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Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith
Winner of the Evans Biography Award, the Mormon History Association Best Book Award, and the John Whitmer Association (RLDS) Best Book Award . Mormon Enigma is the bestselling biography of Emma Hale Smith, wife of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith. It was Joseph Smith who announced that an angel of the Lord had commanded him to introduce a 'new order of marriage.' And it was Emma Hale Smith who confronted the practice of polygamy head on. As the authors note in their introduction, "Early leaders in Utah castigated Emma from their pulpits for opposing Brigham Young and the practice of polygamy, and for lending support to the Reorganization. As these attitudes filtered down through the years, Emma was virtually written out of official Utah histories. In this biography, we have attempted to reconstruct the full story of this remarkable and much misunderstood woman's experiences.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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June 4, 2008
OK. I think that when a book helps a feminist Mormon get closer to terms with a long, internal battle with polygamy it should get a "hurrah" and 5 stars. I loved reading this book. I know it had a lot of controversy when it was first published, but I found it non-biased and was surprised to see it was not anti-mormon at all. Sometimes we think that if something doesn't paint the church in a perfect light we should ignore it. I, however, felt so excited to really learn about Emma herself, as I had not known anything about her individually that was not painted through Joseph's story. Reading this helped me see that the early LDS church was not organized the way it is today and that it was just humans trying to do what they thought it was the Lord wanted to build up his restored church. I think the animosity between Brigham Young and Emma was unavoidable because things were left so unclear when Joseph was killed. I think all those familiar with the LDS church should read this because we live in fear almost of discussing anything controversial and I declare that I delved into the nitty-gritty and proclaim that it is not that bad. Emma was an incredible lady and was just doing what she thought was right. In fact, I believe they all were. That allows me to be more comfortable and more forgiving with some of the things that went on that I don't really agree with. I think it is the perfect end to Emma's life for to call out "Joseph, Joseph, I'm coming...". They really loved each other. Let's just hope he doesn't the Partridge sisters on each arm when he greets her. (Ha. Sorry. I said I came closer to terms, not all the way.)
I have really enjoyed reading "Escape", "Saints" and now "Mormon Enigma". I feel like I've seen it from all sides.
I have really enjoyed reading "Escape", "Saints" and now "Mormon Enigma". I feel like I've seen it from all sides.
October 22, 2008
Mormonism has had a bit of a schizophrenic relationship with Emma Smith. Over 150 years, she's been seen as everything from a "devil" to the epitome of the stereotypical selfless at all times, saintly, angelically feminine Mormon woman (the apparent most-favored status of Mormonism today given some recent Mormon culture movies and books). This book is essentially the definitive work on her history and biography, and can be pointed to as one of, if not the cause of Emma's extremely positive (and oftentimes romantic) image prevalent in current mormondom.
Prior to its release, not much of good was published on Emma Smith. This project took on the expanse of her life, originally clocking in at thousands of pages, and finally painted a real picture of Emma Hale Smith Bidamon, warts and all, as they say. That's the essential backdrop for the biography. Much inside of this book may be new and fairly shocking to those who have no to little knowledge of early LDS Church history, particularly concerning the initial practice of polygamy. Regardless, much of the book revolves around the effects of polygamy on Emma's life, relationships and psyche, as it must, since the issue was central to her life's struggle.
Without going into further detail about its entirety, I will give a quick review of my thoughts on the book. First of all, I appreciated the thorough work the authors completed, which helped me gain a full picture of Emma and her struggles. This woman was a saint in every sense of the word. I don't believe that she was perfect, by no means. During my reading, though , I kept thinking of and comparing her to Job - though, I think Job may have had it easier, to be quite frank. Within the framework of the book, there were certainly times where I felt the authors' new-found kinship with Emma biased them to her cause, and at times, she seemed too untouchably perfect, while other players (particularly Brigham Young) came off a bit too dastardly. Still, this bent was minor and forgivable.
I was blown away by Emma's charity. While many Mormons whisper the folklore of her pushing one or another of the Elizas down the stairs (dubious info, apparently), there is rarely real-world discussion of the sacrifices she made for others throughout her life and well into old age. For example, her second husband's (Lewis Bidamon) infidelity led to the birth of a child by a woman who was unable to care for the child. Emma forgave Bidamon, took the child into her own care and raised it as her own to protect it from any judgment of illegitimacy, and even invited Bidamon's lover into her household so she could earn money cooking and cleaning and be close to her child (and apparently, the two women forged a loyal bond). This act, as many others related in the book, was simply astounding to me.
In a nutshell, my view of Emma as a result of reading this book, is that she had an amazing aptitude for faith and charity, that she was minimally equal to Joseph in those areas, and that she was tried to an extent I hope to never have to experience. In the face of those trials, though, which extended throughout her entire life, there were times when she was plainly human - making dubious claims about her knowledge of the practice of polygamy to her son, Joseph Smith III, for example. For her humanity, I can lay no blame, and only admire and appreciate its beauty.
This book is a page-turning look at a completely fascinating woman, perhaps one of America's greatest women - which I say not due to bias as a Mormon, but because of the particular place she occupied in part of America's history and because of the tragedies and triumphs of her life.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Mormon history, women's issues (particularly 18-19th century), or anyone interested in a fascinating character study. The key word in the title, "Enigma," is very telling, indeed.
Prior to its release, not much of good was published on Emma Smith. This project took on the expanse of her life, originally clocking in at thousands of pages, and finally painted a real picture of Emma Hale Smith Bidamon, warts and all, as they say. That's the essential backdrop for the biography. Much inside of this book may be new and fairly shocking to those who have no to little knowledge of early LDS Church history, particularly concerning the initial practice of polygamy. Regardless, much of the book revolves around the effects of polygamy on Emma's life, relationships and psyche, as it must, since the issue was central to her life's struggle.
Without going into further detail about its entirety, I will give a quick review of my thoughts on the book. First of all, I appreciated the thorough work the authors completed, which helped me gain a full picture of Emma and her struggles. This woman was a saint in every sense of the word. I don't believe that she was perfect, by no means. During my reading, though , I kept thinking of and comparing her to Job - though, I think Job may have had it easier, to be quite frank. Within the framework of the book, there were certainly times where I felt the authors' new-found kinship with Emma biased them to her cause, and at times, she seemed too untouchably perfect, while other players (particularly Brigham Young) came off a bit too dastardly. Still, this bent was minor and forgivable.
I was blown away by Emma's charity. While many Mormons whisper the folklore of her pushing one or another of the Elizas down the stairs (dubious info, apparently), there is rarely real-world discussion of the sacrifices she made for others throughout her life and well into old age. For example, her second husband's (Lewis Bidamon) infidelity led to the birth of a child by a woman who was unable to care for the child. Emma forgave Bidamon, took the child into her own care and raised it as her own to protect it from any judgment of illegitimacy, and even invited Bidamon's lover into her household so she could earn money cooking and cleaning and be close to her child (and apparently, the two women forged a loyal bond). This act, as many others related in the book, was simply astounding to me.
In a nutshell, my view of Emma as a result of reading this book, is that she had an amazing aptitude for faith and charity, that she was minimally equal to Joseph in those areas, and that she was tried to an extent I hope to never have to experience. In the face of those trials, though, which extended throughout her entire life, there were times when she was plainly human - making dubious claims about her knowledge of the practice of polygamy to her son, Joseph Smith III, for example. For her humanity, I can lay no blame, and only admire and appreciate its beauty.
This book is a page-turning look at a completely fascinating woman, perhaps one of America's greatest women - which I say not due to bias as a Mormon, but because of the particular place she occupied in part of America's history and because of the tragedies and triumphs of her life.
