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. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. Religious studies center, department of church history and doctrine, brigham young university, 1989. Oct 18, 2015 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.
Emma hale smith bidamon emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. She saw this as an indication that joseph did not know history or the bible well enough to write the book of mormon. Mother smith stated that lucy harris then described the record in minute detail. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count. The way emma smith s story is carefully sculpted reveals as much about gender expectations and religious norms in our own era as it did when brigham young declared her mormona non grata. Mar 24, 20 smith translated the book of mormon by putting his head into a hat mormon enigma. This is the 2nd edition biography of emma smith, wife of joseph smith, jr. At age twentytwo, emma hale married joseph smith on january 18, 1827, in south bainbridge, new york, without her fathers permission, and moved to manchester, new york, to make her home with josephs parents. Though emma did not directly see the plates, she stands as yet another witness verifying the book of mormons authentic origin. In the relief society minutes of march 1844 emma said this. 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. 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. To the public, this may look like any other historical movie about lds figures.
Emma smiths copy of the 1841 book of mormon found church news. This book is a biographical reconstruction of emma smiths life from documents and evidence other than. Emma and her family followed and made a new home on the frontier in the latter day saint settlement of far west, missouri, where emma gave birth on june 2, 1838, to alexander hale smith. According to religion professors amy eastonflake and rachel cope, emma smith was arguably more intimately involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than any person besides joseph.
Nov 30, 2017 emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. After alvins untimely death, joseph was told his replacement would be revealed by revelation. Zions mercantile is pleased to introduce their new line of heritage dolls. With permission from professor anthony sweat, the artist behind the new artwork depicting joseph smith s translation of the book of mormon, the new pieces from the book are posted below. After a fiveyear delay, a new emma smith movie is finally coming to. Sep 04, 2018 new mormon narrative history book includes polygamous roots. Rebuilt home of joseph and emma smith, harmony, pa. 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. My wife was born in cape cod, and we love to visit the new england area. Why was emma smith a witness to the book of mormon. She helped joseph smith retrieve the plates, participated in the translation as a scribe, and recorded her physical encounters with the covered plates.
Many people have focused almost entirely on the decisions she made in the last years of joseph smiths life and after his death, and sometimes those events trouble mormons and please non. Emma smith did not document her life in a diary or journal. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an american prophet named mormon and his son moroni. 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. Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon. The question of the authenticity of the book of mormon is the basis for any discussion on the truthfulness of the lds church. Smith lived near palmyra, new york, but boarded with the hales in harmony while he was employed in a company of men hired to unearth a dream mine. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon. The declaration of the three witnesses to the book of mormon.
Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process, quote 1. New official mormon history book delves into faiths. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. Early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. Yet, to the descendants of joseph and emma smith, in emma s footsteps is a step toward the reconciliation of many years of misunderstandings about the lds church and any prejudices there may be towards the descendants. 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. With patricia place, katherine nelson, nathan mitchell, stephanie breinholt. Henry edwards, the history of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints independence.
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. For more on emma smith, check out the new acclaimed film jane and emma. She recalled that they were pliable like thick paper but rustled with a metallic sound when they were moved. Joseph smith, history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 7 volumes, edited by brigham h. While they were there, brother and sister bascom decided to visit some historical sites. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Emma was baptized in colesville, new york, on june 28, 1830. Emma smith and the translation of the book of mormon always. Emma smith s reaction to joseph smith s plural marriages joseph smith hiding plural marriages from his first wife, emma emma smith s relationship with the church after josephs death. 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.
The essentialeven phenomenalrole emma played in bringing forth the book of mormon has been reexamined on many fronts. Emma smith, her tescmony upon certain points upon which various opinions existed and to do thig, it wag decided present to. Oct 20, 2015 the photos showed the spine of the book, indicating that it had been emma smiths personal copy. Most of the book of mormon was translated there by revelation to joseph smith. Emma hale smith, lds researchers linda king newell and valeen tippetts avery clearly show this to be a fact. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lds daily. At least seven scribesincluding emma and her brotherwrote as joseph dictated. Volume 6 link linda king newell and valeen tippetts avery, mormon enigma. Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the church stand or fall with the truthfulness of 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.
May 03, 20 emma smith was the wife of the first mormon prophet, joseph smith. Emma smithwitness of the book of mormon one people. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american democracy. Jul 12, 2012 i am loving all these fantastic posts about emma, heather. 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.
Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii. I believe he joseph was everything he professed to be. At one point, the faiths polygamous practices led an excommunicated mormon to publish an expose about the religion and give lectures titled, the secret wife system at nauvoo, the new book says. Parley pratt had unitcd with the church befire knew sidney rigdon or heard of him. Yet, to the descendants of joseph and emma smith, in emmas footsteps is a step toward the reconciliation of many years of misunderstandings about the lds church and any prejudices there may be. The mormon reinvention of emma smith religion news service. Emma smiths copy of the 1841 book of mormon found church. Emma bidamon interview with her son, joseph smith iii. Emma hale smith bidamon july 10, 1804 april 30, 1879 was the first wife of joseph smith. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph.
