Leaders

Emma Smith: Wife, Mother, Helpmeet - Part 1

Joseph Smith and Emma Hale met while Joseph was rooming with his employer, who was an acquaintance of Emma's parents. During the two years Joseph lived there, he asked for Emma's hand in marriage more than once before they finally eloped on January 18, 1827. She was disowned by her family, her father saying to Joseph,

“You have stolen my daughter. I would have rather had followed her to the grave.” (Gracia Jones, Emma and Joseph, Covenant Communications, American Fork, 1999 50)

Known to have a quick wit, sense of humor, a deep compassion for her fellowman, loyalty to her husband, family and God, a fierce sense of temerity and determination, cheerful and hard-working, Emma was aptly suited to be the wife, sweetheart and helpmeet of the Prophet of the Restoration.

On September 22, 1827, Emma accompanied Joseph to the Hill Cumorah where the precious gold plates the Angel Moroni had told Joseph about were given into his care. From that day forward life took on a dangerous and desperate bent, at times, while Joseph and Emma tried to protect and preserve the ancient record given to Joseph for translation.

Deeply in love with one another they tried to form a life together despite the constant persecution. A teacher and scriptorian, Emma served, until she became pregnant and too sick to do so, as a scribe for her husband in the translation of the Book of Mormon. At one point, when Joseph was in the process of translating, he paused and then asked,

"Emma? Did Jerusalem have walls around the city?" When she answered in the affirmative, he replied, "Oh, I thought I was mistaken. (Ibid)

To me this indicates such trust in her; Joseph loved, honored and admired her tremendously. Martin Harris, one of the eventual three witnesses, became the replacement scribe for Emma.

While Emma lay sick, both physically and at heart, after the birth and death of her first son, Joseph cared tenderly for her while grieving the loss of his child at the same time. Coming to the surface after a few weeks, he noticed Martin Harris had not returned with the 116 pages of translated manuscript he'd taken to show his bitter and angry wife. As soon as Emma was well enough, he left for Martin’s home in New York to retrieve the pages.

This was the beginning of a pattern that continued throughout their entire marriage. While Joseph tended to the details of restoring the kingdom of God upon the earth, no small task, Emma was left to keep the home fires burning, doing her part, as well as Joseph’s.

Of the gold plates, eventually translated and published as the Book of Mormon, Emma said:

“The Plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt the plates as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the pages of a book.” (Gracia Jones, Emma and Joseph, Covenant Communications, American Fork, 1999 37)

This shows the integrity of the woman who was a helpmeet and companion to the prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, Jr. She was commanded to not look at the plates, and she did not. Together, Joseph and Emma fought all who came against them, pushed forward with the work of the Lord and loved each other through it all.

I travel across America speaking on a variety of topics, some religious, some not. But this year, I've been scheduled to speak about Joseph Smith and his beloved wife, Emma to several wards in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to as Mormons. Last night was one of those nights.

I am almost 45 years old. For the first 42 years of my life I'd been taught many negative things about Emma Smith. Not by my mother, and I cannot identify who taught this to me, but I know that throughout the years I developed a very negative attitude toward her. As I began an indepth study of her life I came to the realization that she was a horribly misunderstood woman. It wasn't long before I was on my knees to my Heavenly Father begging forgiveness for my attitude and asking that He pass on my most profuse and abject apologies to Emma. It is my hope that she has forgiven me.

In D&C 25: 2-3 we read,

A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

The Lord Himself described her as an elect lady, and indeed she was.

Joseph called her "My beloved Emma—she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart." (History of the Church, 5:107)

There is no question in my heart and mind that the Lord would not have chosen a lackluster woman to be the helpmeet of the Prophet of the Restoration. The Lord chose a woman of equal stature in life, heart, mind and spirituality to walk this mortal path with His chosen prophet.

Born July 10th of 1804, Emma Hale grew up in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Somewhat of a tomboy, she enjoyed canoing on the Susquehanna River amongst other activities common to children at the turn of the 19th century:

“Emma was well educated for a girl of her day, and was also a skilled horsewoman. She was well accomplished in the arts of spinning, weaving and sewing. She was fond of her brothers and sisters, throughout her tempestuous life she tried to maintain contact with them. She and her father had enjoyed an especially close bond since she was a little girl. According to Michael Bartlett Morse, husband to Emma’s sister, Tryal, Isaac overhead six-year-old Emma praying for him and was moved by her childish faith, that he forsook deism and embraced Christianity.” (Anderson, Ancestry and Posterity of Joseph Smith and Emma Hale, pp. 300-304)

Even at the early age of six, Emma knew that salvation could be found in the following the path of Jesus Christ, not the path of deism or atheism. By the time she met Joseph she was a knowledgeable student of the scriptures who could read and write, not a common accomplishment of women in her day. She was skilled in all the arts of cooking, cleaning, weaving, sewing, gardening and more. She had a cheerful and helpful disposition and was the apple of her father's eye. The day Joseph met her was the day her life took a turn toward mortal horror and eternal salvation.

She was true to her prophet-husband until the day she died, which is not common knowledge amongst Mormons. Yes, after Joseph's assassination, she did eventually marry another man. But she loved Joseph until she died and was anxious to be reunited with him.

Mormons honor Mother Eve for the sacrifices she made, along with her husband, Adam, to bring forward the plan of salvation as laid out by our Heavenly Father in premortality. Elder John A. Widtsoe perhaps says it best when he describes the choice made in the Garden of Eden:

In life all must choose at times. Sometimes, two possibilities are good; neither is evil. Usually, however, one is of greater import than the other. When in doubt, each must choose that which concerns the good of others --- the greater law --- rather than that which chiefly benefits ourselves --- the lesser law. The greater must be chosen whether it be law or thing. That was the choice made in Eden -- Elder John A. Widtsoe. (Beverly Brough Campbell, Eve and the Choice Made in Eden, Deseret Book, 2003 vii)

For millennia, Eve has been vilified by the world at large for the choice which was made in the Garden of the Eden, even to this very day. Newsweek magazine once said of Eve, "The name evokes too many wrong images -- the weak-willed figure in Genesis . . ." I take umbrage at that description of the woman who sacrificed a perfect life in the Garden of Eden for the much tougher life in mortality in order to further God's plans. Weak-willed? I think not. And here, we have an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, stating that the choice made in Eden is no reason for vilification of the Mother of All Living.

Eve came into this world last, not because she of least importance but, in the words of the living prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Woman is God’s supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good." (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Our Responsibility to Our Young Women,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11)

From these two leaders of the gospel of Jesus Christ we gain an entirely different perspective on the first woman who became the mother of all who have lived on this earth from the very beginning.

Eve joined Adam in the Garden of Eden with two commandments: to "multiply and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28), and "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Moses 3:17)

In the Garden, the fate of hundreds of billions of Heavenly Father's children depended upon the events unfolding there. We waited with baited breath, watching and waiting as Adam and Eve dressed and cared for the Garden. We watched as they were taught and instructed and we watched as the second commandment, the lesser and time-centered commandment, was adhered to and by doing that, the first, the certain and definite commandment, could not be followed. We could not be born. Therefore we couldn't gain bodies and further our eternal progression. As long as Adam and Eve remained in the Garden, we were stuck.

Adam and Eve were immortal, and being immortal they were unable to "multiply and replenish the world." They were the beginning of the mortal phase of the plan of salvation and until they "ate of the fruit of the tree" would not be able to fulfill the most important commandment given to them by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. To put it plainly, the first commandment could not be kept unless the second was broken.

Prophets and apostles of old have spoken of the time in the Garden. There are reams upon reams of scripture, both ancient and modern, discussing this very thing. Modern-day theologians such as Matthew B. Brown, Hugh Nibley, Andrew Skinner and others have addressed this time in our history. But until Beverly Campbell addressed it, pulling all thoughts on Mother Eve together, it was never fully understood in my mind the sacrifice Adam and Eve made for us until I read her book.

Eve, when confronted by Satan in the form of a snake, was beguiled by him into partaking of the fruit of the tree. But according to the aforementioned scriptures and books, the actual Hebrew word was not beguiled and it was not something easily translated. But in essence it meant that Eve said, "I've weighed all the options and see that we cannot keep the first commandment if we do not 'eat of the tree.'"

