Today the canal features a walking and biking path. On its waters were brought all the paper and equipment needed to publish the book of mormon as well. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process, quote 1. I have since bought the dvd, the bluray and the cd of the beautiful score. 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 nonmormons. Although emma smith was one of the most important women in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, her thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences remain largely unknown. How does the book of mormon prepare missionaries to sacrifice, serve, and preach.
The erie canal as a facilitator of gods kingdom mormon history. Henry edwards, the history of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints independence. Adams wrote in the book of mormon he received, the above is the autograph of the chief of the mormons who gave me this book at nauvoo on the 15th of may 1844. 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. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph smith. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. What to expect when you visit the churchs historic sites. Brigham young and emma smith, utah historical quarterly. Nov 30, 2017 her witness as an intimate observer and participant of the coming forth of the book of mormon is convincing.
Finally, joseph smith began the translation himself, dictating the text by what he called. Lucy mack smiths faithfilled speech that parted the. While traveling along the cayugaseneca canal and the erie canal. The erie canal, which celebrates its 200 th birthday this year, provided many miraclesnot the least of which included a means of travel and communication that allowed the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to spread and thrive better than it would have otherwise. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process. Emma hale smith, which has stood for nearly three decades as the definitive biography of emma.
My wife was born in cape cod, and we love to visit the new england area. The canal played a key role in the development of the city, and it was the means for transporting the materials e. What to expect when you visit the churchs historic sites in. 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. Oct 18, 2015 today were looking at emma smith s version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iii.
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. 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. To the public, this may look like any other historical movie about lds figures. Emma smith lds history glorious truths seagull book. The path passes through the palmac aqueduct county park, which is less than a mile from the book of mormon historic publication site. May 16, 2014 emma s testimony of the book of mormon and the restoration. The erie canal, which celebrates its 200 birthday this year, provided many miraclesnot. 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 due to be released in about a weekapril 11 here in utah. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Headstone of alvin, first child of emma and joseph smith. This statement of facts is, that when the revelation was given, emma smith got possession of it in its original and burnt it.
Emma hale smith, prophets wife, elect lady, polygamys foe is a biography of emma hale smith, wife of joseph smith jr. The hill cumorah in ontario county ny is the hill where joseph smith found the golden plates and is the same hill where the civilizations of the nephites cumorah and the jaredites ramah fought their last battles. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon discovered lds daily. 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. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. This is the 2nd edition biography of emma smith, wife of joseph smith, jr. Mar 14, 20 mormon elect lady video portraying events in the life of emma smith. 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. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. 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.
A small group of believers supported joseph smith through the book of mormon translation process, but none of them had experience in publishing. 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. Snow pushed down the stairs by a furious emma, resulting in a miscarriage. Emma smiths reaction to joseph smiths plural marriages jump to subtopic. In her own words, emma explained that when acting as scribe, joseph would dictate to me hour after hour. Provo museum preserves printing history of the book of mormon. Emma hale smith bidamon july 10, 1804 april 30, 1879 was the first wife of joseph smith and a leader in the early days of the latter day saint movement, both during josephs lifetime and afterward as a member of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints rlds church. Emma smiths copy of the 1841 book of mormon found church. Question how did emma hale smith react to josephs practice of plural marriage. Mar 17, 2017 emma hale smith was an educated womana strong leader and public speaker. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. Why was emma smith a witness to the book of mormon. And her faithfulness to the prophet joseph smith and to the truthfulness of the book of mormon is inspiring.
He was, however, prone to make silly mistakes, such as. She attended school, and was well educated for a girl of that day. Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii. See more ideas about church history, joseph smith and relief society. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Then the following week returned to the theatre to once more feel the beauty of emma smith.
Examining the process by which smith translated the book of mormon is essential to understand not only the book itself, but also smiths earliest revelations, many. Emma smithwitness of the book of mormon one people. Joseph smith was the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, whose members are sometimes nicknamed mormons. 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. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence.
Smith translated the book of mormon by putting his head into a hat mormon enigma. Generally accepted as a pathbreaking book, mormon enigma rehabilitated the image of emma smith as the obstinate and faithshirking figure that had long held sway among the mormons and at the same time debunked the image she enjoyed in reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints, now the community of christ, which she joined in 1860. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. It was commissioned by the joseph smith historical society, and has many of the same actors and actresses who appeared in legacy, which used to show at the joseph smith building. Emmas testimony on translating the book of mormon life. Mormonism has had a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with emma smith.
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. The first gathering of the book of mormon, including this preface, was likely printed by mid. Emma smiths wartime account of life on the canals is a fascinating read for canal buffs like me. The early history of the mormons american experience. In 1984, linda wrote, with valeen tippetts avery, mormon enigma. If he joseph smith was a prophet, which he is, later when speaking to parley p. 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. After seeing this film when went downtown to the joseph smith memorial building and watched joseph smith. In march 1830 the work was published in palmyra, new york, as the book of mormon.
Smith locates a publisher for the book of mormon in palmyra and typesetting begins. Joseph smith documents dating through june 1831 the joseph. Was emma was promised annihilation if she didnt accept plural marriage. Emma smith was the wife of the first mormon prophet, joseph smith. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process, quote 2. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count.
Nov 30, 2017 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. In the relief society minutes of march 1844 emma said this. She was welleducated and even had an extra year of school outside of the normal grammar school. The mormon reinvention of emma smith religion news service. As the first president of the relief society, her words, recorded in relief society meeting minutes, continue to inspire and encourage us to increase our faith and charity. Emma smith and the translation of the book of mormon.
