Emma Smith - An Elect Lady

I know it's a little early, but my ward celebrated the Organization of the Relief Society last night with a dinner (THANKS DIANNA!!) and a Program Of Emma's life (THANK YOU JEREMY!!). I am on the Enrichment Committee, and I volunteered to put the program together (I did not totally understand what i was signing up for!!). I worked really hard on this, and I HOPE everyone felt the same spirit I did while putting it together. Here it is...it's really long, but I think it's very worth reading - I learned a lot about this wonderful woman while putting this together. and if you want more information - Check out the book Beloved Emma written by Lori E. Wood. It is wonderful!! (This is so not intended to be a 'look what i did' thing. i was very overwhelmed by this, but i was also very guided in it, and i just wanted to share some of what i learned.)

Emma Hale was born the seventh of nine children to Isaac and Elizabeth Hale in 1804. She was tall and gangly with strong arms, brown hair, and piercing brown eyes, and was something of a tomboy who enjoyed canoeing on the Susquehanna River with her brothers and cousins.

Religion was a strong influence in Emma’s early life. Her uncle was a respectable minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Her mother was a member of his congregation, and Emma joined the Methodist Church when she was only seven. Her Father was a faithful man although he was not joined with a church until he overheard Emma one day petitioning the Lord for her father’s lost soul. “His proud heart was broken… his soul was melted in tenderness before his God, and he became a convert.”

Emma was dearly loved and adored by all with whom she came in contact, a charismatic and lively young woman she started attracting glances from young men at an early age. It was not hard to understand why people were drawn to her. She was tall and slender with long brown hair and beautiful tapering fingers. But even more alluring was her fearless integrity, general intelligence, and her kindness of heart. These things together commanded both admiration and respect.

In the fall of 1825 rumors and whisperings began to circulate of a young man who could see the invisible and discern things not evident to the natural eye. A man who had been visited by angels. This Young man was of course Joseph Smith JR. Joseph came to Harmony to work for 2 men named Josiah Stowell, and William Hale (one of Emma’s shirttail relatives) who were looking for a lost mine that they believed to be somewhere in the area. They thought that Joseph was endowed with special talents that would help them find this mine. Joseph tried to talk the men out of this foolish hope, but they would not be deterred. Eventually the men relented, and Joseph began taking up odd jobs in the area, for you see he had met someone in Harmony that had caught his eye and won his heart. Miss Emma Hale.

Of course Emma had heard the rumors of Joseph, and it is unclear exactly when he told her of these things himself, but we do know that when Joseph confided in her of his several experiences with the Angel Moroni and his experience in the Sacred Grove she received it with openness and recognized his testimony as truth.

Although occasion for courting was limited, Joseph made time to call on Emma, and what was at first a friendship blossomed into an Eternal Love. After several months of courting Emma, and knowing it was proper to ask for her Father’s blessing on their union, Joseph worked up the courage to go and ask Isaac for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He flatly refused. The reasons he gave were that Joseph was a stranger and that he did not approve of his profession (apparently treasure hunting), although he originally approved, as evidenced by his signing as witness on the agreement between the parties. The more likely reason was that on March 20^th of that year Joseph had charges filed against him by Josiah Stowell’s nephew who believed he was deceiving his uncle in order to get money from him, and was arrested. Though later Mr. Stowell bore testimony in favor of Joseph’s character his reputation had been called into question. Or it could have been that Isaac refused to believe Joseph’s testimony in regards to his calling on this Earth. Regardless of the reason – he would not give his blessing.

After a trip back to Manchester, another learning session on the Hill Cumorah, and the death of his brother Alvin, Joseph returned to Susquehanna County determined to take Emma as his Bride. Emma and his friends the knights had come to his aid in this. After likely being coached by Emma in what to say, he arrived at Isaac Hale’s door in a horse drawn sleigh and dressed not like a poor farm boy but like a gentleman who was in love with a beautiful girl. Isaac was still not impressed, and again refused.

One night Emma went to visit the Stowell’s, where Joseph was also visiting. She had not intended to be married when she left her father’s house that night, but being importuned by Joseph and aided by Mr. Stowell who urged her to marry him, and preferring to marry him than any other man she knew, she consented. That same night she traveled with Joseph and three of the Stowell children and they traveled across the frozen river and up the hill to the home of Squire Tarbell who married them.

As I’m sure you can guess Isaac was not pleased with what in his words was the carrying off of his “daughter into the State of New York where they were married without his approbation or consent.” It is true that he did not give his consent, but it is also true that both Emma and Joseph were of age when they chose to marry. In the end it was the Lord’s approval that matter the most to Joseph, and He had received that during his trip to Manchester.

Very Soon after the wedding the young couple traveled back to live with Joseph’s parents. Welcomed with open arms by the Smith family the newlyweds began their life together – a life filled with love, devotion, hardship, sorrow, and great spiritual growth.

Of course the scrutiny and persecution was magnified in Manchester where the story of Joseph’s Vision had been told, twisted and retold for many years. Emma was new at bearing these burdens, but true to her character she was strengthened and her testimony in the truthfulness of these experiences grew more firm.

Within a year of moving to live with Mother and Father Smith, Emma and Joseph were invited to move back to Harmony and Isaac Hale offered to help Joseph start a business. Before returning to live with her parents Joseph was commanded to refocus his attention to the work and that he needed to prepare to obtain the plates. He took into his confidence the one person he could, and Emma set about making the necessary arrangements for accompanying her husband on this sacred errand.

On September 21^st of 1826 the day before they were to go and collect the plates the Smith Family had a visit from Joseph and Emma’s dear friends the Knights. The men arriving when they did provided Joseph and Emma with the needed transportation to achieve their mission that night. Without telling the Knights he hitched up the horse and buggy and they headed toward the place where the plates were being kept. They stopped at the base of the hill and Joseph left Emma waiting in the buggy. Her fears were calmed when after waiting alone all night undoubtedly anxious for her husband’s safety; Joseph emerged from the trees carrying something heavy in his coat. After another stop down the road where Joseph hid the plates in a rotted birch log they went home.

Having the plates in his possession only increased the danger and persecution from the people of that area. There were plans laid to get the plates from Joseph almost every day it seemed. But of course the Lord was with them, and all of these designs failed.

In early December the couple was finally able to move back to Harmony. Emma and Joseph were given 2 rooms in the upper floor of the Hale’s home and Emma decorated one for sleeping and the other she helped set up for the purpose of translating. They soon purchased Emma’s brother’s home that was vacant and set about to make in their own. She worked tirelessly to make it comfortable and attractive.

For Emma the days and weeks while the record was being translated were without notable incident. Occasionally she had to endure ridicules and questions for her husband’s integrity, but in comparison to what she had endured in Manchester things were quite peaceful. Additionally a deep bond of trust developed between the young couple. She knew he was a prophet, called by the Lord to perform a “marvelous work and a wonder” for the children of men, and he in turn trusted her.

Although she was not allowed to see the record she said, “The record lay on the Table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table-cloth, 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.”

Emma found carrying her first child was more difficult than she had anticipated. It was a hard pregnancy and she was sick most of the time. But on her good days she went about with the usual tasks of a housewife. Though her health was delicate, feeling her unborn child grow inside her was surely an exhilarating experience, one she must have shared with Joseph on those restless and uncomfortable nights. He in turn undoubtedly talked of the translation as that work progressed. Indeed all seemed right in their lives. Nevertheless, dark days were on the horizon – days that would humble the young couple and shake them to their very core.

Emma gave birth on June 15^th 1828 to their first son. They named him Alvin after Joseph’s older brother. Tragically Alvin lived only a few hours, and was buried near their home. The strain of labor deliver and of losing a child was almost more than Emma could bear. And for some time Joseph worried he might lose her as well. For two weeks she lingered between life and death, and he attended to her every need, until Emma gradually began to improve both physically and mentally.

