Dear Emma

"Dear Emma,
I have such respect and admiration for you. I couldn't have done what you did. I couldn't have been as strong as you were. I too probably wouldn't have followed the Saints out west after all that happened. You amaze me and I can not wait until the day I am able to talk to you. I will probably give you a big hug. After reading and preparing for my lesson on you for my young woman, all I kept thinking about was the need to give you a hug and say thank you!
Much Love,
Meghan"

...
Seriously, this woman was incredible!! I prepared a lesson on Emma Smith for my laurels this last Sunday. I started going through LDS.org to find some information and just couldn't seem to get alot of personal info on Emma. So I googled her name. Sure enough I fell onto a website that was started by Emma Smith's Great-great granddaughter who joined the church when she was a young adult.

http://www.emmasmithmormon.com/

Gracia N. Jones gave a biographical account of Emma Smith that was published in the Aug 1992 Ensign. I felt that if the church would publish it in the Ensign then it was approved for me to use it in my lesson.

I learned so many fantastic things about Emma!
I learned she was 5 months pregnant when the Prophet, Joseph Smith (her husband) was murdered. She gave birth to their last child, David Hyrum, at the beginning of November.
I learned that the evening that she found out about her husband and brother in law's death was when Governor Ford and 60 of his men showed up to her house to be given dinner at 5pm. They decided to tell her the news around 10pm that night. (What nerve!!)
I learned that through all the trials and challenges that she faced, that even up until she was about to die, she never ONCE denied the divine authenticity of the Gospel nor the Book of Mormon.
I learned that I too probably wouldn't have followed the saints out west when I had 6 previous children die, seen the horrific things she saw, had my husband murdered, no land or provisions, a 10 month old child and 4 other young children, and an elderly mother in law to take care of. I think it was just too much for her to do.
I learned that she remarried a man who seemed to be a really great guy. That he took care of her children and raised them as if they were his own. He built her a house on the very land that Joseph had promised her.
I learned that in the end she saw a vision of Jospeh... one that I can not do justice to by writing myself so I will give to you directly:
Emma lived almost thirty-five years after the martyrdom of her Prophet-husband. She died 30 April 1879 in her seventy-fifth year. In her last years she was greatly loved, and in the last hours of her life she was attended by her family: Louis Bidamon, Julia, Joseph III, 26 and Alexander. According to Alexander, Emma seemed to sink away, but then she raised up and stretched out her hand, calling, “Joseph! Joseph!” Falling back on Alexander’s arm, she clasped her hands on her bosom, and her spirit was gone. Both Alexander and Joseph thought she was calling for her son Joseph, but later, Alexander learned more about the incident. Sister Elizabeth Revel, Emma’s nurse, explained that a few days earlier Emma had told her that Joseph came to her in a vision and said, “Emma, come with me, it is time for you to come with me.” “As Emma related it, she said, ‘I put on my bonnet and my shawl and went with him; I did not think that it was anything unusual. I went with him into a mansion, and he showed me through the different apartments of that beautiful mansion.’ And one room was the nursery. In that nursery was a babe in the cradle. She said, ‘I knew my babe, my Don Carlos that was taken from me.’ She sprang forward, caught the child up in her arms, and wept with joy over the child. When Emma recovered herself sufficient she turned to Joseph and said, ‘Joseph, where are the rest of my children.’ He said to her, ‘Emma, be patient and you shall have all of your children.’ Then she saw standing by his side a personage of light, even the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Did you cry?? I sure did!!

I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt that the Book of Mormon was brought to us by divine inspiration AND that it is another testiment of Jesus Christ along with the Holy Bible. I know that my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, appreared to Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph was an imperfect human, that being called as a prophet of God did not miraculously change him to being perfect. But non-the-less he was a prophet of God that did the best he knew to bring to pass the imortality and eternal life to men! I know the gospel to be true. I know Emma Smith to be a wonderful lady who suffered more than any of us could even begin to think to judge.
I know that my life is complete and full of peace and joy because of the things I know to be true.

I have a testimony that is unshakable. I have a testimony that ALL that Joseph Smith did in his short life was to glorify God, not himself.
I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love his wife Emma. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior for blessing my life with the knowledge I have.
In our Saviors name,
AMEN!