On april 6, 1830, joseph smith formally organized the church of christ, as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was first known. Book of mormon fhe lesson abinadi and standing for truth may 4, 2020. Events surrounding the translation of the book of mormon, 18271828. All truth is independent in that sphere in which god has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also, otherwise there is no existence. Joseph smith did not sign more than a handful of copies of the book of mormon, said brother fox. This book is a biographical reconstruction of emma smiths life from documents and evidence other than.
The book of mormon was published in 1830 when joseph smith was 25. Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture. As her adopted daughter listens, an aging emma smith katherine thompson reflects on her rich life, particularly the events that led to her courtship and marriage to joseph smith nathan mitchell, founder of the mormon church. Joseph smith, junior is born in sharon, vermont, fifth child of lucy and. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. Emma smith and the translation of the book of mormon always. When published in 1830, the book of mormon contained a statement about the lost 116 pages, as well as the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses, who claimed to have seen and handled the golden plates. Image of emma smith via 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. Were the plates present during the translation of the book of mormon. 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. Emma hale smith bidamon july 10, 1804 april 30, 1879 was the first wife of joseph smith and a leader in the early days of the latter day saint movement, both during. Those pages were subsequently lost by martin harris, who had served as scribe for that portion of the book of mormon. Sep 24, 2016 emma smith believed in and supported her husband. Jss later history describes a document that included copies of the characters along with their translation, a document that may have been similar to the second document featured below.
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. Emmas testimony of the book of mormon and the restoration. Oct 18, 2015 adams wrote in the book of mormon he received, the above is the autograph of the chief of the mormons who gave me this book at nauvoo on the 15th of may 1844. Emma was baptized at colesville, new york, on june 28, 1830, but before she could be confirmed a member of the church the. Smith locates a publisher for the book of mormon in palmyra and. As a young man, joseph smith claimed this was a tedious 10 year process after the first angels visited him as a boy in 1820 at the age of 14 and after several attempts more angels eventually allowed him to retrieve the metal plated book of mormon and other relics from a hidden. Emma smith did not document her life in a diary or journal. Oct 20, 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 historyemma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith. In either case, the book of mormon is, in the end, a nineteenth century book talking about nineteenth century ideas. Each side of an imprint contained 16 pages of the 592page book of mormon first edition. New york, a town of 4,000 situated near the planned route of the erie canal. Home emma smithwitness of the book of mormon emma hale smith bidamon she grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. I have walked every step of the grand union and i knew the places of which she writes. 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.
Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. It is an extremely wellresearched biography with extensive documenting notes, showing the vast amount of research done by the authors. Jun 20, 2019 emma was baptized in colesville, new york, on june 28, 1830. Evidence of that sanction is the lesson on emma smith and section twentyfive of the doctrine and covenants in the gospel doctrine sunday school manual for 197879.
Smith transcribed this portion, and it appears as the first part of the book. Emma smith on the physical characteristics of the book of. Jul 12, 2017 with innovation and prosperity come access. In his harmony home, the prophet produced about 60% of the text of the book of mormon. To my certain knowledge emma smith is one of the damnest liars i know of on this earth. Emma is one of the unsung heroes of the restoration. Printers manuscript of the book of mormon the joseph smith papers. Upon this point we subjoin the following questions and answers from a memorandum of an interview with the sister emma smith referred to now mrs. This book flows much, much better than most biographies. Mar 24, 20 doctrine and covenants mormon scripture still includes a revelation given to emma smith through her husband joseph smith jr. However i passed the book to others with no interest in canals and they found it equally interesting and compelling, its just a great 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. Emma smiths copy of the 1841 book of mormon found church news. Lynn and tanya bascom were on vacation this past june in the boston, massachusetts, area where they discovered emma smiths personal.
By 1879, emmas children were leading the rlds branch of mormonism, and shoring up josephs prophetic reputation and the miraculous origin of. I believe he joseph was everything he professed to be. In this revelation she was told to obey and submit to her husband without complaining vers 4, to trust him vers 9 and to exhort the church vers 7 with the warning of being excluded from heaven when disobeying this revelation vers 15. Earlier, he had translated 116 pages known as the book of lehi. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. Up to 500 guests typically visit the museum each month and view firstedition replicas of the book of mormon, the 1836 edition of the doctrine and covenants, the book of commandments, and emma smiths book of sacred hymns. This video is meant to show the faith, dedication and courage of emma smith, wife of the mormon prophet joseph smith. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography states that the book of mormon events primarily occurred in the heartland of north america. Joseph and emma smith descendants archives mormon history.
These details help explain why the lord chose emma smith as an elect lady to. With few writings from emma to search, speculation about her life and beliefs has led to unsubstantiated notions that have little basis in truth. Because emma has come full circle from disfavor to favor, it would seem that the time is right for a balanced view, even for a definitive biography of the real emma smith. Lucy mack smith 17751856 was the mother of joseph and hyrum smith. Prophet brigham young, october 1, 1866, as quoted in newell and avery, the lion and the lady. Emma hale smith was an educated womana strong leader and public speaker. In his book studies of the book of mormon, roberts concluded that joseph smith had sufficient imagination and was capable of producing the book of mormon even though he had little formal education. May 03, 20 emma smith was the wife of the first mormon prophet, joseph smith. After joseph smith dictated the book of mormon text, oliver cowdery. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. As the scribe of twothirds of the first manuscript of the book of mormon, she had a signficant impact on that effort. Explorations in critical methodology, edited by brent lee metcalf. She sacrificed comfort, privacy, hardship, and many demands with what appears to be steadfast character and a strong spirit and sense of self, even.
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