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Emma Hale Smith (1804 - 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. and an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. She was also the first president of the Relief Society, one of the world's oldest and largest women's organizations. She was to many an amazing woman and an inspiration.
Early Life
Emma was born in Harmony, Pennsylvania, as the seventh child of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Hale.
Emma and Joseph Smith, Jr. married, 18 January 1827, at South Bainbridge, New York.
"Elect Lady"
6 April 1830, Joseph Smith and 5 other men established the "Church of Christ" (Officially changed to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1838) in upstate New York.
Emma was baptised in June 1830. A few weeks following her baptism a revelation was given through Joseph stating, "thou art an elect lady, whom I have called...And thou shalt be ordained under his hand (Joseph) to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church" [1] (http://kirtlandtemple.org/hymns/electladyfull.htm). The text also calls for Emma to "make a selection of sacred Hymns."
Hymns and Hymnals
In June 1832 a selection of six hymns were published in the first issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, an early church periodical [2] (http://www.centerplace.org/history/ems/v1n01.htm#8).
The first church hymnal came off the press in 1836 (and maybe late 1835) at Kirtland, Ohio [3] (http://kirtlandtemple.org/hymns/hymnal1835.htm). It was entited Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints and contained 90 hymn texts (no music). More than half of the texts were borrowed from other Protestant traditions, but often changed slightly to reinforce the theology of the early church. For example, Hymn 15, changes Isaac Watts' "Joy to the World!" from a song about Christmas to a song about the return of Christ: "Joy to the world! the Lord will come!" Most of these changes as well as a large number of the original songs included in the hymnal are attributed to W. W. Phelps.
Emma also compilied a second hymnal by the same title, which was published in Nauvoo, Illinois, 1841. This contained 304 hymn texts.
When her son, Joseph Smith III, in 1860 was called as the president/prophet of the Reorganization (now known as Community of Christ) she was again asked to compile a hymnal. Latter Day Saints' Selection of Hymns was published in 1861, although the extent of her involvement is not known.
Female Relief Society of Nauvoo
Emma was elected as the first president of the Relief Society of Nauvoo, 17 March 1842. The organization was formed to "provoke the brethren to good works in looking to the wants of the poor, (search) after objects of charity...(and) to assist by correcting the virtues of the female community," according to the minutes of the Relief Society.
After Joseph
A mob of about 200 armed men stormed Carthage Jail in the late afternoon of 27 June, 1844. Gun shots killed both Joseph and his brother Hyrum.
In Nauvoo, Illinois where the body of the church had gathered, there was growing resistance towards the church. Following the completion of the Nauvoo Temple most members of the church followed the leadership of Brigham Young and moved west to the Great Basin, now Utah. Others rejected Brigham Young's leadership.
Emma, who became very much opposed to Young, stayed with her children in Nauvoo. On 23 December 1847, she married Lewis Bidamon.
Emma died peacefully, 30 April 1879. Her memorial service was held 2 May 1879 in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Polygamy
Newell and Avery, in their biography, Mormon Enigma, cite evidence that Emma may have witnessed several marrages of Joseph to plural wifes. However, Emma was much opposed to polygamy and always denied Joseph Smith's involvement in the pratice and raised her children as such.
Her son, Joseph Smith III, became prophet/president of the Reorganization (Community of Christ). Naturally, opposition to polygamy and denial of Smith, Jr.'s involvement became a strong conviction of the church. Recent historical research, however, has caused many Community of Christ members to question this traditional denial.
References
- Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith (New York: Doubleday, 1984), 394 pp.
- Michael Hicks, Mormonism and Music: A History, (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1989; [Paperback Ed., 2003]), 243 pp.
External Links
- Emma Tribute/Hymn Festival (http://kirtlandtemple.org/hymns/program072004.htm) Information on Emma's life and contribution to hymnody (bicentenial celebration)
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