I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Mormon history, women's issues (particularly 18-19th century), or anyone interested in a fascinating character study. The key word in the title, "Enigma," is very telling, indeed.
July 30, 2020
I don't know why I put off reading this for so long, and wish I would have read it earlier to educate myself. I wish MORE people from my church (the LDS church) would read this. When I was 13 at a girls camp up in the mountains they had a woman come dressed as Emma Smith in pioneer clothing, sitting in a rocking chair, talk about her life and it just got me - I remember thinking "Wait just a second - this lady got the shaft!" - and no one ever talked about it!
Emma Smith was the wife of Joseph Smith, the man who found the golden plates and translated the Book of Mormon and started the Mormon Church. Her family thought she was making a huge mistake for marrying him, but she did it anyway and followed him around as he made his living as a prophet of a new church. It wasn't easy. She lost children, had to leave homes and possessions behind over and over and was constantly - and I mean constantly caring for other people who were sick, or needed a home, or whatever. The Smiths took them in with Emma doing the heavy lifting as far as care was concerned. I was so impressed with her service- she raised children that were not hers, nursed the sick, fed the hungry, etc.
The authors did an amazingly thorough job of drawing a picture of Emma through the writings and context of those around her because Emma didn't leave a journal or many letters of her own, which is really a shame. So unlike other biographies where you come away having peeped right into the subject's private letters you rarely get that chance with Emma Smith - we're kept at a little distance from her private thoughts most of the time. Some of what we know is second and third hand accounts of what she said based on what others have told later.
It was absolutely fascinating to read about the organization of the church and its (in my opinion) stumble into polygamy which Joseph Smith kept a secret from the general congregation as well as his own wife for a long time. As people found out and were in turns hugely disappointed and upset, and as Joseph tried to convince them to come around to the idea I found myself enormously relieved that even early on in the church people were just like me - what? no...this CANNOT be right. If everyone's consciences were screaming against it, and the very idea had to be passed around in secret and kept from his own wife, was it really truly a commandment from heaven? I just can't see it. It appears neither could Emma, and once she found out there were problems. Joseph promised to give it up, then didn't, then promised again, then didn't. It was painful. And so sad. They clearly loved each other, but his conduct about this was heartbreaking for her.
And then he was murdered and the elders of the church decided to move the people West and wanted to pack up all of Joseph's belongings and go. The only problem was, those were also Emma's belongings since they were married. She didn't want to give them everything and they wanted it - his papers, his desk, his possessions, his money. It got a little ugly. They tried to convince her to come with them but she wanted to stay in Nauvoo and try to work out if any of the land left in Joseph's name would be worth anything to help her and her children survive (mostly it was a huge amount of debts).
The relationship between Emma and Brigham Young fell apart over the years which made me sad. He gave speeches - public speeches! from the pulpit as the prophet! - calling her a woman of Satan and saying she had lost her way and was ruined because she stepped away from the church. I was really disappointed in him. Come on man, we thought you were better than that.
In another "cover up the truth for history" moment Emma raised her sons by telling them their father never taught polygamy nor practiced it. This made anyone and everyone who knew Joseph Smith say "uh, actually...." and gave poor Joseph Smith III (her son) a big headache and caused a lot of running around while he interviewed people trying to get to the bottom of it. It was no big mystery - he SPOKE to women who WERE MARRIED TO THIS DAD. Joseph had been asked to lead the Reorganized Latter Day Saint Church by members who had split off from the original LDS church - those who were upset about polygamy in the very first place. So Joseph took up the job and spent a long time trying to prove his Dad never meant for polygamy to happen. If Emma could have just told the poor guy the truth and what pain it had caused her, it would have made things a lot easier.
Nothing about her life was easy, nor was this book easy to read. But I'm glad I read it and understand the history of something I belong to better. I wish that organization could labels its mistakes as such though, it would sure clear things up. What I liked about this book especially is that it shows all these people I usually learn about in such heroic, "made no mistakes" terms as regular people who were living in this very unusual time and navigating it the best they could.
Emma Smith was the wife of Joseph Smith, the man who found the golden plates and translated the Book of Mormon and started the Mormon Church. Her family thought she was making a huge mistake for marrying him, but she did it anyway and followed him around as he made his living as a prophet of a new church. It wasn't easy. She lost children, had to leave homes and possessions behind over and over and was constantly - and I mean constantly caring for other people who were sick, or needed a home, or whatever. The Smiths took them in with Emma doing the heavy lifting as far as care was concerned. I was so impressed with her service- she raised children that were not hers, nursed the sick, fed the hungry, etc.
The authors did an amazingly thorough job of drawing a picture of Emma through the writings and context of those around her because Emma didn't leave a journal or many letters of her own, which is really a shame. So unlike other biographies where you come away having peeped right into the subject's private letters you rarely get that chance with Emma Smith - we're kept at a little distance from her private thoughts most of the time. Some of what we know is second and third hand accounts of what she said based on what others have told later.
It was absolutely fascinating to read about the organization of the church and its (in my opinion) stumble into polygamy which Joseph Smith kept a secret from the general congregation as well as his own wife for a long time. As people found out and were in turns hugely disappointed and upset, and as Joseph tried to convince them to come around to the idea I found myself enormously relieved that even early on in the church people were just like me - what? no...this CANNOT be right. If everyone's consciences were screaming against it, and the very idea had to be passed around in secret and kept from his own wife, was it really truly a commandment from heaven? I just can't see it. It appears neither could Emma, and once she found out there were problems. Joseph promised to give it up, then didn't, then promised again, then didn't. It was painful. And so sad. They clearly loved each other, but his conduct about this was heartbreaking for her.
And then he was murdered and the elders of the church decided to move the people West and wanted to pack up all of Joseph's belongings and go. The only problem was, those were also Emma's belongings since they were married. She didn't want to give them everything and they wanted it - his papers, his desk, his possessions, his money. It got a little ugly. They tried to convince her to come with them but she wanted to stay in Nauvoo and try to work out if any of the land left in Joseph's name would be worth anything to help her and her children survive (mostly it was a huge amount of debts).
The relationship between Emma and Brigham Young fell apart over the years which made me sad. He gave speeches - public speeches! from the pulpit as the prophet! - calling her a woman of Satan and saying she had lost her way and was ruined because she stepped away from the church. I was really disappointed in him. Come on man, we thought you were better than that.
In another "cover up the truth for history" moment Emma raised her sons by telling them their father never taught polygamy nor practiced it. This made anyone and everyone who knew Joseph Smith say "uh, actually...." and gave poor Joseph Smith III (her son) a big headache and caused a lot of running around while he interviewed people trying to get to the bottom of it. It was no big mystery - he SPOKE to women who WERE MARRIED TO THIS DAD. Joseph had been asked to lead the Reorganized Latter Day Saint Church by members who had split off from the original LDS church - those who were upset about polygamy in the very first place. So Joseph took up the job and spent a long time trying to prove his Dad never meant for polygamy to happen. If Emma could have just told the poor guy the truth and what pain it had caused her, it would have made things a lot easier.
Nothing about her life was easy, nor was this book easy to read. But I'm glad I read it and understand the history of something I belong to better. I wish that organization could labels its mistakes as such though, it would sure clear things up. What I liked about this book especially is that it shows all these people I usually learn about in such heroic, "made no mistakes" terms as regular people who were living in this very unusual time and navigating it the best they could.
