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Healing the rift between Brigham and Emma
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However, having said that, I don't think Brigham treated Emma very well, especially in view of the fact that her husband had just been murdered. I also think that she seemed almost determined to take offense at just about everything that happened.
I do think the idea of a healing document is good. I had no idea that Joseph's descendants actually thought that Brigham was part of the conspiracy to murder Joseph. That is as absurd as it gets.
However, clearly, the RLDS (Community of Christ) have some misguided notion that they were somehow screwed over by the LDS many years ago. That has, unfortunately, kept many from coming into the Church. Now, maybe the healing can begin and many of those people will be able to come into the Church and we can go forward.
He told the missionaries that he would have been baptized many years earlier had he known the truth. But, as an RLDS, he had been taught all his life that the LDS Church was terrible and that they had done terrible things to the RLDS. Of course, this wasn't true, but that was what he had been taught. He was so grateful to join the Church and feel whole and at peace.
It would be so great if the rift could be healed and these people could come back into the Church. I really hope so.
I also think it's interesting that the LDS are now trying to make Emma Smith one of their own to the point of elevating her status as an "Elect" Lady (much like Catholics did to Mary).
I wonder though since people are speculating how Emma and Brigham would have reconciled if they would have had an opportunity to talk if they ever want to speculate what the church would look like if Joseph had lived. Would Joseph and Brigham even remained as friends if Brigham would have had to submit to Joseph's will as they grew older.
It's easy to say what happened was the Lord's will but I wonder which path after Joseph's death was the path the Lord wanted people to follow. This choice is the real rift of two families and bridging it is more then just an apology but an entire outlook on life.
I wish I could've known my cousins better. I think we would've enjoyed many common pursuits and could've taken better care of each other, had we been more connected to our family. Long distances and petty feelings of jealousy kept me from seeing the truth for a long time.
I think the whole Brigham/Emma thing is like that.
Why is there no mention of an apology from the Smith family toward the Young's? The Smith family organization is equally guilty of prejudices and lies why is only the BY family suppose to apologize? Regardless of the answer it is good that these families find a way to put it behind them. We need to stop looking for apologies as a people and nation. Stop being so overly sensitive and grow up. Our nation has acted like spoiled children far too long and this is another example. I hope wiser minds can forgive and move on taking responsibility for their own actions and not looking to the past to blame or cause. What we do with our lives is up to us no matter what circumstances our ancestors left to us.
God told Joseph Smith Jr., If you are not one, you are not Mine." What does that say to all the churches that proclaim the Book of Mormon and prophethood of Joseph Smith Jr.?
The RLDS rejected about 25 Doctrines and Covenants God gave. They have joined with the UN and placed a peace statue of a woman in a short skirt with her back to the church on holy ground. She is laughing and lifting a peace dove high in the air.
The Ten Commandments cut in stone (Exodus 20) are not being honored by Christians, Jews, Muslims or others. How can we be Gods if we do not follow the least.
I think I will ask for an apology from the Church of England. If they hadn't chased my ancestors out of their country because they believed in something else I could be living in a castle in Denmark right now. It is England's fault that I grew up with no money, so if I can't get the title of duchess placed on me, the least they could do is offer an apology.
This story is just about as ridiculous as mine.
Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith
It`s history you morons...nobody owes anything to anyone for 150 yr old "feelings".
The bile rises.
Just a reminder, Joseph Smith didn't CREATE the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He RESTORED it to the earth. Yes, Emma was a huge part of that and she went through a lot. I agree she doesn't get enough of the credit that she deserves.
There have been a lot of opinions formed about Emma, as well as Brigham Young. But Nobody can really know what really happened between them. From what I can see, they were both human and they were not required to like each other.
I think these people should not be meddling with eternal affairs. Give it a break whoever you are??
Don't Mormons believe that life continues after death? I mean that is why you have temples, right? Doesn't anyone think that Brigham Young and Emma Smith have already gotten together and mended fences on the other side??? Good grief. I mean think about it."
Robert, in case no one has already said it, the reconciliation needed today is not between Brigham Young and Emma Smith, it is, primarily, for the descendants of Joseph Smith. As the article stated, somehow they built up a lot of resentment towards Brigham Young and by extension, the Church.
However, many things have changed in the RLDS religion that has widened the gap between them, and I don't just mean the LDS saying Brigham Young was the next prophet appointed by God and the RLDS saying it was Joseph Smith's son.
The RLDS have changed their name to the "Community of Christ" but far, far more important are doctrinal changes. Their Doctrine and Covenants has well more than 138 sections in it, which, among other things, they claim to have received revelation authorizing women to hold the Priesthood. Probably more severe (in differences) is the the Community of Christ NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN.
That's a pretty big chasm to overcome these days.
Does the Lord want the Community of Christ members to see the light? You bet. Is is possible? Sure, if they desire it.
It's just tougher today than it was in decades past.
Good luck to us all.
My heart has always gone out towards Emma Smith and all her many sufferings.
The posts are all around the same time frame, they all use quotes from Brigham Young's Journal of Discourses, they all paint Brigham Young (and therefore the LDS church) in an unfavorable light, and they all contribute nothing to a respectful, enlightening discussion concerning the article.
Please take your hatred elsewhere.
As for what motivated the article, an attempt at reconciliation between the descendants of Brigham Young and those of Joseph Smith, when has attempting to heal wounds, real or not, ever been a bad thing?
Dan Maloy
Enid, OK
If Joseph Smith was a prophet of God then he would have received revelation in one form or another...an angel to teach him or perhaps a personal visit from God or His Son, or maybe sacred, ancient scriptures that needed translating. Like math: A=B, or "prophets produce scripture". But if A=B, then B=A.
In other words, if The Book of Mormon IS from God, then it was delivered by a prophet of God.
And if that man who "produced" scripture is a prophet then why would you NOT join the church that he not only started but remained faithful to his entire life???????????
True, many early LDS members lost faith in Joseph's calling and claimed he was a "fallen prophet" but then again, THEY left the LDS church, Joseph Smith never did.
So if you believe Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God then why choose to belong to any other church other than the one he organized and faithfully led?
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