Elder Boyd K. Packer, as quoted by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, explained that,

" . . . there was too much at issue to introduce man into mortality by force. That would contravene the very law [free agency] essential to the plan." (Eve and the Fall in Woman, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1979)

Elder Widtsoe further elaborated:

The eternal power of choice was respected by the Lord Himself . . .It really converts the command into a warning, as much to say, if you do this thing, you will bring upon yourself certain punishment [mortality and certain death], but do it if you choose . . .

The Lord warned Adam and Eve of the hard battle with earth conditions if they chose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He would not subject his son and daughter to hardship and the death of their bodies unless it be of their own choice. They must choose for themselves. They chose wisely, in accord with the heavenly law of love for others. (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, Arranged by G. Homer Durham. 3 vols in 1. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1960)

Hugh Nibley, one of the greatest apologists or defenders of the faith of the Mormon Church, said that he believed it was little wonder Satan has had it in for women since the beginning of time. He didn't trick Eve or foil the plan as laid forth by Heavenly Father. Instead, he unknowingly participated in moving forward Heavenly Father's plan of salvation.

All these great men and woman, and many more which I have not cited, have stood and been counted in regards to Mother Eve and the events which unfolded in the Garden of Eden. I will publicly state this. Mother Eve was a woman of honor, integrity and loyalty to God, her husband and those of us who were born of her and her posterity, which includes every human being born on this planet. I do not worship her but I revere her and the choices she made, difficult as they may have been. I look forward to the day when I will be be able to kneel at her feet and listen as she tells me of those days and what it was like to step onto a brand new planet and carve civilization out of it. I can't wait to weep as I listen to her longing for children, which she could not have in her immortal state. I can't wait to grieve with her for the actions of Cain and his posterity. Above all else, I cannot wait until I am able to thank Adam and Eve for the sacrifices they made so that I could gain my eternal reward.

Oh yes, we must thank Eve rather than vilify her. We must follow her example in choosing the greater good over that of her own. We must understand that had Eve not made that choice, Heavenly Father's plan for our eternal progression would have been stalled. Eve would not let this be . . . she chose, and because she chose . . . we are.

Sister Julie B. Beck was called to be the General Relief Society president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this year. The recognized and ordained leader of over 5,000,000 women worldwide, she is a graduate of Brigham Young University, has 10 brothers and sisters, is descended from a former governor of Utah, Norman Bangerter, and is a loving wife and mother of three and grandmother of eight.

Sister Beck is also the woman who just gave Mormon women a call to arms, so to speak. Of her reaction to this calling, she said:

My dear sisters, I approach this awesome responsibility with a prayer in my heart. I have a testimony of the true restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The Savior is our leader and exemplar, our rock, our strength, and our advocate. Any part I can play in helping Him and His ordained prophet is a blessing in my life. I have always had a great love and respect for the sisters of this society, and I believe that the women of this Church are the finest, most capable women in the world. Please know of my love for you—the magnificent women of this Church. (Julie B. Beck, “What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 109–12)

From this alone, outside of the scant biographical details available about her, I see a woman of conviction, strength, love and capability. She has taken this most important call from the Lord, has thrown her shoulders back and simply said, metaphorically speaking, "What would you have me do, Lord?"

Of the women she has been called to lead, she said,

In order to do our part as women under the Lord’s plan, we must stand strong and immovable in faith, strong and immovable in family, and strong and immovable in relief. We must excel in these three important areas which set us apart as the Lord’s disciples. Through Relief Society we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become. When we gather with this focus, the work of Relief Society is relevant whatever your circumstance—whether you are 18 or 88, single or married, have children or not, or whether you live in Bountiful, Utah, or Bangalore, India. (Julie B. Beck, “What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 109–12)

She leads all Mormon women, age 18 to 120.

Faith ? The women of the Lord have long been called to stand strong against the assaults of the world. To lead, guide and shape the men and women who will then take up the banner and continue forward in our charge to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of the world. 202 years ago, almost to the day, when the prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, Jr. was born, it took walking, sailing or riding to every land and teaching the gospel to all who would hear the word of God. Now, we still walk door to door, land to land, but we are also blessed with technology of every kind to spread that same gospel to every corner of the world.

The Lord has asked the men and women of the Church to take up this responsibility from before the foundations of the world were formed. We agreed, if blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, we would shout it to the world. We would live as His emissaries. We would behave as followers of Jesus Christ.

