D&C 132:51-66
132:51-57 - Here we are in the home stretch. The Lord now addresses Emma Smith, Joseph Smith's wife. He presents an interesting situation, commanding her "that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her, for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand by covenant and sacrifice." The IM says, "No indication is given here or elsewhere of what the Lord had commanded the Prophet Joseph to offer to his wife, but the context seems to suggest that it was a special test of faith similar to the test of Abraham's faith when the Lord commanded him to sacrifice Isaac." This makes me wonder if there are tests like that in our lives? Interesting. Emma Smith is also commanded:
1. "Receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph." I love Emma Smith because she is a ride or die chick, she's hardcore and holds it all down. As an all in, ride or die chick myself, I understand how we give all of everything we have and are to our cause, and to have someone say that they are bringing someone else into the picture could seem like the biggest betrayal of all time, especially after all the heart ache that Emma suffered. This is pretty rough, and I understand the struggle. The IM gives some interesting information by quoting President Wilford Woodruff as saying, "Emma Smith, the widow of the Prophet, is said to have maintained to her dying moments that her husband had nothing to do with the patriarchal order of marriage, but that it was Brigham Young that got that up. I bear record before God, angels and men that Joseph Smith received that revelation, and I bear record that Emma Smith gave her husband in marriage to several women while he was living... But lo and behold, we hear publication after publication now-a-days, declaring that Joseph Smith had nothing to do with these things. Joseph Smith himself organized every endowment in our Church and revealed the same to the Church, and he lived to receive every key of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods from the hands of the men who held them while in the flesh, and who hold them in eternity." We have a Relief Society program once that taught about Emma Smith and one of the first quotes was from one of her descendants who joined the church 200 years later who said something to the effect of "I've found that in the Church while Joseph Smith is held in the utmost reverence, Emma Smith is not, she is vilified." It was very good, I feel like after all that I understand her more now, and have a softened heart towards her.
2. "Abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else."
3. "Forgive my servant Joseph his trespasses."
There's several other verses about the priesthood and adultery and stuff, but I'm going to end it here and move on.
1. "Receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph." I love Emma Smith because she is a ride or die chick, she's hardcore and holds it all down. As an all in, ride or die chick myself, I understand how we give all of everything we have and are to our cause, and to have someone say that they are bringing someone else into the picture could seem like the biggest betrayal of all time, especially after all the heart ache that Emma suffered. This is pretty rough, and I understand the struggle. The IM gives some interesting information by quoting President Wilford Woodruff as saying, "Emma Smith, the widow of the Prophet, is said to have maintained to her dying moments that her husband had nothing to do with the patriarchal order of marriage, but that it was Brigham Young that got that up. I bear record before God, angels and men that Joseph Smith received that revelation, and I bear record that Emma Smith gave her husband in marriage to several women while he was living... But lo and behold, we hear publication after publication now-a-days, declaring that Joseph Smith had nothing to do with these things. Joseph Smith himself organized every endowment in our Church and revealed the same to the Church, and he lived to receive every key of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods from the hands of the men who held them while in the flesh, and who hold them in eternity." We have a Relief Society program once that taught about Emma Smith and one of the first quotes was from one of her descendants who joined the church 200 years later who said something to the effect of "I've found that in the Church while Joseph Smith is held in the utmost reverence, Emma Smith is not, she is vilified." It was very good, I feel like after all that I understand her more now, and have a softened heart towards her.
2. "Abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else."
3. "Forgive my servant Joseph his trespasses."
There's several other verses about the priesthood and adultery and stuff, but I'm going to end it here and move on.
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