Career and contributions
As a teacher at Brigham Young University, Widtsoe was appointed the head of the Department of Domestic Sciences in 1897. She created new classes and course materials, incorporating what she had learned from her studies in the East, and emphasizing farm science. Her husband was president of Utah State University and Leah Widtsoe was the first lady from 1907 to 1916. She was also the first lady of the University of Utah when her husband was president from 1916 to 1921.
Widtsoe believed that homemaking and raising children were the most important professions she could have. She wrote pamphlets and articles on homemaking. She was a regular contributor to many LDS Church periodicals, like the Young Woman's Journal, The Relief Society Magazine, and The Improvement Era. Widtsoe was the co-author with her husband of The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation In addition, she was involved in writing The Life Story of Brigham Young with her mother.
Widtsoe was active in advocating her ideas on the role of women. When her family moved to Logan, Utah in 1900, Widtsoe sought to improve the lives of farmers' wives. She accompanied her husband when he went to visit with farmers, and talked to their wives about food, housecleaning, and health. She was instrumental in the passing of the Smoot Bill, which provided funds to states for research in home economics. She organized the first Agricultural College Women's Institute in 1903. She was one of the founders of the Salt Lake City Federation of Women Voters, and was president from 1919 to 1921. She also participated in the Salt Lake Council of Women, the National League of Pen Women and the Women's Legislative Council. In 1923, she attended the National Home Economics Movement Conference as the Utah representative.
Widtsoe was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life. Her husband was called to the Quorum of the Twelve. In 1928, he was called on a mission to preside over the European Mission. She accompanied him to Europe, where they remained until 1933.
