Having a womans witness is important for so many reasons, and it is a relief that the editor also felt that including her voice was imperative to this printing. Emmas son was too young to fill the role, so these men decided to operate a splinter group from the church in trust for him until he was of age. The remarkable account of the last dream of emma hale smith, the wife of the prophet joseph smith read by a direct descendant of joseph and emma. This signature and the fact that it was emmas copy means the book would be worth a great deal if it were on the public market, probably in excess of a million dollars or more. Emma smith was the wife of the first mormon prophet, joseph smith. Afterward, when father found that i was married, he sent for us. In an 1879 interview, emma smith described the plates of mormon, which she had once felt beneath the linen cloth that covered them. Over 150 years, shes been seen as everything from a devil to the epitome of the stereotypical selfless at all times, saintly, angelically feminine mormon woman the apparent mostfavored status of mormonism today given some recent mormon culture movies and books.
I read this book because the movie inspired me to find out more about emma and what happened to her after josephs death. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. Emma bidamon interview with her son, joseph smith iii. Emma smiths 1841 engraved copy of book of mormon in john quincy adams library. Emma had taught her children the bible and book of mormon at home, but had. The latterday saint classmate figures out that the historical witness, professor charles anthon 1, is not a knowledgable witness in regards to joseph smith and then calls emma smith to the stand. Reflections of emma joseph smiths wife many photos lds mormon buddy youngreen.
Emma smiths last testimony is used to support the narrative that joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon was miraculous, particularly that he didnt have a book or manuscript to read from, and that he could not have concealed a manuscript from her. Did joseph smith receive an income from the book of mormon. 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, said brother fox. We went back east for a wedding in nantucket, said lynn bascom. Doctrines of faith and hope found in emma smiths 1835 hymnbook. Shortly after her baptism in july 1830, emma smith was called by god to compile a hymnbook to edify the church. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lds daily. 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 established in 1830 after the prophet had translated the book of mormon and published it to the world. It is not told from emmas point of view, and is a brief summary of emmas life with joseph. Joseph, emma and hyrum all had their own copies, as well as the members of the quorum of the twelve and their wives. Who scribes for father when trans lating tho book of mormon.
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. Emma hale smith, prophets wife, elect lady, polygamys foe, 18041879. Emma smiths 1841 hymnbook michael hicks journal of the book of mormon and other restoration scripture 211 2012. The photos showed the spine of the book, indicating that it had been emma smiths personal copy. Last son of the mormon prophet, by valeen tippetts avery. Joseph smiths response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smithbidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday. Emma smith recounted that during no part of it did joseph smith have any mss.
Emmas testimony on translating the book of mormon life. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. However, a number of joseph smiths associates remembered a book of mormon translation process where the verbiage revealed to joseph smith was more tightly controlled. Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. Details about reflections of emma joseph smiths wife many photos lds mormon buddy youngreen. 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.
Concerning her belief about the divinity of the book of mormon, emma stated the following joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter, let alone dictate a book like the book of mormon. 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. This book is almost exactly like recent movie emma. She was welleducated and even had an extra year of school outside of the normal grammar school. Baptized into church of jesus christ of latterday saints by oliver cowdery, 28 june 1830, at colesville, broome co.
Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph. Emmas testimony of the book of mormon and the restoration. This is the 2nd edition biography of emma smith, wife of joseph smith, jr. The context of emma smiths book of mormon witness a. How would you defend the book of mormon in a court. One of the interesting questions i like to pose to faithful latterday saints is this. From her questioning of emma smith, the classmate proves that the book of mormon is true, through physical and spiritual evidence. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. Henry edwards, the history of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints independence, mo. Many of the latter day saints who joined the rlds church in the midwestern united states had broken with brigham young andor james strang because of opposition to polygamy. Your father bought your uncle jesses hale place, off fathers farm, and we lived there until the book of. The account in mother smiths history is substantially correct as to date and place. April 12 harmony, susquehanna county, pennsylvania.
She recalled that they were pliable like thick paper but rustled with a metallic sound when they were moved. Throughout the years, she has remained a complex topic for both mormons and nonmormons. 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. Mormonism has had a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with emma smith.
Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. Unfortunately, joseph was never able to sign that blessing but we can see such strength in emmas words and perhaps a premonition of the things that were going to be coming to pass. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lynn and tanya bascom, an lds couple from bountiful, utah, went on vacation this past june, touring some of the nations historical sites in the. Reflections of emma joseph smiths wife many photos. Last testimony given by emma in an interview with her sons. Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. Myself, cowdery, martin harris, and my brother, reuben. Joseph smith commences translation of the book of mormon with martin harris as scribe. Emma was baptized in colesville, new york, on june 28, 1830.
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. Martin harris leaves harmony with 116 translated pages of the book of mormon, against the lords counsel, to show them to others and convince them of the truth of the translation. It is an extremely wellresearched biography with extensive documenting notes, showing the vast amount of research done by the authors. 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. Today were looking at emma smiths version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Importantly, emma smiths testimony is included here in company with the testimony of the three and the eight witnesses, as well as her husbands testimony. Not one with official pay stubs that the irs could tax or anything. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count. Why joseph smiths dictation of the book of mormon is. The signature of the prophet joseph smith can be seen in the book of mormon given to charles francis adams. My story, i wondered how much of emmas story was going to actually be told.
Emma hale smith mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. In 1984, linda wrote, with valeen tippetts avery, mormon enigma. Emma smiths 1841 hymnbook brigham young university. In her own words, emma explained that when acting as scribe, joseph would dictate to me hour after hour. My wife was born in cape cod, and we love to visit the new england area. When the trailers for the film started airing on local salt lake television stations and i saw that much of the film appeared to be left over footage from joseph smith. Learn about and browse the pages of the first hymnal of the church. Emma smith stated that the very first time she ever became aware of a polygamy revelation being attributed to joseph smith was when she read about it in 1853 in orson pratt s booklet the seer. My story joseph and emmas relationship is displayed as romantic and monogamous which is far from the truth. The mormon reinvention of emma smith religion news service. Emma hale smith, which has stood for nearly three decades as the definitive biography of emma. When i first saw the billboards along interstate 15 advertising emma smith. Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture.