Emma Smith's testimony


pam
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Okay...I know Emma bashing is taboo it our current culture of Mormon-dom, so I'll be careful (sort of).

 

Per "Whatever decisions she made after her beloved Joseph died, she never lost her testimony of the church and the divine restoration of it."

 

Whereas there is obvious truth to parts of this statement, I think it needs to be qualified a bit. I'm not entirely sure that Emma had a testimony that the church as led by Brigham Young remained as the "true" church, this somewhat, perhaps, being supported by the support she threw behind the Reorganized church. To be fair, this may have been simple misunderstanding on her part, rather than evidence of testimony focus, but....well....there it is. Regardless, if I decided to leave the LDS church and go join the Community of Christ instead, I think it might be valid to say I lost my testimony of the church. Even if I claimed to believe that both churches were just as true as the other, that still falls into the category of loss of testimony at some level, imo.

 

We are hardly as forgiving of others who went and joined or started other branches of LDS based groups. Whereas it would be fairly valid in their cases to also say that they never lost a testimony of Joseph Smith's divine mission and/or the early church, in determining that the current church was not the proper path to continue down, they still undoubtedly lost their testimonies at some level.

 

I want to be clear, lest someone accuse me of something unfairly, I am not contending, nor do I believe one way or another, that Emma lost her salvation or became wicked or something. That is between Emma and God. But I do believe that we should look at Emma's later life as an example of what not to do, rather than some shining example of steadfastness.

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I believe there is much to Emma that we shall never know.  Nor would I ever condemn her for the decisions she made.  I think Joseph's death was just the ultimate to everything she had been through.  I think she was tired and worn out.  And then to have to contend with the disagreements she had with Brigham Young.  I think she preferred staying closer to where her beloved Joseph was buried.

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Okay...I know Emma bashing is taboo it our current culture of Mormon-dom, so I'll be careful (sort of).

 

 

There is an interesting relationship with Emma in the Church. I'm inclined to agree with you that it's hard to look at history and not see some sort of falling away, but there are also much that is admirable. It showcases, I think, the need to look at historical figures, and people in general, as more than just "bad" or "good", that admirable people can otherwise fall short to some degree, and those who might be qualified as less than admirable can otherwise be admirable in some respects.

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I think it is pretty clear that Emma has a testimony of Joseph's calling as a prophet.  She didn't have one of Brigham Young, but why would she need to develop that while Joseph was alive?  Brigham wasn't one at that time.  At the time everyone else was developing their testimony of Brigham as the leader she was undergoing a profound personal lost and trauma.  I think the Lord will look mercifully on her because of that 

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Emma never denied her testimony of the church or the Book of Mormon. I believe the relationship between her and Brigham was strained. Most of that had to do with her husband is now dead and all the debt is hanging over her head. She lost her husband and some children and her Mother in law was practically an invalid. Would not make sense for her to go west. She had too much she would had to of left behind. Her son Joseph Smith III did not care for Brigham at all.

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  • 1 year later...

No one can judge Emma or any other person no matter how much we think we know about them. The Lord spoke to Emma directly in the d&c 132 revelation 4 And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law

D&C 132:54

Although she was against Brigham and polygamy later ,she did accept it for awhile and entered into the covenant so this apples to her as well ; 26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.

Come forth in the first resurrection and enter into her exaltation. No one knows Emma like the Lord knows Emma , following the others to Utah is the least thing .

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My concern and comments with Emma are unrelated to my view of her potential salvation, which is, indeed, between her and God.

 

What concerns me in apologizing for her is those times where I have heard (directly) people use her as an example and an excuse for being less than stalwart.

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My concern and comments with Emma are unrelated to my view of her potential salvation, which is, indeed, between her and God.

 

What concerns me in apologizing for her is those times where I have heard (directly) people use her as an example and an excuse for being less than stalwart.

It's too bad some look at her as less than stalwart. I wonder how others would stack up if in her shoes. I also don't agree with what was mentioned earlier about the relationship between her and Brigham. I don't believe she was against him .....I do feel and believe that had a strained relationship.
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