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.  Emma had lost her first child, persecution against Joseph and the Church was intense and Joseph was in serious legal trouble.  Also, Emma Smith was baptized on June 28, 1830, (Not April 6th), but multiple issues had delayed her confirmation.  

Spring of 1831:  

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

(Highlighting is digital) 

Revelation begins:  

 "Emma, my daughter in Zion,  A Revelation I give unto you concerning my will"

Specific praise:

"A Revelation I give unto you concerning my will 

Behold thy sins are for given thee & thou art an Elect Lady."

Source:  Joseph Smith Papers

July 20, 1833
A group of 400 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.  

 

Revelation begins:  

 "Emma, my daughter in Zion, A Revelation I give unto you concerning my will"

Specific praise:

"A Revelation I give unto you concerning my will 

Behold thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an Elect Lady."

This image is often associated with the destruction of the printing press.  

These girls risked their lives to save copies of the printed pages.  

(The originals were not at the site)

Also note that one of the girls later became one of Joseph Smith's polygamous wives.  

About 1833 - 1835
A teenage girl named Fanny Alger is hired to live and work in the Smith home.  She helps 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 an "Elect Lady", but in the 1835 version it is given "IF THOU ART FAITHFUL and WALK IN THE PATHS OF VIRTUE".

Revelation begins:  

 "Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, 

while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter;"

Specific praise:

A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; 

and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, 

I will preserve thy life, 

and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion.

Behold, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called.

Why would a conditional clause be added?

Why would the voice of God, become more direct and angry?

Why was the phrase, ""Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God" added?

Is it possible that Emma had grown 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 said that he 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 revelations are now found in Doctrine and Covenants section 25 and section 132 in the present Utah - LDS Scripture.  

Link to Doctrine and Covenants 25

Link to Doctrine and Covenants 132

Additional Reading 

BYU Article

FairMormon Article on Fannie Alger

Patheos Article

Mormon Think

The Revelations Books

Book of Commandments at Joseph Smith Papers

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, the Mormon Church stated that Monson had attended ALL 85 funerals of the widows who had been in his ward when he was a Bishop.

Deseret News Article


LDS.org Article

“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. “.

In this article, I contend that it isn't true. 

Main arguments: 
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/695250351/Timeline-Thomas-S-Monson.html

1. He served three years as a Mission President in Toronto.
2. From 1968 to 1995 he was the Apostle over much of Europe. 
3. It is possible some are still alive.  
4. I don't believe that anybody really kept track of the widows/funerals. 
5. Did not a single widow ever move away and he lost track?
6. Why would he take over the job of the Bishop of the ward when they died?    

Racist comment by Monson: 

In about 1956 we recognized that our neighborhood was dete­riorating. We observed this one Halloween by the nature of the people who came in the guise of ‘Trick or Treat.’ The minority elements were moving into the area where we lived, and many of the old-time families had long since moved away. Seeking coun­sel, I visited with Mark E. Peterson, who for many years had been the General Manager of the Deseret News. O. Preston Robinson, my former professor of marketing at the University of Utah, had suc­ceeded Brother Petersen as the General Manager at the News. As I mentioned to Mark my dilemma, wondering if it would be unfair for me to move, he said simply, ‘Your obligation to that area is concluded. Why don’t you build a house in my ward?’” (On the Lord’s Errand: Memoirs of Thomas S. Monson, 1985, p. 184).

Why does it matter?  Because the truth is important and the "One True Church" should not lie. 

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?

Some articles have said that many of the widows were from World War II soldiers.  That would mean the women could have been about  Monson's age.   Are some still alive?  

Notes:   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 contacted 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 contacted the Author of his biography.  Heidi Swinton.  I wrote her the following note: 

Sister Swinton, in your biography of President Monson you say, “ he promised to speak at their funerals, all eighty-five, and he made it to every one.” You don’t list a source for that statement. Where does that information come from?

Her response: "Directly from him". I hope this helps.

Link to Ensign Article

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 that might help clarify.  

Born:  1927

Bishop from May 7, 1950, until June 1955
Was in a Stake Presidency.  1955 - 1959.

Toronto Mission President 1959 - 1962.  (3 years)

Let's make a rough assumption that when he became a Bishop in 1950, 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:

Another Tribute to President Monson - Deseret News - 2018

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

2008 Monson Press release  ( 84 widows )

Talk from 1980 - ( He 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 Newsroom 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.

Obituary of Sister Monson

Religion News Obituary


Sister Swinton, in your biography of President Monson you say, “ he promised to speak at their funerals, all eighty five, and he made it to every one.” You don’t list a source for that statement. Where does that information come from? "Directly from him".

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 Victim Blaming

Joseph Smith blamed the victims of the Haun's Creek Massacre for their own deaths.

Historic Summary: Wikipedia (Haun's Creek)

On October 30, 1838, at the height of the "Mormon Missouri Conflict" a settlement was attacked by a Missouri Militia at Haun's Creek. 17 men and boys were killed, several of their bodies were mutilated and many women were assaulted. Houses were robbed, wagons, tents, and clothing were stolen, and horses and livestock were driven off, leaving the surviving women and children destitute.

Four years later at a meeting in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith blamed the victims.  

Quote by Joseph Smith Manuscript History of the Church

(August 29, 1842) 

"I had told them about fighting the Missourians, and about fighting alone. I had not fought them with the Sword, or by carnal weapons; I had done it by stratagem, by outwitting them, and there had been no lives lost, and there would be no lives lost if they would hearken to my Council. Up to this day God had given me wisdom to save the people who took Council. None had ever been killed who abode by my Council. At Haun's Mill the brethren went contrary to my Council; if they had not, their lives would have been spared."

Why it is Wrong: 

Joseph Smith blaming the 17 victims for their own brutal deaths is inexcusable.

There are lots of reasons for the "The Missouri Conflict" It was a complicated mix of frontier land battles and religious extremism.

The first group to blame is the Missouri Militia who attacked the settlers.  Also to blame was Governor Lilliburn Boggs who issued an extermination order against the Mormons. 

Joseph Smith and the Mormons also bear substantial blame. In 2014 the LDS Church issued a carefully worded essay admitting that the Mormon settlers (Including the Danites) bear some responsibility.

"A few days before the attack Mormon Apostle Lyman Wight and several companies of Mormon defenders forced the removal of several hundred non-Mormons from Daviess County."

“The Mormons didn’t hurt anybody,“They just kind of went up to their houses and said, ‘You’ve got 24 hours to get out." Source - LDS.org

It is questionable if Joseph Smith actually warned anybody about leaving Haun's Mill, if he warned anyone it was mill owner Haun who was NOT a member of the church and did not consider Smith his leader.  The men, women and children who died were moving to Missouri because they were promised they were coming to Zion. Instead they were moving into a war zone. They gathered at the mill in desperation, seeking safety. Most of the victims were new converts to the faith and new arrivals to the area.

2013 Quote by BYU History Professor Alexander Baugh

“Because of the hostile activities, Jacob Hawn was appointed to go to Far West to seek counsel concerning whether or not they should continue to maintain the mill site and remain in the area,”  “The Prophet informed him that they should abandon the mill so as to not risk the lives of the Saints living there. However, when Hawn returned, he reported that Joseph Smith said they could stay and maintain the mill.”

It is important to note that Joseph Smith had promised through revelation that Zion would be created in 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.

The current LDS Church Leadership continues to create a mythology surrounding Joseph Smith and his life that fits their faith promoting narrative.

Side Note: Those of you who grew up reading books by Beverly Cleary might be interested that she is a decedent of Jacob Haun. Haun and his wife were not at the mill during the attack and later moved to what became the Oregon Territory in about 1843. They settled part of the area in what is now Yamhill Oregon and are buried there. Source

Sources:

Mormon Historical Studies Article
Revelation on Jackson County
LDS.org Essay - Peace and Violence
Biography of Jacob Hawn
Victims Lacked Obedience
LDS Church Essay on Missouri Violence