Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Eliza R. Snow - Leader of Pioneer Women

Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, August 27, 2010

1. Eliza R Snow - Leader of Pioneer Women Marker

Inscription.

Eliza R. Snow - Leader of Pioneer Women. . Eliza R. Snow Leader of Pioneer Women January 21, 1804 - December 5, 1887. O My Father. The immortal poem – hymn, “O My Father” was written by the inspired poetess, Eliza R. Snow, sometime in the Spring of 1845 in the City of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, in the home of Stephen Markham, where she had been given temporary shelter. The tiny room occupied by the author, at that time, was a small unfinished attic chamber, with unfinished sloping inside ceiling, with no heating facilities in the winter and no ventilation system to moderate the heat of the summer. At best it was but a shelter for its inmate, from snow and sun, and yet it proved a quiet retreat for occasional contemplation and composition. The room was severely plain in its furnishings with but one small window to light its dim gloom and a small but very neat bed upon which to rest. A miniature truck in one corner encompassed all the earthly belongings of this High Priestess of the new dispensation. A small braided rug mat covered a part of the bare board floor and near the bed stood a tiny round light stand on which was kept a shining brass candlestick, the Holy Bible and her beloved Book of Mormon. It was this in this primeval environment that Eliza P. Snow, then a middle-aged woman, with a small gold pencil given her by Joseph Smith, The Prophet, wrote the divine words of those four immortal stanzas - - a composition which solves, in simple language, yet crystal clear, man’s eternal inquiry: “From whence do we come, why are we here, and what is our destiny?”, O My Father Words written by Eliza P. Snow for the most beloved of Mormon Hymns. O my Father, thou that dwellest in the high and glorious place! When shall I regain thy presence, and again behold thy place? In thy Holy habitation, did my spirit once reside; In my first primeval childhood, was I nurtured near thy side., For a wise and glorious purpose thou hast placed me here on earth, and withheld the recollection of my former friends and birth. yet ofttimes a secret something whispered “you’re a stranger here.” and I felt that I had wandered from a more exalted sphere., I had learned to call Thee father through thy spirit from on high; but with the key of knowledge was restored, I knew not why. In the Heavens are parents single? No; the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason, truth eternal tells me I’ve a mother there., When I leave this frail existence, when I lay this mortal by, father, mother, may I meet you in your royal courts on high? Then, at length, when I’ve completed all you sent me forth to do, with your mutual approbation let me come and dwell with you.

Eliza R. Snow
Leader of Pioneer Women
January 21, 1804 - December 5, 1887
O My Father The immortal poem – hymn, “O My Father” was written by the inspired poetess, Eliza R. Snow, sometime in the Spring of 1845 in the City of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, in the home of Stephen Markham, where she had been given temporary shelter.
The tiny room occupied by the author, at that time, was a small unfinished attic chamber, with unfinished sloping inside ceiling, with no heating facilities in the winter and no ventilation system to moderate the heat of the summer. At best it was but a shelter for its inmate, from snow and sun, and yet it proved a quiet retreat for occasional contemplation and composition.
The room was severely plain in its furnishings with but one small window to light its dim gloom and a small but very neat bed upon which to rest.
A miniature truck in one corner encompassed all the earthly belongings of this High Priestess of the new dispensation.
A small braided rug mat covered a part of the bare board floor and near the bed stood a tiny round light stand on which was kept a shining brass candlestick, the Holy Bible and her beloved Book of Mormon.
It was this in this primeval environment that Eliza P. Snow, then

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a middle-aged woman, with a small gold pencil given her by Joseph Smith, The Prophet, wrote the divine words of those four immortal stanzas - - a composition which solves, in simple language, yet crystal clear, man’s eternal inquiry: “From whence do we come, why are we here, and what is our destiny?”

O My Father
Words written by Eliza P. Snow for the most beloved of Mormon Hymns O my Father, thou that dwellest in the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain thy presence, and again behold thy place?
In thy Holy habitation, did my spirit once reside;
In my first primeval childhood, was I nurtured near thy side.

For a wise and glorious purpose thou hast placed me here on earth,
and withheld the recollection of my former friends and birth.
yet ofttimes a secret something whispered “you’re a stranger here.”
and I felt that I had wandered from a more exalted sphere.

I had learned to call Thee father through thy spirit from on high;
but with the key of knowledge was restored, I knew not why.
In the Heavens are parents single? No; the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason, truth eternal tells me I’ve a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence, when I lay this mortal by,
father, mother, may I meet you in your royal courts

History of Poem-Hymn "O My Father" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, August 27, 2010

2. History of Poem-Hymn "O My Father"

on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed all you sent me forth to do,
with your mutual approbation let me come and dwell with you.

Erected by Nicholas G. Morgan Sr. Memorial Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1919.

Location. 40° 46.579′ N, 111° 53.467′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Capitol Hill. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Columbus Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. The statue sits in front of the Pioneer Memorial Museum. It is on the point museum grounds formed by Main Street on the left and Columbus Street on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 N Main Street, Salt Lake City UT 84103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Memorial Museum (a few steps from this marker); Thomas L. Kane and the Mormons (a few steps from this marker); Lest We Forget (within shouting distance of this marker); The Constitution Revered (within shouting distance of this marker); Ensign Peak (within shouting distance of this

Words to Poem-Hymn "O My Father" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, August 27, 2010

3. Words to Poem-Hymn "O My Father"

marker); Alfred W. McCune Mansion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Council Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Regarding Eliza R. Snow - Leader of Pioneer Women. Eliza R. Snow is probably most famous for her poem-hymn "O My Father", the history of which, and the words to, are contained on plaques on each side of the monument base. She was a plural wife of Joseph Smith and then married Brigham Young when Smith was martyred. She headed up numerous organizations within the LDS Church and was a well known and capable leader of the Pioneer women.

Also see . . . A History of an Active Mormon Pioneer Leader. (Submitted on September 3, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118.)

Eliza R. Snow Sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 14, 2019

4. Eliza R. Snow Sculpture

In front of the Pioneer Memorial Museum.

Eliza R. Snow Sculpture and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, April 17, 2019

5. Eliza R. Snow Sculpture and Markers

Sculpture Presentation Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, August 27, 2010

6. Sculpture Presentation Marker

Presented to
The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
and the State of Utah
by the
Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. Memorial Foundation

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. This page has been viewed 1,555 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. 4. submitted on April 15, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on April 17, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on September 2, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.