why did emma smith leave the lds church
Emma was baptized in Colesville, New York, on June 28, 1830. The last words out of Emmas mouth when she died were Joseph. When her son became an adult and headed up the Reorganized Church, as it was then known, she joined. Illinois law at the time held that no church could hold more than ten acres of property, and so much of the church's properties were held in Joseph's name. Her first three died so quickly they were not even named. He went to the room where the Committee of Removal was meeting and told them to wind up affairs and be off to save their lives. Emma Smith was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania. Emma did, from time to time, offer approval of specific marriages. In fact, he generally took another man with him or even asked a father or brother to approach the woman. On November 6, 1832, Emma gave birth to Joseph Smith III in the upper room of Whitney's store in Kirtland. He had one illegitimate child and after marrying Emma had another, which she raised, making her a most extraordinary woman. It was the anniversary of the death of the twins she lost in Kirtland. You may be able to get in touch with someone who can answer that question here: Joseph Smith PapersContact Us. The religion he founded continues to the present day, with millions of global adherents. . [72] Roberts, Comprehensive History, 2:3. [100] Stanley B. Kimball, The Saints and St. Louis, 18311857: An Oasis of Tolerance and Security, BYU Studies 13 (Summer 1973): 489519. 3. She wore it in a locket the rest of her life, even after she remarried. I am already engaged on the other side.'[4]. Why I Left The Mormon Church And Why It's A Cult - Peaceful Dumpling These hymns had a great influence on the Saints during the early days of the Church. Those coming from outside Far West suffered because as John Greene wrote, we have been robbed of our corn, wheat, horses, cattle, cows, hogs, wearing apparel, houses and homes, and indeed, of all that renders life tolerable.[19] On November 9 the Missouri Republican Daily reported that the Saints situation was a case of great difficulty because they are generally poor and facing starvation. [12] John Butlers escape route apparently was across northern Missouri. By age 40, Emma had lost her husband, her mother and father, her father-in-law, three brothers-in-law and five children. [119] Henry Jackson petition in Johnson, Mormon Redress Petitions, 247. Elder Kimball said he stayed behind to assist members of the Committee of Removal and to wait upon those in prison. In Far West he had to hide out in the woods during daytime. Conflicts between church members and neighbors also continued to escalate, and eventually Young made the decision to relocate the church to the Salt Lake Valley. The Saints exodus from Missouri took place mostly during winter and involved four main arenas: Far West, Missouri; Quincy, Illinois; a road network between the two cities; and the west shore mudflats across the Mississippi River from Quincy. [25] William F. Cahoon Petition in Johnson, Mormon Redress Petitions, 15253. . The large body of displaced Saints became an economic force and political presence in Illinois and Iowa Territory. [73] Bennett, Quincythe Home of Our Adoption, 86. At Huntsville, the driver said his horses could not go on, so the Knights unhitched the wagon and camped. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. Brigham also doubtless considered Emma dishonest and a liar because she continued to insist that her husband had never taught the doctrine of plural marriage. Her mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, said of her: I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman.. It would be 2 months before she could be confirmed as a member of the Church. While in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith had instructed them to compile statements and affidavits about their losses and sufferings with the design of securing redress from the federal government for the losses they suffered in Missouri (Doctrine and Covenants 123:113). These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. On Nov. 4th, astoundingly, Richard McCarty obtained a warrant for the arrest of the men who had caught him in the act of looting the Gilbert store, charging them with assault and false imprisonment. . 40 Wives Many found refuge not only in Quincy but throughout Adams County and all over western Illinois. To reach safety in Illinois, the closest state, they had to cross the broad Mississippi River, and Quincy had ferryboat facilities. She would lose many of her children. [60] Eliza R. Snow to Esqr. Many nights the floors, upstairs and down, were covered with beds so closely it was impossible to set a foot anywhere without stepping on someone elses bed.[75], Emma Smith and the children arrived on February 15. This made the poisoning accusation plausible for him. [58] Hartley, My Best for the Kingdom, 8790. [18] Diaries of William Huntington, typescript, in Miscellaneous Mormon Diaries, vol. 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.. The exodus had no large, organized wagon trains. Joseph Smith, Jr. was born on 23 December 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. . Shortly, twelve mobbers with rifles entered the tithing office and broke windows, tables, chairs, and seventeen clocks into matchwood. One threw iron pots at Theodore Turley, hitting him in the shoulder. [27] That left the Saints no choice but to leave Missouri as soon as possible. However, the hymns Emma selected were particularly special. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". "Emma seemed to wax and wane in her acceptance of the practice," Delewski said. [46], During February the migration became more intense. Among the stories are: Hidden Mormonism in Orson Scott Card's fiction, Anti-debt diva gives outlandish money-saving ideas, "Travails and triumphs" of Mormon mommies blogging, Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. She carried two children while two others hung on to her skirt. to ignore it entirely. 