October 25, 2011
because it is the ONLY biography of Emma Smith, who I would LOVE to better understand and sympathize with, and because it IS loaded w/ research, I have to give it credit, but as SIL Kristen pointed out, it's the bibliography, not the writing that made the book. Honestly, I felt like I was listening to two old biddies (sorry authors!) gossiping half the time. Many of the accounts are from long ago memories or from less than reliable sources, which they often admit, but even with their trying to stay unbiased, there were two things that troubled me most about the authors' approach:
1-they OFTEN supposed a LOT (Emma surely felt...; of course Emma would have met this situation with...), and it seemed to me they imposed their own ideas of how things must have fit together and what kind of a person she was. Granted--can anyone possibly write a biography of someone w/ NO PERSONAL accounts withOUT doing this??--probably not---maybe I just didn't sympathize with these authors as I would like to sympathize with Emma. It seemed to me that the authors hated polygamy, and used that position to justify any of Emma's negative image. While she clearly struggled with the issue of polygamy (who wouldn't???!!)--we simply DON'T KNOW all of what she was dealing with.
2-they seemed to try and write without ANY Spirit, which CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!! How many examples do I have in my own life of decisions I've made or things that have happened or things I believe that I KNOW don't sound sensible or logical, but because of the Spirit, either the strength or the peace or the sure clarity it gives me, I can move forward?? And ESPECIALLY in a situation like Emma's, and ESPECIALLY in a time and culture that so THRIVED off of spiritual witnesses, it is so ill-fitting to tell her story as though she was worn down, or gradually convinced, or talked into. When even the miracle of the quails was described as just a matter-of-fact occurrence that some people saw as amazing, I stopped trying to love the book. For a better example of recounting spiritual experiences without losing objectivity, I have LOVED Rough Stone Rolling about Joseph Smith (which I naturally picked up while reading this).
All said, I did appreciate the VERY difficult research, and the added depth to Emma's character that I gained from reading the book. She WAS an amazing example of charity the way she was constantly serving others, nursing others, and taking others in, no matter how dire her own circumstances--AMAZING benevolence, and she clearly was a strong woman, who was able to express and carry herself well. It is sad to me how much she and the church were distanced from each other for so long, and I am glad we now hang her portrait in our Relief Society Rooms, to acknowledge all of her contributions, her love of the temple and Book of Mormon, and her honestly amazing example. I don't think any other book has ever made me want SO BADLY to KEEP A JOURNAL!!!! I just feel like there are still so many holes; I don't feel like this book was true to her --though how to be, I admittedly don't know how!
1-they OFTEN supposed a LOT (Emma surely felt...; of course Emma would have met this situation with...), and it seemed to me they imposed their own ideas of how things must have fit together and what kind of a person she was. Granted--can anyone possibly write a biography of someone w/ NO PERSONAL accounts withOUT doing this??--probably not---maybe I just didn't sympathize with these authors as I would like to sympathize with Emma. It seemed to me that the authors hated polygamy, and used that position to justify any of Emma's negative image. While she clearly struggled with the issue of polygamy (who wouldn't???!!)--we simply DON'T KNOW all of what she was dealing with.
2-they seemed to try and write without ANY Spirit, which CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!! How many examples do I have in my own life of decisions I've made or things that have happened or things I believe that I KNOW don't sound sensible or logical, but because of the Spirit, either the strength or the peace or the sure clarity it gives me, I can move forward?? And ESPECIALLY in a situation like Emma's, and ESPECIALLY in a time and culture that so THRIVED off of spiritual witnesses, it is so ill-fitting to tell her story as though she was worn down, or gradually convinced, or talked into. When even the miracle of the quails was described as just a matter-of-fact occurrence that some people saw as amazing, I stopped trying to love the book. For a better example of recounting spiritual experiences without losing objectivity, I have LOVED Rough Stone Rolling about Joseph Smith (which I naturally picked up while reading this).
All said, I did appreciate the VERY difficult research, and the added depth to Emma's character that I gained from reading the book. She WAS an amazing example of charity the way she was constantly serving others, nursing others, and taking others in, no matter how dire her own circumstances--AMAZING benevolence, and she clearly was a strong woman, who was able to express and carry herself well. It is sad to me how much she and the church were distanced from each other for so long, and I am glad we now hang her portrait in our Relief Society Rooms, to acknowledge all of her contributions, her love of the temple and Book of Mormon, and her honestly amazing example. I don't think any other book has ever made me want SO BADLY to KEEP A JOURNAL!!!! I just feel like there are still so many holes; I don't feel like this book was true to her --though how to be, I admittedly don't know how!
May 6, 2010
This book failed me on two accounts first on a historical account and second on a spiritual one. I’ll start with the first. I think it is lacking at best to use references written 40 years after the events took place, it is slanderous and defamatory at worst to do so. For example, the author uses journals written in 1872 and 1886 about events that allegedly happened in 1835, and from apostate members. So just to put it in a sentence or less, roughly 37 years after events took place, people who hated the church and Joseph Smith were writing down what happened, and these are the many of the references the authors repeatedly reference. What would Deloris Kerns Goodwin say about that?
Secondly, on a more personal level, this book makes startling allegations against Joseph Smith that I couldn’t even bring myself to repeat. I wish I could sit down with the author and ask her if she really understands why this book was so offensive and ask her why she wrote it. Was she trying to make a martyr out of Emma by disparaging the Prophet? Based on what little knowledge I have about Emma I don’t think she’d like that. I just didn’t understand the book. I will say this, however, what I loved about the book is that I felt venomous rage when the author would blithely allude to something immoral Joseph was involved in. I didn’t know I had it in me to defend him so much. I didn’t know how much I love this man and I guess I have the authors to thank for that?!
Secondly, on a more personal level, this book makes startling allegations against Joseph Smith that I couldn’t even bring myself to repeat. I wish I could sit down with the author and ask her if she really understands why this book was so offensive and ask her why she wrote it. Was she trying to make a martyr out of Emma by disparaging the Prophet? Based on what little knowledge I have about Emma I don’t think she’d like that. I just didn’t understand the book. I will say this, however, what I loved about the book is that I felt venomous rage when the author would blithely allude to something immoral Joseph was involved in. I didn’t know I had it in me to defend him so much. I didn’t know how much I love this man and I guess I have the authors to thank for that?!
April 30, 2008
I feel like such a history buff. I read this at a friend's suggestion and I'm glad I did. It's true that history changes depending on who wrote it because this book has a very different feel than the Bushman book on Joseph Smith I read a couple of months ago.
I think Emma Smith must have been a force to be reckoned with. She was a strong, opinionated, independent woman at a time when those characteristics in a female were much more rare. I would truly love to have a chance to talk with her.
From accounts given in this biography, she was a very charitable being, a doting mother and well educated. Someone the prophet loved and a person whose good opinion he strived for. What frustrated me when reading this, however, were all of the second hand accounts of her life. She didn't keep a history or a journal and the only time her voice is heard is in her letters. Her later years, when she fell out of favor with the Utah saints, were tainted by reports of missionaries traveling through Nauvoo with an interest in checking up on her. She had no desire to be checked up on and seemed to make an effort to appear unfriendly and changed from the woman many of them knew and loved.
So much of this book deals with polygamy. I honestly don't know if I would have reacted any differently than Emma if put in her situation. I guess I'm glad I don't have to find out. It's interesting to me to see polygamy come up in the news and entertainment. As church members, we find the practice appalling because it is against the commandments....now. We distance ourselves from the fundamentalists who show up in the news and make comments about how they are NOT mormon. But it was a commandment at one time. Emma couldn't get her heart or brain around it and upon the death of her husband, felt she needed to distance herself from the leadership she knew would continue the practice she found so abhorrent. Others, like her, fell away from the church or were ex-communicated due to misunderstanding or unlawful engagement of the practice.
