amy Cassandra Brown was the 23rd of 25 children born to her polygamist
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
father, John Brown. John Brown was a leader of the Mississippi Saints, a group of Mormons from Mississippi who knowing that Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
and the rest of the Quorum of the 12 had began the exodus of the Mormons from Nauvoo
Nauvoo
Nauvoo can mean:* Nauvoo, Alabama* Nauvoo, Illinois* Nauvoo, PennsylvaniaSee also:* Nauvoo Legion...
early in 1846 decided that the best way to join up with the main body of the LDS Church was to go west and meet in the mountains. They spent the winter in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
where they were joined by the Mormon Battallion sick detachment, and then traveled north to meet up with the advanced company under Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
.
Amy Brown attended high school at Brigham Young Academy (BYA). It was here she met Richard Lyman. For part of her time at BYA Amy lived in the home of Karl G.
Karl G. Maeser
-Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival....
and Anna Meith Maeser.
Amy and Richard's plans to marry were postponed because the University of Michigan did not allow married students at the time and that was where Richard was studying. Amy worked as a teacher at BYA from 1888-1894. Amy and Richard's marriage in 1896 in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
was performed by Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. After this Amy went with Richard as he studied at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. While in Chicago Amy became involved in Settlement House programs and associated with Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
.
Lyman founded and headed the LDS Church's social welfare department
LDS Family Services
LDS Family Services is a private nonprofit corporation owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It offers members of the church and others adoption services, marital and family counseling, addiction and drug dependency counseling, general psychotherapy, and counseling...
for 16 years. She also served a term as a member of the Utah House of Representatives
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
. Prior to the Second World War, Lyman accompanied her husband, Richard R. Lyman
Richard R. Lyman
Richard Roswell Lyman was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1943. He was excommunicated in 1943 for unlawful cohabitation, a result of a polygamous relationship. In 1954 Lyman was rebaptized. His full priesthood blessings were restored posthumously in 1970...
, to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he presided
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
over the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church.
From 1928 to 1939, Lyman was the first counselor to president Louise Y. Robison
Louise Y. Robison
Louise Yates Robison was the seventh general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1928 to 1939....
in the Relief Society general presidency. In 1940, Lyman succeeded Robison as president and, in turn, was succeeded by her own second counselor, Belle S. Spafford
Belle S. Spafford
Marion Isabelle Sims Smith Spafford was the ninth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 6, 1945 until October 3, 1974. She served longer in this capacity than any other woman in the history of the Relief Society. Spafford was also...
.
Lyman served until 1945, when she requested to be released due to her marital problems resulting from her husband's infidelity. Lyman's husband Richard was an apostle of the LDS Church. In 1943, while she was serving as Relief Society president, Richard was excommunicated for cohabiting with another woman. Richard Lyman is the most recent apostle to have been excommunicated from the church.