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. Taking a direction shown him by the Spirit, Samuel and two others found a wigwam where an Indian woman baked cakes for all the company. [79] In its March 2 issue, the Quincy Whig termed the Saints crossing the Mississippi River objects of charity. Because they had been thrown upon our shores destitute, through the oppressive people of Missouri, common humanity must oblige us to aid and relieve them all in our power.[80], On March 5, Bishop Partridge reported from Quincy to Joseph Smith, The people here receive us kindly and are willing that we should enjoy the privileges guaranteed to all civil people without molestation.[81], Joseph Sr. and wife Lucy rented a house or part of it on the northeast corner of Sixth and Hampshire streets. [19] John P. Greene, Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter-day Saints from the State of Missouri, Under the Exterminating Order (Cincinnati: R. P. Brooks, 1839), 8. They developed communities, farms, roads, livestock herds, commerce, and trade in parts of Adam and Hancock counties, Illinois, and in Lee County, Iowa. [30] John Taylor, Alanson Ripley, Brigham Young, Theodore Turley, Heber C. Kimball, John Smith (the Prophets uncle), and Don C. Smith (the Prophets brother). Her funeral was held May 2, 1879, in Nauvoo with RLDS Church minister Mark Hill Forscutt preaching the sermon. She held on to her faith in God, in the gospel, and in Joseph Smith as a prophet throughout it all. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. [91] On April 18, when a group of anti-Mormons found him at the public square, they threatened to blow his brains out and tried to ride over him with their horses. But only three of the two dozen adults in Knight family network faltered. Emma certainly made errors in judgment, as do we all. This is why, according to Delewski, the movie "Emma Smith: My Story" shows her outriding Joseph Smith. She would smile with her lips, but to me, as small as I was, I never saw the brown eyes smile. So without further ado, here is my list of 21 reasons leaving the Mormon Church might be a great idea, even if it is true. The hymnbook she created included familiar favorites from other denominations and hymns newly written specifically for the Latter-day Saints. Emma Smith and the Pain of Polygamy | by Holly Hardy | Medium On February 19 or 20, Joseph Smiths parents, Joseph Sr. and Lucy, finally joined the exodus. Martha, about eight months pregnant, said, To hear them [children] crying at night with their feet cracked and bleeding was hardly bearable. She found them both bleeding badly. More than 1,400 descendants of 1839 exiled Mormons came to Quincy and, attired like pioneers, represented their ancestors and walked across the Memorial Bridge to reach Quincy from Missouri. When morning came, he and Abraham Smoot crossed to Quincy, leaving their families with the wagon. It took me a minute to find what you were looking at, but if I am correct, I see the PMs in Emma Smiths original hymnbook. [86] Truman O. Angell Journal, reprinted in Kate B. Carter, comp., Our Pioneer Heritage (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1967), 10:199. 3 The process, like so many other endeavors in her life, Print. Emmas life was a complex one. Jeremy made the Letter available online. Both the Church and Joseph Smith personally were heavily in debt at the time of the martyrdom. Why? On the Joseph Smith Papers website, readers can turn through the original hymnbook page by page. Some sneaked southward to the Missouri River and took boat passage to St. Each comment will be reviewed by a staff member before it will appear on the site. Sorry about that! He attended school as they courted, trying to live up to her. [123], Ghost towns and farms. During that period, the place was a hive of activity; Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, and Oliver Cowdery were boarding with the Whitmers, and other people (including curiosity-seekers) were constantly coming and going. It wasnt just that she was the mother of, It wasnt just that she clashed with Young so severely that he once claimed that more hell was never wrapped up in any human being than there is in her., And it wasnt just that she later helped her son found. Its almost as if youre holding the hymnbook in your own hands. Terrie, you are a treasure. [61] That same day, Eliza R. Snow and relatives, who had wintered seven miles from Far West, started for Illinois. Emma Smith, My Story Removes False Traditions That party came to include Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, and John Taylor. 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. Mercy should be the watchwordnot blood, not extermination, not misery.. On February 19 the committee sent Charles Bird to visit Caldwell County and William Huntington Far West to determine how many families still needed assistance to move and to solicit means to help them. [75] Wandle Mace Autobiography, typescript, 3132, Perry Special Collections. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. Much business of consequence was accomplished during the day, Elder Woodruff noted, adding, It truly gave us great Joy to once more sit in conference with Br. Nearly three hundred made that covenant and signed pledges. [95] Kenney, Wilford Woodruffs Journal, 1:329. It turned out that such calls had gone out to bishops and stake presidents in several states. Their first twenty miles was through snow six inches deep. They numbered twelve families with more than sixty souls, having surnames of Knight, DeMille, Peck, Slade, Culver, and Stringham. Shortly after Joseph's brother, William, was born in 1811, the Smiths moved to the small community of West Lebanon, New Hampshire. During this time, their relationship improved and Joseph may have agreed to stop taking on additional wives. Joseph and Emma adopt the Murdock twins nine days after birth. He referred to a handmade chart that showed the homes Emma Smith had during her 17-year marriage to Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith. When the river opened, the Thomases used two boats to move