Sarah Granger Kimball

Sarah Melissa Granger Kimball (December 29, 1818 – December 1, 1898) was a 19th-century Latter-day Saint advocate for women's rights and early leader in the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sarah's involvement in the church led to the establishment of the women's Relief Society, as well as participation in the national suffrage movement.

Conversion and church involvement Sarah Granger was a daughter of Oliver Granger and his wife, Lydia Dibble. She was born in Phelps, New York to a prominent Puritan family. In 1830, Sarah's father acquired a copy of the Book of Mormon, and stated he had a vision of the ancient prophet, Moroni, testifying of the book's truth. At the time of their first son's birth, church members were working on construction of the Nauvoo Temple. Sarah desired to contribute to the construction efforts, but felt uncomfortable donating since Hiram was not a member of the church. After discussing a contribution, Hiram donated a plot of land north of the temple property. Hiram was later baptized in 1843. By 1844, the Nauvoo Relief Society had 1,341 members. In 1858 Brigham Young offered a solution that her husband Hiram should stand as proxy during her sealing to Joseph Smith. The sisters used this building as a shop to sell hand-made items. The profits were used to "furnish the hall; purchase shares for the ward organ; build a granary and stock it with grain; contribute to funds for Perpetual Emigration, the Salt Lake and Logan temples, and the Deseret Hospital; provide carpet for the ward meetinghouse; and purchase a knitting machine and set up a tailoring establishment within the ward." Kimball was a member of the 1882 Utah State Constitutional Convention. By 1890, Kimball was the first president of the Utah Women's Suffrage Association and a leader in the national suffrage movement.

Death Kimball died in Salt Lake City on December 1, 1898.