Elizabeth Ann Claridge McCune was never officially called and set apart as a missionary but did share the gospel while visiting England with some of her children in 1897. President Joseph W. McMurrin asked her to speak in the London Conference where her speech was well-received by the large crowd. Afterwards she was asked to speak at other meetings. Because of her effectiveness President McMurrin requested that sister missionaries be sent to England. In April 1898, George Q. Cannon called for women to do missionary work. Shortly thereafter, Amanda Inez Knight and Lucy Jane Brimhall were called as the first single sisters to serve as proselyting missionaries for the Church.