Sister Beck reminded us of this very sacred charge in her address at the November General Conference of this year. She said,

What a different world and Church this would be if every Latter-day Saint sister excelled at making, renewing, and keeping covenants; if every sister qualified for a temple recommend and worshipped more often in temples; if every sister studied the scriptures and doctrines of Christ and knew them so well that she could teach and defend those doctrines at any time or place. Think of our combined strength if every sister had sincere prayer every morning and night or, better yet, prayed unceasingly as the Lord has commanded. If every family had family prayer daily and had a family home evening once a week, we would be stronger. If every sister was self-reliant enough to be able to give freely of her knowledge, talents, and resources and if every sister’s discipleship was reflected by what she said and what she wore, we would be immovable in that which is correct. (Julie B. Beck, “What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 109–12)

Sister Beck has taken up the call of prophets of the past who have asked the women of the Church to become theologians, immovable in our understanding and faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel.

We can do this . . . and women of God, be they Mormon, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Protestant or of other Christian sects, can take up the call to raise their families with the principles of Jesus Christ as their guiding light.

Mormon women know we have been given this charge by God, by His prophets and by the leaders of the Church, Julie B. Beck has reminded us once again, it is time to take up that standard and know what we profess to believe, dress befitting daughters of a loving and caring God, and behave as disciples of Christ ought to behave. We simply have to faith that we can do as we've been asked and then we must act upon that faith.

Family ? We, as Mormons, know that in order to save the world we must save the family unit. The family unit is the center from which the eternities flow outward and onward. It is so important that the living prophet of God, Gordon B. Hinckley, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued a proclamation, from the Lord, to the world. Of this very sacred duty the Lord has given to the children of God, Sister Beck said:

The only place Latter-day Saint women will learn the whole and complete truth about their indispensable role in the plan of happiness is in this Church and its doctrine. We know that in the great premortal conflict we sided with our Savior, Jesus Christ, to preserve our potential to belong to eternal families. We know we are daughters of God, and we know what we are to do. Women find true happiness when they understand and delight in their unique role within the plan of salvation. The things women can and should do very best are championed and taught without apology here. We believe in the formation of eternal families. That means we believe in getting married. We know that the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. That means we believe in having children. We have faith that with the Lord’s help we can be successful in rearing and teaching children. These are vital responsibilities in the plan of happiness, and when women embrace those roles with all their hearts, they are happy! Knowing and defending the truth about families is the privilege of every sister in this Church. . .Because families are eternal, we cannot afford to be casual or complacent about those relationships. (Julie B. Beck, “What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 109–12)

Strong and immovable, as she has asked us to be, Sister Beck declared to the entire world that we will not apologize for who we are and what we believe. I back her up on that, unequivocally. We can stand, as sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ, sisters in Zion (of one heart and one purpose) and declare to the world that we will not be devalued. We will not back down. We will not be ignored.

We WILL raise our children up to God. We WILL have homes of light and righteousness. We WILL live our lives according to the dictates of our consciences and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We WILL honor our covenants and promises. And we WILL NOT turn our backs on those things we know are our sacred duties and privileges.

Relief ? In order to drive home the purpose of the Relief Society, Sister Beck quoted a prophet and an apostle:

The word relief means “to lift up, lighten.” It means “a raising [up].” “The notion is ‘to raise (someone) out of trouble.’” Our service and the relief that we offer are a sign that we are the Lord’s disciples and we are members of His true restored Church. It is a privilege to be part of this worldwide organization for women, whose name describes what we are meant to do: provide relief.

Joseph Smith said that the women of this Church were organized to provide for “the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all benevolent purposes” and “not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.” That relief effort was further defined by Elder John A. Widtsoe (an apostle) as “relief of poverty, relief of illness, relief of doubt, relief of ignorance—relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of woman.”

Notwithstanding the important relief efforts of the past, the greatest and most important work for the women of this Church still lies ahead. The earth must be prepared to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, and we must help with this preparation in the midst of wars, turmoil, natural calamities, and an increase of evil. There has not been a time in the history of the world when a full-scale relief effort was more needed. Because we are disciples of Jesus Christ and we have made covenants with Him, we are already committed by covenant to participate in that relief effort. (Julie B. Beck, “What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 109–12)

We have been given a very sacred and critical duty in the preparing of our families, the Church and the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Our role as women is not a slight or secondary role. Our duties are not of little consequence, but, as has been pointed out by prophets, apostles and a chosen and ordained leader of God, Julie B. Beck, we have been given a great work to do and it cannot be ignored or denied.