Incredibly this is the same time that Martin Harris had taken the 166 page manuscript of the translation to show it to his wife, and had not returned or sent word. Joseph was obviously very concerned about this, but dared not to leave Emma’s side until she recovered. When Joseph returned with word of Martin losing the manuscript, the Lord withheld the power and ability to translate from him, and the plates and the Urim and Thumim were taken from him.

On September 22^nd after much repenting the plates and Translating tools were returned and Joseph began again to translate with Emma serving as his scribe. She would later bear strong testimony about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon because of the experience of being Joseph’s scribe.

Emma’s health was still fragile and Joseph worried about her continuing to act as scribe while she tried to keep up with her regular household duties, so he prayed for the Lord to send him a new scribe. Little did he know the Lord had already put someone in motion to assist Joseph.

Oliver Cowdry had been boarding with Mother and Father Smith in Manchester. After learning of the work Joseph was doing and praying for confirmation of the truthfulness of the work and translation he came to meet Joseph just three days after The Prophet had prayed to the Lord for help. He started as scribe on April 7^th 1829. Shortly thereafter the Aaronic Priesthood was restored.

By June the danger was so real and the threats on Joseph’s life so frequent that it was decided that Emma should stay and watch over the house and farm and Joseph and Oliver should go to Fayette New York to finish the translation. Emma put their immediate affairs in order and followed shortly to the home of The Whitmers.

This is about the time when Joseph started preaching regularly to the people of Fayette and When Hyrum Smith, and David and Peter Whitmer were baptized. Although Emma was not baptized until later her testimony continued to grow and she witnessed miracles daily, such as Moroni showing the plates to David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Oliver Cowdry. Also she was there to hear the account of when Moroni showed the plates to Marry Whitmer and of an additional eight witnesses who were shown the plates by Joseph with permission from the Lord. With the translation complete and the witnesses in place the record was taken back to its hiding place on the Hill Cumorah.

SONG – The Spirit Of God

Through much trial and tribulation the manuscript was printed and was put on sale on March 26^th 1830 and less than two weeks later on April 6^th 1830 The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (then called the Church of Christ) was officially organized in Fayette New York in the log cabin of Brother Whitmer. Unfortunately Emma was not present at this wonderful and exciting event.

Most of the events that had transpired to this point in the restoration and the organization of the church occurred while being married to his beloved Emma. Although never at the forefront, she stood by her prophet husband those first three and a half years without wavering. In her supporting role she accompanied Joseph to the Hill Cumorah to get the plates, even though she was not allowed to see them, and she was the first to act as his scribe, and bore solemn witness of the miraculous translation. She did not have the privilege of speaking with the Angel Moroni but delighted when others were afforded that privilege; nor did she enjoy the support from her family relative to the work. Indeed Emma’s testimony was built on Faith – faith the in the Lord Jesus Christ, Faith in the reality and divinity of her husband’s sacred calling, and faith in the whisperings of the still small voice which spoke to her heart and mind.

The Church began to grow rapidly and the first general conference was held in June of 1830. Shortly thereafter Emma was baptized, but before she was able to be confirmed Joseph was arrested. After being acquitted the next day he was immediately served with another warrant and arrested again. After another trial and another acquittal he was able to return home to his wife. Her righteous anger prompted questions of why and how which were taken to the Lord. Soon she was given her answer which became the 25^th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Opposition was intense and the couple was again prompted to leave Harmony. Emma was hesitant for fear of never seeing her family again and also because she believed she was pregnant with what would turn out to be twins. But leave they did and were welcomed to the Whitmer home in Fayette with open arms. She was in deed pregnant and in about her 6^th month the Lord commanded they move to Ohio to again avoid persecution and to lead the church.

