As the wife of Joseph, Emma Smith was witness to many of The Restoration's key events. She has been the center of controversy almost from the beginning, although she seems to have experienced something of a rehabilitation in the LDS Church during the past 20 years or so. She is the key figure in Lesson 10. Here are some snippets from other sources relating to Emma:
D&C 25:3-4 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called. Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.
“I feel very anxious to see you all once more in this world. The time seems long that I am deprived of your society, but the Lord being my helper, I will not be much longer. … I am filled with constant anxiety and shall be until I get home. I pray God to spare you all until I get home. My dear Emma, my heart is entwined around you and those little ones. I want you to remember me. Tell all the children that I love them and will come home as soon as I can. Yours in the bonds of love, your husband.” (Letter from Joseph to Emma Smith, January 20, 1840, from Chester County, Pennsylvania).
“Joseph used to say that he would have [Emma] hereafter, IF HE HAD TO GO TO HELL FOR HER, AND HE WILL HAVE TO GO TO HELL FOR HER AS SURE AS HE EVER GETS HER.” (Statement of Brigham Young in the Journal of Discourses, Volume 17, page 159).
D&C 25:3-4 Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called. Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.
“I feel very anxious to see you all once more in this world. The time seems long that I am deprived of your society, but the Lord being my helper, I will not be much longer. … I am filled with constant anxiety and shall be until I get home. I pray God to spare you all until I get home. My dear Emma, my heart is entwined around you and those little ones. I want you to remember me. Tell all the children that I love them and will come home as soon as I can. Yours in the bonds of love, your husband.” (Letter from Joseph to Emma Smith, January 20, 1840, from Chester County, Pennsylvania).
“Joseph used to say that he would have [Emma] hereafter, IF HE HAD TO GO TO HELL FOR HER, AND HE WILL HAVE TO GO TO HELL FOR HER AS SURE AS HE EVER GETS HER.” (Statement of Brigham Young in the Journal of Discourses, Volume 17, page 159).
So, what are your thoughts on this interesting woman?
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I think Emma was an incredible woman who had her capacity greatly reduced when her husband was taken from her. I believe the Lord judges us according to our capacity and because Emma's was so greatly reduced in her loss of Joseph, I believe He has been much more merciful to her then we can even begin to understand. Give any woman all that Emma had to deal with and I think they would be reduced to nothing. I am very grateful to Emma for who she was and for her strength.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to have lived in Emma's shoes. She is a wonderful woman who lived through an amazing time.
ReplyDeleteJen and Heretic: I agree that Emma was a remarkable woman who lived through a truly singular experience. It seems like most people agree (now) that she had a very diffficult life, and that we cannot judge her, sentiments with which I agree. Any thoughts on what her experience teaches us?
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ReplyDeleteThere is an interesting conversation about Emma going on at "The Faithful Dissident." You can find it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://thefaithfuldissident.blogspot.com/2009/03/validity-of-deathbed-confessions.html
Teacher-
ReplyDeleteI think Emma's experience teaches us that the Lord expects much from those He calls. Emma played a significant part in the restoration and paid a great sacrifice because of it. It is easy for many to judge that which they do not understand, but if they were put in the same place, understanding takes on a whole new meaning. We can learn to not judge but to love and to always give the benefit of the doubt.
What did Brigham Young mean by that statement?
ReplyDeleteEllen: We probably need to ask Brigham, but I think most have interpreted his statement to mean that Joseph would have to go to hell to find Emma, because that is where she will be.
ReplyDeleteNote: This is not MY opinion. This is my guess at the general intepretation of Brigham Young's restatement of what Joseph allegedly said (whew!).
Wow...can you imagine what would happen if President Monson were to say that!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say, some of what BY had to say shocks me and I'm not easily shocked.Maybe we've just become more "refined" in our speech?
Or maybe BY was shooting from the hip. He was a person organizer, not a theologian.
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