Significant events of Emma's Role in the Restoration

Q: What events did Emma actively participate for the Restoration of the Gospel?

A: Of all persons listed in the history of the Church or made note of in the Doctrine and Covenants, Emma is the only one who stands next to Joseph being aware and/or particpate in every event from the moment Joseph Smith was able to retrive the gold plates from the Hill Cumorah to his death at Carthage.

Emma Hale Smith's Role in the Restoration of the Church

Emma played a much more important role in the Restoration than people realize.

-On 21-22 September 1827, Emma was waiting nearby when Joseph received the gold plates from Moroni.
-She was the first scribe as Joseph translated the Book of Mormon.
-Emma touched and hefted the plates.
-She was the first witness of the process of translation.

-Emma was the only woman in this dispensation for whom a prophet of God has received a revelation (D&C 25, July 1830, as well as D&C 132:51-56, July 1843).   The Lord termed Emma an "elect lady" (D&C 25:3).  The Prophet Joseph later explained that the title means "to be elected to a certain work" (History of the Church 4:552).  She was given four assignments from the Lord:

1. She was to be "a comfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness" (D&C 25:5).

2. To "be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him" (D&C 25:6).  Emma briefly served as one of six scribes as Joseph translated the Bible.  She recorded Genesis 5:12-21; JST Genesis 6:17-53; and Moses 6:19-52 (Faulring, Jackson, and Matthew, eds., Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible.  Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, 2004, p. 4).

3. She was to be "ordained . . . to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit" (D&C 25:7).  On 12 March 1842 she was elected to be the first president of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo in fulfillment of that charge.

4. Emma was charged to "make a selection of sacred hymns . . . to be had in my church" (D&C 25:11).  Assisted by William W. Phelps, her hymnal was made available in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836.  In 1841 she completed a greatly expanded version in Nauvoo, Illinois.

During the winter of 1831, Emma received a patriarchal blessing from Joseph Smith, Sr.  She was told that she would bear additional children (her first three had passed away); receive power to instruct other women; be watched over by angels, and be saved in the kingdom of God (Garr, Cannon, and Cowan, eds, Latter-day Saint History.  Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000, p. 1112.

While fleeing Missouri with her children, Emma preserved the manuscript of the New Translation of the Bible in a canvas bag concealed under her skirt.  For years she kept the manuscript in a quilt trunk.  In 1865 she  allowed her son, Joseph Smith III, to publish the manuscript as the "Holy Scriptures."                                                                             hj  

Later Achievements in Nauvoo

Although she did not go West with the Saints, Emma exemplified the true spirit and high ideals of the gospel and the Relief Society.  She raised several children who were not her own.  As a midwife she successfully delivered many babies.  She reached out to the youth of the community and welcomed them in her home.  She was continually charitable toward those in need.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
A Special Witness

Emma was promised in her patriarchal blessing that she would see the Savior before she died.  A few weeks prior to her passing she dreamed that the Prophet Joseph came for her and took her through their heavenly mansion.  As the dream concluded, she saw the Savior standing next to her husband, the Prophet.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Emma was tried and tested more than any other woman who was the wife of a prophet of God.  She was not perfect, but overall, her life reflected the higher.

Revelations specific to Emma

Q: What was one of the most specific revelation God directed at Emma?

A: Three months after the Church was organized, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation in behalf of his wife, Emma Hale Smith (LDS D&C 25). Never, before or since, has a latter-day prophet of God received a revelation, canonized, in behalf of a woman.

Prior to the calling of the first Church patriarch, Joseph Smith, Sr. in December, 1833, many early revelations were akin to patriarchal blessings without the declaration of lineage.  In December 1834, Emma received such a blessing from her father-in-law. Below are extracts from D&C 25, with some insights:

 1.  The Lord called Emma "my daughter"; and stated that "all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom." This is a reaffirmation of the statement of John the Revelator, "But as many as received [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" -John 1:12.  Sons (and daughters) of God are those who have embraced the gospel and are candidates for exaltation and eternal life.

