Mormonism Explained
Who Was Emma Smith? A Founding Figure of Mormonism's Story
Emma Smith stands as a pivotal yet complex figure in early Latter-day Saint history, whose resilience, leadership, and compassionate service shaped the foundation of the Church despite enduring persecution, grief, and profound personal conflict.
Overview
Emma Smith stands as a pivotal yet complex figure in early Latter-day Saint history. Born July 10, 1804, in Willingsborough, Pennsylvania, she was raised on a 90-acre farm and developed strong Methodist faith influences. She married Joseph Smith on January 18, 1827, when she was 21 and he was 19, against her family’s initial opposition.
“An Elect Lady”: Emma Smith’s Calling
Following her baptism in 1830, Emma received a revelation documented in Doctrine and Covenants Section 25, designating her as “an elect lady” with responsibilities to comfort the Prophet and teach in the Church. She served as one of Joseph’s earliest scribes during Book of Mormon translation efforts.
In Kirtland during the early 1830s, Emma curated Church hymns alongside William W. Phelps. “The first Latter-day Saint hymnbook was published in her name” in 1835, representing an uncommon leadership role for women at that time.
Emma’s Service, Charity, and Leadership
In Nauvoo, Illinois, Emma expanded her influence significantly:
- Opened her home to the sick, orphaned, and destitute
- Became the first president of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo in March 1842
- Emphasized the principle that “charity never faileth”
- Became the first woman to receive the endowment ordinance
- Served as the community’s unofficial “first lady,” hosting dignitaries and presenting government petitions
Trials, Love, and Endurance
Emma and Joseph’s 17-year marriage combined “sincere devotion and intense conflict.” They faced persistent persecution, infant deaths, financial hardship, and forced relocations. Their correspondence reveals deep affection; Joseph wrote, “My heart is entwined around yours forever and ever.”
A particularly painful dimension involved Joseph’s practice of polygamy. While Emma occasionally consented to his sealings to other women, she struggled considerably with the concept, though documentation on her specific feelings remains limited.
Emma’s Legacy After Joseph Smith’s Death
Joseph Smith’s assassination in June 1844 left Emma grieving and pregnant. Rather than join Brigham Young’s westward migration to the Salt Lake Valley, she remained in Nauvoo. In 1847, she married Lewis C. Bidamon. Emma later affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, led by her son Joseph Smith III.
Emma never formally left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through excommunication—she chose her own path independently. Historians suggest her decision stemmed from concerns about child safety during the dangerous Utah trek and disagreements with Brigham Young’s leadership.
Emma died April 30, 1879, in Nauvoo. By the 1970s, the Latter-day Saint community began reassessing her legacy more charitably, commissioning artwork and referencing her example in religious instruction.
A Lasting Witness of Faith
Though separated from the Utah-based Church, Emma maintained belief in the Book of Mormon and Joseph’s prophetic mission. Early critics viewed her as an apostate, but those who knew her, including Joseph’s mother Lucy Mack Smith, regarded her as exceptionally courageous for enduring immense suffering throughout her life.
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.
