Martha Jane Horne was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In 1880, as a single 22-year-old, Horne was asked to become the second counselor to Elmina Shepard Taylor in the YLMIA. Horne served in this capacity for 24 years. During her time as a counselor to Taylor, Horne married Joseph S. Tingey.
On December 6, 1904, Taylor died. Early in 1905, Tingey was selected as Taylor's successor as the general president of what by then had been renamed the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association. Tingey's counselors in the presidency included Ruth May Fox and Lucy Grant Cannon, both of whom would go on to serve as presidents of the YLMIA. In 1929, Tingey was released from her position as president and was succeeded by Fox, her first counselor. Tingey had been a member of the general presidency from age 22 to age 72.
During her tenure as president, the YLMIA instituted yearly slogans, roadshows, the Beehive program, and camps for young women. In 1922, Tingey selected green and gold as the organization's official colors.
Janet Peterson and LaRene Gaunt (1993). Keepers of the Flame: General Presidents of the Young Women (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book)
Susa Young Gates (1911). History of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association (Salt Lake City: Deseret News)
Jenson, Andrew (1936). Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia: A compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Vol. 4. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Andrew Jenson Memorial Association (Printed by The Deseret News Press). pp. 5554 74–75.