[3] Her parents did not attend any church, but identified as Christian,[4] and Ann Smith later described her young self as "naturally religious.

[3] In this venture, the two women displayed what Mark L. Staker, a faculty member of the LDS Church History Department, calls "a strong sense of self-reliance".

[8] Sarah Smith bought a parcel of land within the Connecticut Western Reserve, and soon one of Ann's uncles joined them in Ohio.

[9] In Kirtland, Ann and her husband joined the Disciples of Christ, called the Campbellites at the time, led in the area by Sidney Rigdon.

[10] In response to that prayer, the couple claimed to have seen a vision and a voice stating, "Prepare to receive the word of the Lord, for it is coming!

"[3] Sidney Rigdon converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which had been established by Joseph Smith in April 1830.

[12] Whitney felt that the Joseph and Emma's coming was fulfillment of a vision she and Newel had previously witnessed, in which "a cloud of glory rested upon [their] house.

[12] Joseph noticed the quality of Whitney's singing voice and accordingly dubbed her "the sweet songstress of Zion".

[6] Immediately after receiving her patriarchal blessing at the hand of Joseph Smith Sr., Whitney sang about the history and importance of Adam-ondi-Ahman in tongues.

They lost some of their wealth when the Kirtland Safety Society Banking Company collapsed and people began persecuting members of the church.

[9] The family continued moving with the Saints, and went to Winter Quarters in February, 1846 before migrating to the Salt Lake Valley.

[10] In March 1842, Whitney became one of the original leaders of the Relief Society, with Emma Hale Smith, Sarah M. Cleveland, and Eliza Roxcy Snow[15] (who had been her acquaintance in Kirtland).

[20] Daniel H. Wells, Lorenzo D. Young, and Joseph F. Smith spoke at Whitney's funeral and praised her for her faith and service in the church.