Just before Emma gave birth to their twins Joseph was called upon to start the retranslation of the Bible. Sadly the twins only lived three hours before they passed away. However; the blessing of motherhood was not kept from Emma for long. Within days John Murdock who had lost his wife while she was giving birth to twins approached the Prophet. He asked Joseph if he and Emma would adopt the twins as he was overwhelmed with taking care of three older children and he knew the twins needed a mother. They readily agreed and the twins were named Joseph and Julia. Joseph would later die due to exposure from a mob leaving the door open when they drug the Prophet out into the night to tar and feather him. This is about the time when the Prophet received revelation that Zion would be built in Missouri.

Joseph and Emma soon moved into the top floor of the Knewl Whitney store. Emma enjoyed full use of the apartment as their home and also the headquarters of the Church. In October as Joseph left an again pregnant Emma for New York and Massachusetts to purchase goods for the Whitney Store and also to proselyte along the way He asked his brother Hyrum to watch over his small Family. Less than a month later as he was returning home he was greeted with shouts that he had a son. Emma had given birth about 2am that morning to a healthy son which they named Joseph Smith the Third.

The School of The Prophets was organized shortly thereafter. Emma’s frustration at having to clean up tobacco residue and Joseph’s having to teach in a cloud of smoke caused him to go to the Lord for direction. He received the 88^th section of the Doctrine and covenants in response – what we know today as the Word of Wisdom. It was also about this time that Joseph received revelation to build a Temple to the Lord and construction of the Kirtland Temple began. It would be the first Temple in this dispensation.

Emma and Joseph eventually moved into a house built for them near the hill where the Temple was being constructed. As their home was also the central hub for Church business the demands on Emma grew exponentially. Her home was always full of visitors and men who had traveled great distances to work on the Temple that often there was nowhere for the couple to sleep but on the floor with nothing but a cloak for bed and blanket.

Life in Kirtland became ever more social and Emma enjoyed a close friendship with Elizabeth Whitney. The two often prepared large dinners of simple food for the constant flow of company. She also made regular visits with Joseph to check on the welfare of the Saints and visit them in their homes. Her responsibilities increased ever more when Joseph secured ancient mummies and scrolls from a man named M. Chandler, as she was often asked to show them to curious visitors. The demands on her increased again, as she was asked to arrange a selection of Hymns to be prepared for use of the Church along with her also helping to make clothing for the men working on the Temple.

The Temple was completed in March of 1836 with many sacrifices, many miracles and much persecution. Emma was again pregnant and was present during the dedication and joined in sustaining her husband of the First Prophet of this dispensation. Many miracles were witnessed in the Kirtland Temple, and it is also where some saints received a preparatory endowment.

The cries of a newborn were again heard in the Smith home on June 20^th 1836. The joy this healthy child and second living son brought into their home was indeed a tender mercy. This is about the time Eliza R. Snow had come to live with the Smith Family and to teach their children. Eliza was a source of great comfort to Emma and the church went through trials such a bank failure, and the beginnings of apostasy in the church.

As apostasy and antagonism grew Emma and Joseph found themselves again leaving their home for another long trek – this time to Missouri. However a grater sorrow was that they would also have to leave their beloved Temple. Emma was again six months pregnant during this trip.

They settled in Far West and Joseph began the first of several trips to the surrounding areas including Spring Hill – or Adam-ondi-Ahman as the Lord would latter reveal. The couple’s third healthy son was born on June 2^nd of 1838. Just two days later Joseph left for Adam-ondi-Ahman again and Emma received much help and assistance from the sisters as she recovered.

Much peace and tranquility was enjoyed in the summer of 1838 as many saints joined with them in Far West, and also the members had been largely free from persecution there. That would not last however and soon the Missourians and the apostates of the Church joined together and started intensely antagonizing the Saints. Several small skirmishes broke out, the extermination order was issued by Governor Boggs of Missouri and finally a brutal attack was carried out on the Saints at Haun’s Mill.

