Elizabeth Ann Gilmour is an American activist focused on child safety and was a commentator for ABC News.
She became widely known at the age of 14 after being kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell.
Highlights
- Elizabeth was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home by Brian David Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet who believed he was instructed by God to take her as his second wife.
- Raised in a devout Mormon family, Smart credits her faith with providing her the strength to endure and recover from her abduction.
- Since her rescue, Smart has dedicated herself to advocating for missing persons and victims of abdu*tion and indecent activities.
Smart was abducted from her bedroom at knifepoint by Brian David Mitchell, a self-proclaimed prophet who believed God instructed him to take her as his second wife.
She was held captive for nine months, during which she was repeatedly intimidated and subjected to extreme physical and emotional pain.
Smart was recognized and rescued on March 12, 2003, by a couple who had seen her on “America’s Most Wanted” and notified the authorities.
Her captors, Mitchell and Barzee, were arrested and later convicted.
Since her rescue, Smart has dedicated herself to activism and advocacy for missing persons. Her story and abduction have inspired various non-fiction books and films.
Elizabeth Smart’s Belief in Mormon Faith Amidst Adversity
Elizabeth Smart is of American nationality and Caucasian ethnicity and was born on November 3, 1987, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
She was born into a devout Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) family and continues to be associated with the church.
Being raised in a devout Mormon family has played a significant role in Elizabeth’s upbringing and endurance during her traumatic kidnapping ordeal in 2002.
Elizabeth has openly discussed how her Mormon faith provided her with the strength to survive and recover from her abduction and subsequent ab*se.
She frequently shares her story of faith and survival in various forums, including interfaith initiatives like Faith Counts.
Her story continues to inspire many as she actively works to support and advocate for victims of kidnapping.
While some have questioned her continued adherence to her beliefs, she has stated that her religion was a source of strength during her ordeal and has not wavered in her beliefs.
Elizabeth Smart Met Her Love, Matthew, While She Was On Missionary Duties For The Church
In November 2009, Elizabeth Smart departed from Salt Lake City to fulfill her missionary duties for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paris.
She briefly returned in November 2010 to testify in Brian David Mitchell’s federal trial before resuming her mission in France, concluding it in early 2011.
During her missionary service in the Paris Mission, Smart crossed paths with Matthew Gilmour, a native of Scotland.
Following a courtship of one year, they became engaged in January 2012 and tied the knot on February 18, 2012, in an intimate ceremony at the Laie Hawaii Temple.
Since then, they have welcomed three children into their family.
Additional Information
- After her ordeal, Smart became an advocate for child safety and victims’ rights. She founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which aims to educate and prevent crimes against children.
- Elizabeth Smart was born to her parents, Ed Smart and Lois Smart. In 2019, at age 64, Ed came out as gay and divorced Lois after 34 years of marriage.
- In 2019, while on a Delta Airlines flight back to Utah, Smart reported an incident where she was awoken by a male passenger sitting beside her, allegedly rubbing her inner thigh.
