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FILE - Signs hang on a telephone pole in a Salt Lake neighborhood, Thursday, June 13, 2002. Jeremy Harmon, Deseret News
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FILE - Elizabeth Smart performs the harp with the Salt Lake Symphony at Abravanel Hall Saturday Feb. 14, 2004 in Salt Lake City. Chuck Wing, Deseret News
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FILE - Ed Smart waves as he leaves the police staion after finding Elizabeth Smart. Michael Brandy, Deseret News
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Brian David Mitchell found with Elizabeth Smart. Salt Lake City Police
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FILE - Ed and Lois Smart pose for pictures outside their hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia where "The Elizabeth Smart story" is being filmed. Pat Reavy, Deseret News
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Elizabeth smart is with family. Tom Smart
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20-year old Julie Black holds a photo of Elizabeth Smart at the Candlelight vigil at Liberty Park for 14-year, Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped. Michael Brandy, Deseret News
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Two police offices search the area near the Smart family home in Federal Heights Wednesday, June 5, 2002 looking for clues in the abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart. Jason Olson, Deseret News
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Volunteers wait outside the Federal Heights LDS wardhouse,the headquarters for the search for kidnapped Elizabeth Smart. Johanna Workman, Deseret News
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Smart family friends Alison Reed and Ann Farnsworth hug after Elizabeth Smart was found Mar 12, 2003. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Family and friends hang a banner at the Smart home after Elizabeth Smart was found March 12, 2003. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Family members Tom Smart with daughters, Nicole (left) and Sierra Smart attend the Candlelight vigil at Liberty Park for their 14-year old cousin and niece, Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped. Michael Brandy, Deseret News
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Ed Smart hugs a family friends after Elizabeth Smart was found March 12, 2003. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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SLC officer Derek Christensen guards the Smart family home after Elizabeth Smart was found March 12, 2003. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart and Libertad Salgado, mother of Elizabeth Salgado, join families of missing Utahns as they speak to the media in Sandy on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015. Elizabeth Salgado has been missing since April 16, 2015. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Salt Lake City Police Captain Scott Atkinson speaks to the press during a press conference held outside the Federal Heights LDS wardhouse,the headquarters for the search for kidnapped Elizabeth Smart. Johanna Workman, Dnews
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Elizabeth Smart praised her children and her mother in a Mother’s Day Instagram post over the weekend. Screenshot
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After being kidnapped for over nine months, Elizabeth Smart is reunited with her grandfather, Charles Smart, March 13, 2003. Tom Smart, Deseret News
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Salt Lake City Police Chief Rick Dinse points for the next question at a press conference on Monday June 24, 2002, as he and family members of Elizabeth Smart update the Media on the case. Ed and Lois Smart stand in the background. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
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13-year old Tori Dumke (left) and 10-year old Cessile Smart attend the Candlelight vigil at Liberty Park for their 14-year old cousin Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped. Michael Brandy, Deseret News
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Sgt. Jim Winder of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Dept. speaks to the media after searching for Elizabeth Smart with search dogs in the area of the Sun Crest development in Draper on Saturday morning, June 22, 2002. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart, right, and her father Ed Smart talk to the media out front of the Frank E. Moss Federal Courthouse, Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Salt Lake City. Smart's assailant, Brian David Mitchell, was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and ra Associated Press
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FILE - In this May 7, 2013, file photo, Elizabeth Smart talks with a reporter before an interview in Park City, Utah. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Ed and Lois Smart and other members of their family speak to the Media at a Press conference Monday June 24, 2002 in Salt Lake City Utah. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
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Wanda Barzee enters Judge Judith Atherton's court in Salt Lake City, Monday February 8, 2010 for a competency hearing. The judge found her competent to stand trial. Barzee then pleaded guilty but mentally ill to a conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapp Al Hartmann, POOL THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