On November 1^st a militia entered Far West and arrested Hyrum and Joseph – not even allowing their families to hug them goodbye. They were put in a canvas covered wagon and taken to Independence and then to Richmond, and finally to Liberty Jail in Daviess county. Emma refused to leave Far West without her husband but was finally convinced in February by the sheriff of Liberty. He told her if she left they would release all the prisoners including her husband. That of course was not true and after she relocated to Quincy and found refuge with Judge John and Sarah Quincy it would be another two and a half months before the Sherriff of Davies County would help Joseph and the other prisoners escape.

It was Aril 22^nd and Emma observed a man riding an unfamiliar horse on the road towards the house. He looked warn and tired in his holey boots, torn pants, and blue cloak. Nevertheless, even with his gaunt face unshaven, his coat collar turned up, and his hat brim pulled down over his eyes she recognized her Joseph. Before he could climb down from his horse she was halfway to the gate. After nearly 6 months of imprisonment Joseph was finally holding his “affectionate Emma” in his arms.

Soon after Joseph’s return he and Emma moved together with their children to commerce. Thousands of Saints traveled north to settle the area of Commerce and across the river on the eastern side of the Mississippi a place the Prophet would name Nauvoo – which in Hebrew meant Beautiful.

Beautiful was not the way it looked to begin with. It was simply a swamp, and took much time and energy to drain the area of river water and make the place habitable. In the course of settling the area and draining the swamps the saints were afflicted with something they referred to as Swamp Fever – what we know today as malaria. Emma as always served diligently caring for the sick and needy. Not only were many hundreds of people being struck down with malaria but thousands of saints had been flooding into the community, and often they had given everything to get there.

Emma and Joseph’s home was always filled well past capacity though often having nothing more to offer their guests than Johnny cake she would never turn anyone away. She was thought of well in the community and paid great respect.

In the spring of 1840 Emma and Joseph were blessed with another healthy son. They named him Don Carlos after Joseph’s younger brother. The Saints time in Nauvoo was that of joy, celebration, prosperity and much Thanksgiving. There was even an act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo, the Nauvoo Legion and establish a University of Nauvoo that was signed by Thomas Carlin the governor of Illinois. Also during this time there had been an influx of British Saints arriving in Nauvoo due to the diligent and faithful missionary efforts of the Quorum of the 12. Instances were many where Emma and Joseph took into their home the needy and fatherless, and on one occasion a group of African Americans who had traveled all the way from Buffalo New York on foot to join themselves with the Saints.

Joseph was commanded in January of 1841 to again build a Temple to the Lord. Work progressed on the Temple quickly, and on April 6^th the cornerstones were ready to be placed.

This season of peace would not last however; for in August the Smith Family lost Joseph’s brother Done Carlos to pneumonia, and exactly one week later Joseph and Emma lost their 14 month old son of the same name to malaria. In September Hyrum’s 7yr old son died and in January Samuel lost his wife Mary and their infant daughter also. Emma later remarked that the loss of Don Carlos hit her hardest as she had had had him for so long and he had been such a joy to the family.

SONG - As Sisters in Zion – Solo By C.W.

On March 17^th 1842 Emma took on yet more responsibilities when under the direction of her Prophet Husband the Nauvoo Female Relief Society was organized. 20 sisters along with John Taylor and Willard Richards joined the Prophet in that first meeting. Emma was called as President and she selected Elizabeth Ann Whitney and Sarah M. Cleveland as her councilors and her dear friend Eliza R. Snow as the Secretary, all fitting choices as each of these woman had provided much relief to Emma and Joseph in their times of greatest need. Charity Never Faileth was adopted as their motto. Emma said to those sisters “We are going to do something extraordinary… We expect extraordinary occasions and pressing calls.” Joseph closed the meeting by saying, “I know turn the key in your behalf in the name of the lord, and this society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time henceforth; this is the beginning of better days for the poor and needy, who shall be made to rejoice and pour forth blessings on your heads.” Later he also commented that “the Church never was perfectly organized until the Women were organized.” The Relief Society continued to assist the poor and needy and also the work being done on the Temple.

