What Happened to Emma Smith After Joseph Smith Died?

Emma Hale Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, faced a lifetime of challenges and triumphs after the tragic death of her husband. Her journey in the aftermath of Joseph’s martyrdom was shaped by her devotion to her family, her faith, and her enduring love for Joseph. What happened to Emma Smith after Joseph’s death reveals the resilience and strength of a woman who was determined to safeguard her family’s legacy and maintain her integrity amidst great personal loss and hardship.

The Immediate Aftermath: Loss, Grief, and Family

Joseph Smith was tragically murdered in Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844, leaving Emma devastated. The loss of her husband not only shattered her emotionally but also left her with the daunting task of caring for their young children. At the time of his death, Emma was pregnant with their last child and was left alone to raise four young children. What happened to Emma Smith after Joseph’s death is a story of personal grief and a determination to provide for her family despite overwhelming hardship. Emma’s grief was palpable, and she struggled with the overwhelming responsibility of providing for and protecting her family. One source recounts that upon seeing Joseph’s body, she cried out, “Oh, Joseph, Joseph! My husband, my husband! Have they taken you from me at last?”

With the death of her husband came the challenge of securing her financial future. Emma’s life was marked by a series of financial struggles, especially after Joseph’s death, when she was left without significant means of support. While she was left with property in Nauvoo, including their home and other holdings, the legal claims regarding Joseph’s estate remained unresolved for years, making Emma’s situation precarious.

Staying in Nauvoo: Reasons for Remaining Behind

Emma’s decision to remain in Nauvoo, the place she had called home with Joseph, was shaped by several factors. One of the most important reasons for her decision was her deep emotional attachment to Joseph’s body. Emma harbored intense anxiety over the possibility that Joseph’s and Hyrum’s bodies would be desecrated or stolen. Shortly after their deaths, Emma took steps to ensure their bodies were protected, even moving them to a secret burial site near their home, away from potential threats.

Another significant reason Emma chose to stay in Nauvoo was her desire to care for her ailing mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith. Lucy, who suffered from severe arthritis and other health issues, was reliant on Emma’s care. Emma’s love and devotion to her mother-in-law were evident, with Lucy later speaking of Emma’s tireless support during this time, noting that Emma would stand by her bedside for nights on end.

Additionally, after enduring years of hardship, including being forced from one home to another during the persecutions in Missouri and the financial instability that followed, Emma found some solace in Nauvoo. Despite her many challenges, Nauvoo was the place she considered home, and the familiarity and stability it offered were comforting. Emma had endured countless trials, and she saw Nauvoo as a safe haven where her children could grow up. Why did Emma Smith stay in Nauvoo? The sense of familiarity, her attachment to Joseph’s burial site, and her desire to care for her family were all important reasons for her decision.

Emma’s Relationship with the Church and Leadership

In the months and years following Joseph’s death, Emma’s relationship with the Church became increasingly strained. She did not initially associate herself with any of the groups vying for leadership of the Church after Joseph’s death. Emma’s position was complicated by the succession crisis that followed Joseph’s martyrdom. While Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emerged as the prominent leaders of the Church, Emma did not immediately align herself with their leadership. She felt a strong attachment to Joseph’s legacy and was deeply protective of the materials related to Joseph’s work, such as the manuscript of his new translation of the Bible and the Egyptian papyri.

Emma’s views on plural marriage also influenced her relationship with Church leadership. While some sources suggest that Emma participated in plural marriages, she later denied having consented to or acquiesced to the practice. Why did Emma Smith leave the church or disassociate from the leadership following Joseph’s death? Her feelings of betrayal over the practice of plural marriage, combined with her complex emotions toward the leadership struggle, led to her distancing from the official Church.

Was Emma Smith excommunicated? While she was never formally excommunicated, Emma’s absence from the Church’s major decisions and her growing distance from Brigham Young’s leadership left her on the periphery of the organized faith.

Marriage to Lewis C. Bidamon

In December 1847, Emma remarried Lewis C. Bidamon, a man who was not a member of the Church. This marriage further distanced Emma from Brigham Young and the larger body of Saints who had moved west. Lewis Bidamon was an alcoholic and gambler, but he was also protective of Emma and affectionate toward her and her children. Though they did not have any children together, Lewis helped raise Emma’s children, providing a semblance of stability in her later years.

Emma’s marriage to Bidamon, especially given his non-affiliation with the Church, widened the rift between her and the leadership of the Church in Utah. Her decision to marry outside of the faith drew criticism from Church leaders, including Almon Babbitt, who confronted her about her marriage. Despite the tensions, Emma and Lewis’s relationship continued until her death, with Lewis being a constant companion in her later life. Why did Emma Smith not go to Utah? Her marriage to Lewis, as well as her unwillingness to follow Brigham Young’s leadership, were key reasons for her decision to remain in Nauvoo rather than join the Saints in Utah.

Involvement with the Reorganized Church

As the years passed, Emma’s relationship with the Latter-day Saints in Utah remained strained, but she found a new religious community with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, later known as the Community of Christ. In 1860, Emma’s son, Joseph Smith III, became president of the Reorganized Church, and Emma became involved in its leadership. Her involvement in this movement was significant, as she had a deep belief in the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith’s role as a prophet, even though she distanced herself from Brigham Young’s leadership.

Emma’s views on plural marriage remained a point of contention, with her reportedly denying that Joseph ever sanctioned it. Despite the complexities of her personal beliefs, Emma’s testimony regarding the truth of the Book of Mormon remained unwavering throughout her life. She expressed no doubt about its divine origins, providing an enduring testimony of the faith that had shaped her life.

Death and Legacy

Emma Smith passed away on April 30, 1879, at the age of 76, in Nauvoo. Her final moments were marked by a profound and poignant connection to her late husband. According to her son Alexander, Emma called out “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph” before sitting up in bed, extending her left arm, and saying, “Yes, I am coming,” before collapsing back onto her bed.Emma’s legacy is both complex and deeply influential. She is remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and leader in the early days of the Church. Her courage in the face of persecution, her devotion to Joseph Smith, and her leadership of the Female Relief Society in Nauvoo are all key aspects of her remarkable life. Mormonism owes much to Emma’s contribution to the restoration of the Church and the preservation of its sacred records. Emma Smith’s story is one of resilience, faith, and love, and her contributions to the restoration of the Church are still remembered and celebrated today.

About Mormonism Explained

Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.

Tags