their effects across, while Daniel and son Morgan, twelve, stayed behind to ferry the cow across later. Hope this helps! In September 1843, Emma was the first woman to receive the endowment. [84] Aroet Hale, Autobiography, typescript, 6, Perry Special Collections. [28] Greene, Expulsion of the Saints from Missouri, 8. Emma Smith & Mary Whitmer Witnesses to the Gold Plates He and his friends traveled on foot. We have to look at her entire life, not just one portion of it. The Smith family. Innumerable able-bodied men needed jobs. They passed Saints heading east, including Elder John E. Page, who turned around and joined them. When one was unable to find employment, she hired Jane Manning herself. Being forced from Missouri posed a test of faith that most Saints passed, but some failed, as the extended Knight family illustrates. By October 1839, King Follett had his trial, and because the charges of robbery were unsubstantiated, he was set free. She endured the jeering and insults of mobs. [117] Benjamin F. Johnson observed that during the rest of 1839 in the Nauvoo area, the people had flocked in from the terible exposures of the past and Nearly every one was Sick with intemitant or other fevers of which many diedIn this time of great Sickness poverty & death.[118] Henry Jackson claimed the Marchs Stormy blasts of Snow & rain so affected his Sight that he was not able to work.[119] The exodus caused considrable sickness for the Levi Hancock family.[120] Mosiah Hancock, the boy who had crossed the Mississippi ice barefoot, was an emaciated lad for many months. In intense cold, Lydia recalled, they sometimes scraped away snow beside the wagon so they could put down their beds at night. I attended the premier of the Emma Smith Story [with] several of my children and grandchildren. He had even dislocated his jaw while vomiting once before; and five weeks after the 1843 dinner episode, he was sick again, vomiting more violently than ever. [89] Leo R. Rogers, Willis Rogers and Elizabeth Bessie Ritchie with Their Ancestors and Descendants (Bountiful, UT: L. R. Rogers, ca. William G. Hartley, The Saints Forced Exodus from Missouri, in Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer, ed. As one said, those who moved during the winter traveled in colde weather thinly clad and porly furnished with provisions.[40] Women without their husbands had harder times of it than those with husbands. 2022 FAIR Conference videos are now available to watch! She move 18 times and lived in 13 houses. Turley, Richard E., and Brittany A. Chapman. . In the same year, Smith founded the Church of Christlater known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsin Fayette Township. In December 1838 and early January 1839, the Missouri state legislature, by a close vote, refused to overturn Governor Boggss extermination order. [35], On February 11 the committee accepted applications for assistance, and the next day they appointed Theodore Turley to superintend the management of the teams provided for removing the poor. The plan was for some wagons to go east, unload passengers and belongings at the Mississippi, and then return empty to help others move out. Because Joseph Smith was in prison during the exodus, attention focuses here on Joseph Smiths parents, his wife Emma, Elders Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, and four selected families: the John and Caroline Butler family, the Newel and Lydia Knight family, the Daniel and Martha Thomas family, and the Levi and Clarissa Hancock family. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . She also learned how to cook and be a good host when her parents ran a boarding house. How come Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, joined the RLDS church instead of A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of the Latter Day Saints, https://www.lds.org/music/index/hymns/title-tune-meter?lang=eng&_r=1, https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/HTML/what_is_meter.htm. Joseph Smith in Northern Missouri, 1838 - Religious Studies Center At the time of her birth, her parents had a good relationship with a prominent local family, which may have affected her name selection. The following article was originally publishedin December 2015. [104] Donna Toland Smart, Exemplary Elder: The Life and Missionary Diaries of Perrigrine Sessions, 18141893 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies and Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History, 2002), 43. Understanding how early Saints worked earnestly to build up the Church helps us better appreciate the value of their work. Joseph Smith, when asked, advised leaders to obtain properties where the Saints could collect rather than scatter, and he developed Nauvoo to be the next gathering place.[115]. "My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticityI have not the slightest doubt of it," she testified in an interview she gave late in life. The temple site has been salvaged and given modern landscaping, but no houses remain. She wrote to him that only God knew how hard it was for her to flee her home with her children, abandoning all her possessions and leaving her husband to endure whatever was to come. The CES Director apparently never got around to responding. Latest from Mormon Land: Slowest church growth since 1857; 'surprise My 11 year old granddaughter who is not baptized into the LDS Church wanted a poster after which we obtained and she visited with the actors and actresses. Brigham Young, remembering the covenant he asked the Saints in Far West to make to help move those in need, had members similarly covenant when preparing to leave Nauvoo for the West. Whats especially interesting to me about the unfolding historiography of Emma Smith is that she herself would have been happy with the disappearance of polygamy and Josephs other wives from Mormonisms official party line. They belonged to a large, extended family headed by Joseph Knight Sr., who converted to Mormonism in New York state in 1830, the year the Church was organized. 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.