After being so strengthened spiritually in Liberty Jail Joseph began to teach of Eternal Families, and less than a year later he taught about Baptism by proxy for the dead. In March of 1842 he taught of the salvation of little Children. In 1843 he taught the sisters that they would have the opportunity of rearing their lost children. How Emma’s heart must have thrilled at these revelations!

On May 4^th of 1842 Joseph invited 9 of his most trusted confidants to meet with him at the Red Brick Store, which had been made to resemble the inside of the Temple. When they were assembled Joseph who was assisted by Hyrum administered the Full Endowment to the eight men. The next day the ordinance was repeated for the prophet and his brother. Even though Emma had not received the Endowment yet, On May 28^th 1843 Joseph and Emma were the first husband and wife of this dispensation to be sealed together for Time and All Eternity. 4 months later Emma was the first woman to receive the Endowment in this dispensation. She was then able to participate in the initiatory ordinances for other sisters in late 1843 and early 1844.

Even though the Prophet had received revelation of Plural Marriage in 1831 he did not perform one until April of 1841. It was throughout this time that Emma seems to have vacillated between acceptance and abhorrence of this practice. Much was said and much was rumored of Emma’s feelings, but in the end it was not her choice, nor Josephs, nor Brigham Young’s (who also could not find peace in the commandment) or anyone else’s. It was the will of the Lord. And Although Rumors of Emma and Joseph’s marriage being strained due to the practice Joseph Smith III later gave an account of his parents close and enduring relationship up to the Prophets Death, stating that he shared the room next to Theirs with his brother and if there had been angry words he surely would have heard of them, and since he had not, he is certain they were not spoken.

After another arrest, trial and yet another acquittal Joseph and Emma moved into the mansion house as their old house, The Homestead, was not large enough to accommodate all the guests and visitors they constantly had in their home. Joseph posted a notice in the front of the Mansion House stating it was meant to be a hotel for any and all guests wishing to come see the Prophet.

In 1844 Emma began to notice significant changes in the Prophet. There was a new sense of urgency as he taught and instructed the brethren and laid the foundation for the future of the Kingdom of God on the Earth. He began to place more responsibilities on the Twelve, often choosing to spend evenings with Emma and the children rather than attend the Endowment sessions.

Also in 1844 Joseph contacted the candidates for president (it being an election year) and asked them for their views on several political maters including the problems the saints had been having in Illinois and Missouri. When none of their answers to him were satisfactory he and the 12 announced his candidacy for President. As it was broadcast nationally he began to gain support and became a real threat to the other candidates. In the course of his pursuit of the Presidency animosity in Nauvoo began to increase drastically. Those who had apostatized began to spread rumors and to call Joseph a fallen Prophet. Joseph stated several time he was in more danger from the people near him than he was from all the evil in the world outside. It was decided that he and Hyrum should move across the River. It was also decided that Emma and the Children and Hyrum’s family should follow them and “go away to the West”. However; the next day he was requested by two saints to come back to Nauvoo to avoid the City being put under Martial Law. He refused knowing that if they returned he would not be allowed to live. The men went to Emma and convinced her to write to husband pleading for him to come back, and that was what caused him to come back. She immediately regretted convincing him to return.

The next day was June 22^nd 1844. As Joseph was being taken away to Carthage he asked Emma if she could train his sons to “walk in their father’s footsteps?” to which she replied “Oh Brother Joseph, You are coming back!” He asked the same question twice more and each time she gave him the same answer. She asked him to give her a blessing, but he was not able to. He later wrote to her and asked her to write down the best blessing she could think of and that he would sign his name to it upon his return. Emma penned the following: “First of all that I would crave as the richest of heaven’s blessings would be wisdom from my Heavenly Father bestowed daily, so that whatever I might do or say, I could not look back at the close of the day with regret, nor neglect the performance of any act that would bring a blessing. I desire the spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I desire a fruitful, active mind, that I may be able to comprehend the designs of God, when revealed through his servants without doubting. I desire a spirit of discernment, which is one of the promised blessings of the Holy Ghost.

