[13] Hartley, My Best for the Kingdom, 8284. That is her divine mission. LDS Church History documents that their mormon founder, Joseph Smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives. [115] Joseph Smith and Others to Edward Partridge and the Church, March 25, 1839, in Times and Seasons, May 1840, 102, and July 1840, 13132. [32] Committee of Removal members were William Huntington, Charles Bird, Alanson Ripley, Theodore Turley, Daniel Shearer, Shadrach Roundy, and Jonathan H. Hale. Snow was six inches deep. Then three hundred militiamen escorted them away to face trial and prison. For your free copy of the Bible, go to Free Holy Bible and for a free Book of Mormon, go to Free Book of Mormon, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While her brothers and sisters attended only the traditional grammar school, Emma went on to do an extra year of schooling beyond that. The river froze over & we were obliged to camp close to the river 3 days and nights before we could cross in the boat, 6 waggons were with us at the time.[41], By mid-January, Saints were leaving Far West daily. Modern Mormons are beginning to come to terms with Emma as the elect lady God declared her to be in a revelation, but a very real and human one at the same time who fought for God as long as she had to before choosing the calmer life she longed for. Her funeral was held May 2, 1879, in Nauvoo with RLDS Church minister Mark Hill Forscutt preaching the sermon. Illinois law at the time held that no church could hold more than ten acres of property, and so much of the church's properties were held in Joseph's name. [102] See Missouri Republican (St. Louis), May 3, 1839. A woman living in a nearby house ran to find out what was wrong. Grant Building Brigham Young and his family, with several others, Kimball said. Her health partially returned, but she has never been able to work much since, her husband wrote in 1845. Initially, when Joseph admitted to her that he had received a revelation about polygamy and was told he absolutely must carry it out, she accepted it. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She handled nearly every trial with grace. On horseback, he, fellow Kentuckian David Lewis, and Elias Higbee endured December snows, cold, and meager food to reach Quincy, Illinois. During that period, the place was a hive of activity; Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, and Oliver Cowdery were boarding with the Whitmers, and other people (including curiosity-seekers) were constantly coming and going. Is there a list anywhere of all the composers who had songs in Emmas 1835 hymnal? They started in February, but it was bitter cold, and they suffered fearfully, Caroline said. They held a short conference in one of the homes and excommunicated thirty-one unworthies. In addition to the Apostles, six members of the Committee and about a dozen other members were present. [32] The committee surveyed the needs and weighed requests for help. 40 Wives "When people ask what caused a change in Emma Smith's behavior, what they really are asking is, 'Why didn't she go west with the Saints?' These hymns had a great influence on the Saints during the early days of the Church. 5 How old was Emma Smith when Joseph Smith died? Its almost as if youre holding the hymnbook in your own hands. Are Joseph and Emma Smiths descendants Latter-day Saints? Don Carlos [her son], with his family and the remainder of his baggage, was crowded into a buggy, and went in the same company with us. They encountered continuous rains and had to travel through mud. So adamant was Emma on this point that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held it as an article of faith, and Emma's children never accepted the idea that Joseph had instituted plural marriage. One of her grandchildren, Emma Belle Smith Kennedy, wrote: "Her eyes were brown and sad. She then became a temple worker, helping others with their first temple experiences. [26], Some opinions downstate held that Mormons would not have to leave at all. L. Hannah Stoddard is the lead author of Faith Crisis, Volume 1: We Were NOT Betrayed!, Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial, and Faith Crisis, Volume 2: New Mormon History Exiled from Church Headquarters.She is the executive director of the Joseph Smith Foundation, and producer or director of seven . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The Saints exodus from Missouri took place mostly during winter and involved four main arenas: Far West, Missouri; Quincy, Illinois; a road network between the two cities; and the west shore mudflats across the Mississippi River from Quincy. John later filed claim for the loss of 240 acres of land, three yoke of oxen, a corn crop, and hogs. They had a reasonably good relationship despite these challenges. He operated a large butcher shop by the river and a wholesale store by the boat landing. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. When the two authors began piecing together Emmas life, there was only one small manila folder about her in the entire LDS Archives. The sight filled my eyes with tears, while my heart was made glad at the cheerfulness of the Saints in the midst of their affliction.[66] He visited Saints on his side of the river who were camped in a sufering Condition with Cold, rain & mud & some want of food.