The photos showed the spine of the book, indicating that it had been emma smiths personal copy. From her questioning of emma smith, the classmate proves that the book of mormon is true, through physical and spiritual evidence. Emma smith, first relief society president and wife of the prophet joseph smith, had. Sometimes, wellresearched biographies are as dry as bones or so confusing because you have to go back and forth to read the notes. May 16, 2014 emmas testimony of the book of mormon and the restoration.
Sep 24, 2016 emma smith believed in and supported her husband. Once they settled in, joseph began work on the book of mormon, with emma acting as a scribe. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. While filming in emmas footsteps she was also working on the lds churchs book of mormon video project. Emma first met her future husband, joseph smith, in 1825. Stebbins and a few others, leading minds in the church, it was thought advisable to secure from mother bidamon, sister emma smith, her testimony upon certain points upon which various opinions existed. Smith lived near palmyra, new york, but boarded with the hales in harmony while he was employed in a company of men hired.
Emma s testimony on translating the book of mormon life. This is also an example of how revelation expands our knowledge. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. Membership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 18301848. Emma hale was born in harmony township, susquehanna county, pennsylvania, the seventh child of isaac hale and elizabeth lewis hale. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous roots. If he joseph smith was a prophet, which he is, later when speaking to parley p. Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. Feb 28, 2020 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. Shortly after joseph smith acquired the golden plates from hill cumorah in western new york state, he and emma moved to harmony, pennsylvania. The book details how his wife, emma smith, and many leaders recoiled and questioned the direction. As the scribe of twothirds of the first manuscript of the book of mormon, she had a signficant impact on that effort. She attended school, and was well educated for a girl of that day. In nauvoo, illinois, smith established a theocracy, ran for president, and tested the limits of religious freedom.
At the time the book of mormon was translated therc was no church organized, and rigdon did not become with joseph and me till after the church was established in. Emma smith and the translation of the book of mormon. Behind the story of the new movie in emmas footsteps. With the new baby here, i havent had the timeenergybrain function to write but linked to an old book of mormon post i wrote last year. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Emma hale smith, prophets wife, elect lady, polygamys foe is a biography of emma hale smith, wife of joseph smith jr. Aug 25, 2019 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. 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. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph smith. 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. We went back east for a wedding in nantucket, said lynn bascom. It was the anniversary of the death of the twins she lost in kirtland. Emma remembered, from when she acted as his scribe, a time when joseph was translating the book of mormon and was startled to learn that jerusalem has walls around it. The way emma smiths story is carefully sculpted reveals as much about gender expectations and religious norms in our own era as it did when brigham young declared her mormona non grata.
I am not mormon, but emma smith was a woman ahead of her time, in that she was welleducated, intelligent, literate, and knew her own mind. Harris became so convinced of the truthfulness of the record after this remarkable dream that she decided to give to the prophet joseph smith twentyeight dollars she had received from her mother before she died. Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. She also took care of the domestic chores needed for the survival and comfort of those more actively involved in the translation. Generally accepted as a groundbreaking biography, the book places emma smith into a context that has better explained the trials and sacrifices of the. Amazon hot new releases our bestselling new and future releases. It was also there, along the banks of the susquehanna river, that. Harris insisted that he take it to assist in bringing forth the book of mormon. In december, joseph and emma left palmyra for the relative calm of her familys farm in harmony, pennsylvania. How would you defend the book of mormon in a court of.
A record engraved on gold plates, which js translated and published as the book of mormon. Discover the remarkable life of an elect lady in emma smith my story. 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. Jan 08, 2016 emma remembered, from when she acted as his scribe, a time when joseph was translating the book of mormon and was startled to learn that jerusalem has walls around it. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous. This book flows much, much better than most biographies. The book of mormon is made available to the public at e. Joseph smith officially organizes the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Moroni first instructed joseph to enlist his oldest brother, alvin, to help him recover the plates.
Mormonism has had a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with emma smith. By invitation of the whitmer family, they moved themselves and the plates to fayette, new york. In various capacities, she was both an active participant and an intimate witness of the miraculous events as they unfolded. She died on the anniversary of the death of her twins. In a conversation held in the herald office during the early days of the present year, between bishop rogers, elders w. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Events of the 1838 mormon war soon escalated, resulting in josephs surrender and imprisonment by missouri officials. Last testimony given by emma in an interview with her sons.
Today were looking at emma smith s version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. Throughout the years, she has remained a complex topic for both mormons and nonmormons. 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. Nov 30, 2017 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. How would you defend the book of mormon in a court. Assisted js as scribe during translation of book of mormon at harmony, 1828, and.
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