“I particularly desire wisdom to bring up all my children that are, or may be committed to my charge, in such a manner that they will be useful ornaments in the Kingdom of God, and in a coming day they will rise up and call me blessed.

“I desire prudence that I may not through ambition abuse my body and cause it to become prematurely old and care-worn, but that I may wear a cheerful countenance, live to perform all the work that I covenanted to perform in the spirit-world and be a blessing to all whom may in any wise need aught at my hands.

“I desire with all my heart to honor and respect my husband as my head, ever to live in his confidence and by acting in unison with him retain the place which God has given me by his side, and I ask my Heavenly Father that through Humility, I may be enabled to overcome that curse which was pronounced on the daughters of eve. I desire to see that I may rejoice with them in the blessings which God had in store for all who are willing to be obedient to his requirements. Finally I desire whatever may be my lot through life I may be enabled to acknowledge the hand of God in all things.”

Sadly Joseph never enjoyed the opportunity of reading the blessing Emma wrote or to know in this way his beloved wife’s most intimate and private desires. On June 27^th 1844 - just 14 months after he and Emma had been sealed to each other for Eternity – The Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred in an upstairs room of the Carthage Jail along with his brother and Patriarch of the Church Hyrum Smith. Their bodies were brought back to Nauvoo the next day, and after being dressed for burial they were placed in the dining room of the Mansion House for a viewing that more than 10 Thousand people would attend. The Viewing was ended early when a reward for Joseph’s head was announced. Instead of the bodies going with the precession to the cemetery it was actually bags of sand, for the bodies had been removed and were taken quietly to the unfinished Nauvoo House and were buried in the basement with no further ceremony.

Emma Mourned Joseph’s death as any wife would mourn her husband being murdered. Soon, however; worried creditors begun to call on Emma. Joseph was Trustee-in-trust of the Church and their personal finances were indistinguishable from that of the Church’s. Within two weeks she requested to have the residing bishop of the Church at the time named as Trustee-in-Trust of the Church. As not all of the 12 were present in Nauvoo at the time of the martyrdom Parly P. Pratt spoke on their behalf and said that it was a decision for the 12, and would not do as she asked. This did not set well with Emma, and she rode to Carthage and filled out the necessary papers naming her as the administrator of Joseph’s estate.

Soon Brigham Young – the senior member of the 12 returned to Nauvoo, and began about to set in order the affairs of the Church. The financial and legal problems facing Emma were minute in comparison to the one embodied in Sydney Rigdon – an apostate from the Church. He had returned to Nauvoo from Pennsylvania just after the martyrdom, and claimed to have had a vision where he was to take charge of the Church, and went about campaigning for support among the Saints. On August 8^th there was a meeting held where Sydney Rigdon spoke for over an hour about his vision, and his claim to guardianship of the Church, and then Brigham Young stood up and instantly as he began to speak was transfigured to look and sound like the Prophet Joseph Smith. The responsibilities of leadership of the Church were firmly set in the hands of the 12 at that time. Unfortunately it took Brigham 5 weeks to be able to meet with Emma about her estate.