 All blessings are conditional, and Emma's was no exception:

2.  A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

3.  Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

In forgiving Emma of her sins, it was the Lord's way of saying that she was worthy of the blessing to follow.  The phrase "elect lady" was explained fourteen years later at the time Emma was set apart as the first president of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo.  Joseph's history states:

I assisted in commencing the organization of the "Female Relief Society of Nauvoo" in the Lodge Room.  Sister Emma Smith, President, and Sister Elizabeth Ann Whitney and Sarah Ann Whitney and Sarah M. Cleveland, Counselors.  I gave much instruction, read in the New Testament, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants, concerning the Elect Lady, and showed that the elect meant to be elected to a certain work,&c., and that the revelation was then fulfilled by Sister Emma's election to the Presidency of the Society, she having previously been ordained (set apart) to expound the Scriptures.  Emma was blessed, and her counselors were ordained (set apart) by Elder John Taylor" (History of the Church 2:4:552-53).

4.  Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come.

Emma had served faithfully and as Joseph's scribe as he began translating the Book of Mormon plates. On occasion she picked up the covered plates while dusting the table upon which they sat.  Just prior to her death in 1879, she was interviewed by her son, Joseph Smith III.  He asked Emma if she had ever been tempted to lift up the linen cloth covering and look at the plates.  She said, "I did not attempt to handle the plates, other than I have told you, nor uncover them to look at them.  I was satisfied that it was the work of God, and therefore did not feel it to be necessary to do so . . . ."  The passage of years had evidently caused her to recall her feelings differently.

5. And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness.

This charge was one of Emma's greatest responsibilities, and she fulfilled it well. Joseph and Emma had a warm and loving relationship.  Whenever he was absent, he wrote wonderful letters of affection to her and their children.  Emma, in turn, was fearless, not only in extending words of comfort to Joseph, but in protecting him as well.  For example, on 17 February 1842 she wrote a letter to Illinois Governor Thomas Carlin defending him against extradition to Missouri.  She also paid Carlin a person visit to plead Joseph's cause.

6. And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him, that I may send my servant, Oliver Cowdery, whithersoever I will.

Emma had already served faithfully as a scribe to Joseph during his initial translation of the Book of Mormon, but beginning on 1 December 1830, she also wrote slightly more than two pages of dictation while Joseph was laboring on his New Translation of the Bible.   She temporarily replaced John Whitmer, not Oliver Cowdery.   Cowdery was one of six scribes who worked on the project.                                                                                                                     

7. And thou shalt be ordained [set apart] under [Joseph's] hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit. 

This is another reference to Emma's future role as president of the Relief Society.  As events transpired, her opportunities an expounder of scripture and exhorter for the Church were quite brief.  But she will ever be remembered for her proclamation to the sisters, "We are going to do something extraordinary!"

8.  And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.  For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

Emma had a beautiful soprano voice and loved to sing hymns, so it was a delightful assignment.  Most religious music of early 19th century Ohio was sung as camp meetings and revivals.  While much Christian music was downcast, Latter-day Saint music was joyful. Emma gathered beloved songs from Protestant hymnals--hymns calculated to appeal to converts from other religions. 

William W. Phelps, an associate in the work, had published lyrics to thirty-three hymns in the Evening and Morning Star in Independence, Missouri.  He enjoyed revising texts from Protestant hymnals to reflect Mormon doctrine.  He was also a prolific hymn writer himself.

Thirteen of the hymns in Emma's hymnal were Baptist; eight were Church of England; one was Congregational, sixteen were independent, two were Methodist; two were Presbyterian; one was non-denominational; three, unknown; one was Shaker; and yet another was Unitarian, and two, from the General Convention of Christian Churches.

W. W. Phelps adapted eleven existing hymns, and wrote or adapted at least twenty-eight others; Parley P. Pratt wrote three hymns and perhaps two others; Edward Partridge, one; Eliza R. Snow one, and perhaps one other; Philo Dibble, one hymn, and Thomas Marsh perhaps one hymn. 

