The book details how his wife, emma smith, and many leaders recoiled and questioned the direction. Joseph smith, history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 7 volumes, edited by brigham h. Why were the plates present during the translation of the book of mormon. Actually, emma smith approved of plural marriage for only a short timemaybe a few weeksbut she otherwise always despised polygamy and her husbands involvement with this practice. Discover the remarkable life of an elect lady in emma smith. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. Answering a question posed by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith indicated that the prophet joseph smith could not have been the author of the book of mormon, for he had. In 1860, emma affiliated with the reorganized church of jesus.
Emma hale smith, prophets wife, elect lady, polygamys foe is a biography of emma hale smith, wife of joseph smith jr. Church releases 2 new videos about the translation of the book of mormon from the. Emma hale smith bidamon emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. At the home of john quincy adams, they found an 1841 copy of the book of mormon that originally belonged to someone very special in church history emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith. Sometimes, wellresearched biographies are as dry as bones or so confusing because you have to go back and forth to read the notes. Emma hale smith bidamon july 10, 1804 april 30, 1879 was the first wife of joseph smith and a leader in the early days of the latter day saint movement, both during josephs lifetime and afterward as a member of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints rlds church.
Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph. Answering a question posed by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith indicated that the prophet joseph smith could not have been the author of the book of mormon, for he had neither the writing abilities nor adequate knowledge of ancient israel. Over 150 years, shes been seen as everything from a devil to the epitome of the stereotypical selfless at all times. Emma, having been a rural school teacher of considerable native talents,8 was also joseph smiths first scribe and may have transcribed more of the book of mormon than anyone else except for oliver cowdery. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. Emma smiths reaction to joseph smiths plural marriages joseph smith hiding plural marriages from his first wife, emma emma smiths relationship with the church after josephs death. Her life and her legacy have at times been riddled with controversy, as well as. The comfortable and peaceful life she had led as a girl had done little to prepare her for this new life, but she faced it. Yet, to the descendants of joseph and emma smith, in emmas footsteps is a step toward the. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom.
Over one hundred and thirty years have passed since the death of emma hale smith in 1879. Amazon hot new releases our bestselling new and future releases. The story of the church of jesus christ in the latter days. She helped joseph smith retrieve the plates, participated in the. Emma hale smith bidamon july 10, 1804 april 30, 1879 was the first wife of joseph smith. Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. And it shall come to pass that the lord god shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lds daily. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. Although emma smith was one of the most important women in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, her thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences remain. Emma smith did not document her life in a diary or journal. Emma smith, first relief society president and wife of the prophet joseph smith, had. Emma was baptized in colesville, new york, on june 28, 1830. Many years after the death of joseph, emma recounts to her daughter her experiences relating to the birth of mormonism, from magnificent revelations to excruciating persecutions.
Considerably better than most if not all of the recent lds cinema. Emma smith was the wife of the first mormon prophet, joseph smith. In december, joseph and emma left palmyra for the relative calm of her familys farm in harmony, pennsylvania. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous.
In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus christ, which was. At the home of john quincy adams, they found an 1841 copy of the book of mormon that originally belonged to someone very special in church historyemma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith. Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. At the time of the third printing, however, vals bishop received a call from a higherup in salt lake who said that two girls had written a book about emma smith and were not to be. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. We went back east for a wedding in nantucket, said lynn bascom. At the home of john quincy adams, they found an 1841 copy of the book of mormon that originally belonged to someone very special in church history emma smith. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Emma testifies that joseph smith was a prophet, relates her experience with the book of mormon, testifies of her belief in the divine origin of the book of mormon.
My wife was born in cape cod, and we love to visit the new england area. Emma smith and the translation of the book of mormon. The new understanding of the book of mormon that we have is that it was revealed into the mind of joseph smith as he looked at a. Mormonism has had a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with emma smith. The mormon reinvention of emma smith religion news service. Emma smith, her tescmony upon certain points upon which various opinions existed and to do thig, it wag. Why was emma smith a witness to the book of mormon. Emma smith recounted that during no part of it did joseph smith have any mss. Most of the book of mormon was translated there by revelation to joseph. This is the 2nd edition biography of emma smith, wife of joseph smith, jr. Smith lived near palmyra, new york, but boarded with the hales in harmony while he was employed in a company of men hired.
A few of the copies of the 1841 book of mormon, the first to be published in england, were engraved with the names of early church leaders and their wives. Saints by oliver cowdery, 28 june 1830, at colesville, broome co. In a letter to her husband, joseph, emma hale smith. It is an extremely wellresearched biography with extensive.
Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture. And it shall come to pass that the lord god shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered. Once they settled in, joseph began work on the book of mormon, with emma acting as a scribe. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna.
New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous roots. Assisted js as scribe during translation of book of mormon at harmony, 1828, and. Behind the story of the new movie in emmas footsteps. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. Emma smithwitness of the book of mormon one people. Jeff vice, deseret news her legacy is forever linked to that of her. Mormon is a nickname sometimes given to members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus. As the scribe of twothirds of the first manuscript of the book of mormon, she had a signficant impact on that effort.
Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. In 1842, when the ladies relief society of nauvoo was formed as a womens service organization, she. In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus christ, which. However, she had to wait for two months before she was confirmed, as joseph was arrested the next day for his preaching about the book of mormon. If you would like to link to your own post about emma smith or share your testimony of the book of mormon for emmas birthday gift. It was also there, along the banks of the susquehanna river, that. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process. Emma smith lds history glorious truths seagull book. By invitation of the whitmer family, they moved themselves and the plates to fayette, new york. Smith translated the book of mormon by putting his head into a hat mormon enigma. In her own words, emma explained that when acting as scribe, joseph would dictate to me hour after hour. Emma bidamon interview with her son, joseph smith iii. While they were there, brother and sister bascom decided to visit some historical sites.
1253 490 1402 1588 848 1012 379 467 1566 738 484 32 637 1347 1313 387 251 1195 1206 1005 884 724 488 246 1445 760 633 721 183 884 1039 5 314 326 1174 1233 933 322 1422 501 546 102 246