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Elizabeth Smart is interviewed in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart is interviewed in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Ed Smart and US Attorney Brett Tolman talk with reporters outside Federal Court in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Elizabeth tesified against Brain David Mitchell. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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US Attorney Brett Tolman and Ed Smart talk with reporters outside Federal Court in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Elizabeth tesified against Brain David Mitchell. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart talks to the press outside the house of her grandmother, Dorotha Smart, about her contribution to a survivor's guide on how not to be kidnapped on Monday, May 19, 2008. Tim Hussin, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart talks to the press outside the house of her grandmother, Dorotha Smart, about her contribution to a survivor's guide on how not to be kidnapped on Monday, May 19, 2008. Tim Hussin, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart shares pornography's role in her kidnapping in a new video released by "Fight the New Drug." YouTube screenshot
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Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian Mitchell is escorted into the Salt Lake City Federal Courthouse for his first federal court appearance on October 20, 2008. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart kidnapper Brian Mitchell is escorted out of the Salt Lake City Federal Courthouse after his first federal court appearance on Monday October 20, 2008. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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(left to right) Senator Orrin Hatch, Elizabeth Smart, and Ed Smart. Provided by Orrin Hatch's office
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Elizabeth Smart speaks during a devotional at BYU-Hawaii on May 11. Kelsie Carlson
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Elizabeth Smart speaks during a devotional at BYU-Hawaii on May 11. Kelsie Carlson
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Elizabeth Smart speaks during Fight Like Girls intro night at in Salt Lake City Thursday, June 23, 2016. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart speaks during Fight Like Girls intro night at in Salt Lake City Thursday, June 23, 2016. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart speaks during a devotional at BYU-Hawaii on May 11. Photo by Kelsie Carlson
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Brian David Mitchell poses for his police booking mug Wednesday, March 12, 2003, in Salt Lake City. SALT LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF
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(left to right) Senator Orrin Hatch, John Walsh (host of America's Most Wanted, and father of abducted-and-murdered Adam Walsh), Elizabeth Smart, and Ed Smart. Provided by Orrin Hatch's office
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Bryan David Mitchell looks at the judge at his competency hearing Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, in Salt Lake City. The defense stipulated that Mitchell, accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart in 2002, is competent to stand trial. DOUGLAS C. PIZAC, AP
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Amanda Smart, a cousin of Elizabeth Smart, talks with the media prior to a Mormon Church service in honor of the 15-year-old girl Sunday, March 16, 2003, in Salt Lake City. DOUGLAS C. PIZAC, AP
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Amanda Smart, a cousin of Elizabeth Smart, talks with the media prior to a Mormon Church service in honor of the 15-year-old girl Sunday, March 16, 2003, in Salt Lake City. DOUGLAS C. PIZAC, AP
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Elizabeth Smart and Bre Lasley listen to their introduction during Fight Like Girls intro night at in Salt Lake City Thursday, June 23, 2016. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Elizabeth Smart was named by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people Apr 29, 2005. Jeffrey D. Allred
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Elizabeth Smart plays the harp for her parents Ed and Lois Smart and John Walsh during the taping of the John Walsh Show in Washington, Wednesday, April 30 2003 The nationally syndicated daytime talk show airs Friday May 2. JOHN WALSH SHOW
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Amanda Smart, a cousin of Elizabeth Smart, talks with the media prior to a Mormon Church service in honor of the 15-year-old girl Sunday, March 16, 2003, in Salt Lake City. Dave Smart, an uncle to Elizabeth, slips through the crowd at center. Elizabeth an DOUGLAS C. PIZAC, AP
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Elizabeth Smart talks with attendees prior to speaking during Fight Like Girls intro night at in Salt Lake City Thursday, June 23, 2016. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Ed and Lois Smart, parents of Elizabeth Smart, attend a closure hearing for Brian David Mitchell, Elizabeth Smart's alleged kidnapper, in 3rd District court at the Matheson Court House in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday morning, January 6, 2005. Photo Laura Seitz, POOL/ Deseret Morning News
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Organizer Bre Lasley hugs Elizabeth Smart during Fight Like Girls intro night at in Salt Lake City Thursday, June 23, 2016. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Cover of book "Bringing Elizabeth Home" by Ed and Lois Smart with Laura Morton. (Submission date: 10/17/2003)
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Katie Couric talks to Lois and Ed Smart about their daughter Elizabeth's nine-month kidnapping ordeal. NBC News
By Deseret News

Elizabeth Smart's time in the public eye started when she was taken from her home on June 5, 2002 and found March 12, 2003.

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Since then, she has become an advocate for children and women who are in need of a voice.

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