Changes in the Emma Smith Revelation....

Joseph Smith's Elect Lady Revelation 

becomes more strict over time.  

Timeline:  

July 1830:

Joseph Smith received a revelation of comfort for Emma.  The original document has been lost.  It was at a time when Joseph was in serious legal trouble.  

Spring of 1831:  

Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer are assigned to record Joseph Smith's revelations.  The documents are copied into a book called "The Revelation Book".  Below is a scan of their handwriting.  The revelation to Emma is called "27th Commandment".  

July 20, 1833
A group of four to five hundred Missouri vigilantes stormed the Church's printing office in Independence and destroyed or confiscated much of the contents.  The text below is from one of the few books that was made from rescued manuscripts.  There are minor changes made from the 1831 version.  

About 1833 - 1835
A teenage girl named Fanny Alger is hired to live and work in the Smith home.  She helps with Emma with the children, cleaning and cooking.  At some point she starts a relationship with Joseph Smith.  

November 1835
The book called the Doctrine and Covenants was published in 1835 in Kirtland, Ohio.  The Emma Smith revelation was put in Section 48.   A conditional clause is added to Emma's revelation.   In the 1831 version, Emma was called and "Elect Lady", but in the 1835 version it is given "IF THOU ART FAITHFUL and WALK IN THE PATHS OF VIRTUE".

Why would a conditional clause be added?

Is it possible that Emma had begun to grow weary with Joseph's polygamy / adultery?  Would this IF statement put greater pressure on Emma to accept Fanny Alger and the relationship she had with Joseph?

March 27, 1836
For context, be aware that the Kirtland Temple was dedicated after this revelation came out.  At that time, Joseph received the "Sealing Power" from an angel.  

July 12, 1843
Section 132 is recorded.  This section puts even more pressure on Emma Smith to conform.  Saying that she might be "destroyed".  

"and let mine handmaid Emma Smith receive all those that have been given unto my Servent Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; And those who are not pure <​and have Said they ware pure​> Shall be destroyed"

The Emma Smith revelation is now found in Doctrine and Covenants 25 in the present Utah - LDS Scripture.  

Link to Doctrine and Covenants 25

More to think about:
It is also worth noting that the source of the revelation changes between 1830 and 1835.  In the 1830 version,  Emma is called, "My Daughter in Zion", but in the 1835 version she is addressed saying,  "Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; "

Additional Reading 

BYU Article

FairMormon Article on Fannie Alger

Patheos Article

Mormon Think

The Revelations Books

Book of Commandments at Joseph Smith Papers

Young women saving the papers of the Book of Commandments. 

Controlling by FEAR

The Mormon Church has perfected the doctrine of fear.  

Fear of Causing Suffering of Others.  (If you don't do Family History / Temple work, your dead family members are suffering in spirit prison for 100's of years.)

Fear of Death. (If you forget to pray before leaving the house, or drink coffee or eat out on Sunday)

Fear of Shunning, (If you wear the wrong cloths, say the wrong thing, express doubt, don't serve a mission)

Fear of Eternal Suffering, (If you have even sinned once and haven't repented)


Fear of loss of Family, (If they go to Celestial Kingdom and you don't)

Fear of Loss of Blessings, (If you fail to pay tithing or read you scriptures or pray or do Home Teaching)

Fear of Financial Ruin, (If you don't pay 100 percent tithing or do your calling)

Fear of Judgement, (By God, by bishop, by people in class, by neighbors)

Fear of Embarrassment, (If your house, car, kids, lesson, talk isn't perfect)

Fear of the Second Coming, (Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, death torture)

Fear of Damnation (If you tell secret temple handshakes, or oaths)

No wonder Mormons have some of the highest depression rates in the world.  Everything we do is motivated by fear.  

It is cruel and yet effective.  I wonder how many Mormon's attend Church and pay tithing only out of fear.  I would say most.  This defines a cult.