Today, the opposite is true. And it boils down to faith in a prophet. Did Joseph Smith receive a revelation about polygamy? I believe he did, although I'm not convinced the early church practiced it perfectly or understood it. Did Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation to stop its practice? Again, I believe he did.
Emma was so close to Joseph that she must have witnessed so much of the man as well as the prophet in him. She was convinced that he was deceived regarding the revelation of polygamy...that it was not from Heavenly Father. But the twelve, most importantly Brigham Young, saw otherwise.
I think Emma Smith must have been a force to be reckoned with. She was a strong, opinionated, independent woman at a time when those characteristics in a female were much more rare. I would truly love to have a chance to talk with her.
From accounts given in this biography, she was a very charitable being, a doting mother and well educated. Someone the prophet loved and a person whose good opinion he strived for. What frustrated me when reading this, however, were all of the second hand accounts of her life. She didn't keep a history or a journal and the only time her voice is heard is in her letters. Her later years, when she fell out of favor with the Utah saints, were tainted by reports of missionaries traveling through Nauvoo with an interest in checking up on her. She had no desire to be checked up on and seemed to make an effort to appear unfriendly and changed from the woman many of them knew and loved.
So much of this book deals with polygamy. I honestly don't know if I would have reacted any differently than Emma if put in her situation. I guess I'm glad I don't have to find out. It's interesting to me to see polygamy come up in the news and entertainment. As church members, we find the practice appalling because it is against the commandments....now. We distance ourselves from the fundamentalists who show up in the news and make comments about how they are NOT mormon. But it was a commandment at one time. Emma couldn't get her heart or brain around it and upon the death of her husband, felt she needed to distance herself from the leadership she knew would continue the practice she found so abhorrent. Others, like her, fell away from the church or were ex-communicated due to misunderstanding or unlawful engagement of the practice.
Today, the opposite is true. And it boils down to faith in a prophet. Did Joseph Smith receive a revelation about polygamy? I believe he did, although I'm not convinced the early church practiced it perfectly or understood it. Did Wilford Woodruff receive a revelation to stop its practice? Again, I believe he did.
Emma was so close to Joseph that she must have witnessed so much of the man as well as the prophet in him. She was convinced that he was deceived regarding the revelation of polygamy...that it was not from Heavenly Father. But the twelve, most importantly Brigham Young, saw otherwise.
June 12, 2008
Understand--by giving this book 3 stars, I am NOT giving Emma Smith 3 stars. Growing up, there were two people my mother would never let me speak ill of: John Denver and Emma Smith. So that was kind of ingrained from the beginning. And as I've studied more about Mormon history, my respect for the JS's wife has only grown (John Denver has not been so fortunate).
For being the definitive biography of Emma, however, this book is largely unimpressive. The authors clearly have a thing against polygamy, and it shows through on page after page. While polygamy was certainly a big issue in Emma's life, the first 30 and the last 35 or so years of her life were polygamy-free. Still, the authors seem to read her entire life through the plural marriage lens.
The other problem with this book was the loose standard for sources. They were just as likely to quote from a third-hand reminiscence written a half century after the fact as they were to cite from, say, a letter written by Emma. There's something to be said for putting all the versions of the story out there, I guess, but it's all too easy to pick and choose unreliable sources that suit your argument. (LDS apologetics are often guilty of this.)
All that said, I learned an awful lot about this remarkable woman, especially the post-JS years. I had heard nothing about Lewis Bidamon previously, except that he was a drunkard and possibly abusive. Truth is he and Emma had a deep, loving, meaningful relationship. I didn't know that Joseph Smith III kind of had the Reorganization thrust upon him, nor that David Hyrum spent a good part of his life in an insane asylum--after publishing a book of poetry.
In sum, Mormon Engima made Emma a three-dimensional person for me, but I hope a better, tighter biography comes around some day.
For being the definitive biography of Emma, however, this book is largely unimpressive. The authors clearly have a thing against polygamy, and it shows through on page after page. While polygamy was certainly a big issue in Emma's life, the first 30 and the last 35 or so years of her life were polygamy-free. Still, the authors seem to read her entire life through the plural marriage lens.
The other problem with this book was the loose standard for sources. They were just as likely to quote from a third-hand reminiscence written a half century after the fact as they were to cite from, say, a letter written by Emma. There's something to be said for putting all the versions of the story out there, I guess, but it's all too easy to pick and choose unreliable sources that suit your argument. (LDS apologetics are often guilty of this.)
All that said, I learned an awful lot about this remarkable woman, especially the post-JS years. I had heard nothing about Lewis Bidamon previously, except that he was a drunkard and possibly abusive. Truth is he and Emma had a deep, loving, meaningful relationship. I didn't know that Joseph Smith III kind of had the Reorganization thrust upon him, nor that David Hyrum spent a good part of his life in an insane asylum--after publishing a book of poetry.
In sum, Mormon Engima made Emma a three-dimensional person for me, but I hope a better, tighter biography comes around some day.
September 22, 2015
I had an excellent RS lesson on Emma Smith the summer I was married. I grew to respect her deeply, and even named my eldest daughter after her. This book opened my eyes even more to Emma's plight. She had such a difficult life, and I honestly can't say that I would have handled things any differently/better than she did.
July 19, 2010
I enjoyed this very interesting but challenging biography, especially the perspective presented of Emma Smith’s family after the death of Joseph in 1844. Emma is often maligned for her decision to stay in Nauvoo rather than go west with the rest of the Mormons in 1846. After reading this book I have a new appreciation for her sticking to her guns, I also have a better perspective on the history of the group that eventually became the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).
On another note, I came across an interesting thought about another maligned group in Mormon culture; contemporaries of Joseph Smith who left the church during the 19th century. They are often dismissed as apostates, though I think there is always more to the story. "In the following years those who saw Joseph as a man with a prophetic calling generally remained faithful, while those who saw him only as a prophet and deified him almost invariably found themselves disillusioned" page 32. I believe this concept is especially relevant in contemporary church culture where we can sometimes be less than forthright on the reporting of our historical figures and events. When doing so I believe we risk compromising our ‘big picture’ perspective; I have too many friends who have found themselves disillusioned in much the way our 19th century brothers and sisters did. While I don’t recommend this book to everyone, it did bring me closer to a wonderful and inspiring woman. Reading it gave me similar feelings toward Emma as I had of Joseph after reading Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling. My thoughts on him can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
On another note, I came across an interesting thought about another maligned group in Mormon culture; contemporaries of Joseph Smith who left the church during the 19th century. They are often dismissed as apostates, though I think there is always more to the story. "In the following years those who saw Joseph as a man with a prophetic calling generally remained faithful, while those who saw him only as a prophet and deified him almost invariably found themselves disillusioned" page 32. I believe this concept is especially relevant in contemporary church culture where we can sometimes be less than forthright on the reporting of our historical figures and events. When doing so I believe we risk compromising our ‘big picture’ perspective; I have too many friends who have found themselves disillusioned in much the way our 19th century brothers and sisters did. While I don’t recommend this book to everyone, it did bring me closer to a wonderful and inspiring woman. Reading it gave me similar feelings toward Emma as I had of Joseph after reading Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling. My thoughts on him can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
July 30, 2008
Wow, what an eye-opener. I read this book once, 8 years ago, and just barely re-read it.
This historical non-fiction book is written by 2 LDS women authors. It is available at Deseret Book. This is the real story of Emma Smith's life - Everything from her courtship with Joseph Smith, to the loss of multiple babies in childbirth, to the very difficult persecutions to her immediate family. Finally, this book talks in detail about the big "P" word that everyone in the church knows about but never wants to talk about - polygamy.