[67], Fugitive Joseph Holbrook, two months after leaving his expectant wife and three children back on January 20, learned of their arrival at the Mississippi River late in March. For more coverage of Sunstone sessions, visit MormonTimes.com and go to the "Studies & Doctrine tab," then click on "doctrine discussions." Donate to us by shopping at Amazon at no extra cost to you. Later, while reading the book History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by His Mother, I found Lucy Mack Smiths tribute to Emma: 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 . Emma eventually forced them to leave, unable to bear the pain of having Joseph's plural wives . "Women felt comfortable leaving their children in the church nursery across the hall," she writes, "because the caregivers passed background checks, earned a fair wage, and had a well-managed. Great questions! Further, the committee agreed to find employment for those able and willing to labor. ( 6-8 Oct 1866, 36th Semi-Annual Conference, Bowery, G. S. L. City. The Joseph Smith Papers project explains that Emmas work laid a foundation for the continued role of music in Latter-day Saint worship. Emma contributed in creating a distinct identity for the church because this hymnbooks lyrics emphasize key tenets of the religion.. "When Emma died, she was surrounded by her family and friends. The day has gone by when masses of men can be outlawed, and driven from society to the wilderness, unprotected. One of the materials in it was a pamphlet that said Emma could be forgiven for her sins because she had lost her mind. So Levi rigged up a foot lathe and soon had two hubs turned out and built a cart. She is known in Church history for being well educated and was able to act as a scribe for Joseph when he was translating the plates because of it. Succeeded Smith as leader of the LDS Church. What happened to Emma Smith? She worried if John had escaped Missouri or been caught. Because if the LDS Church is false, none of those things matter! Brigham, after all, saw Emma as fighting against the man Brigham revered as the Prophet, and he knew that Emma knew that Joseph taught plural marriage. LM is long meter, CM is common meter, and so forth. Newel said, Bro. When morning came, he and Abraham Smoot crossed to Quincy, leaving their families with the wagon. The following article was originally publishedin December 2015. After deliberating on the best means to finish the job, we have thought that considering the bad state of the roads, the expense of ferrage in consequence of high water, that the teams are all nearly worn out, and the brethren here very poor and very much scattered that the best solution was to forward the remainder of the poor brethren by water. By contracting with a steam boat, the poor brethren might all be removed at once and the Far West committee would be free to get out of the state. Emmas life was a complex one. She, in turn, was instructed by Joseph to officiate in these ordinances for the women, which she did until shortly before his martyrdom. One of the other items was a photograph of a family member that was mislabeled as being Emma. Emma served as a scribe during his first efforts to translate the Book of Mormon. If Mormonism is not true, it is a fraudulent version of Christianity and an enormous sham. Delewski thinks she may have been the most promising of the Hale children because she had a rare additional year of schooling. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Unlike the majority of Latter Day Saints, Emma Smith did not follow Brigham Youngs suggestion that the Latter Day Saints leave Nauvoo and settle in the Salt Lake Valley in present-day Utah. The last words out of Emmas mouth when she died were Joseph. Emma Hale Smith Bidamon passed away in Nauvoo on April 30, 1879 , and is buried next to Joseph. "Some people might say that something about her changed, and that is why she did not come to Salt Lake Valley," Delewski said. She was well-educated and taught school. She move 18 times and lived in 13 houses. Many could not get into houses, Newel said, and had to take shelter in wagons, tents, and under bedclothes and while in this situation we had a severe snow storm, which rendered their suffering intense. An acre of land in front of Lucy Mack Smiths home became completely covered with beds, lying in the open sun, where families were compelled to sleep, exposed to all kinds of weather. Houses in Far West were so full, Mother Smith said, that people could not find shelter. [55] The shoes belonged to the oldest boy, Morgan. When he reached the Clevelands, Emma recognized him as he dismounted from his horse and met him half way to the gate.[101], A Quincy newspaper reporter publicized the arrival of Joseph Smith and his prison companions, concluding with a favorable description of the Church President and Prophet: We had supposed from the stories and statements we had read of Jo Smith (as he is termed in the papers) to find him a very illiterate, uncouth sort of man; but from a long conversation, we acknowledge an agreeable disappointment. Emma Smith was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania and had unusual opportunities for a girl in her time. He did not court the women or put his proposals in romantic terms. She had no example to follow and no real support group, as later women would have. She found them both bleeding badly. [101] Cited in Baugh, We Took Our Change of Venue, 52. He referred to a handmade chart that showed the homes Emma Smith had during her 17-year marriage to Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith. Many of them started from scratch and built up religious communities in Illinois and Iowa. She had a home and her children and she just had to carry on the best she could. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. Mormon Church Admits Founder Joseph Smith Had Up To 40 Wives : The Two-Way The Church of Latter-day Saints never denied polygamy was part of its history. John was one of dozens of Mormon militiamen who fled from Missouri in November. Their difficult trip to Mississippi River took twelve days: We had snow and rain every day but 2. Emma Smith played an important part in the Restoration of the gospel, and today, more than two centuries after her birth on July 10, 1804, Church members can still learn from Emma's example. So adamant was Emma on this point that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held it as an article of faith, and Emma's children never accepted the idea that Joseph had instituted plural marriage. Her husband, on the other hand, had only a handful of years of formal education. We finally got across, and we were so glad, for before we reached the other side, the river had started to swell and break up. [96] Manuscript History of Brigham Young, Church History Library, 28. [19] John P. Greene, Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter-day Saints from the State of Missouri, Under the Exterminating Order (Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839), 8. They left Far West on February 14. Provo, UT 84602 Given that Brigham was blamed by Emma for being the inventor of plural marriage, he probably felt rather ill-used by her. Why didnt Emma Smith go west with the Saints? Their chief settlement was Far West in Caldwell County. Accordingly, our goods were taken out. They waited until another team came for them. He could find no way to bring the Butlers wagon across the river, so he spent the night with his family. Add an RSC shortcut to this device's Homescreen, In the menu, scroll past any icons and tap. [91] On April 18, when a group of anti-Mormons found him at the public square, they threatened to blow his brains out and tried to ride over him with their horses. Unfortunately, Apple's iOS doesn't support home screen shortcuts in the Chrome browser. [91] Porter, Brigham Young and the Twelve, 137. Mobbers shot cows while girls were milking them. . My God is it you Bro. Bushman reports that Emma and Joseph had many intense discussions about his polygamy and their relationship was periodically strained. Caroline said that at one point that winter, Joseph Smith got word to Emma to send him quilts or bed clothes. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling, More Jesus, less touching: 14 changes to the Mormon temple endowment ceremony, Real Housewife Heather Gay pens a juicy ex-Mormon memoir, How to stay Mormon after a faith crisis (if staying is what you want), Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. Many nights the floors, upstairs and down, were covered with beds so closely it was impossible to set a foot anywhere without stepping on someone elses bed.[75], Emma Smith and the children arrived on February 15. Caroline Butler, whose husband had fled Missouri in November, couldnt care for her four young children, ages seven years to two months, and drive her wagon at the same time. Leaders compiled these petitions and affidavits and presented them three times, possibly four, to U.S. president Martin Van Buren and to Congress, but the federal government refused to act on them.[109]. the management of the affairs of the Church devolves on you, that is the Twelve . Emma crossed the ice carefully, walking apart from the wagon. [72] Roberts, Comprehensive History, 2:3. [69] Kenney, ed., Wilford Woodruffs Journal, 1:322. by Terrie Lynn Bittner | May 3, 2013 | Joseph Smith | 2 comments. However, I discovered there was a different attitude about Emma. She carried two children while two others hung on to her skirt. 11. Albert Rockwood and his family left Far West with another family on January 10. What did Lucy Mack Smith say about Emma Smith? [52] Heber C. Kimball Journals, 18381839, in Porter, Brigham Young and the Twelve, 134. Early Life and Marriage of Emma Smith. Print. Emmas disappearance from LDS history was so total that Linda says when she and Valeen co-authored an article about her for the Ensign in 1979, it was the first writing about her to appear in any official church publication in 113 years. [84] Aroet Hale, Autobiography, typescript, 6, Perry Special Collections. Emma died peacefully in the Nauvoo House on April 30, 1879 at the age of 74. I have witnesses of this scene all around, who can testify that I am now telling the truth. How many wives did Joseph Smith have LDS? Later witnesses would be permitted to view the plates, but God asked Emma to accept them on faith, a testimony that God recognized her as a woman of great faith. He delegated a great deal of the Church's interaction with Emma to Almon Babbitt, a man greatly lacking in tact: Almon Babbitt's airbordered on the pompousBabbit provided Joseph with legal advice that resulted in the destruction of the Expositor, then he refused to help when Joseph was jailed in Carthage saying, 'You are too late. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. Given these losses, it appears to me that Emma managed quite well.". Whats especially interesting to me about the unfolding historiography of Emma Smith is that she herself would have been happy with the disappearance of polygamy and Josephs other wives from Mormonisms official party line. She wrote to him that only God knew how hard it was for her to flee her home with her children, abandoning all her possessions and leaving her husband to endure whatever was to come. She is remembered for her unrelenting strength and ability to overcome hardships. . William G. Hartley, The Saints Forced Exodus from Missouri, in Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer, ed. Constant delays meant that the Knights did not reach the Mississippi River until early May. At Far West on February 22, Eliza R. Snow reported that a man had just arrived from Illinois who had counted 220 wagons between Far West and the Mississippi.