Mary was 12 when her family was first introduced to the restored gospel. They were among the first converts of the church, part of the first mission in October of 1830. Her family had already seen tragedy at this point-her father had died a few years prior driving her mother to take their children to live with her father's brother.
Mary and her mother were baptized. At the time, very few copies of the book of mormon had been printed, so it seemed unlikely that Mary would be able to read the book herself but even so she knew with all her heart that the book was true. So when her local branch president received a copy, Mary was overjoyed and begged him to let her borrow it. He hesitantly allowed her to borrow the book on the very same day he received it despite wanting to read it himself, but asked that she return it the very next morning.
So Mary read all night without stopping. She returned the book the next morning and amazed her branch president at the amount she had read. He was so touched by the clear excitement she had that he told her to take the book home and return it only when she had finished it. Later that month, Joseph came to visit her. He too was impressed by the faith of one so young and gifted her the borrowed book, saying he could get another for the branch president.
Mary influenced Joseph to organize a meeting in Kirtland and in the process met nearly all of the witnesses to the book of mormon and most prominent early members.
Many of us have heard this story before, as well as the one that will follow, but I hadn't known they were both of the same little girl.
When in 1831 the printing press was under attack, brave little Mary and her sister Caroline risked their lives to save a few copies of the printed manuscript for the book of commandments. These two little girls had such faith and courage that they faced literal mobs who had already proved they were willing to kill. But they knew that the book was important and that it contained the word of God.
When Governor Boggs, who was fond of the girl, offered her a place in his home before enacting his plan to run the saints out of Missouri, making it clear that he would not spare the other women or children, Mary Elizabeth said firmly "if that is the case, I refuse...for where they die, I will die. I am a full blooded Mormon and I am not ashamed to own it. I will suffer with the rest."
Her bravery was strong beyond her years. From these stories from Mary's life, we can learn that one is never to young to seek the truth or to stand for it. She was extremely brave in supporting a righteous cause from the tender age of 12, and her contributions not only strengthened her family but the entire church as well. She later served as Relief Society president in Minserville and served the saints there until she died in 1913 a the age of 95.
Arrington, Leonard J., and Susan Arrington Madsen. “Sunbonnet Sisters: True Stories of Mormon Women and Frontier Life.” Sunbonnet Sisters: True Stories of Mormon Women and Frontier Life, Bookcraft, 1984, pp. 14–20.
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