D&C Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice Unto All”
The earliest sections of the D&C contain many personal
revelations to people asking guidance of God through the Prophet Joseph
Smith. D&C 25 is the only section
containing a personal revelation to a woman: Emma Smith. Meeting Joseph in 1825 while he was working
with Josiah Stowell, searching for
buried treasure. Joseph would return to
Harmony Pennsylvania several times to court Emma. Her father disapproved of Joseph the treasure
hunter courting his daughter, and so they eloped.
Emma must have felt isolated, with much of her family
considering Joseph a fraud or crazy for his claims of angelic visits and a book
with gold plates. Yet, Emma was present
with Joseph on the night he obtained the plates from the Hill Cumorah. Later, she would be his scribe and assist him
in hiding the plates from others who attempted to steal them.
Emma patiently waited and served Joseph. She saw Oliver, Martin and David become the
Three Witnesses. Soon after, 8 others
would be additional witnesses of the gold plates. She would listen to Joseph describe receiving
the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods with Oliver Cowdery. She saw these many men come into the home to
receive personal revelations from Joseph, many being called to special
responsibilities and missions. She was
the woman in waiting, never directly involved in the revelations or events that
occurred. Yet, she was also the woman who patiently went through the many trials: watching Joseph arrested dozens of times or being tarred and feathered. Seeing most of her children die in childhood. Visiting Joseph in Liberty Jail, Carthage Jail, and other jails along the way. Escaping Missouri alone with her children, while Joseph was imprisoned and mobs wandered the hills looking for Mormons to harm. Watching the wagon slowly bring the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum back from Carthage.
So, when she did receive her revelation, the Lord seemed to
explain that her position would not include a center position in the early
events of the Restoration. She was told
to patiently support and strengthen her husband, and to be a source of joy and good
cheer. Perhaps one of her two defining
responsibilities in the LDS Church was her assignment to put together the first
hymnbook (the other being the first Relief Society President of the Church).
When we consider how important music is in the Church today,
we can owe it all to Emma. Many of the
hymns she selected are still found in our hymnbook today. The hymnbook inspired many members to write
hymns, including Eliza R Snow (O My Father), William W Phelps (Spirit of God),
John Jaques (O Say What is Truth), Joel H Johnson (High on the Mountaintop), Parley P Pratt (The
Morning Breaks), and many others. Today,
we have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and many other local choirs and performance
groups that inspire millions. Indeed, “the
song of the righteous is a prayer unto” the Lord.
Emma was faithful to Joseph throughout his life, and served
the poor and needy throughout her own life.
She definitely is an elect lady.
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