Lorenzo Snow

Lorenzo Snow

1814–1901 (87 years)

Hometown: Mantua, Ohio

Biography

Lorenzo Snow was the fifth President of the LDS Church, serving from 1898 to 1901. Born in Ohio, Snow was well-educated for his time, attending Oberlin College before converting to Mormonism in 1836 after his sister Eliza (later a prominent Mormon poet and leader) introduced him to the faith.

Snow is famous for articulating the couplet summarizing Mormon theology: “As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.” This teaching of human deification remains distinctive LDS doctrine. He served missions to England, Italy, and Hawaii, and was known for his administrative abilities.

Snow had eleven wives and was imprisoned for six months in 1886 for practicing polygamy under the Edmunds Act. As president, he inherited a church deeply in debt from the anti-polygamy raids and property seizures. In 1899, during a visit to St. George, Utah, he emphasized the law of tithing with unprecedented vigor, promising members blessings if they paid a full tithe. This renewed emphasis on tithing helped rescue the church from financial ruin and established the practice as central to modern LDS life.

His brief presidency of just over three years was marked by financial stabilization and continued adaptation to life without polygamy.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Brigham Young
Brigham Young
John Taylor
John Taylor
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff

Apostles Who Served During This Presidency

Apostles who served under this leader during their presidency:

Franklin D. Richards
Franklin D. Richards 1821–1899 (78 years)
John Willard Young
John Willard Young 1844–1924 (79 years)
George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon 1827–1901 (74 years)
Brigham Young Jr.
Brigham Young Jr. 1836–1903 (66 years)
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith 1838–1918 (80 years)
Moses Thatcher
Moses Thatcher 1842–1909 (67 years)
Francis M. Lyman
Francis M. Lyman 1840–1916 (76 years)
John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith 1848–1911 (63 years)
Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant 1856–1945 (88 years)
George Teasdale
George Teasdale 1831–1907 (75 years)
John W. Taylor
John W. Taylor 1858–1916 (58 years)
Anthon H. Lund
Anthon H. Lund 1844–1921 (76 years)
Marriner W. Merrill
Marriner W. Merrill 1832–1906 (73 years)
Abraham O. Woodruff
Abraham O. Woodruff 1872–1904 (31 years)
Matthias F. Cowley
Matthias F. Cowley 1858–1940 (81 years)
Rudger Clawson
Rudger Clawson 1857–1943 (86 years)
Reed Smoot
Reed Smoot 1862–1941 (79 years)

Wives (9)

Lorenzo Snow was a polygamist with 9 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 4 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.

9 wives · Lifespan: 1814–1901

Mary Adaline Goddard
1845–1898 (53 yrs)
Sarah Ann Pritchard
1845–1900 (55 yrs)
Charlotte Merrill Squires
1846–1850 (4 yrs)
Harriet Amelia Squire
1846–1890 (44 yrs)
Eleanor Houtz
1848–1896 (48 yrs)
Caroline Horton
1853–1857 (4 yrs)
Mary Elizabeth Houtz
1857–1901 (44 yrs)
Phebe Amelia Woodruff
1859–1901 (42 yrs)
Sarah Ephramina Jensen
1871–1901 (30 yrs)
1814 (born) 1836 1858 1880 1901 (died)
Wife

42 children from 9 wives · Lifespan: 1814–1901

Mary Adaline Goddard
3 children
Sarah Ann Pritchard
5 children
Charlotte Merrill Squires
2 children
Harriet Amelia Squire
5 children
Eleanor Houtz
8 children
Caroline Horton
3 children
Mary Elizabeth Houtz
6 children
Phebe Amelia Woodruff
5 children
Sarah Ephramina Jensen
5 children
1814 (born) 1836 1858 1880 1901 (died)
Wife Child born

