The Thomas family stayed strong in the faith and emigrated to Utah in 1849. [70] John Taylor, Brigham Young, Isaac Higbee, Israel Barlow, John P. Greene to Dear Brethren, March 29, 1839, at Quincy, reprinted in Kate B. Carter, comp., Our Pioneer Heritage (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1960), 3:122. The temple site has been salvaged and given modern landscaping, but no houses remain. [73] Bennett, Quincythe Home of Our Adoption, 86. He told the Butlers to go to his butcher shop and take meat when they wanted some. Uncertain which policy to push, the conference voted against accepting the land offer (Journal History, February 1, 1839). Time and again, she was uprooted, often without warning and frequently without time to pack her belongings. After they left, the mob plundered thousands of dollars worth of property donated to help the poor move. She comforted other women, instructed them, and helped them to build their own faith. By Scott D. Pierce. It would be 2 months before she could be confirmed as a member of the Church. Joseph Smith in Northern Missouri, 1838 - Religious Studies Center When the family arrived opposite Quincy, they became ice bound for two weeks. While they waited, a Brother Brunson came from Quincy and asked campers to donate their outfits to go back and assist in removing the poor. He was the son of Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith. Her judgment lies in God's hands, not in ours or Brigham Young's. The Mormon Reinvention of Emma Smith - Religion News Service Joseph and Emma adopt the Murdock twins nine days after birth. Because of his position in the Illinois militia, he was often referred to as "Major" Bidamon. 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-Mormons. Delewski shared many of the words used to describe Emma: "Quick wit and pleasant personality," "intelligence," "fearless integrity," "kindness of heart," "discretion," "benevolent," "hospitable," "motherly in nature to young people," "very high-spirited," "dignified," "courage," "zeal," "patience," "no gossiper," "commanding presence" and "innate refinement.". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. She joined in his efforts to protect them from thieves and acted on occasion as his scribe. The religion rapidly gained converts, and Smith set up . And when people say she was wrong for remaining in Nauvoo, they are implying they know what she should have done," Richard Delewski said at the Sunstone Symposium on Aug. 13. Her husband Joseph Smith had been killed in 1844, and after his death Emma Smith decided to remain in Nauvoo. [123] Butler denounced the hard-heartedness that Missourians had shown his wife and children and Church authorities. [40] [Auto]Biographical Sketch of George Washington Gill Averett, typescript, 8, in Miscellaneous Mormon Diaries, vol. Evolution of the Word of Wisdom - The Origin Story Joseph Smith, Jr. was born on 23 December 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. Succeeded Smith as leader of the LDS Church. The oxen they had left could not pull all the load, so Newel unloaded part of his and Brigham Youngs goods and left them in the care of a friendly resident. [7] William G. Hartley, My Best for the Kingdom: The History and Autobiography of John Lowe Butler, a Mormon Frontiersman (Salt Lake City: Aspen Books, 1993), 8184; Baugh, A Call to Arms, 39296. [41] Jesse and Whittaker, Albert Perry Rockwood Journal, 34. Refugees moved as individuals, by families, or in small clusters of wagons whenever they were ready. Then he had to be very careful for days to avoid capture. The Thomas family. . She would lose many of her children. Every thing my family took with them out of Missouri, could have been packed on the backs of two horses; the mob took all the rest.[52]. Newel prayed for help, for I knew not how to extricate myself but as I had never been forsaken by my Heavenly Father I commited myself and family into his care. For a week they were stranded, but finally a man asked his son to drive the Knights the rest of the way. He rode with the Mormon militia who fought in the Battle of Crooked River. He told here where she got the poison, and how she put it in a cup of coffee; said he 'You got that poison from so and so, and I drank it, but you could not kill me.' John and his son Orrice walked. Events unfolded rapidly, with men from the neighboring towns staging raids on Nauvoo, trying to once again, drive out the Saints and claim their. Ever since the Prophet Joseph died as a martyr in Carthage, Illinois, some Latter-day Saints have felt disappointment that Joseph's wife Emma did not go with the Church in the westward exodus of the Saints in 1846-47. At the time, the First Presidency consisted of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith, who had replaced Frederick G. Williams as second counselor in the First Presidency in November 1837. . [96] Manuscript History of Brigham Young, Church History Library, 28. Carolines third task was to find some way to move the family and belongings from Missouri before spring. His wife joined the Reorganized LDS Church (now Community of Christ) and the family moved to Independence in 1870. [54] The Saints Petition to Congress, November 1839, in Smith, History of the Church, 4:2438; the mention of bloody footsteps is on p. 36. They collected donations of furniture, farm implements, and money from farm sales. When the boy, Charles, was 4 years old, Emma took him in and raised him as her own. https://www.lds.org/music/index/hymns/title-tune-meter?lang=eng&_r=1. He referred to a handmade chart that showed the homes Emma Smith had during her 17-year marriage to Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith. Her husband, on the other hand, had only a handful of years of formal education. [114] John Lowe Butler became a trusted workhorse for Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, serving as one of Josephs official, ordained bodyguards and later as a bishop in Spanish Fork, Utah. [5] Meanwhile, a militia force headed to Adam-ondi-Ahman, made the Mormons there surrender, and on November 10 gave them ten days to relocate to Far West or elsewhere in Caldwell County. [93] Kenney, Wilford Woodruffs Journal, 1:325. Emmas role in Mormon history is as enigmatic as ever. The next day, Missouri troops brought Joseph and Hyrum Smith and five other prisoners into town in wagons to pick up personal effects and say good-bye. In 1984, Linda wrote, with Valeen Tippetts Avery, Mormon Enigma:Emma Hale Smith, which has stood for nearly three decades as the definitive biography of Emma. This weekend at the Midwest Pilgrims retreat in Nauvoo, Illinois, I had the opportunity to listen to a fascinating talk by Linda King Newell, co-biographer of Emma Smith, first wife of LDS founding prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Events of the 1838 Mormon War soon escalated, resulting in Joseph's surrender and imprisonment by Missouri officials. How come Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, joined the RLDS church instead of Why did God ask Emma Smith to accept the plates? [32] The committee surveyed the needs and weighed requests for help. In 1888 a Lyman Wight cabin was the only building standing in Ahman, and by 1970 it was totally gone.[124]. It's dangerous and it ruins lives, even if the members don't understand that that's what's happening to them. Fanny lived in the Smiths' house with Emma, which caused much tension. John was one of dozens of Mormon militiamen who fled from Missouri in November. he spoke to her in that council in a very severe manner, and she never said one word in reply. At Adam-ondi-Ahman they obtained provisions from fellow Saints. [88] Richard E. Bennett, Quincythe Home of Our Adoption, 101. Extermination order not rescinded for 137 years. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Sarah later became Emmas first counselor in the Nauvoo Relief Society. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 - June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.At the age of 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon and by the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers. So adamant was Emma on this point that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held it as an article of faith, and Emma's children never accepted the idea that Joseph had instituted plural marriage. Emma Smith, first Relief Society President and wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, had many incredible and difficult experiences in her life. Brigham, for all his strengths, had little patience for anyone who would betray the prophet, which he perceived Emma doing on multiple levels. H. Redmond, History of Quincy and Its Men of Mark (Quincy, IL: Heirs and Russell, 1863), 15; Richard E. Bennett, Quincythe Home of Our Adoption: A Study of the Mormons in Quincy, Illinois, 18381839, 8788, and Susan Easton Black, QuincyA City of Refuge, 69, in A City of Refuge. [31] Smith, History of the Church, 3:25054. Imagine, then, her familys concern when she developed a fondness for Joseph Smith, who was from a poor farm family and had almost no formal educationjust that which his father had given him at home with a small amount of traditional schooling. She was left alone with her five children, including her adopted daughter and four sons. How others feel about her decision, Delewski said, depends upon their own knowledge and understanding. During this last bout, Joseph said gratefully, "My wife waited on me. By October 1839, King Follett had his trial, and because the charges of robbery were unsubstantiated, he was set free. She move 18 times and lived in 13 houses. [60] Eliza R. Snow to Esqr. Why did Emma Smith leave the LDS Church? [26], Some opinions downstate held that Mormons would not have to leave at all. It nearly broke both of our hearts. Emma Smith would make tremendous sacrifices for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for her husband, and for the church. Many of the Saints were converts who had sung hymns before. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. When a group of black Mormons arrived after a very difficult and painful journey fraught with danger and racial prejudice, their feet bleeding because they no longer had shoes, she sat them at her own dinner table and took them all into her home as guests until they could find work. The CES Director apparently never got around to responding. Initially, when Joseph admitted to her that he had received a revelation about polygamy and was told he absolutely must carry it out, she accepted it. "Women felt comfortable leaving their children in the church nursery across the hall," she writes, "because the caregivers passed background checks, earned a fair wage, and had a well-managed. Events of the 1838 Mormon War soon escalated, resulting in Joseph's surrender and imprisonment by Missouri officials. Emma and her family were forced to leave the state with the majority of Latter . 7 Are Joseph and Emma Smiths descendants Latter-day Saints? [34] Saints used existing roads as much as possible, although some took detours to avoid problems with local residents or to avoid being recognized. According to the official narrative, Emma stayed behind in Nauvoo rather than joining the majority of the Saints in Utah because she was a widow caring for five young children and Josephs aging mother, not because she believed that, as she expressed it at the time, the Twelve have made bogus of it.. View our community standards here. She had to provide for the family after being deprived of the corn they had grown on their farm, which vigilantes had prevented them from harvesting. In the future Brigham would have his own falling out with Babbitt and the rift would become so widely known that, when Indians killed Babbitt on the Western plains in 1856, Eastern newspapers erroneously reported that Brigham had ordered him killed. As was common in their day, the early Saints sang the printed lyrics to familiar tunes. He raised his hand and stopped me saying Hush, Hush. Huntington said that Joseph had come by ferryboat about 8:00 a.m. and was drest in an old pair of boots full of holes, pants torn, tucked inside of boots, blue cloak with collar turned up, wide brim black hat, rim sloped down, not been shaved for some time, looked pale & haggard. Dimick asked if he wished to see his father and mother, but Joseph wanted to see Emma and the children first. Is probably the most famous Latter Day Saint polygamist with 55 wives. [51] Ronald K. Esplin, The Emergence of Brigham Young and the Twelve in Mormon Leadership, 18301841 (PhD diss., Brigham Young University, 1981), 370; Times and Seasons, September 1840, 165. Far West Saints met in a public meeting on January 26 to consider measures to expedite the move out of state, given the seeming impossibility of moving in consequence of the extreme poverty of many.[29] A seven-man committee was appointed to find out how many needed help and how much help members could give to those in need. That did not stop Emma, a visionary woman in her own sense of the word. Emma Smith would make tremendous sacrifices for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for her husband, and for the church. The city cemeterys tombstones marking where some two hundred Saints are buried are long gone, and the site has become farmland. . At least one man escaped west to Fort Leavenworth. By age 40, Emma had lost her husband, her mother and father, her father-in-law, three brothers-in-law and five children. Mormon Church Admits Founder Joseph Smith Had Up To 40 Wives A day or two later, a ferry finally dodged through the ice and brought the women and children across.[59]. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Give us employment, the Saints pleaded, rent us farms, and allow us the protection and privileges of other citizens., The Quincy citizens committee passed a resolution which said that the Saints are entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard. Any Saints who because of sickness or destitution found themselves homeless, the committee decided, should appeal directly for assistance. [10] They crossed the icy Mississippi River, some at Quincy, where Charles C. Rich said, We found friends and was kindly received.[11], Another half dozen Mormon militiamen led by Dimick Huntington left separately. Why did Emma Smith leave the LDS Church? - Heimduo Tears roll down Emily Rennie's face as she recalls a church counsellor telling her she needed to give up her child for adoption because he was conceived out of wedlock one of the most . [91] Porter, Brigham Young and the Twelve, 137. One of her grandchildren, Emma Belle Smith Kennedy, wrote: "Her eyes were brown and sad. Quincys compassion, noted historian Richard E. Bennett, saved the saints as a people and may even have saved the Church as an institution.[88], Assigned by the Committee of Removal, David Rogers visited Jackson County on March 15, sold Church properties, raised some $2,700, and brought the funds to Far West by mid-April. Why I Left The Mormon Church And Why It's A Cult - Peaceful Dumpling Find out a few things you may not have known about this prominent woman in Church history. Finally, Brigham was Joseph's successor, and Emma challenged that succession by supporting her son, Joseph Smith III, as the 'proper' leader, and as one who would not teach the hated doctrine of polygamy (which Emma falsely claimed Brigham had foisted on the Church). . Why did Joseph Smith marry women who were already married - LDS answers We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Mercy should be the watchwordnot blood, not extermination, not misery.. Its a beautiful article, but its not a fully honest one; polygamy is not mentioned once anywhere. The last words out of Emmas mouth when she died were Joseph. Josephs death occurred on 27 June 1844. On 23 December 1847, Emma Smith married Lewis Bidamon, who was not a member of the Church. . DVD Review: Emma Smith: My Story - Mormonism Research Ministry I fitted up a small wagon, procured a span of ponies, and sent my Wife and three children, in company with Bro. 11. Emma served as a scribe during his first efforts to translate the Book of Mormon. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of FAIR, its officers, directors or supporters. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Another attraction was that unsettled lands were available in the vicinity. Why (and how) Were Latter-day Saints Forced Out of Jackson County Why? Many could not get into houses, Newel said, and had to take shelter in wagons, tents, and under bedclothes and while in this situation we had a severe snow storm, which rendered their suffering intense. An acre of land in front of Lucy Mack Smiths home became completely covered with beds, lying in the open sun, where families were compelled to sleep, exposed to all kinds of weather. Houses in Far West were so full, Mother Smith said, that people could not find shelter. 8 What did Emma Emma do for the LDS Church? Emma, as she often did, was searching the home for Joseph when he and a girl were missing. June 1831 The lack of a legal will placed both the Church and Emma's family in uncertain financial conditions. While at LDS Living, she particularly enjoyed diving into the past and writing articles about little-known Church history stories or the Salt Lake Temple, though she wrote about a variety of topics. The refinement, the charity of our age, will not brook it. by Terrie Lynn Bittner | May 3, 2013 | Joseph Smith | 2 comments. [3] LaMar C. Berrett and Max H. Parkin, Sacred Places: A Comprehensive Guide to Early LDS Historical Sites, vol. With discomfort on both sides, she soon found herself outside the mainstream of the church. The Thomases complied. In response, when Saints reached safety they began filling out petitions for redress and having them notarized by justices of the peace and court clerks in two counties in Iowa and ten in Illinois. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. She seems, among other things, to have been worried about providing for her children, as well as protecting them from the violence which had claimed Joseph. He had been separated from the family for three months or more. They averaged ten miles per day. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. About sunset we landed in Quincy, Lucy said. Further, the committee agreed to find employment for those able and willing to labor. John said that Quincy residents generally were kind to the Saints all over the place. The Butlers stayed in Quincy for three or four weeks. . [85] William Cahoon, Autobiography, in Susan Easton Black, QuincyA City of Refuge, 73, n. 34. Why didnt Emma Smith go west with the Saints? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They say father was a fallen prophet. [56] Daniel Stillwell Thomas Family History, 2729. It struck Martha on the knees and little Keziah above the eyes. One of the materials in it was a pamphlet that said Emma could be forgiven for her sins because she had lost her mind. [15] Hartley, Stand by My Servant Joseph, 291; Reed Peck, Reed Peck Manuscript (Salt Lake City: Modern Microfilms reprint, n.d.), 29. . To do so, would be to act with extreme cruelty. Joseph was susceptible to vomiting anyway. LDS Church History documents that their mormon founder, Joseph Smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives. On February 7 and 8, both men visited Liberty Jail, then returned to Far West. Her financial state was precarious because there had not been a clear line between the family money and the church money, with Joseph often going into debt to help support the church. She is known in Church history for being well educated and was able to act as a scribe for Joseph when he was translating the plates because of it. At other times, she found she could not handle the choices she had made, much as Sarah in the Old Testament first encouraged her husband to marry her handmaiden and then discovered it was more than she was prepared to handle. Emma Smith was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania and had unusual opportunities for a girl in her time. Five reasons best explain why Saints moved during winter conditions: (1) by January, armed patrols were showing up and threatening the Saints, so in the January 26 public meeting the people agreed to begin moving immediately; (2) the Saints had been told that Joseph Smith would not be released from prison until they all had left Missouri, so the sooner that happened, the better;[39] (3) individuals were running out of food and supplies; (4) in February, Far West experienced some stretches of weather that seemed favorable for traveling; and (5) wagons going to Illinois and then returning to take others needed four to six weeks to make the two trips before the late March deadline.