Misunderstandings between the brethren – particularly Brigham – and Emma lead to hard feelings. Emma was suddenly not being included in the workings of the church they way she had been when her husband was alive, and she was also excluded from the financial workings which was a concern to her as the decisions the men made with concern to the Church would have lasting affects on her and her children for years to come. Adding to Emma’s trials was that she had been pregnant when her Prophet husband was martyred, and on November 17^th 1844 she gave birth to a son whom she named David Hyrum. Things began to worsen after the Birth of David Hyrum, and Emma’s mistrust of the Brethren and anyone practicing plural marriage grew steadily. Joseph’s brother William brought his family to Nauvoo about this time and they stayed with Emma and her children for a while. He was confirmed as patriarch of the church, but soon his desire for more power in the church clouded his testimony and he even declared Joseph had ordained him to be guardian over the church before his death. Emma supported him for a while but then distanced herself when she became suspicious of him also practicing plural marriage. It was also about this time that anti-Mormon sentiment had increased so much that Brother Brigham had conceded that the saints would leave Illinois by the next spring.

Several attempts were made to convince Emma to bring herself and her children west, but she refused. Emma watched the first of many wagons and teams depart the city much sooner than originally planned in February of 1846. And in kind with how much Emma was still respected several members rode to Carthage before they departed and legally deeded their city lots to her. Emma welcomed many visitors before they left for the West, and many gifts were exchanged.

After the exodus the City of Nauvoo took on a drastic change. Emma found herself surrounded by saloons and many unsavory people who were boisterous and dishonest. She left for a time hoping things would become settled, but came back quickly when she received word that the man she had leased the Mansion house to was preparing to rob her of all possessions therein. Upon her return she again began taking borders in the hotel. Two of whom were members of the church left behind to tie up the affairs of the church. They eventually left for Utah as well.

As an attractive woman of only forty-three Emma began having courters call sometime in the summer of 1847 and in December she was married by a Methodist Preacher in Nauvoo to one of these suitors, a Major Lewis C. Bidamon. Bidamon gave Emma the one thing she lacked while married to Joseph, that was rest. Her life now was quiet, and Bidmon was not ambitious, and was not trying to restore the Lord’s Gospel on the Earth. Her life slowed down tremendously.

On the Evening on October 8^th of 1848 the family was awoken by shouts of FIRE out on the street. As young Joseph hurried down the stairs he was told the Temple had caught fire. He joined his mother and siblings in the top window of the house and watched as the Temple was consumed by flames. Not long after the fire a great storm blew down the south wall of the building and eventually the remainder of the walls fell also. The site became a veritable quarry to the area, and provided much of the material with which many homes, cellars and saloons were built.

Sometime in 1856 after Mother Smith, who was living with Emma and the Major, had passed away there came two visitors to the Mansion House. They were missionaries from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Emma wanted nothing to do with them or their church at first and her Son Joseph III felt the same way. They tried to explain that they felt Joseph was entitled to be the successor to his father, and after several years and much correspondence with the RLDS Church leaders both Young Joseph and Emma began to lean towards the RLDS Church and away from the Church in Utah. In the spring of 1860 Emma and Her son traveled to Amboy Illinois where on April 6^th Joseph Smith III was ordained and sustained as Prophet Seer and Revelator of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Emma was welcomed as a member that same day, and soon a Branch of the RLDS church was meeting regularly in the Red Brick Store.

Emma enjoyed good health until the spring of 1879 when her health started deteriorating rapidly. She passed away on April 30^th of 1879. Such a large number attended her viewing that many had to stand outside the house by windows and doorways to hear.

Even with Emma’s decision to stay in Nauvoo, her decision to remarry, and her decision to refute her husband’s plural marriages, Emma remained an Elect Lady. She often had visitors from members of the Church in Utah who were travelling east for missions, and was thought of highly in the community of Nauvoo. She was a kind and loving woman who would never turn someone with a need away empty handed. And most importantly she never denied that Joseph was called of God. She never denied that The Lord had restored his Gospel to the Earth. She loved the work. She Loved the Lord. She taught her children to love the Lord. She served as an integral part of the Restoration. She served with all her heart, mind, might and Strength. Even today we can feel her spirit as we serve the needy through the Relief Society. We can learn from her diligent and unending devotion to the Lord’s work and His plan for each of us and as Emma did, we can bring souls to Christ.

SONG – A Society Of Sisters