Bingo of Mormon Historical and Doctrinal Issues

Glossary:
Dunn:  

Paul H. Dunn told lies for years that went unnoticed by the "Prophets, Seers and Revelators" who were supposedly speaking to God.  

Translation:  

Several books and documents show evidence that Smith really couldn't translate. 

Coffee:  

Even with several health benefits, coffee will prevent a parent from seeing a child's marriage or participating in church.  

White:  

100 Percent of the Prophets and Apostles have been white.  

Perfection:  

Depression and suicide are unfortunate results of the expectation to be perfect.  

Misogyny:  

Women have been traded, abused, mocked and ignored throughout LDS history.  

Doors:  

Old men ask young boys and girls sexual questions behind closed doors.  

Noah:  

Mormons still claim a universal flood and a God that commits genocide.

Polyandry:  

Joseph Smith sent men on missions and had sex with their wives.
Hat:
For 2500 years the Golden Plates were supposedly created, engraved and saved from destruction and yet Smith wrote the Book of Mormon by looking into a hat.
Myths:  
Visits by God, Jesus and various angels have been made up years after the fact to support a narrative that the Mormon Church is special.
DNA: 
The Book of Mormon story is continually disproved by a mountain DNA evidence as well as a lack of archaeology.
Free:
Knowing these truths will truly set you free.  

LGBTQ:  

Doctrines related to LGBTQ members demonstrate an uninformed and cruel leadership.

Science:  

Ignored when convenient, embraced when supportive.  

Mall:  

Billions spend on luxury while children starve and suffer.  

Teen:  

Old men having sex with teenage girls and claiming that God commanded it. 

Old:  

Church leadership is out of touch with most of humanity.  

Horse:  

Making up excuses for serious anachronisms in the Book of Mormon. 

Predator:  

Joseph Smith stalked and raped young girls and married women.  

Polygamy:  

The Church will not admit the evil and abuse this doctrine is still causing.

Tyrant:  

Brigham Young's lies, abuse and oppression are insidious. 

Racism:  

LDS doctrine and scriptures are still filled with racism today.  

Money: 

Billions of dollars and millions of hours are spent doing rituals that help nobody.  

Handshakes:  Secret handshakes, costumes, oaths and chants show the Mormon Church is really a cult.  

Rev. Billy Graham Fought to end racism in 1957

The Reverend Billy Graham died this week.  I was amazed that in the 1950's he was fighting to end racism.

I was also embarrassed to realize that Mr. Graham did that more than 20 years before the LDS Church ended it's racist temple and priesthood doctrines.

Pretty sad for the "One True Church" to be 20 years behind in this social issue.

King and Graham

The LDS Church did not end its Temple and Priesthood ban on "People of African" decent until 1978 and still has racist statements in all of their scriptures. 


Billy Graham's Quotes on Racism

LDS Essay on Race

Did Thomas S. Monson Really Speak at Every one of "His 85 Widow's" Funerals?

Following the death of President Thomas S. Monson, I read several obituary articles and blog posts that mentioned that he had attended ALL 85 funerals of the widows who had been in his ward when he was a Bishop.

Deseret News Article


They all cited an LDS.org Article that says, 

“Although his Church callings and responsibilities over the years have often taken him on the road for weeks at a time, President Monson made it to every funeral of his widows and spoke as he had promised them he would. “.

The LDS.org article gives no reference for this comment. I’m curious about the origin of this story. 

Did President Monson ever claim to have attended and spoke at EVERY funeral? 

Did none of the women pass away while he was serving as mission president? 

Did he actually SPEAK at every funeral? 

It seems like subsequent Bishops might have spoken instead. 

While he was away on assignment in Europe for months at a time as an Apostle were there no funerals?


Many of the widows were from World War II soldiers.  That would mean the women could have been about his age.   Are some still alive ? 

