I was interested to read The Tribune’s story about a new biography, “First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith,” by LDS Church historian Jennifer Reeder, published by Deseret Book. The article makes it sound like this is the first book to examine Emma and “the complexities of her life” and to be “serious and honest and open about her complications,” as if nothing else had been written about Emma.
Nary a mention of the scholarly, expertly-researched, and multiple award-winning book: “Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith,” by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, published in 1984, by Doubleday.
Curious about Emma’s life, Newell started hunting for biographies about her. She found a 25-page pamphlet called “Judge Me Dear Reader,” by Erwin E. Wirkus, and a biographical novel, “Emma Smith: The Elect Lady,” by Margaret Gibson from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now Community of Christ). There were no other books, articles or conference talks about her, only an occasional reference to her as Joseph’s wife and the first president of the Relief Society. Emma Smith had been written out of LDS Church history.
Determined that someone needed to write Emma’s biography, Newell and Avery embarked on what they thought would be a two-year project. It turned into nine. Newell, the primary researcher for the book, visited every place Emma lived, and Mormon collections from coast to coast, including several trips with Avery to the Reorganized Church Archives in Independence, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Ill.
The pair wrote, “The Elect Lady: Emma Hale Smith,” for a 1979 issue of the LDS Church’s Ensign Magazine — the first article written about her in 115 years.
As for their book, “Mormon Enigma,” church leaders’ response to its publication was disturbing and a story in itself. A recounting of it can be found in a new book, “Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books,” edited by Joseph Geisner, published by Signature Books. Newell’s chapter is titled, “Living the Journey, Reaping the Whirlwind: Reflections on Writing Emma Hale Smith’s Biography.”
Ann Floor, Salt Lake City