It talks about how Emma and Joseph's relationship was very strained due to him practicing polygamy, Emma's constant struggles with the practice and what she ultimately came to think of it, at the end of her life.
It is a very informative, heart-wrenching book that would make any reader have a sudden deep respect for dear Emma Smith - The woman who started the Relief Society, buried many of her children and husband, and had to deal with her husband marrying many other women while still married to her.
I have heard some people talk about Emma Smith with a degree of disdain in their voice - as if to say she was "that woman who went apostate and disobeyed Joseph's teachings." Anybody who dares speak ill of Emma Smith needs to read this book before they even think to open their mouth and judge her. In fact... every LDS member should read this book.
This historical non-fiction book is written by 2 LDS women authors. It is available at Deseret Book. This is the real story of Emma Smith's life - Everything from her courtship with Joseph Smith, to the loss of multiple babies in childbirth, to the very difficult persecutions to her immediate family. Finally, this book talks in detail about the big "P" word that everyone in the church knows about but never wants to talk about - polygamy.
It talks about how Emma and Joseph's relationship was very strained due to him practicing polygamy, Emma's constant struggles with the practice and what she ultimately came to think of it, at the end of her life.
It is a very informative, heart-wrenching book that would make any reader have a sudden deep respect for dear Emma Smith - The woman who started the Relief Society, buried many of her children and husband, and had to deal with her husband marrying many other women while still married to her.
I have heard some people talk about Emma Smith with a degree of disdain in their voice - as if to say she was "that woman who went apostate and disobeyed Joseph's teachings." Anybody who dares speak ill of Emma Smith needs to read this book before they even think to open their mouth and judge her. In fact... every LDS member should read this book.
September 21, 2024
Since I joined the Church in 1976, the official and continuous message I was taught about Emma Smith was that she before and especially after Joseph Smith’s death was an unreliable witness to the restoration. She was not the faithful supporter of her husband. She was greatly vilified. I could never agree with these synopses. Maybe because of my sensitivity to women and the patriarchy and misogyny exercised in their direction over the centuries. It felt too similar.
This is the first historical biographical book I’ve read of Emma Smith. But via 2 prior books I’ve read with later publishing dates, I gained insights into this book. In fact in the 2 later books, this book was quoted.
Essentially, Emma Smith was a faithful devotee and wife to the Lord, her husband, the Church and all her fellow members. Her only stumbling block was her inability to accept the polygamy that Joseph introduced. If there is a reader of this review who questions this or wishes to practice apologetics on this matter, please refer to Todd M. Compton’s ‘In Sacred Loneliness’ (1997), Richard L. Bushman’s ‘Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling’ (2005), and the official Church declaration on the matter from 2013.
After reading this book, it was confirmed for me that Emma was not an irresponsible and unfaithful member of the Church simply because she didn’t follow the Church west to the Wasatch Front. This book and the others cited above document Joseph Smith’s inability to be honest with his wife regarding the wives he was marrying under polygamy. In essence he lied to her. He held information from her. He deeply hurt her. He asked other members, leaders and the women he was marrying to keep these facts from her. Little wonder she felt no desire to follow the Church west.
I was repeatedly dumbfounded by Joseph Smith’s lying and dishonesty. I could never have treated my wife this way. Even if an angel came to me, threatening me with a flaming sword. In fact, I feel very safe in declaring that God does not conduct his business here on earth in this way.
The final new and most troublesome information (disputed by many) I garnered from this book is that a few weeks before Joseph Smith’s death (June 27, 1844), he had met with William Marks (Nauvoo stake president) and Smith related the following: “We are a ruined people. This doctrine of polygamy or Spiritual-wife System, that has been taught and practiced among us, will prove our destruction and overthrow. I have been deceived, in refute its practice; it is wrong; it is a curse to mankind, and we shall have to leave the United States soon, unless it can be put down. Marks further stated that Smith asked him to go to the Nauvoo Stake High Council and prefer charges against all who practiced the doctrine, while Smith would “preach against it, with all my might, and in this way we may rid the Church of this damnable heresy.” I had never heard of this before but it helped confirm my wife’s and my personal take on the matter: that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration but before his death, he made a few mistakes, chief amongst which was his attempted implementation of polygamy.
This is the first historical biographical book I’ve read of Emma Smith. But via 2 prior books I’ve read with later publishing dates, I gained insights into this book. In fact in the 2 later books, this book was quoted.
Essentially, Emma Smith was a faithful devotee and wife to the Lord, her husband, the Church and all her fellow members. Her only stumbling block was her inability to accept the polygamy that Joseph introduced. If there is a reader of this review who questions this or wishes to practice apologetics on this matter, please refer to Todd M. Compton’s ‘In Sacred Loneliness’ (1997), Richard L. Bushman’s ‘Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling’ (2005), and the official Church declaration on the matter from 2013.
After reading this book, it was confirmed for me that Emma was not an irresponsible and unfaithful member of the Church simply because she didn’t follow the Church west to the Wasatch Front. This book and the others cited above document Joseph Smith’s inability to be honest with his wife regarding the wives he was marrying under polygamy. In essence he lied to her. He held information from her. He deeply hurt her. He asked other members, leaders and the women he was marrying to keep these facts from her. Little wonder she felt no desire to follow the Church west.
I was repeatedly dumbfounded by Joseph Smith’s lying and dishonesty. I could never have treated my wife this way. Even if an angel came to me, threatening me with a flaming sword. In fact, I feel very safe in declaring that God does not conduct his business here on earth in this way.
The final new and most troublesome information (disputed by many) I garnered from this book is that a few weeks before Joseph Smith’s death (June 27, 1844), he had met with William Marks (Nauvoo stake president) and Smith related the following: “We are a ruined people. This doctrine of polygamy or Spiritual-wife System, that has been taught and practiced among us, will prove our destruction and overthrow. I have been deceived, in refute its practice; it is wrong; it is a curse to mankind, and we shall have to leave the United States soon, unless it can be put down. Marks further stated that Smith asked him to go to the Nauvoo Stake High Council and prefer charges against all who practiced the doctrine, while Smith would “preach against it, with all my might, and in this way we may rid the Church of this damnable heresy.” I had never heard of this before but it helped confirm my wife’s and my personal take on the matter: that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration but before his death, he made a few mistakes, chief amongst which was his attempted implementation of polygamy.
January 18, 2020
A must read for anyone interested in early church history. A solid account of a strong woman who stayed true to her convictions to the end. The book focuses on the 1840s more than any other period, especially Emma's struggles with her husband's polygamy (it's difficult to see polygamy as divine when one sees its impact on Emma. Rather than Emma not being true to the Church I see Joseph and the Church not being true to her). Undoubtedly a little dated on some particulars today, the book remains an excellent and highly sympathetic account of Emma Smith that helps one to better understand both Nauvoo Mormonism and the foundations of the RLDS Church.
June 7, 2011
Overall, quite an enjoyable read. It was refreshing to read a biography of Emma rather than one focused on the many men in the church, though even this book does on occasion feel like it's more about Joseph or Brigham or Emma's sons. (Part of this is due I'm sure to the lack of information directly from Emma - very few letters and no journal.) I found the years after Joseph's death to be particularly interesting as I'd never before learned in depth about what happened to Emma during those years.
Some reactions from throughout my reading:
I find it interesting that there is a slight possibility (and Emma seemed to believe) that Joseph was trying to distance himself from polygamy before he died. Not sure I trust that he actually would have (it seems to me he lied so easily about so much else), but it's interesting.