[60] If that figure is accurate, and if wagons helped transport an average of four people each, then the man had passed about a thousand Saints on the road. Those refer to the meter used in the hymn text. We are sensible, brethren, that you have done all that you could do in removing the poor Saints, they said, adding that nor have we, brethren, been backward in exerting our energies for that purpose. The five Apostles who were presentBrigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John E. Page, and John Taylorordained Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith as Apostles and two men who had just been liberated from the Richmond prison, Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, as Seventies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Then on November 5 and 6, 1999, a Quincy History Symposium honored the citys humanitarian efforts for Saints who fled Missouri. . No one could have recognized them as the prosperous Yankees they had once been in New York before embracing Mormonism. Other scribes would do the majority of the translation, but she filled in as needed. She was baptized for the dead on behalf of her mother and sister. [87], It is not known how many Saints temporarily took refuge in Quincy. Her refined childhood and girlhood was not designed to give her the skills she needed in adulthood, and yet she managed nearly everything thrown at her. On October 27, 1838, three days after Missouri and Mormon militias engaged in the Battle of Crooked River, Governor Boggs issued his infamous extermination order. She stood by her husband even when they faced strains in their marriage. Emma Smith would make tremendous sacrifices for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for her husband, and for the church. Holbrook left behind his wife Nancy, who a week later gave birth to their fourth child, and three small children ages seven, five, and two. "Remember, Emma was a woman of refinement and education. While living in Pennsylvania, she rode a horse to warn Joseph Smith of people coming after the gold plates. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Were most of her songs from her Methodist tradition, or did she draw more broadly? . On this same day, there was a skirmish between the mob and the Saints west of Big Blue River. Heres what they have planned, Why the Christian flag can fly on this government flagpole, Breaking the fast: Eid ul-Fitr is an occasion of peace, The unique stories and struggles of Latino Muslims, The Black church, religious freedom and gay rights. She taught school before she met Joseph Smith. Eventually, however, she encountered a trial that became more than she thought she could handle. Every thing my family took with them out of Missouri, could have been packed on the backs of two horses; the mob took all the rest.[52]. Anson Call. She would leave her parents in 1830, never to see them again as she and her family were forced to move from place to place to avoid persecution and violence. An old man who was sympathetic to the needy Saints hired John to teach his children and grandchildren and neighbors children. [97] Liberty Jail prisoners were Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin. She became the first woman to receive the temple endowment involving the making of sacred covenants with the Savior. Learn about and browse the pages of the first hymnal of the Church. Mormon Church Admits Founder Joseph Smith Had Up To 40 Wives : The Two-Way : NPR. What a cold night that was! Mosiah recalled: The next morning the river was frozen over with icegreat blocks of frozen ice all over the river, and it was slick and clear. [108] The extended Knight familys losses were at least $14,562, or about $320,000 in todays currency. She said she was sorry to see the Mormons suffer so much and be driven from their homes. . The topic of this video has been pro. [27] That left the Saints no choice but to leave Missouri as soon as possible. the support materials for the Joseph Smith manual. The oxen they had left could not pull all the load, so Newel unloaded part of his and Brigham Youngs goods and left them in the care of a friendly resident. Yet I knew little of these things, for our branch of the family was far removed from our Smith heritage. Joseph Smiths parents. After Alvin's untimely death, Joseph was told his replacement would be revealed by revelation. On February 7 and 8, both men visited Liberty Jail, then returned to Far West. [65] Elisha Whiting Petition, in Johnson, Mormon Redress Petitions, 374. Winter exposure and food shortages in Caldwell County and during exodus caused health problems for many and a host of deaths during 1839. Book Of Mormon Videos Why did Emma Smith leave the LDS Church?-----Our main goal is creating educational content. Mormon women have the specific responsibility to be righteous daughters of God; good, faithful wives; and loving mothers. Why did Emma Smith leave the LDS Church? No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. Any opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the goods and services offered by FAIR are solely those of FAIR and not those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Smith family. [85] William Cahoon, Autobiography, in Susan Easton Black, QuincyA City of Refuge, 73, n. 34. One mobber shot a cow and, while it was still alive, skinned off a strip of hide from its nose to its tail, and tied his horse to a stump with it. When the Mormons left for Utah, she elected to remain behind. Soon after starting, her eyes became infected, so Martha Smoot walked beside her and led her along for five or six days. Many found refuge not only in Quincy but throughout Adams County and all over western Illinois. This article examines the results of the Religious Landscape Study conducted in 2014 by the Pew organization, looking specifically at information related to the questions of who is leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, why they leave, where they go, and what factors seem to contribute to their exodus. Joseph and Emma apparently discussing the nastiness of cleaning up from cleaning up spit on the . A day or two later, a ferry finally dodged through the ice and brought the women and children across.[59].
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