A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of the Latter day Saints was published in early 1836, just prior to the dedication of the Kirtland Temple.  Six of the hymns were sung at the dedication, including three that are included in our current hymnal: "Now Let Us Rejoice," "The Spirit of Godl," and "This Earth Was Once a Garden Place."

Missionaries and members living in outlying areas were also in need of a hymnal, so Emma was asked to compile a revised and expanded version.  A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints contained 304 hymns.  It drew seventy-seven lyrics from our British Manchester hymnal.  The hymnal was one of Emma's most meaningful contributions to the Church.

9.  Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive," promised the Lord.  "And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come."

While Emma had her share of difficulties after Joseph's martyrdom, she had an open vision of the Savior just prior to her passing, and she was welcomed to the next life by her husband the Prophet Joseph.  Taken as a whole, Emma's life was worthy of a crown of righteousness. - Author Paul Thomas Smith

What was Emma's involvement in the creation of RLDS Church?

Q: Did Emma Smith encourage the founding of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?

A: False.

Jason Briggs, Zenos Gurley, and William Marks, all former members of the LDS Church, formed what became the RLDS Church because they did not accept the doctrine of the Celestial Marriage Covenant.

Jason W. Briggs was baptized a Latter-day Saint, age 20, at Potosi, Wisconsin, in 1841.  In 1842, he was ordained an Elder.  He converted and baptized his family and many friends.  Two branches of the Church were established in the area.  After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and after the leadership of the Church fell to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, members of these two Wisconsin branches came to believe that the Church was in apostasy because of the practice of plural marriage.  These members failed to go West.  Additionally, some of them became members of a sect founded by James J. Strang.

Zenos Gurley, previously ordained a seventy, likewise had supported the leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve, but he too failed to go West.  He likewise became a follower of James J. Strang.  Disillusioned with Jame’s doctrines, the two men briefly followed William Smith, the Prophet Joseph's brother, who had newly organized a church.  Strang and Gurley parted with Smith because he, like Strang, came to advocate the practice of polygamy.

Briggs desired to "recover the spirit, beliefs, purpose, and structure of the original church."  He later claimed receiving a revelation in 1851 that a descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr, "shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside over the high priesthood of my church. . . and Zion shall be reinhabited . . ."  Briggs claimed that the revelation denounced polygamy.

Briggs prepared a document summarizing his "revelation" and presented it to several friends.  One of them, John Harrington, reminded Jason that the Doctrine and Covenants stated that no one except a prophet, seer, and revelator should receive revelations for the church (LDS D&C 43:3).  Despite Harrington's declaration, three couples prayed and said that they received a testimony of Jason Briggs' claims.

Jason next stated that the true successor of Joseph Smith was his eldest son, who would be called upon "in due time" to act in that calling.  In the meantime, Briggs was contacted by Zenos Gurley, a seventy, who claimed to have been told in a revelation "that God would raise up a prophet." Gurley's followers merged with Briggs' in 1852.  The combined group became known as the New Organization."

 When Briggs and Samuel Gurley visited Joseph Smith III in 1856, he rejected their invitation to lead this group strongly along with his mother, Emma.  During the following four years Joseph III struggled with the issue and repeatedly turned down the invitation, but finally decided to accept the call. Joseph III’s memoirs indicated the various failed business attempts during these years was a sign from God that he should follow in his father’s footsteps. He was sustained as president during the 1860 conference of the renamed Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held in Amboy, Illinois. He was ordained by William Marks, former Nauvoo Stake President, who had successively joined churches founded by Sidney Rigdon, Charles B. Thompson, and John E. Page.  On June 11, 1860, he was admitted to the "New Organization."   Joseph III's mother, Emma, was received into RLDS membership based upon her original baptism as a Latter-day Saint. – Author Paul Thomas Smith