Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from The Sister Preachers by Gale Sears. The historical novel offers a glimpse into the real experiences of Lucy Jane (Jennie) Brimhall and Amanda Inez Knight, who served as the first single female missionaries in this dispensation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sister Knight and Sister Brimhall stood at the back of the assembled crowd, admiring the elders in their dark suits and tall silk hats as they shared gospel truths with the people of Oldham. Inez rubbed her lower back. Five street meetings on different corners and countless miles of walking on cobblestone streets were taking a toll on her body. Not to mention her new shoes were bringing up blisters on her feet.
Jennie leaned toward her and whispered, “Tired?”
Inez nodded.
“Me too,” Jennie said yawning. “Yet look at them,” she added, indicating the elders on the platform. “Still firmly and humbly bearing testimony of the truth.”
“I don’t know how they’re doing it,” Inez answered. “I’m proud to be numbered with them.”
Their whispered conversation was interrupted by a loud male voice calling out to Elder Bailey, who was attempting to talk about the restoration of priesthood power.
“Priesthood power indeed! I’ve heard about you Mormon men. You come here to entice our young women to join your church and then trap them into going to Utah.”
“Where they’re treated like slaves!” yelled another.
“Five women to every man!”
Inez and Jennie stared. It was the first time all day they’d heard derogatory comments from the crowd, and now many voices responded to the remarks, until there was a chaos of sound.
President McMurrin stepped onto the platform and moved beside Elder Bailey. He held up his hand. “Gentlemen ... gentlemen and ladies, please ... ” The crowd quieted. “We are here in Britain to bring you a message of peace and hope. A message for everyone, men and women alike.” He looked over the crowd. “Sister Brimhall, Sister Knight, will you please come join me on the platform?”
Inez heard Jennie gasp and felt her own breath catch in her chest. Slowly the two composed themselves enough to take a few steps forward into the crowd. As the people pushed back to allow room, Inez felt every eye on her, and she prayed fervently that she wouldn’t trip and fall. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the platform, and Will helped them up. President McMurrin gave them an encouraging look as he motioned them to his side.
“Here, my friends, are real live Mormon women from Utah! They come as missionaries to tell you the truth about the Restoration of the Lord’s gospel, as well as to inform you about their lives in Utah.” A surprised murmur rippled through the crowd. “As you can plainly see, they are intelligent, cultured, and content young women.”
“Let ’em speak up then!” came a voice from the front of the crowd.
Inez looked down to see the speaker glaring at her, his face skeptical that she was anything more than a deceiver.
“Indeed, you will hear them, friends. Both Sister Knight and Sister Brimhall will be speaking at our Sunday evening meeting tomorrow, at the Oldham assembly hall.”
Inez felt her knees buckle, and Jennie grabbed her arm. “We can do this, Inez,” she whispered. “Believe until you become.”
Inez nodded and stood straighter. It was all she could manage. She was barely aware of President McMurrin closing the meeting and the elders leaving the platform. As she and Jennie stepped down, they were surrounded by people asking questions and wanting to get a closer look at the peculiar pair. Elder Bailey and Will pushed through the press of people to rescue them.
“Sorry folks,” Elder Bailey said in a cheery voice. “No questions tonight! Tomorrow at the meeting. We certainly hope you’ll join us!” As Elder Bailey was speaking, he and Will nimbly escorted the sisters away from the group to the outskirts of the market square. The party stopped to gather themselves, and Elder Bailey stood straight and clapped Will on the shoulder. “Well, I don’t know about you Elder Knight, but I feel it a rare honor to be in the presence of ‘real live Mormon women.’”
Jennie started giggling, and Inez growled. “That’s enough out of you, Elder Bailey.” She turned with an exasperated look at Jennie. “Where in the world did President McMurrin come up with that title?”
“Pure inspiration,” Will laughed.
Inez glared at her brother. “And that is enough out of you, Jesse William Knight.” She growled again. “Real live Mormon women, indeed.”
“I don’t mind the title,” Jennie said sobering. “What I mind is the assignment. Speaking in a conference to who knows how many people?”
“I feel sick,” Inez moaned.
President McMurrin’s voice hailed them as he and President Wells approached. “Cheers for the sister missionaries!” Inez moaned again, and her brother stifled a laugh.
President Wells came to stand beside Will. “Well, my boy, what do you think of these two remarkable women?”
“Real and remarkable,” Will answered.
“And alive,” Elder Bailey whispered in an aside to Inez.
“Indeed, they are! Indeed, they are! And they are going to set a lot of things straight about the women of the Church.” He turned to Inez and Jennie. “Did you see? Just one look at you, and the crowd was dumbfounded.” Jennie started to smile at the man and yawned instead. “Oh my goodness! We have run you two ragged on your first day, haven’t we? I am so sorry, my dears.”
Jennie patted away the yawn and held up her other hand to calm President Well’s flustered apology. “It’s all right, President. We’re ready for any assignment or any—”
President McMurrin interrupted. “Your assignment is a bit of food and a good night’s rest, young woman.”
“Thank heavens,” Inez grumbled without thinking. Elder Bailey laughed, and Inez gave a startled look. “Did I say that out loud?”
“You did, Sister Knight. And I’m grateful for your honesty,” President McMurrin said with a kind smile. He looked at Will. “We’ve lodged the sisters at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mills for the next two nights. After they pick up their traveling bags at the mission office, I want you and Elder Bailey to escort them there.”
“We’re not staying at the mission apartments?” Jennie asked.
“Oh, indeed no!” President Wells exclaimed. “We don’t have a separate space for the two of you. You will be much more comfortable with the Mills family. They have two grown daughters who will give you their room—comfortable beds, clean linens. Yes indeed, much more suitable.”
“Thank you, President. It sounds wonderful,” Inez stated.
“Important Sabbath preaching tomorrow! Must have your rest. Off we go then.”
As the group of missionaries moved out of the Tommyfield Market Square, Inez Knight and Jennie Brimhall shared a look of mingled exhaustion and anxiety.
Read more about the first single sister missionaries
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NOTES
Details of Oldham: Many details of the sisters’ first encounter with missionary work in Oldham are recorded in Inez’s journal, including the description of the Tommyfield Market and the elders preaching in their dark suits and top hats.
“Real live Mormon women”: At an Oldham street meeting, President McMurrin did indeed call the sisters “real live Mormon women.” Inez referenced this in her journal.