The more I learn about Brigham Young, the less I like him. While I can appreciate his organizational and leadership capabilities that enabled the Mormons to get to Utah, the way he treated Emma was despicable.
I spent a lot of time feeling badly for Emma and really frustrated with Joseph. First with the whole, "yeah, I'll give up treasure hunting...or not" thing and then with the polygamy fiasco. It sickens me that he could so easily disregard Emma's feelings and seemed to have no qualms about telling her what she wanted to hear while continuing to marry other women - women who were supposed to be her closest friends.
I admire her ability to hold her own and take care of herself (not to mention dozens of others). She was an intelligent, capable and definitely impressive woman.
In the end, Emma still feels like an enigma. She definitely loved Joseph, though with how he sometimes treated her, I can't imagine why. She also seems to have absolutely believed in him as a prophet and in the Book of Mormon, but seemed to have no trouble living without the church in any form for many years (until her sons joined with the RLDS). And why did she always insist Joseph never practiced polygamy? She's a fascinating person and I just wish we had more sources to help us understand her better.
Some reactions from throughout my reading:
I find it interesting that there is a slight possibility (and Emma seemed to believe) that Joseph was trying to distance himself from polygamy before he died. Not sure I trust that he actually would have (it seems to me he lied so easily about so much else), but it's interesting.
The more I learn about Brigham Young, the less I like him. While I can appreciate his organizational and leadership capabilities that enabled the Mormons to get to Utah, the way he treated Emma was despicable.
I spent a lot of time feeling badly for Emma and really frustrated with Joseph. First with the whole, "yeah, I'll give up treasure hunting...or not" thing and then with the polygamy fiasco. It sickens me that he could so easily disregard Emma's feelings and seemed to have no qualms about telling her what she wanted to hear while continuing to marry other women - women who were supposed to be her closest friends.
I admire her ability to hold her own and take care of herself (not to mention dozens of others). She was an intelligent, capable and definitely impressive woman.
In the end, Emma still feels like an enigma. She definitely loved Joseph, though with how he sometimes treated her, I can't imagine why. She also seems to have absolutely believed in him as a prophet and in the Book of Mormon, but seemed to have no trouble living without the church in any form for many years (until her sons joined with the RLDS). And why did she always insist Joseph never practiced polygamy? She's a fascinating person and I just wish we had more sources to help us understand her better.
February 14, 2011
This book is to Emma Smith what Rough Stone Rolling was to Joseph Smith, and both should be read in tandem as I learned so much about early church history from each of them. Painstakingly researched, I really got a feel for Emma's side of the story in this one, why she decided to stay put, why she rallied so hard against polygamy, and boy, er, I mean girl, it wasn't pretty most of the time. I have several direct ancestors who knew the Smith's well, two even baptized at the same time as Emma, and reading all this again helped me feel a little closer to them and their faith, along with the crisis they went through in Missouri and Illinois. As I learn more a bigger picture comes into focus, not just random puzzle pieces which, taken out of context, can distort the actual facts. That sentence also describes my faith. It's not absolutist in the fact that, I don't believe people are perfect - including prophets and their wives. They are not this part, or that part. They are the sum.
February 13, 2022
Absolutely fascinating history.
*Shaking my head in disbelief* page 175 "Emma urged the women to follow the teachings of Joseph Smith as he taught them 'from the stand,' implying that his private teachings should be disregarded...When Emma had the women take a public oath with their hands raised in support of virtue, she caused enough consternation in the men's councils to stop the Relief Society meetings. The women would not have their own organization again for more than a decade. ...John Taylor said the 'reason why the Relief Society did not continue from the first organization was that Emma Smith the Pres. had taught the Sisters that the principle of Celestial Marriage as taught and practiced by Joseph Smith was not of God.' If the minutes are reasonably accurate, Emma did not teach this. She never mentioned 'celestial marriage as taught and practiced by Joseph Smith,' but she did point out a rationale by which some women could come to that conclusion."
*Shaking my head in disbelief* page 175 "Emma urged the women to follow the teachings of Joseph Smith as he taught them 'from the stand,' implying that his private teachings should be disregarded...When Emma had the women take a public oath with their hands raised in support of virtue, she caused enough consternation in the men's councils to stop the Relief Society meetings. The women would not have their own organization again for more than a decade. ...John Taylor said the 'reason why the Relief Society did not continue from the first organization was that Emma Smith the Pres. had taught the Sisters that the principle of Celestial Marriage as taught and practiced by Joseph Smith was not of God.' If the minutes are reasonably accurate, Emma did not teach this. She never mentioned 'celestial marriage as taught and practiced by Joseph Smith,' but she did point out a rationale by which some women could come to that conclusion."
January 28, 2008
This is a meticulously researched and thorough look at Emma Hale. The reader leaves with an increased awareness and respect for Emma and the trials she endured. However, I felt like the intended focus on Emma and her needs had an alternative effect of unfairly portraying Joseph Smith. While the mind of Emma was center stage, Joseph's thoughts and many of his benevolent and charitable acts were left out. I look forward to a biography that portrays both individuals together--that is--a book that will investigate the entire Smith household with objective scholarship. As a Latter-day Saint, I would recommend reading Bushman's "Rough Stone Rolling" before picking up this book to similiarly understand the perspective of the other half of this extraordinary couple.
December 16, 2007
If you never read another book (and I'm not sure there are others) about Emma Hale Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, you'll be none the worse for content. This is, at this moment, the quintessential biography of the First Lady of Mormonism. She gets short shrift in the LDS Church and in its cirricula and it's easy to see why: she spoke up and opposed some of her husband's most controversial doctrines, particularly polygamy. An excellent book! Definitely a must-read.
May 9, 2013
This is the second (possibly third?) time I've read this and I'm going to put a note to myself in the front cover this time so that I don't read it again. I know three stars means "I liked it" and I don't like it, but not because it is a bad book, just because the subject matter is too fraught for me. It's like eating fried chicken---it tastes good while I'm eating it, but I don't like how it makes me feel.
March 14, 2011
This seems to be an impartial, fair book which helps us learn more about Emma Smith and her feelings about polygamy. It includes history that can make our LDS community uncomfortable, but I think I can read it and reserve judgment. Emma was certainly a strong and admirable woman... it's too bad that Brigham Young did not have more kind feelings toward her... but he was a prophet AND an imperfect, mortal man.
July 7, 2019
I wish so badly that Emma had kept journals. What a loss to have so few first-hand accounts of her history and experiences. That being said, I feel the authors did their best to recreate her history through second-hand accounts and historical context. They may have taken some liberty, as other reviewers said, in assuming her feelings (she must have felt, she surely thought, etc.) but overall I finished the book with a deep love and appreciation for Emma and her life.
March 25, 2008
It made me glad that I had not been brainwashed into Mormonism as a young child.
August 9, 2011
I think this book should be required reading for all LDS women. A church history story from the point of Emma who suffered more than anyone else for the sake of the church. Very well done.
August 16, 2014
Really well-done, thorough. My go-to book for perspective. I like the idea of the church of Emma. She seemed to take a lot of the good stuff and threw the rest out. Smart. Loving, service-ful.
August 15, 2016
This book will break every Mormon woman's heart.
November 13, 2012
I learned quite a bit from this one, and I'm very glad I read it. "Rough Stone Rolling" made Joseph Smith more like a real person for me. This book did that for Emma, and it also made Joseph Smith more real as a husband and father. I enjoyed reading about Joseph and Emma in domestic settings and how Joseph treated Emma and his children. He loved them very much, and Emma returned that love to Joseph.