We have been issued a call-to-arms by Sister Beck and I, for one, answer that call. The standard has been raised in my home and I will serve the Lord my God in any way He has need of me.

I invite you to read her entire address, What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable, to Mormon women across the globe. She enlightens, delights, motivates and specifically details how to accomplish each of these things.

I am delighted with our new leader . . . I believe she will call the women of the Church to battle in ways that we have not heard recently.

It is very odd how the world views Mormon women, the LDS Church and the rights and responsibilities of women.

If we were to do what the world said we would eschew marriage, family and God. If we were to do what the world said we would seek after vain and self-serving activities that would make us appear happy. We would subjugate men. We would dismiss children as responsibilities we don't need.

But Latter-day Saint women do not believe any of these things. In the LDSChurch women are honored, treasured and treated equally. There is nothing further from God's wishes then holding one sex above the other. Men and Women, in partnership, create the whole. One without the other is incapable of achieving our promised greatest eternal reward.

Women serve in the church in many ways:

In weekly worship services and classes, women preach sermons, offer prayers in behalf of the congregation, and teach adults and children. They may also serve as missionaries and as presidents of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations. Women participate in councils that oversee congregational activities throughout the world. They also perform a vital work in nurturing and teaching in the home. www.lds.org

We believe in the eternal family unit and our critical part in that unit. We believe mothers to be the nurturers and educators in the home, as well as the myriad of other responsibilities that come with the roles of wife and mother.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said of women,

"Woman is God’s supreme creation. Only after the earth had been formed, after the day had been separated from the night, after the waters had been divided from the land, after vegetation and animal life had been created, and after man had been placed on the earth, was woman created; and only then was the work pronounced complete and good.

"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth." “Our Responsibility to Our Young Women,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11

We are indeed held in the highest and most precious esteem in the eyes of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father, our prophet and apostles, the general authorities and the bulk of the men of the church. To those men who do not honor women, the prophet (Gordon B. Hinckley and Joseph Smith, Jr.) has said, ". . . amen to your priesthood."

We are co-creators with God in a humble and beautiful partnership which brings life into this world. Heather Father has entrusted His daughters to carefully nurture life within their wombs and asked them to raise these children up unto Him.

And of our divine worth the world would say unto women, your value lies only in the beauty of your body which you should show to the world. Of our divine worth our Father in Heaven says, treasure the spirit inside and honor the body without. Keep sacred what is sacred and listen not to the world. The Father has never betrayed you, the world has. Who will you listen to?

Throughout history Emma Smith has received a bum's rap. Really, never at any time in her life did she turn on the prophet or not support him in his prophetic calling.

In D&C 25: 2-3 we read,

2 A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

3 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

The Lord Himself described her as an elect lady, and indeed she was. Joseph called her "My beloved Emma—she that was my wife, even the wife of my youth, and the choice of my heart" (History of the Church, 5:107).

Born July 10th of 1804, Emma Hale grew up in Harmony, Pennsylvania. They met while Joseph was rooming at his employer's house, who was acquainted with Emma's parents. During the two years Joseph lived there, he asked for Emma's hand in marriage more than once before they finally eloped on January 18, 1827.

Deeply in love with one another they tried to form a life together despite the constant persecution. A teacher and scriptorian, Emma served, until she became pregnant and too sick to do so, as a scribe for her husband in the translation of the Book of Mormon. At one point, when Joseph was in the process of translating, he paused and then asked,

"Emma? Did Jerusalem have walls around the city?"

When she answered in the affirmative, he replied, "Oh, I thought I was mistaken.

To me this indicates such trust in her, Joseph loved, honored and admired her tremendously.

In 1830 this wife of his youth was asked by the Lord to put together a hymnal from which the saints could sing their songs of praise. Emma accomplished this task with great diligence within five years. To this day, the hymnal we sing from still holds a large portion of the original songs Emma chose.

A devoted wife and mother, she followed Joseph as they were driven from state to state by the persecution of evil and corrupt men. While he was in, first the Richmond Jail and then Liberty Jail, she cared for their children, wrote her husband faithfully and did all she could to be the wife and mother he needed her to be.

