Joseph’s (First) Wife, Emma

How would you describe Emma Hale’s relationship with Joseph Smith? They were married, so she was his wife. But now that the Church is being somewhat more open about Joseph’s polygamy, shouldn’t we be a little more accurate and describe Emma as Joseph’s first wife?

This question occurred to me while reading BHodges’s post at BCC where he lists a bunch of references to Joseph Smith’s polygamy in Church sources. He points out that of course he’s not listing Church source references to Emma and Joseph that do not mention Joseph’s polygamy, because they’re much more common than the references that do talk about polygamy. I thought it might be interesting to go back and look at some of these sources, though, to see if Emma is ever referred to as Joseph’s first wife. More generally, I wanted to look at these sources because even though we know in a general sense that they’re probably numerous and that they probably gloss over or ignore Joseph’s polygamy, seeing the particulars might give us a better sense of just how common they are and how much glossing and hiding they do.

Here’s how I looked for references to Emma and Joseph that mention their marriage but do not mention Joseph’s polygamy. I searched lds.org for their first names (my search was “emma joseph site:lds.org” without the quotes). I only looked at the first 100 results of 268 total that Google listed. From each source that mentioned their marriage but not Joseph’s polygamy, I selected one quote to excerpt. If a source mentioned their marriage more than once or discussed it at length, I still pulled only a brief excerpt to avoid making this post too long. (I’ve included links to each original source after each quote so you can read the fuller context if you’re interested.) Note that I tried not to include sources where a contemporary talks about Joseph and Emma at a time when she was still his only wife, since these aren’t cases of Joseph’s polygamy being ignored, but I did include sources discussing the same time periods if the speaker was looking back at the time period from a point far enough in the future that Joseph had started marrying other wives. I hope you’ll be understanding if I wasn’t able to always make this distinction correctly.

Out of the 100 sources I looked at, I took quotes from 34 that mentioned Joseph and Emma’s marriage. As you’ll see, this was often just a statement that Emma was Joseph’s wife (although never, that I found, that she was his first wife). The sources are approximately in the order I found them in the search (note that I didn’t do the search all in one sitting, and the order of the results shifted a little each time I searched).

Emma endured the trials well. . . . Joseph was often separated from his wife and children. But mobs and persecution couldn’t separate Joseph’s heart from his family.

“When Emma Met Joseph,” New Era, October 2004

After Joseph and Emma fell in love, they eloped on January 18, 1827.

For the next 17 years until Joseph was martyred in Carthage, Illinois, USA, Joseph and Emma’s lives were never separated from the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Joseph and Emma: Moments in Their Lives,” Ensign, July 2012

Despite the extraordinary and challenging circumstances Joseph and Emma suffered on behalf of their faith, the deep and abiding love they felt for each other and for their children never failed them.

“‘My Dear and Beloved Companion’: The Letters of Joseph and Emma Smith,” Ensign, September 2008

Ever since the Prophet Joseph died as a martyr in Carthage, Illinois, some Latter-day Saints have felt disappointment that Joseph’s wife Emma did not go with the Church in the westward exodus of the Saints in 1846–47.

“My Great-Great-Grandmother, Emma Hale Smith,” Ensign, August 1992

Honored as the first president of the Relief Society, remembered for her efforts in compiling the original Latter-day Saint hymnal, and revered as the wife of the Prophet, Emma’s role during the period of the establishment of the Church covered an even wider range of experiences.

“The Elect Lady: Emma Hale Smith,” Ensign, September 1979

The Prophet’s many absences from home were a severe trial to him and to his family. His letters to Emma reveal the loneliness he experienced and the longing he felt for her and for their children.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Chapter 20: A Heart Full of Love and Faith: The Prophet’s Letters to His Family

Rather than pattern a Latter-day Saint women’s organization after the women’s societies that were prevalent and popular at that time, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized them in a divinely inspired and authorized manner. . . . Joseph Smith’s wife Emma was chosen to serve as the president of this new society.

