Today, I read "EMMA'S NAUVOO", edited by Ron Romig and published by John Whitmer Books. It consists of transcripts, newspaper articles, and personal anecdotes and it's all about Emma Smith Bidamon post-Joseph's martrydom. It's a fascinating read, especially those anecdotes related by her four sons...sons she shared with Joseph.
By virtually all accounts, she was an adored and loved figure. She was extremely loyal to her mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, and cared for her in her own home until she died. She was married to Joseph Smith 18 years and to Major Bidamon for 35 years.
Her sons, Joseph III and Alexander, give a beautiful account of her final hours. Emma had recently had a dream where Joseph came to pick her up. He told her to "come with me, it is time for you to come with me." She "put on her bonnet and shawl" and went with him, without questioning why or how. Together they entered a mansion, which was beautiful, and he showed her the various rooms. In one room was a nursery and there she found her toddler, Don Carlos. She ran towards the baby and embraced him and "wept with joy over the child". After she calmed down, she asked Joseph, "...where are the rest of my children?". He told her, "Emma, be patient. And you shall have all of your children. Then she saw standing by his side a personage of light, even the Lord Jesus Christ".
At about the time of this vision, her son Joseph III had a dream about her showing him her new home and how beautiful it was. Her face had no worry on it and she looked young again. Joseph III woke up knowing that his mother would be with his father soon.
Her sons relate that just before she died, she called, "Joseph, Joseph". He said, "My mother raised right up, lifted her left hand as high as she could raise it, and called, Joseph. I put my left arm under her shoulder, took her hand in mine, saying, Mother,what is it, laid her hand on her bosom, and she was dead; she had passed away."
If you could ask Emma Smith Bidamon one question, what would it be?
4 comments:
Only one question?? That's cruel.
My questions would probably be:
What is your favorite memory on Earth?
What was it like to be married to Joseph Smith? Did he ever get crumpy, sad etc?
If you could do one thing over again whatever it is-good or bad, what would it be?
Good questions, Steph. This is a hard one...
I think I would ask. . .
What does it feel like to hold the babies you lost on earth, when you were reunited with them in the Spirit World? Were they still children or adults? What are their memories of mortality?
Also, Jacob gave a talk on Emma Smith a few months ago and at the end of the talk he said, "And, just as I am so thankful for the exmaple of Emma Smith, I, too, am thankful for MY Emma. . .he then said some nice things about me. It melted me heart. I love that guy.
These are GREAT responses...well done!!! All good questions...hopefully we'll get to ask her personally one day...
For me this is easy. I would ask her, "How did you do it?"
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