Emma was a wife, mother (over the course of time lost six children to death while five continued to live), teacher, scribe, baker, cook, gardener and confidant to a prophet of God. Elect lady? Yes, I think so.

On March 17th of 1842 Emma Hale Smith became the first General Relief Society President and developed the organization for women which is several million strong to this day. It's two main purposes are: to provide relief for the poor and needy and to bring people to Christ.

She began this sisterhood under the direction of the prophet, her husband, and the Lord. Today it helps the sisters to:

Increase their testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate themselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on the earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple. Understand their divine destiny and strive for exaltation. -- Relief Society, www.lds.org

How can we disparage a woman who has given us this through her hard work, dedication and selflessness? Emma continually cared for ill and homeless saints and her family as well as Joseph's extended family.

Before Joseph's was taken away the very last time, he hugged his wife and children once more and begged Emma to raise his children up in the church. She gave him that promise.

Only days later, on June 27, 1844, at 5:45 p.m. in the evening, bullets tore through the flesh of her beloved husband and brother-in-law and this man she had loved, honored and followed through all trial and tribulation, was ripped from her life.

Devastated beyond all belief, Emma chose not to follow the saints west and remained in Nauvoo to continuing caring for her aged mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, whom she believed could not survive the journey west, and her five children.

Contrary to what has been reported over the years, she never denied Joseph as a prophet of God. And, she never denied the truthfulness of the gospel her husband had died to restore.

The children of Joseph Smith, Jr. were not led astray by their mother, but by their uncle, Joseph Smith's brother, William (the last living brother of Joseph Smith, Jr.) who helped form The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now known as The Church of Christ, and later bestowed Joseph Smith III as the leader. He strongly believed in a lineal leadership, as in from father to son, rather than leadership chosen by the power of revelation.

Of Emma, Joseph's mother said,

"I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure—she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty—she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman." -- Gracia N. Jones, "Emma Hale Smith," Ensign, Aug. 1992, 36.)

The Lord said of Emma in her patriarchal blessing,

"Emma … thou art blessed of the Lord, for thy faithfulness and truth, thou shalt be blessed with thy husband, and rejoice in the glory which shall come upon him. Thy soul has been afflicted because of the wickedness of men in seeking the destruction of thy companion, and thy whole soul has been drawn out in prayer for his deliverance; rejoice, for the Lord thy God has heard thy supplication. Thou hast grieved for the hardness of the hearts of thy father’s house, and thou hast longed for their salvation. The Lord will have respect to thy cries, and by his judgments he will cause some of them to see their folly and repent of their sins; but it will be by affliction that they will be saved. Thou shalt see many days, yea, the Lord will spare thee till thou art satisfied, for thou shalt see thy Redeemer. Thy heart shall rejoice in the great work of the Lord, and no one shall take thy rejoicing from thee. Thou shalt ever remember the great condescension of thy God in permitting thee to accompany my son [Joseph] when the angel delivered the record of the Nephites to his care. … Thou shalt be blessed with understanding, and have power to instruct thy sex, teach thy family righteousness, and thy little ones the way of life, and the holy angels shall watch over thee and thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, even so, Amen." Gracia N. JonesEmma and Joseph: Their Divine Mission, American Fork 1999

In the last days of her life Emma bore her testimony to her sons,

"She told them she participated in the events of the Restoration, including "the translation of the plates." She had no doubt that the Book of Mormon was "of divine authenticity" and said also that the translation of the Book of Mormon was "a marvel and a wonder" to her. She stated that she knew the gospel was true and that the Church had been established by divine direction. -- Gracia N. Jones, "Emma Hale Smith," Ensign, Aug. 1992, 36.)

I'd like to add my personal feelings regarding Emma which have developed over the course of my study of her life. I believe, with my whole heart, that Emma deserves the title "elect lady." I, along with many others, had harshly judged her because of the false reports I'd come across in my youth. When I began to understand how wrongly I had judged this woman, my heart was broken. I begged my Father in Heaven to tell her of my sorrow, even my grief over the hardness of my heart toward her. I begged her forgiveness, for the Spirit whispered to me that she had been so misunderstood. I am certain she now stands at Joseph's side. They are now united for eternity. This I believe to be true.

Emma was the choice of Joseph's heart and, without question, remains so today.