The primary focus of the last half of the book is polygamy and Emma's reaction to it. Emma suffered though a lot as the wife of a prophet, but she suffered the most with Joseph Smith's teaching and participation in polygamy. So much so, that she lied to her children about it in an attempt to keep them from believing and practicing it. As a result, Brigham Young called Emma a wicked woman and a liar. Brigham is correct that Emma did lie, but I don't know that I would agree that Emma was a wicked woman -- at least, not any more wicked than the rest of us fallen creatures.
Emma loved her children and she loved her husband, but she allowed that love to justify questionable behavior. Brigham's accusation that she tried to kill Joseph by poisoning him is over the top, but she did lie to her children about their father. She certainly was in a very tough position, believing as she did that her husband was a prophet and simultaneously that polygamy was a heinous practice, but I don't think that was justification to lie to her adult children, even after they had discovered pretty convincing evidence that Joseph had in fact married many women. Emma's refusal to tell her children the truth caused Joseph Smith III to look foolish and probably seriously tried his faith as he investigated the accusations that his father practiced polygamy.
It appears as if most church leaders, including Brigham Young, believed that Joseph Smith III would be the prophet of the church after Joseph Smith died. Joseph Smith even blessed his son to hold that position after his death. But I believe those leaders forgot an important principle: humans have free will. Although Joseph Smith III may have been blessed -- foreordained, even -- to be the prophet of the church after his father's death, Joseph Smith III could still choose for himself whether he would actually wear that mantle. According to Brigham, as a result of Emma's lies and influence, Joseph Smith III failed to inherit his father's position, as was his right as Joseph's son, but I think that view ignores Joseph Smith III's own intellect and character, both of which appear to have been phenomenal. Ultimately, Joseph Smith III did head a church, just not the one with whom the vast majority of Mormons belonged to. (As the authors of this book cleverly state, one church had the kingdom, the other had the kings.) Joseph Smith III wanted to learn for himself whether the accusations about his father were true, and personally traveled to Utah to meet with women to whom Joseph Smith Jr. had been married. While there, he learned the truth, or at least, obtained pretty solid evidence that his father had in fact taught and practiced polygamy. I believe that Joseph Smith III then intentionally decided, even in the face of irrefutable facts, that he was going to reject that aspect of his father's life and continue to head a church that his father likely would not have agreed with. I think that Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the prophet of Christ's church, but as a result of his own choice, which he was free to make, he ended up heading down a path that God had not wanted him to take.
Finally, prior to reading this book, I knew next to nothing about Joseph Smith III. I've now learned that he was a man of remarkable intelligence and strong moral character. I'm very curious about him and his life, and I'd really like to read more about the RLDS/Community of Christ church. I will need to do some research to find some good books on the subject.
The primary focus of the last half of the book is polygamy and Emma's reaction to it. Emma suffered though a lot as the wife of a prophet, but she suffered the most with Joseph Smith's teaching and participation in polygamy. So much so, that she lied to her children about it in an attempt to keep them from believing and practicing it. As a result, Brigham Young called Emma a wicked woman and a liar. Brigham is correct that Emma did lie, but I don't know that I would agree that Emma was a wicked woman -- at least, not any more wicked than the rest of us fallen creatures.
Emma loved her children and she loved her husband, but she allowed that love to justify questionable behavior. Brigham's accusation that she tried to kill Joseph by poisoning him is over the top, but she did lie to her children about their father. She certainly was in a very tough position, believing as she did that her husband was a prophet and simultaneously that polygamy was a heinous practice, but I don't think that was justification to lie to her adult children, even after they had discovered pretty convincing evidence that Joseph had in fact married many women. Emma's refusal to tell her children the truth caused Joseph Smith III to look foolish and probably seriously tried his faith as he investigated the accusations that his father practiced polygamy.
It appears as if most church leaders, including Brigham Young, believed that Joseph Smith III would be the prophet of the church after Joseph Smith died. Joseph Smith even blessed his son to hold that position after his death. But I believe those leaders forgot an important principle: humans have free will. Although Joseph Smith III may have been blessed -- foreordained, even -- to be the prophet of the church after his father's death, Joseph Smith III could still choose for himself whether he would actually wear that mantle. According to Brigham, as a result of Emma's lies and influence, Joseph Smith III failed to inherit his father's position, as was his right as Joseph's son, but I think that view ignores Joseph Smith III's own intellect and character, both of which appear to have been phenomenal. Ultimately, Joseph Smith III did head a church, just not the one with whom the vast majority of Mormons belonged to. (As the authors of this book cleverly state, one church had the kingdom, the other had the kings.) Joseph Smith III wanted to learn for himself whether the accusations about his father were true, and personally traveled to Utah to meet with women to whom Joseph Smith Jr. had been married. While there, he learned the truth, or at least, obtained pretty solid evidence that his father had in fact taught and practiced polygamy. I believe that Joseph Smith III then intentionally decided, even in the face of irrefutable facts, that he was going to reject that aspect of his father's life and continue to head a church that his father likely would not have agreed with. I think that Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the prophet of Christ's church, but as a result of his own choice, which he was free to make, he ended up heading down a path that God had not wanted him to take.
Finally, prior to reading this book, I knew next to nothing about Joseph Smith III. I've now learned that he was a man of remarkable intelligence and strong moral character. I'm very curious about him and his life, and I'd really like to read more about the RLDS/Community of Christ church. I will need to do some research to find some good books on the subject.
November 17, 2016
When I first began learning LDS church history as a senior in high school, I found Emma to be one of the most perplexing figures. How was it that a woman who had a testimony of the one and only true church could just leave it after her husband died? The woman had suffered so much up to that point. Was going to Utah really a bridge too far for her?
As I have studied polygamy and more church history, I have gained more sympathy for Emma. After reading this book, I still have so many questions about her. But one thing I know for sure is that she does not deserve the spiritual scrutiny which so many Mormon prophets attached to her when she decided not to follow the church West.
It's such a shame that Emma kept no journal we are aware of and what we are left with is a handful of letters and second and third-hand accounts of interactions with her and others. The book feels less an actual biography of her and more a history of the LDS church as seen from her perspective. That being said, Newell and Avery do a wonderful job keeping the narrative well paced and engaging (not something that can always be said for Richard Bushman's "Rough Stone Rolling").
During the course of reading this book, I came to the realization that I had only ever been taught about Emma through the history of Joseph Smith, never on the merits of her own story alone. Her actions and decisions were filtered through the lens of Joseph, Brigham, or another man's story. While it's practically impossible to tell her story through her own words alone, it's a shame that the majority of LDS church members will either know Emma only through the lens of Joseph Smith's whitewashed history, or they won't know her at all. Emma herself seemed to acknowledge this as she got older. In a letter to Joseph Smith III while he served a proselytizing mission to the Mormons, she wrote, "You may know you are not the first one that has been misunderstood or misapplied, or misquoted and misrepresented in every way, and in every conceivable shape."
Perhaps the greatest travesty is that Emma's value and place in church history is determined by her relationship as an eternal spouse to Joseph rather than on her merits alone. Every Mormon should take the time to read this and become more acquainted with her story. The book ends with a quote from Emily Partridge, one of the 33 documented plural wives of Joseph Smith: "It is an awful thought to contemplate the misery of a human being... Perhaps [Emma] has done no worse than any of us would have done in her place." How tragic that the LDS church contemplates this regularly with so little nuance or fairness to Emma.
As I have studied polygamy and more church history, I have gained more sympathy for Emma. After reading this book, I still have so many questions about her. But one thing I know for sure is that she does not deserve the spiritual scrutiny which so many Mormon prophets attached to her when she decided not to follow the church West.
