Zina Young and the Desert Silk Association

Zina Young joins the Mormon Exodus to the Rocky Mountains and arrives in Utah in September 1848. She becomes a school teacher, she studies obstetrics under Dr. Willard Richards and as a midwife she helped deliver the babies of many women including those of the plural wives of Brigham Young. At their request she had no eaten and blessed many of their sisters before the delivery. In 1872, Zina helps establish the desert hospital in Salt Lake City and she also serves on its board of directors.