9 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameBornDiedMarriedHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1
Mary Adaline Goddard Mary Adaline Goddard
Mar 8, 1812Dec 28, 1898 Jan 17, 1845 323023
2
Sarah Ann Pritchard Sarah Ann Pritchard
Nov 29, 1826Dec 2, 1900 Apr 21, 1845 1831135
3
Charlotte Merrill Squires
Nov 19, 1825Sep 25, 1850 Jan 17, 1846 2031112
4
Harriet Amelia Squire Harriet Amelia Squire
Sep 13, 1819May 12, 1890 Jan 17, 1846 263155
5
Eleanor Houtz Eleanor Houtz ⚠
Aug 14, 1832Sep 14, 1896 Jun 1, 1848 1534198
6
Caroline Horton Caroline Horton
Dec 25, 1824Feb 21, 1857 Oct 9, 1853 2839113
7
Mary Elizabeth Houtz Mary Elizabeth Houtz ⚠
May 19, 1840Mar 31, 1906 Mar 5, 1857 1642266
8
Phebe Amelia Woodruff Phebe Amelia Woodruff ⚠
Mar 4, 1842Feb 15, 1919 Apr 4, 1859 1745285
9
Sarah Ephramina Jensen Sarah Ephramina Jensen ⚠
Oct 10, 1855Jan 2, 1908 Jun 12, 1871 1557425

Children (42)

With Mary Adaline Goddard Mary Adaline Goddard  (3 children)

  1. Rosetta Adaline Snow (b. Jan 1, 1846)
  2. Oliver Goddard Snow (b. Jan 1, 1849)
  3. Isadore Percy Sina Snow (b. Jan 1, 1855)

With Sarah Ann Pritchard Sarah Ann Pritchard  (5 children)

  1. Eliza Sarah Snow (b. Jan 1, 1847)
  2. Sylvia Snow (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  3. Lorenzo Snow Jr (b. Jan 1, 1853)
  4. Parintha Snow (b. Jan 1, 1855)
  5. Alviras Erastus Snow (b. Jan 1, 1863)

With Charlotte Merrill Squires  (2 children)

  1. Leonora Charlotte Snow (b. Jan 1, 1847)
  2. Roxcy Armantha Snow (b. Jan 1, 1849)

With Harriet Amelia Squire Harriet Amelia Squire  (5 children)

  1. Abigail Harriet Snow (b. Jan 1, 1847)
  2. Lucius Aaron Snow (b. Jan 1, 1849)
  3. Amelia Henrietta Snow (b. Jan 1, 1854)
  4. Alonzo Henry Snow (b. Jan 1, 1854)
  5. Celestia Armeda Snow (b. Jan 1, 1855)

With Eleanor Houtz Eleanor Houtz  (8 children)

  1. Amanda Eleanor Snow (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  2. Ida Snow (b. Jan 1, 1854)
  3. Eugenia Snow (b. Jan 1, 1856)
  4. Alphonso Houtz Snow (b. Jan 1, 1858)
  5. Susan Emma Jane Snow (b. Jan 1, 1861)
  6. Roxeylena Snow (b. Jan 1, 1863)
  7. Hortensia Houtz Snow (b. Jan 1, 1867)
  8. Chauncey Edgar Snow (b. Jan 1, 1870)

With Caroline Horton Caroline Horton  (3 children)

  1. Clarissa Caroline Snow (b. Jan 1, 1854)
  2. Sarah Augusta Snow (b. Jan 1, 1857)
  3. Franklin Horton Snow (b. Jan 1, 1857)

With Mary Elizabeth Houtz Mary Elizabeth Houtz  (6 children)

  1. Lydia Mary Elizabeth Snow (b. Jan 1, 1860)
  2. Jacob Emmanuel Fitzroy Snow (b. Jan 1, 1862)
  3. Viriginia Maria Marien Snow (b. Jan 1, 1864)
  4. Mansfield Lorenzo Snow (b. Jan 1, 1866)
  5. Mortimer Joseph Snow (b. Jan 1, 1868)
  6. Flora Bell Birdie Snow (b. Jan 1, 1871)

With Phebe Amelia Woodruff Phebe Amelia Woodruff  (5 children)