It's such a shame that Emma kept no journal we are aware of and what we are left with is a handful of letters and second and third-hand accounts of interactions with her and others. The book feels less an actual biography of her and more a history of the LDS church as seen from her perspective. That being said, Newell and Avery do a wonderful job keeping the narrative well paced and engaging (not something that can always be said for Richard Bushman's "Rough Stone Rolling").
During the course of reading this book, I came to the realization that I had only ever been taught about Emma through the history of Joseph Smith, never on the merits of her own story alone. Her actions and decisions were filtered through the lens of Joseph, Brigham, or another man's story. While it's practically impossible to tell her story through her own words alone, it's a shame that the majority of LDS church members will either know Emma only through the lens of Joseph Smith's whitewashed history, or they won't know her at all. Emma herself seemed to acknowledge this as she got older. In a letter to Joseph Smith III while he served a proselytizing mission to the Mormons, she wrote, "You may know you are not the first one that has been misunderstood or misapplied, or misquoted and misrepresented in every way, and in every conceivable shape."
Perhaps the greatest travesty is that Emma's value and place in church history is determined by her relationship as an eternal spouse to Joseph rather than on her merits alone. Every Mormon should take the time to read this and become more acquainted with her story. The book ends with a quote from Emily Partridge, one of the 33 documented plural wives of Joseph Smith: "It is an awful thought to contemplate the misery of a human being... Perhaps [Emma] has done no worse than any of us would have done in her place." How tragic that the LDS church contemplates this regularly with so little nuance or fairness to Emma.
February 14, 2011
My biggest complaint is that Emma is nothing more than a side note for large portions of the book. I felt as if I were reading a book about church history and Emma was just thrown in for effect.
I think there are 3 reasons for this:
1. Until Joseph Smith's murder and the saints departure for the west, Emma's entire life was embroiled in the church. So, in a way, her history IS the history of the church.
2. There is a general lack of sources for most females in history. I remember watching a documentary about a midwife where the researcher talked about how rare a find this midwife's journals were. They provided a rare glimpse into the daily lives of women of that midwife's time. I imagine the same goes for Emma. Not only is it hard to find information about the lives of women in history, but it also wasn't "proper" to record personal thoughts and feelings.
3. Due to the controversial nature of many of the events of her day, people were routinely burning letters and records.
Anyway, as for Emma.... I still can't figure her out. She really is an enigma. In the end I feel bad for her. I don't think Joseph was a good husband to her and she faced quite a bit of hardship. She lost several babies, was the object of scorn and ridicule by those who despised the Mormons as well as those she had at one time served (after their departure for Utah). I'm glad the church is softening their stance on her. She doesn't deserve the cruel way she's been portrayed in church history in the past.
The book is a bit of a dry read -- as all biographies are. (Which is why I typically don't read them.) But, it's a good source of information. I'm glad I read it.
I think there are 3 reasons for this:
1. Until Joseph Smith's murder and the saints departure for the west, Emma's entire life was embroiled in the church. So, in a way, her history IS the history of the church.
2. There is a general lack of sources for most females in history. I remember watching a documentary about a midwife where the researcher talked about how rare a find this midwife's journals were. They provided a rare glimpse into the daily lives of women of that midwife's time. I imagine the same goes for Emma. Not only is it hard to find information about the lives of women in history, but it also wasn't "proper" to record personal thoughts and feelings.
3. Due to the controversial nature of many of the events of her day, people were routinely burning letters and records.
Anyway, as for Emma.... I still can't figure her out. She really is an enigma. In the end I feel bad for her. I don't think Joseph was a good husband to her and she faced quite a bit of hardship. She lost several babies, was the object of scorn and ridicule by those who despised the Mormons as well as those she had at one time served (after their departure for Utah). I'm glad the church is softening their stance on her. She doesn't deserve the cruel way she's been portrayed in church history in the past.
The book is a bit of a dry read -- as all biographies are. (Which is why I typically don't read them.) But, it's a good source of information. I'm glad I read it.
November 7, 2015
A year after portraying Emma Hale Smith Bidamon in a film for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I finally read her biography. Yep. Naughty Anna. But hey, I was in grad school AND a working actor. I chose Mormon Enigma as my jumping off point, because I had heard from many friends and academics that it was the best way to learn about that most mysterious and elect lady.
Most importantly, I think Newell and Avery's approach in this work is fabulous. Their research is thorough and their conclusions are rational, informed, and unbiased. They give the reader the accounts that exist referent to specific events and ideas, and they explain when the accounts are thirdhand (or even further removed). They let the reader decide. They're excellent historians.
But despite Newell and Avery's admirable efforts, Emma yet remains an enigma. With so few of her own words to explain her thoughts and feelings, they all remain conjecture. But I can tell you a few things I got out her biography:
1. Emma Smith was a remarkable individual in every sense of the word.
2. She had one hell of a life and got through it with more grace than I think most would have under the circumstances.
3. Brigham Young could be quite the bully.
4. Whatever the full truth of Joseph Smith's polygamy, it was at best befuddling and at worst extremely gross.
5. Emma's kids were just as fascinating as their parents.
If you want a good sampler platter of LDS and RLDS church history, nineteenth-century life, and one fascinating she-devil, I highly recommend this Good Read.
Most importantly, I think Newell and Avery's approach in this work is fabulous. Their research is thorough and their conclusions are rational, informed, and unbiased. They give the reader the accounts that exist referent to specific events and ideas, and they explain when the accounts are thirdhand (or even further removed). They let the reader decide. They're excellent historians.
But despite Newell and Avery's admirable efforts, Emma yet remains an enigma. With so few of her own words to explain her thoughts and feelings, they all remain conjecture. But I can tell you a few things I got out her biography:
1. Emma Smith was a remarkable individual in every sense of the word.
2. She had one hell of a life and got through it with more grace than I think most would have under the circumstances.
3. Brigham Young could be quite the bully.
4. Whatever the full truth of Joseph Smith's polygamy, it was at best befuddling and at worst extremely gross.
5. Emma's kids were just as fascinating as their parents.
If you want a good sampler platter of LDS and RLDS church history, nineteenth-century life, and one fascinating she-devil, I highly recommend this Good Read.
August 3, 2011
Not really sure how this book left me feeling. I was intrigued to read it because I wanted to know what happened to Emma after the Saints all left Nauvoo. I know that she had remarried but that was it. Not sure that this book satisfied that curiosity, in the prologue they said that they weren't going to spend much time on Joseph that this was to be about Emma and yet the martyrdom doesn't happen until the book is already 3/4 of the way finished. A lot of it is speculation and reading between the lines of others letters and diaries since it appears that Emma didn't keep much. I know that if this were the only thing you read about Mormon history(you didn't grow up with any knowledge of the church like I have) it leaves little to be desired and not sure I would want to entertain the idea of investigating the Church. The one feeling that came to me time and time again while reading was that knowing this detail or that detail was not important right now but when the time came for the knowledge to be known it would be.
September 29, 2019
Looking at the reviews here, I am in the infinitesimal minority. I did NOT like this book. It was written by people who belong to the group that believe the only way to make one person 'good' is to make the people in their life 'bad.' The treatment of Joseph Smith in this book is nothing short of shameful. If it had been balanced, if it had treated him as a flawed human being, I would have been okay with that. But they simply portrayed him as a cruel, small-minded, selfish man in all instances. I almost stopped reading, but it was for book group, so I forced myself to read this distasteful book. After Joseph is murdered, it isn't so bad, because they don't have him to vilify any more. Ugh. Anyone who had a differing opinion from Emma was treated with the same black brush. It was ridiculous.
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