Daughters in My Kingdom, Chapter 2: “Something Better”: The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo

Joseph Smith received many revelations to strengthen, encourage, and instruct the Saints. Section 25 is a revelation he received for his wife, Emma, to comfort her and help her understand how she could support her husband in his great calling.

Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, Lesson 14: Emma Smith Selects Sacred Hymns

Joseph’s wife Emma insisted that, at the time of translation, Joseph “could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon.”

Gospel Topics: Book of Mormon Translation

You know that Joseph Smith was the first prophet in these latter days, but did you know that he loved to laugh and make people laugh? or that he and his wife, Emma, adopted twins?

“Meet Brother Joseph,” (Youth: Articles)

Joseph Smith—History 1:55–58. Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale . . . Point out that Joseph Smith desired to be married and sought out a wife.

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual, Lesson 10: Joseph Smith-History 1:55-65

Before class, invite three students to familiarize themselves with the following summaries of the life and character of Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph.

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual, Lesson 32: Doctrine and Covenants 25

The years 1825 through 1831 on the land along the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania, proved to be a time of growth and chastisement as well as great joy and sorrow for the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was here in 1825 that 19-year-old Joseph worked, obtained some schooling, and met, courted, and married his future wife, Emma Hale, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hale.

“Joseph Smith’s Susquehanna Years,” Ensign, February 2001

[Joseph Fielding Smith, answering the question, “Why did Emma murmur?”] Being the wife of the man whom the Almighty had blessed, she felt, as most women would have felt under like circumstances, that she was entitled to some special favors.

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 25 “An Elect Lady”

married – Joseph and Emma were married. This means Joseph was Emma’s husband, and Emma was Joseph’s wife.

Doctrine and Covenants Stories, “Words to Know” (p. 241)

Significant Events

Birth: Born Dec. 23, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor Co., Vermont, to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack.

Marriage: Married Emma Hale on Jan. 18, 1827.

Joseph Smith Jr., Served 1830–1844 (Church History: Church Presidents)

[Article Title] Emma Hale, the Prophet’s Wife

“Emma Hale, the Prophet’s Wife,” Friend, April 2008

How much do you know about the faithful little girl who grew up to be the wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith?

“A Faithful Girl Named Emma,” Friend, September 2010

In August 1843 the Prophet and his family moved across the street to the Mansion House. Joseph and Emma hosted important visitors in the Mansion House . . .

Joseph Smith Homestead and Mansion House (Church History: Historic Sites)

Emma, Joseph’s wife, frankly acknowledged her husband’s limitations.

“Out of Weakness He Shall Be Made Strong” (70th Annual Joseph Smith Memorial Devotional)

[Andrew Hedges, at 0:03] One of the neat things about these journals is that it’s one of the few places where Joseph’s wife Emma emerges from the background.

“Emma Smith and the Governor of Illinois” (Media Library)

After Joseph’s death, his widow, Emma, retained the translation manuscripts, which were published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1867.

“Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation” (Church History: Revelations in Context)

Joseph and Emma Smith moved into the Mansion House on August 31, 1843. The house was designed for the Prophet’s family and to entertain guests and conduct Church and civic business.

Presidents of the Church Student Manual, Joseph Smith: First President of the Church

The capstone of Joseph Smith’s example of celestial family relationships was his affectionate association with his beloved wife Emma and his children.

““I Was with My Family”: Joseph Smith—Devoted Husband, Father, Son, and Brother,” Ensign, August 1991

Joseph Smith married Emma Hale on 18 January 1827. During their 17-year marriage, they were parents to 11 children, two of whom were adopted.

“Joseph Smith” (Mormon Newsroom)

[Richard L. Andersen, speaking of Joseph and Emma, at 27:24] We have every evidence of the loyalty of both parties to the other.

The Joseph Smith Papers (Podcast), Season 1, Episode 22: The Letters of Joseph and Emma

Joseph’s wife was a schoolteacher, “a woman of liberal culture and insistent on education.” [Earlier in the article, it is suggested that Joseph’s wife was Emma.]

“Joseph Smith and Nauvoo’s Youth,” Ensign, September 1979

Emma Smith was the wife of Church founder Joseph Smith Jr. but, according to producers, her perspective of the pivotal events that gave rise to a world religion of over 13 million members has rarely been told.

“Church Collaborates on Emma Smith Movie” (Mormon Newsroom)

He [Joseph] had crossed the Mississippi when word came from his wife Emma, “The Saints think you are a coward. They are charging that you are running away.” From Joseph came these famous words: “If my life is of no value to my friends, it is of no value to me. Hyrum, we are going back.”

“Joseph Smith—Five Qualities of Leadership,” Liahona, January 1978

Some people thought Joseph Smith was running away because he was afraid. Emma Smith, Joseph’s wife, sent some friends to find him and ask him to come back.

Doctrine and Covenants Stories, Chapter 57: The Prophet Is Killed: June 1844

Emma’s divine calling was to be the wife of a prophet.

“Happiness in Womanhood,” Ensign, March 2002

Joseph’s wife, Emma, bore with Joseph the demands and strains of leadership, opposition, and persecution.

“The Journey of the Colesville Branch” (Church History: Revelations in Context)

During his imprisonment the Prophet wrote several letters to his friends and family. All but one of the following extracts are addressed to his wife, Emma:

“Joseph Smith Jr.—in His Own Words, Part 3,” Ensign, February 1985

In the following pages, we present some of these, as well as a few items owned by Emma Hale Smith, the Prophet’s wife, and Lucy Mack Smith, his mother.

“From the Prophet’s Life: A Photo Essay,” Ensign, January 1984

Most of these quotes, taken in isolation, don’t seem misleading. For example, the Mormon Newsroom article on Joseph Smith just says that Joseph married Emma and that they were married for seventeen years and had eleven children. Some of them shade a little into deception with their wording, though. For example the quote from the “Happiness in Womanhood” article that says “Emma’s divine calling was to be the wife of a prophet.” But of course she wasn’t actually the wife of a prophet. She was a wife, one of many. Or the Church Presidents page that lists “Significant Events” in Joseph’s life, and lists only his marriage to Emma, seems like an obvious attempt to shoehorn Joseph’s life into a 21st century monogamous ideal. (Interestingly, for other polygamous Church presidents, their “Significant Events” lists don’t include marriage at all. For post-polygamous Church presidents, marriage is listed, even when there is more than one, like Joseph Fielding Smith, who had three wives, but serially rather than simultaneously.)

Even if they’re not misleading when taken one at a time, though, when taken all together, the quotes paint a clear picture of Joseph and Emma as a  monogamous couple. When a wife of Joseph is mentioned, it’s always Emma, and the mention of their relationship is never qualified to bring up Joseph’s other wives. For example, like I said above, nobody ever calls Emma Joseph’s first wife, or when speaking of their early years, calls her his then-only wife, or anything like that. This impression is reinforced by articles that deliberately portray Joseph and Emma as a perfectly devoted couple, or Joseph as the ideal family man (for good examples, see these Ensign articles, all of which are quoted above: “Joseph and Emma: Moments in Their Lives,”  “‘My Dear and Beloved Companion’: The Letters of Joseph and Emma Smith,” and “‘I Was with My Family’: Joseph Smith—Devoted Husband, Father, Son, and Brother”).

As far as how this came about, I do agree with Ardis’s comment on BHodges’s post that it seems unlikely that hiding Joseph’s polygamy resulted from a decree by a GA or something. If it was, it was enforced pretty sloppily, as all the examples BHodges cites (and I found some too) would indicate a failure of enforcement. It seems more likely to me that a norm developed among writers of articles and lessons (and probably among Church members in general) that it would be best to present Joseph Smith’s life without overly complicating it, and since his polygamy was really complicated, it should just be left out.

 

10 comments

  1. I did something similar for Stone, Hat and Helen (Mar Kimball) on http://scriptures.byu.edu/ where I searched Journal of Discourses, Conference since ’42 and Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

    All had zero mention of Joseph using a stone or hat for translation or mention of being married to Helen Mar Kimball.

  2. When you say “loyalty” …

    Which, I guess, is my problem with polygamy – one of the biggest ones, at any rate – the issues of secrecy, loyalty and consent.

  3. Liz M has done a similar but more complete analysis over at Juvenile Instructor. She doesn’t restrict herself just to portrayals of Joseph and Emma, but also looks at what you find when you search for Joseph Smith polygamy, and finds a real dearth of concrete examples that would make such discussion memorable.

    http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/exemplification-and-religious-education-reactions-to-the-news-of-joseph-smiths-polygamy-as-an-indicator-of-concern/

  4. Fascinating and disturbing post, Ziff. I remember in 8th grade American history class feeling shocked and upset when my non-Mormon teacher (in Wisconsin) told the class that Brigham Young had 27 wives (or something like that). I told my friends after class (I was too shy to speak up in class) that she must surely have it wrong. I thought he had only 3 wives. Joseph Smith polygamy was not even on my radar (nor on hers, apparently).

    I don’t believe that the glossing over of Joseph Smith polygamy all these years was some grand and nefarious conspiracy; I simply believe that the manual writers and GC speakers were embarrassed by it–they felt others (members and non-members) would find it bizarre and troubling. So, they glossed it over.

    It strikes me as another example of chicken patriarchy. We don’t want to officially disown it (as per the recent Church essays), but we downplay and hide it because we are embarrassed to officially own it.

    If polygamy is truly The Thing, why don’t we defend it? And if it is simply a misstep and overreach by Joseph and Brigham that had painful consequences for many women, why don’t we repent and admit that they got it wrong in what was (I believe) their sincere but self-serving and selfish attempt to bring about the restoration of all things?

  5. Mike C.:

    You are a descendant of Orson Pratt, who had 10 wives, with 8 of whom he had children. The Jared Pratt Family Organization, founded in 1881 by Orson, keeps track of the Pratt descendants. It is not a secret organization.

    That, as an 8th grader, you were surprised to learn that Brigham Young had more than 3 wives, suggests that your parents hadn’t told you about the extent of your own ancestor’s involvement with polygamy. Yet you don’t accuse your parents of “chicken parenting”. Might a similarly charitable view of the Church’s actions be appropriate.?

  6. Nathan,

    I am well aware that I am a descendent of polygamist families (as your internet investigation of me must have shown you). I am grateful for the faithfulness of many of those ancestors and I honor their sacrifice, even if I reject the claim that polygamy was instituted by God. I hope to be charitable towards those who believed in and practiced polygamy in good faith.

    I don’t know if my parents knew the details of BY’s polygamy; perhaps they did. For all I can recall, they may have taught me to count by using the roster of Brigham’s many wives. But I have no recollection of it, though that would not be the first thing they taught me that I did not commit to memory. I’m pretty sure they didn’t talk about it with me.

    In any event, you are right, I don’t accuse them of chicken parenting. Perhaps I did not explain the meaning of chicken patriarchy well enough. In case you are not familiar with the term, I believe it originated here on little old ZD. It refers to the idea of professing a particular doctrine but not wanting to defend it or acknowledge its implications.

    As far as I know my parents were not attempting to say that polygamy was inspired of God while simultaneously avoiding mention that JS instituted it and BY had many, many wives. The Church, on the other hand, has done that in its manuals and curricula for many years.

    All I am saying is that if we really believe in polygamy, at least in the time of JS and BY, then why should we be embarrassed enough about it that we avoid mentioning it in the curricula and manuals for decades? Or do we have a real reason to be embarrassed? And if so, would it not behoove us to repent as an institution?

  7. “But now that the Church is being somewhat more open about Joseph’s polygamy, shouldn’t we be a little more accurate and describe Emma as Joseph’s first wife?”

    Slightly tongue in cheek, but Emma wasn’t his first wife, if sealings are the only kinds of marriages that really matter…

    Great post. Thank you.

  8. The 1992 Ensign article by Gracia Jones does mention Joseph’s plural wives.

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