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Joseph, Jr. and Emma
Smith Family Website |
In the spring of 2007 Kari Robinson, Historian of the Brigham
Young Family Association, received a communication from Michael
Kennedy, President of the Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization. It
was a request to send a representative to the Joseph Smith Jr.
Family reunion in June to present an apology to the descendants of
the Prophet. Officers of the Brigham Young Family were unclear
about the purpose and need for such an apology, and wondered if
“apology” was the right word. However, they were willing and in
agreement to respond in a useful and appropriate way.
I
had just been installed as President-elect of the Brigham Young
Family Association, and I agreed to contact Elder Dallin Oaks for
some guidance, as Elder Oaks had spoken in detail to the family
several years earlier about the reasons for the rift that had
developed between Brigham Young and Emma Smith following the
martyrdom of the Prophet. Elder Oaks responded immediately with
reference materials from his talk which covered among other things
Emma Smith’s efforts to legally acquire properties in Nauvoo, and
her denials of the institution of plural marriage by her husband.
Given the monumental challenges faced by President Young, he had
little patience with anyone who detracted from the well being of
the saints and the fledgling Church. Much to everyone’s regret,
this included Emma Smith. His stewardship was to continue the work
that had been set in motion by the Prophet, and he did it against
all odds, and he did it very well indeed.
Elder Oaks concluded his letter saying that he had included a
positive statement from Brigham Young about Emma Smith (rare for
him) which he found in his folder though he hadn’t used it in his
talk. He hoped it would be helpful. In 1852 in a public meeting,
Brigham Young had said, “…What of Joseph Smith’s family? What of
his boys? I have prayed from the beginning for sister Emma and for
the whole family. There is not a man in this church that has
entertained better feelings towards them. Joseph said to me, ‘God
will take care of my children when I am taken.” They are in the
hands of God, and when they make their appearance before this
people, full of his power, there are none but what will say –
“Amen! We are ready to receive you.’”
Elder Oaks gave permission to use any and all of what he had
enclosed, but about the apology, he could offer no counsel. I sat
with my head in my hands wondering what to do when my daughter
suggested that I just write an apology. Suddenly words filled my
mind. I turned to my word processor and typed as fast as I could.
I was taking dictation from outside of my own head. When I was
done, I read it, and tears filled my eyes. I breathed an audible
thank you, not knowing to whom I was speaking. Inexperienced in
such overt manifestations, I was amazingly calm. The veil was very
thin, and I sensed an urgent need and concern. It was clear that I
had been drafted into service for something I didn’t fully
understand.
I
have since learned that much like the challenge many people have
as they investigate the Church in accepting the Prophet Joseph
Smith, the descendants of the Prophet have a similar challenge in
accepting Brigham Young because of the false traditions about him
passed down through their generations. They are coming into the
Church, but they must come to terms with President Young as a
Prophet of the Lord, and he is surely nearby and interested in
helping them to succeed. It seems that Brigham is assisting Emma
in gathering her children to bring them into the covenant. As
Brigham Young’s descendants, we are committed to help, for Emma
can have no peace until all her descendants have their chance to
choose for themselves. It’s time to let go of the hurtful things
of the past. At the very least, we owe this to the Prophet Joseph
Smith, and after all we are all one family, the Lord’s family.
**The Healing Statement**
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