“Thou knowest my inexperience, thou seest my poor wounded boy, what shall I do? Heavenly Father direct me!” — Amanda Barnes Smith¹

Amanda Barnes Smith (1809–1886) was born in Becket, Massachusetts and married Warren Smith in 1826. She joined the Church of Christ in 1831, and moved with her family to Kirtland, Ohio, and then to Missouri.² She is best known for her faith and resilience following the Hawn’s Mill Massacre on October 30, 1838, where her husband Warren and son Sardius were killed. Her son Alma’s hip was severely wounded during the massacre, and Amanda received divine inspiration and treated his wounds with a poultice made from elm roots, leading to his miraculous recovery.³

After the massacre, Amanda remained in Missouri for a time, and the mobbers occasionally gave her gifts to atone for their actions, such as 50 pounds of flour. She migrated to Quincy, Illinois with the Saints and taught school there before moving to Nauvoo and eventually settling in Utah.² Throughout her life, she was an active participant in the Church and civic activities, including the Relief Society and women's suffrage movement. Amanda passed away in 1886 in Richmond, Utah, remembered as a dedicated and faithful member of the Church.²

1. The Woman's Exponent, 1881-05-01, vol. 9 no. 23

2. “Amanda Barnes Smith,” churchofjesuschrist.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 30, 347-355