Emma Smith

Emma Hale Smith Bidamon
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon circa 1845 with David Hyrum Smith
Emma Hale Smith circa 1845 with David Hyrum Smith[1]: 56 
1st President of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo
March 17, 1842 (1842-03-17) – 1844
Called byJoseph Smith
SuccessorEliza R. Snow
Personal details
BornEmma Hale
(1804-07-10)July 10, 1804
Harmony Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 30, 1879(1879-04-30) (aged 74)
Nauvoo House, Nauvoo, Illinois, U.S.
Resting placeSmith Family Cemetery, Nauvoo
40°32′26″N 91°23′31″W / 40.5406°N 91.3920°W / 40.5406; -91.3920 (Smith Family Cemetery)
Notable worksA Collection of Sacred Hymns
Latter Day Saints' Selection of Hymns
Spouse(s)
(m. 1827; died 1844)
(m. 1847)
Children11 (see Children of Joseph Smith)
Signature 
Signature of Emma Smith

Emma Hale Smith Bidamon (July 10, 1804 – April 30, 1879) was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and a prominent member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church) as well as the first wife of Joseph Smith, the movement's founder.[1] In 1842, when the Ladies' Relief Society of Nauvoo was formed as a women's service organization, she was elected by its members as the organization's first president.

After the killing of Joseph Smith, Emma remained in Nauvoo rather than following Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers to the Utah Territory. Emma was supportive of Smith's teachings throughout her life with the exception of plural marriage and remained loyal to her son, Joseph Smith III, in his leadership of the RLDS Church.[2]

  1. ^ a b Youngreen, Buddy (1982). Reflections of Emma: Joseph Smith's Wife. Grandin Book.
  2. ^ Newell & Avery 1984.