Zina Young Card
Zina Presendia Young Williams Card (April 3, 1850 – January 31, 1931) was an American religious leader and women’s rights advocate. She was the daughter of Brigham Young, the second president of the LDS Church, and grew up in Salt Lake City in a large, close-knit family.
Zina helped shape education for women. At Brigham Young Academy in Provo, she became the first Dean of Women and led the domestic science program, focusing on nursing and biology.
She was a strong supporter of women’s suffrage. She traveled to Washington, D.C., with Emmeline B. Wells to speak with lawmakers about women’s rights and the church’s beliefs, even addressing the Senate and House committees. She also spoke in favor of plural marriage as part of her faith.
Her personal life included two marriages. She first married Thomas C. Williams in 1868, and they had two sons before he died in 1874. In 1884 she married Charles Ora Card, with whom she had several children. The couple moved to Cardston, Alberta, to help establish a Mormon settlement, where Zina became a leading figure in the community.
In Cardston, she was known as Cardston’s First Lady, welcoming dignitaries and leading women’s groups. She led the Alberta branch of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association for sixteen years, helped build local businesses such as a sawmill, creamery, cheese factory, and store, and supported the arts and education. She also worked as a midwife and helped foster good relations with local Indigenous people.
She remained active in church and education throughout her life. She served on the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees from 1918 until her death and held leadership roles in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She died in Salt Lake City at age 80. Her family continued her legacy; her daughter Zina Young Card Brown married Hugh B. Brown, and her great-grandson is Orson Scott Card.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:39 (CET).