Emma Hale was born 10 July 1804 to Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis at Willingborough Township (now Harmony), Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania[2]. She eloped with Joseph Smith Jr. and was married on 18 January 1827 at South Bainbridge, New York.[3][4] Emma briefly acted as his scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon and compiled the first hymnal for her husband's new church[5]. Giving birth to nine children and adopting two, Emma outlived all but four of them. On 17 March 1842, she became the first president of what is now known as the Relief Society.[6] She did not follow Brigham Young out west. Instead, she remained in Nauvoo and on 23 December 1847 Emma married Lewis C. Bidamon.[7] When her son, Joseph Smith III, became president of the church now known as the Community of Christ, Emma joined with them. She died in Navuoo on 30 April 1879.[8]

Published Works

Collection of Sacred Hymns (1835)

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Emma Smith statements, 1847-1848]. MS 5423. Church History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah (hereafter Church History Library). http://churchhistorycatalog.lds.org/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?doc=ALEPH-PCHD000094553&displayMode=full&vid=CHL_PUBLIC (accessed 26 Jan 2015).

Emma Smith papers, 1842-1878]. MS 7464 6-8. Church History Library. http://churchhistorycatalog.lds.org/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?doc=ALEPH-PCHD000048939&displayMode=full&vid=CHL_PUBLIC (accessed 26 Jan 2015).

Secondary Sources

Related Entries

References