  1. Mary Amanda Snow (b. Jan 1, 1860)
  2. Leslie Woodruff Snow (b. Jan 1, 1862)
  3. Orion Woodruff Snow (b. Jan 1, 1866)
  4. Milton Woodruff Snow (b. Jan 1, 1868)
  5. Phebe Augusta Florence Snow (b. Jan 1, 1870)

With Sarah Ephramina Jensen Sarah Ephramina Jensen  (5 children)

  1. Le Roi Clarence Snow (b. Jan 1, 1876)
  2. Minnie Mabelle Snow (b. Jan 1, 1879)
  3. Cora Jeane Snow (b. Jan 1, 1883)
  4. Lorenzo Lamont Snow (b. Jan 1, 1885)
  5. Rhea Lucile Snow (b. Jan 1, 1896)

Posts Related to Lorenzo Snow

Images Related to Lorenzo Snow

“I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child ... shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing.” - 2013 Sunday School Manual, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, Chapter 12: Tithing, a Law for Our Protection and Advancement On January 19, 1845, Brigham Young sealed Lorenzo Snow to Hannah Maria Goddard (b. 1828), sister of his legal wife and his cousin. After the sealing, but prior to consummating the union, Lorenzo left on a mission. In April 1849, Joseph E. Johnson became intimately involved with Hannah who became pregnant with his child (Joseph Eugene Johnson born January 3, 1850). Upon learning of the incident, Lorenzo Snow relinquished his earthly claim to Hannah as his wife and she married Johnson. Johnson, already married, was disciplined by the church and quickly rebaptized as a polygamist. Lorenzo allowed her to be sealed to Johnson in 1861. - Hannah Maria Goddard, Forgotten Teenage Bride and Divorcee of Lorenzo Snow | wasmormon.org “I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has means shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing.” - Lorenzo Snow, 1899, LDS Church President. Often quoted by the modern church but replacing “who has means” with an ellipsis “...” which changes the meaning of the quotation. | wasmormon.org Lorenzo Snow and his Nine Wives and their respective ages on the wedding day along with the age difference between the groom and bride. The Plural Wives of LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow | April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901 | wasmormon.org Lorenzo Snow 5th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his 9 wives - The Plural Wives of LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow | April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901 | wasmormon.org Lorenzo Snow and his Nine Wives and their respective ages on the wedding day. The Plural Wives of LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow | April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901 | wasmormon.org The Plural Wives of LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow | April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901 - Lorenzo Snow's offspring from each plural marriage | wasmormon.org The Plural Wives of LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow | April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901 - Lorenzo's age at time of marriage and the duration of each marriage | wasmormon.org "It requires a great exertion on the parts of wives to keep pace with their husbands. You all perceive more imperfections in those around you than you do in yourselves. It is much more difficult for wives to learn than it is for husbands, because women have not the degree of light and knowledge that their husbands have; they have not the power over their passions that their husbands have: therefore, they have to suffer one for another until they get power over themselves like unto those that have advanced more fully in the knowledge of our God." - President Lorenzo Snow, LDS Church, 1857 - At this time he had married 7 of his 9 wives | wasmormon.org “It is clear that the teaching of President Lorenzo Snow [‘As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be’] is both acceptable and accepted doctrine in the Church today.” - I Have a Question: Is President Snow’s statement—‘As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be’—accepted as official doctrine by the Church? by Gerald Lund, Ensign February 1982, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | wasmormon.org “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” - Lorenzo Snow, LDS Church President | wasmormon.org This turn of the century family portrait was taken close to the time Joseph F. Smith succeeded Lorenzo Snow as president of the LDS Church in October 1901. Besides Levira, with whom he had no children, Smith had five other wives and forty-eight children. His wives are (L to R seated by Smith): Mary Taylor Schwartz (married, 1884, seven children); Edna Lambson (married 1871, ten children); Julina Lambson (married 1866, thirteen children, including Joseph Fielding Smith—top row, center); Sarah Ellen Richards (married 1868, eleven children); Alice Ann Kimball (married 1883, seven children); circa 1904 "I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has means shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing" Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow