What happened to Joseph Smith’s first baby?
The first of many tragic deaths, Joseph and Emma’s first baby was born and died on June 15, 1828, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, during the time that the 116 pages given to Martin Harris were lost. According to the family Bible, the baby was named Alvin, likely after Joseph Smith’s older brother, who died shortly before Joseph received the gold plates.
What happened to Joseph Smith's wife Emma Smith after he died?
Upon Joseph's death, Emma was left a pregnant widow—it would be on November 17, 1844, that she gave birth to David Hyrum Smith, the last child she and Joseph had together. In addition to being church president, Joseph had been trustee-in-trust for the church.
How many children did Joseph and Emma Smith have?
Though there were allegations of paternity in some of these polygamous marriages, ongoing genetic research of descendants of these plural marriages have been negative. This list names the nine biological children of Emma and Joseph Smith, four of whom survived to adulthood, and the two children they adopted.
What happened to Joseph and Emma Watson's first baby?
As the first of many tragic deaths, Joseph and Emma's first baby was born and died on June 15, 1828, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, during the time that the 116 pages given to Martin Harris were lost.
Did Joseph and Emma Smith have children?
Who were the children of Joseph and Emma Smith? Nine children born to Joseph and Emma included Joseph III (born 1832), Frederick Granger Williams (born 1836), Alexander Hale (born 1838), Don Carlos (born 1840), and David Hyrum (born 1844). Two other children died before receiving names: sons in 1828 and 1842.
What were Emma Smith's last words?
Elggren believes they had that face-to-face after they had both died. "The last words out of Emma's mouth when she died were 'Joseph. ' And the last words out of Brigham's mouth, and he died before Emma, were 'Joseph,'" Elggren said.
How old was Emma Smith when Joseph died?
A Woman of Hope Joseph's death occurred on 27 June 1844. The Saints' exodus from Nauvoo took place a year and a half later, leaving Emma, a 41-year-old widow, with her aged mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, and five children, ranging in age from fourteen years to fifteen months old, to care for.
How many biological children did Joseph Smith have?
nine biological childrenThis list names the nine biological children of Emma and Joseph Smith, four of whom survived to adulthood, and the two children they adopted.
Why are Millennials leaving the LDS Church?
“They have complicated relationships with the church, and in some cases, they're believing without belonging.” Ogletree said millennials leaving the LDS Church is part of the broader generational trend away from religion and toward a more secular culture — the trend that sparked Riess' study.
Why are people leaving the LDS Church?
Other reasons for leaving may include a belief that they are in a cult, logical or intellectual appraisal, belief changes or differences, spiritual conversion to another faith, life crises, and poor or hurtful responsiveness by Mormon leaders or congregations.
Did Emma Smith remarry after Joseph Smith died?
There is no record Joseph entered into any additional marriages after the fall of 1843. Emma rarely spoke about the practice after Joseph's death. After her death in 1879, her sons published a transcript of an interview in which she purportedly denied Joseph had ever sanctioned plural marriage.
How many babies did Joseph and Emma Smith lose?
The Joseph and Emma Smith family weathered tremendous opposition and tragedy, including political and religious persecution, forced homelessness, the untimely deaths of seven children, and Joseph's own martyrdom.
Did Emma Smith see the gold plates?
Emma Smith Although she never saw the plates, at times they were placed under their bed, she would sometimes move them as she cleaned, and other times she would see them wrapped in a small cloth.
Did Emma Smith have kids with her second husband?
Bidamon, proposed marriage and became Emma's second husband on December 23, 1847. A Methodist minister performed the ceremony. Bidamon moved into the Mansion House and became stepfather to Emma's children. She and Bidamon had no children of their own.
Are there any living descendants of Joseph Smith?
He married Anna Marie Jones on November 13, 1857. His only daughter, Alice Fredericka Smith never married and had no children, leaving no living descendants.
Which Mormon had the most wives?
Brigham Young (1801–1877), second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), was perhaps the most famous polygamist of the early Latter Day Saint movement, marrying a total of fifty-six wives during his lifetime.
Did Emma Smith see the gold plates?
Emma Smith Although she never saw the plates, at times they were placed under their bed, she would sometimes move them as she cleaned, and other times she would see them wrapped in a small cloth.
What did Emma Smith do?
In 1860, Emma affiliated with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (later renamed Community of Christ). Her son Joseph Smith III became president of the Reorganized Church at its founding in 1860, with his brother Alexander Hale Smith as his counselor.
What happened after Joseph Smith died?
On June 27, 1844, a mob stormed in and murdered the brothers. Two years later, Smith's successor, Brigham Young, led an exodus of persecuted Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo along the western wagon trails in search of religious and political freedom.
Where is Joseph Smith buried?
Smith Family Cemetery, Nauvoo, ILJoseph Smith / Place of burialThe Smith Family Cemetery, in Nauvoo, Illinois, is the burial place of Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and brother Hyrum.
How old was Julia when she was adopted?
Julia and her twin brother, Joseph, were adopted by Joseph and Emma when they were nine days old, after their mother died giving birth to them and their father could not care for them. Though her brother did not survive his first year of life, Julia lived to be 49. She was 13 when her adopted father, the Prophet Joseph, was killed in Carthage Jail and she was left with her mother, grandmother (Lucy Mack Smith), and siblings in deserted Nauvoo.
Where was Alexander Hale born?
Alexander Hale was born in Far West, Missouri on June 2, 1838, at the height of the early Saints’ persecution. Believed to have been named after the Church's legal counselor and Joseph's friend, Alexander Doniphan, Alexander Smith was only 6 years old when Joseph and Hyrum were killed, and the boy grew up with little memory of his father.
When was Joseph's son stillborn?
The last of Joseph and Emma’s children to die in infancy, this little boy was stillborn on February 6, 1842, in Nauvoo, just two years before his father would be killed.
Who was Joseph Smith's son?
Named after Joseph’s close friend and first counselor in the First Presidency, Frederick G. Williams, the second surviving son of the Joseph Smith Jr. family was born in Ohio on June 20, 1836. He was only 8 years old when his father was killed and his family was forced to flee mob violence yet again. He eventually married Anna Marie Jones in 1857 and had one child with her. He fell ill in his early 20s and died in April 1862. His daughter, Alice Fredericka, never married, leaving no living descendants from this Smith son.
What happened to Emma Smith after Joseph died?
Upon Joseph's death, Emma was left a pregnant widow —it would be on November 17, 1844, that she gave birth to David Hyrum Smith, the last child that she and Joseph had together. In addition to being church president, Joseph had been trustee-in-trust for the church.
Why did Emma Smith leave Missouri?
On January 12, 1838, he fled the state to avoid charges of fraud and illegal banking. Emma and her family followed and made a new home on the frontier in the Latter Day Saint settlement of Far West, Missouri, where Emma gave birth on June 2, 1838, to Alexander Hale Smith.
How did Joseph Smith die?
On September 2, 1831, the Smiths moved into John Johnson's home in Hiram, Ohio. The infant Joseph died of exposure or pneumonia in late March 1832, after a door was left open during a mob attack on Smith. On November 6, 1832, Emma gave birth to Joseph Smith III in the upper room of Whitney's store in Kirtland.
What did Emma's feelings about temperance and the use of tobacco influence her husband's decision to pray about?
While in Kirtland, Emma's feelings about temperance and the use of tobacco reportedly influenced her husband's decision to pray about dietary questions. These prayers resulted in the " Word of Wisdom ". Also in Kirtland, Emma's first selection of hymns was published as a hymnal for the church's use.
Why did Isaac and Elizabeth Hale refuse to marry Joseph?
Both Isaac and Elizabeth Hale refused to allow the marriage because they disapproved of Joseph's treasure digging activities as well as his claims that he could scry using a seer stone.
When did Joseph and Emma move to Harmony?
The announcement of Joseph having the plates created a great deal of excitement in the area. In December 1827 , the couple decided to move to Harmony, where they reconciled—to some extent—with Emma's parents.
Where did Joseph Knight and Emma go?
On September 22, 1827, Joseph and Emma took a horse and carriage belonging to Joseph Knight, Sr., and went to a hill, now known as Hill Cumorah, where Joseph said he received a set of golden plates.
What did Emma do for the poor?