Edit:  I have spend some more time researching this topic.  In her 2010 book, To the Rescue, Heidi S. Swinton says on page 142, 

" He promised to speak at their funerals - All  Eighty-five - and he made it to everyone, though he sometimes had to slip out of a meeting or fit the service in between general conference sessions."

I contact the LDS Church History Library and they said the following:  

Thank you for your inquiry. President Monson himself talked about this. It is written in his biography To the Rescue, written by Heidi S. Swinton on page 142. The page is attached.

I hope this helps.

Well no, Church History Library people, a Biography is not the same as an Autobiography, and the biography you cite does not quote President Monson, it states an unverified story.  

Further Edit:  The more I research here the more I feel like it is another case of story embellishment.  I think it may be related to this talk by Jefferey R. Holland from 1986.

"Furthermore, these sweet folks never seem to die until Brother Monson is back in town from his many assignments, enabling him to speak at their funerals. Perhaps no one in the present leadership of the Church has spoken at so many funerals—he once had three services in one day."

Although this quote by President Holland doesn't specifically say he spoke at Every Single funeral, I can see how the Monson Biographer might have taken it to mean that.  Of course this quote was from 1986.  More than 30 years before President Monson's death.  

A TIMELINE of President Monson's Death that might help clarify.  

Born:  1927

Called to be a Bishop: 1949.

Called to be a Mission President:  1959 - 1962.

Let's make a rough assumption that when he became a Bishop in 1949, his 85 widows had an average age of 70. That would mean that while he was on his mission for three years they averaged in age from 79 to 82.  Does my logic make sense?  So during the three years he was on his mission, not one widow died?  

Scan from Biography of Thomas S. Monson:

Talk by Thomas S. Monson in 1981 where he talks about visiting widows.

LDS Newsroom Article about President Monson

Article about being Mission President in Canada

LDS.org Biography of Thomas S. Monson quoting book several times. 

Monson by the Numbers

Monson Press release  ( 84 widows )

Talk from 1980 - ( Mentions 87 Widows )

2008 Ensign Article ( Says he went to All 84 Funerals ) (April 2008)

USA Today Obituary says, "he was a spiritual leader for about 1,000 church members, including 84 widows, many whose husbands had died in World War II."

Many of the widows were from World War II soldiers.  That would mean the women could have been about his age.   So some may still be alive.  

Newsroom Biography

2010 BYU Devotional

Mormon Hub Obituary

2008 Ensign Article by Jefferey Holland.  For some reason this has been wiped from LDS.org
(Jun 2008)
"He continued visiting them in their declining years and, somewhat miraculously, has been able to speak at each of their funerals-all 84 of them!"  This is the oldest reference I can find to the story. 

1986 Article by Jefferey Holland ( Mentions 85 Widows )

Furthermore, these sweet folks never seem to die until Brother Monson is back in town from his many assignments, enabling him to speak at their funerals. Perhaps no one in the present leadership of the Church has spoken at so many funerals—he once had three services in one day—and always very personal remarks are given for the sometimes ordinary and otherwise unknown souls that he has met and loved somewhere during his ministry.

When Jefferey Holland said these words it was 1986.  It was only 37 years since he was put in as Bishop.  If he really had war veterans widows, they would only be 

February 2008 Newroom Press Release

Interesting that it says, "One way that this attribute became part of his life was in the way he served the 84 widows in his congregation while he was a young bishop and for decades afterward. He said that they all asked him to speak at their funerals, assignments he was happy to accept notwithstanding heavy travel and other commitments."  Somebody on Wikipedia gave this quote as a reference for the fact that he spoke at every funeral.

From 2008 Biography Book about the Prophets.  

References 1986 by Jefferey Holland almost implying that he spoke at every funeral, the book takes it one step further and says he spoke at each of their funerals. 


Obituary Article from The Blaze
In 1949, he served as a bishop for two Salt Lake City congregations leading about 1,000 church members. More than 80 were widows whose husbands died in World War II. He regularly visited each one and promised to speak at their funerals one day, according to Religion News.


Religion News Obituary

Suspend the LDS Leadership Succession Rules Immediately

I know that nobody in Church Leadership cares about my opinion, but as an active, tithe paying member I say that.....

Romney is qualified, faithful and would give the church positive exposure.  It would be a win, win for everyone but Bednar.  If the Law of Common Consent is really a thing, can "we" as a united membership, nominate him?   

10 Questions about the Baptism for the Dead Rules

10 Questions to Consider:

#1. Why can't young women be witnesses?  Untrustworthy?

#2.  Why is it that boys need to be 16 to baptize but girls only need to be 12 to pass out towels?

#3.  If no adults are needed, doesn't that make the baptistery a teen pool party?

#4. Was this a revelation, if so, who received it?

#5. If President Monson didn't receive the revelation, who is authorized to speak for the entire church?

#6. Does this change the rule about youth driving other youth to the temple?

#7. Does this mean that Young Women's leaders don't even need to go on temple trips?

#8. Will the jumpsuits worn by the girls be made thicker?

#9. Does this warrant an addition to the Doctrine and Covenants?

#10. Can you imagine this conversation in 1000 years?

Jesus, "Edith, why aren't you coming into Heaven?"

Edith, "I've been waiting for my temple work to be done."

Jesus, "There must be some mix up, let me check on it."

several hours later....

Jesus, "They did your baptism in 2018, but all the witness and recorders were distracted by the 14 year old girl in a thin white jumpsuit that was your proxy and they didn't notice that a couple of hairs on her head didn't get submerged.  It got flagged in Heaven, but on earth it was recorded as done.  So sorry!"

Edith, "So I've been waiting in Spirit Prison for 1000 years because horny teens screwed up?"

Jesus, "Um, yes."

Clarifying and questioning teen suicide numbers....

I was just doing the math to clarify the suicide stats and now I'm wondering if they are in fact correct.

The article being shared says that the rate of suicides is 11.1 per 100,000 for youth between 10 and 17.

According to the census there are 354,129 people in Utah between 10 and 17.

354,129 / 100,000 is 3.54.  3.54 times 11.1 is 39.2. 

So according to my math there were 39 or 40 suicides / year. 

Do these numbers seem low?  

Obviously one suicide is horrible, but I think those numbers are sadly low.

Your thoughts?


Ogden Standard Article

Momma Dragons

Youth Suicide Factsheet

Utah Age Demographics

Suicide Hotline Numbers

Running with plates

#4 Smith Running with 100 pounds of Golden Plates

Myth Summary:  Joseph Smith received revelation through his seer stone that someone was going to steal the Golden Plates.  He took them from this hiding place and carried them three miles through the forest while fighting off men hiding there.
Why it is wrong:  This is another unsubstantiated story based only on the testimony of Joseph Smith.  Gold plates would weigh somewhere between 50 and 200 pounds.  Joseph walked with a limp.  Running three miles like that would be impossible.  It is also strange that in the path through the woods that Joseph chose, he would happen upon three men hiding there in the unlikely chance that he would run by.
Links and additional details found here

Hauns' Hill Massacre

 Hauns' Hill Massacre

Story Summary:  The lesson quotes Joseph Smith saying, "At Hauns' Mill the brethren went contrary to my counsel; if they had not, their lives would have been spared".  It gives no further commentary on the reasons why they died. 
Why it is Wrong:  Blaming the victims for their own brutal deaths is horrible here.  There are lots of reasons for the Hauns' Mill Massacre.  The first group to blame is the brutal thugs who committed the crime.  Unfortunately Smith's quote blames the victims and teaches the children that Joseph Smith had no responsibility for the brutal killings that took place.  The reality is that if Joseph warned anyone it was mill owner Haun who was not a member of the church.
It is important to note that Joseph Smith had promised through a revelation from God that Zion would be created in Jackson, County Missouri.  It would be a place of peace.  He also promised that God would fight their battles for them and be by their side.  None of that happened.