Emma served the needy: in Kirtland, she and Elizabeth Ann Whitney coordinated feasts for the poor, and in Nauvoo, she opened her home to the sick, orphaned, and homeless. As the “elect lady,” she presided over the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo from its founding in 1842 until 1844, providing relief to new immigrants and destitute families. Her service in the Relief Society, however, achieved much more than benevolent work. As president, Emma taught the women doctrine, managed membership, and publicly defended principles of moral purity. Emma was the first woman to receive temple ordinances; she then initiated other women in these sacred rituals. As the first lady of Nauvoo, she hosted diplomats in her home, made public appearances with Joseph at civic and community events, and presented political petitions in support of the Church and her husband.
How old was Emma Smith when she met Joseph Smith?
Emma was 21 years old when she met 19-year-old Joseph Smith at the end of October 1825. Joseph had come southwest from New York seeking employment in the Susquehanna Valley. His lack of education and resources contrasted with Emma’s respectable situation, but she was immediately impressed with his character and morals.
Where was Emma Hale born?
Portrait of Emma Hale Smith. Born on July 10, 1804, in Willingsborough (later Harmony), Pennsylvania, Emma Hale was the seventh of nine children of Isaac and Elizabeth Lewis Hale. The wealthy family lived on a 90-acre farm in the Susquehanna River Valley, where Isaac shipped meat and other merchandise downriver to Philadelphia and Baltimore.
What was Emma's relationship with Joseph?
Relationship with Joseph. Despite the difficulties of poverty, displacement, and persecution, Emma and Joseph maintained a deep love for and bond with each other. Their marriage faced unusual challenges due to the hardships of founding and leading the Church.
When did Methodism become popular?
Methodism became popular in the Susquehanna region in the early 1800s, and Emma began attending with her mother at the age of seven. A family tradition suggests that Isaac Hale overheard his young daughter Emma praying for him in the woods near their home and that this contributed to his spiritual conversion.
When did Emma accept plural marriage?
When he did share limited information with her, she struggled, shifting her perspective and support over time. In early 1843 , Emma appears to have accepted plural marriage and personally consented to and witnessed Joseph’s marriages to four women.
When was Emma baptized?
Emma was baptized into the Church of Christ by Oliver Cowdery in Colesville, New York, on June 28, 1830, shortly after the Church was organized. An unruly crowd gathered, delaying Emma’s confirmation, and Joseph was arrested and imprisoned on charges of disorderly conduct.
The Why
There are several reasons Emma stayed in Nauvoo after Joseph Smith’s death, but a few in particular stand out. First, Emma had intense anxiety over the protection of Joseph’s and Hyrum’s bodies. In fear of threats that the bodies would be stolen or desecrated, coffins filled with sandbags were used in the public funeral of the two martyrs.
Further Reading
Jenny Reeder, First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2021).
Why did Emma Smith not tell her children about her adoption?
When Julia’s natural father, John Murdock, gave her and her twin brother for adoption, Emma Smith requested Murdock not tell the children of their adoption so they could have a full sense of belonging to the Smith family. Julia learned the truth as a five-year-old, however, from a “spite [ful]” neighbor.
What were the hardships of Joseph and Emma Smith?
The Joseph and Emma Smith family weathered tremendous opposition and tragedy, including political and religious persecution, forced homelessness, the untimely deaths of seven children, and Joseph’s own martyrdom. 1 In times of difficulty, family members turned to each other for strength.
How did Joseph III help the Church?
For the next 54 years, Joseph III directed the Reorganized Church as prophet-president and built up congregations of early Saints who had not migrated to the West. Known for his integrity and political acumen, he sought to fulfill his father’s religious vision and developed a lasting church organization, the second largest of those claiming Joseph Smith as founder. While he maintained an amicable relationship with his cousin and President of the Church in Utah, Joseph F. Smith, Joseph III denied his father had practiced plural marriage and disagreed with the Church’s missionary activities and claim on historic sites. 12 He brought his brothers Alexander and David into senior leadership and secured his son’s path to succession as church president. 13 He was married three times and widowed twice, first to Emmeline Griswold in 1856, then to Bertha Madison in 1869, and finally to Ada Rachel Clark in 1898. Joseph III was the father of 17 children. He died of a heart seizure in 1914. 14
Where did Emma stay when she was in Nauvoo?
Both the original documents produced by Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible (including the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price) and the Egyptian papyri related to the book of Abraham remained in Emma’s custody. Emma remained in Nauvoo with the children when most Church members migrated to the Great Basin.
When did Emma Smith have her son?
A gravestone on the Hale family property in Harmony, Pennsylvania, reads “In Memory of An Infant Son of Joseph And Emma Smith June 15th 1828. ”. In a family Bible, a relative wrote the name “Alvin” to identify this child, but Emma later confirmed the infant was never named.
Where did Emma and Joseph live?
Emma found shelter with other Saints in Illinois while Joseph was incarcerated in Missouri. In early 1839, Joseph reunited with the family after being allowed to escape further imprisonment. In Illinois, the family joined in developing the city of Nauvoo, and both Joseph and Emma led civic and religious groups for the next few years.
Where did David Hyrum Smith go to asylum?
Not long after he returned from a mission to Utah, David’s mental health deteriorated, and his brother Joseph III had him committed to an asylum at Elgin, Illinois, in 1877.
How many children did Joseph Smith have?
This list names the nine biological children of Emma and Joseph Smith, four of whom survived to adulthood, and the two children they adopted.
Who were the Smiths' twins?
Joseph and Emma Hale Smith family. *Adopted. Twin of Julia, birth son of Julia Clapp Murdock and John Murdock who upon his wife's death in childbirth gave the infants to the Smiths for adoption. Died from exposure (many accounts say pneumonia) following a mob attack on the Smith home on the night of March 24, 1832.
Who was the leader of the LDS Church in 1860?
In 1860, Joseph Smith III became its prophet and president of the RLDS Church, although they no longer adhere to this practice. The larger LDS Church did not follow that practice, and it was led after Joseph Smith's death by Brigham Young .
The Know
Emma Smith was one of the most important leaders in the early Church. As a newlywed of less than a year, she was present at the Hill Cumorah when Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the angel Moroni on September 22, 1827.
The Why
There are several reasons Emma stayed in Nauvoo after Joseph Smith’s death, but a few in particular stand out. First, Emma had intense anxiety over the protection of Joseph’s and Hyrum’s bodies. In fear of threats that the bodies would be stolen or desecrated, coffins filled with sandbags were used in the public funeral of the two martyrs.
Further Reading
Jenny Reeder, First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2021).
Overview
"Elect lady" and the early church, 1830–1839
On April 6, 1830, Joseph and five other men established the Church of Christ.
Emma was baptized by Oliver Cowdery on June 28, 1830, in Colesville, New York, where an early branch of the church was established. During the next weeks, Joseph was arrested, tried, and exonerated in South Bainbridge for "glass looking" based on the state's vagrancy law. In July 1830, Joseph received a revelation, now known as Doctrine and Covenants section 25, that highlighted …
Early life and first marriage, 1804–1829
Emma Hale was born on July 10, 1804, in Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, the seventh child of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis Hale. She was descended of primarily English ancestors, including seven passengers on the Mayflower. Beginning at age eight, she was involved in the local Methodist Episcopal Church in Harmony, reading the Bible and singing hymns. Emma first met her future husband, Joseph Smith, in 1825. Joseph lived near Palmyra, New York, but b…
Early years in Nauvoo, 1839–1844
Later years in Nauvoo, 1844–1879
Hymns and hymnals
Alongside W. W. Phelps, Emma Smith compiled a Latter Day Saint hymnal, published in 1835. It was titled A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints and contained 90 hymn texts but no music. Forty-eight were written by Latter Day Saints, and the remaining forty-two were not. The texts borrowed from Protestant groups were often changed slightly to reinforce the theology of the early church. For example, Hymn 15 changed Isaac Watts's Joy to the World fr…
Polygamy
In their biography Mormon Enigma, Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery report that Emma witnessed several marriages of Joseph Smith to plural wives. However, throughout her lifetime Emma publicly denied her husband's involvement in the practice of polygamy and denied on her deathbed that the practice had ever occurred. Emma stated,
No such thing as polygamy, or spiritual wifery, was taught, publicly or privately, before my husba…