Customer Reviews

Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith

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It has been 25 years since Valeen tippets Avery and I completed the manuscript of Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, published by Doublday, Inc. in 1984. University of Illinois Press released a revised second edition in 1994, which enabled us to make a number of correctons, mainly associated with documents that were forged by Mark Hoffman. Since its first release, Mormon Enigma has seen steady sales--about 1000 copies a year. Hopfully it will remain a mainstay in Mormon history in the forseeable future.

So after all these years, I decided to read, for the first time, the reviews of the book posted on Amazon.Com--twenty-three to date. Most of them were kind; a few had erroneous information which I wish to correct here.

A review by "A Customer" titled "Enlightening Scholarship," June 16, 2001, said that one of the authors is LDS and the other RLDS (now Community of Christ Church). I am LDS and so was Val (she died suddenly on April 7, 2006.)

Angele Dawn Bissonette in her August 21, 2006, review stated that one of the authors was ecommunicated. Neither of us were excommunicated. The powers that be in the LDS church, however, were not happy with the book, saying that "it is a non-traditional view of Joseph Smith." To discourage the sale of the book they banned us from speaking in any LDS Church meetings or even in any Church buildings on anything having to do with LDS Church history. When the press picked up the story, sales of the book tripled. The ban lasted about a year--from May 1985 to May 1986. At that time I received word that we were no longer under any restrictions.

The most startling misconception titled "amazon.com has it wrong," April 6, 1999, came from another person identified as "A Customer." The review stated that before the manuscript was finished "Linda King Newell developed personal problems and was unable to continue working on the book. Valeen Avery finished the book and completed all revisions to appease the publisher." This is just not true. I was the primary researcher for the book and the writing was divided equally. We worked together to rewrite each others narratives until the prose emerged as a seamless whole. Each one of us did have different "down" times. I had major surgery and Val broke her right(write)arm and some ribs in a car accident. Neither of us stopped working on the book during our recoveries. When our editor at Doubleday told us we had to cut the 1000 page manuscript by one third, we both went through the entire manuscript to accomplish that, trading sections back and forth. In the end a flip of a coin determined whose name went first.

I appreciate all the kind words that so many readers have contributed in these reviews. Thank you all.

This biography is well researched and shows what a great and strong woman Emma Smith was. It was especially interesting to see how she dealt with the polygamy issue with Joseph Smith and also to see how well she raised her children after his death. The only reason that I marked this book down a little was because the first third of the book was a little difficult to get through. In this part of the book it seemed to me that I was reading a biography of Joseph Smith, rather than Emma. As a footnote, it was also interesting to note some of the trials the authors have faced from church leaders due to their writing this book. They seemed to have gotten into a little trouble for sharing some of the less flattering aspects of Joseph Smith's and Brigham Young's actions. If anything, the authors treaded lightly in these areas and could have been much more blunt in sharing their character defects in regards to their treatment of Emma. But kudos to the authors for being willing to write what they did.

After reading many books which either sugar-coated or demonized the early Mormon experience, I found the extensive use of authentic documents (letters, diaries, news articles, church & public records) in the work to be refreshing. The authors seemed to have no other agenda than to discover and reveal Emma's actual experience. Emma is portrayed with a wide spectrum of human qualities, overlain with a strong, consistent spiritual vision. Peering into her husband/prophet's life, through her perspective, seemed to give a fair, historically accurate, and unromanticized, view of a man who has inspired strong emotions, devotion and criticism. I recommend it. The view of life during the decades of Emma's life was carefully drawn and gives appreciation for the challenges of people in that time and place.

This is one of the finest examples of what can be accomplished when diligent and skillful historians of Mormonism move beyond their religious biases and seek to understand a subject rather than engage in religious polemics. Written by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery, this biography of Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith Jr., the Mormon founder, presents a sweeping and dramatic portrait of this remarkable woman.

Generally accepted as a pathbreaking book, "Mormon Enigma" rehabilitated the image of Emma Smith as the obstinate and faith-shirking figure that had long held sway among the Mormons and at the same time debunked the image she enjoyed in Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now the Community of Christ, which she joined in 1860. In that tradition she was "holier than thou," a good samaritan who faithfully discharged her responsibilities to ensure that her son, Joseph Smith III, became president of that dissident group. In both instances the result was positive. The book placed Emma Smith into an interpretive framework which taught Mormondom much about its trials and sacrifices, triumphs and tragedies. The work made possible, along with other historical workds, a major reinterpretation of the formative period of Mormonism.

This book is must reading for anyone who even pretends to be well-versed in the history of Mormonism. Buy it, read it, pass it on to your friends.

I was dying of curiosity; I wanted to know what happened to Emma Smith. This book tells you in detail--it even gives you the details of her children and her role in the mormon community during and after the prophets life. I am not a mormon; however, I have mormon history and I find Emma Smith fascinating. She believed her husband and followed him through so much. She never questioned his teachings except for the polygamy issue; how betrayed she must have felt when those women so very close to her were "chosen" to be Joseph's wives and "hid it all behind her back." I fail to see what is so holy about that, life threatening or not. I see those women as enamoured by Joseph Smith and his position of power, status and celebrity in the Church---"groupies" basically. It seems Emma has proved she was not impressed so much by his authority, but of her human husband. Capable of much folly and error, yet wholly human. The authors paint Mr. Smith as just such a man. I feel they have Emma's personality down right. She had an unlucky time with her husbands. For a woman of such wit and intelligence, as this book proves, it is too bad. The authors show us also how Emma was seen by the Church and its members after Josephs death. I feel the book was not biased, for it seems an effort was made to keep it objective. I appreciate that it was not an attempt to convert me or prove "mormonism" to me at all, either. It was simply a good, researched, interesting book. Truly, Emma Smith was an "enigma."

This is the first book I've read that painted Emma Hale Smith for the remarkable person she likely was, rather than the demoness that Joseph Smith would have to "descend into hell to recover," as Brigham Young would have you believe. Brigham had a very hard principle which he either had to live without question, or abandon the Prophet to whom he had sworn his undying devotion; that of plural marriage. His biggest foe was Emma Hale Smith. Of all the characters in early Mormon history, few held as much power to tople the practice of polygamy as Emma, and so Brigham and the "Twelve" had to either abandon their martyred prophet, or his wife. The choice was simple. Emma was left to receive the abuse and criticism heaped upon her for standing firm for what she believed, just as had other women of her day who couldn't abide by "the Principle," and who were likewise "burned at the Mormon stake," figuratively speaking (Sarah Pratt, wife of Orson comes most notably to mind.) The result has been 100 years of believing Emma to be a fallen saint...and I argue, 100 years of harsh, misguided judgement. Brigham should have backed off, and so should the rest of us who followed him.

This book will give the reader not only a glimpse at the heroics of Emma's life, but some valuable insight into her zealous first husband, Joseph Smith. Furthermore, it is early Mormon history written from a woman's perspective (or at least more so than most, since the Bretheren were the predominant historical force in the church), giving you insight into the remarkable sacrifices that the women were called upon to make. We marvel at the men who willingly answered the call to serve missions afar, without purse or scrip. But what about their wives, whom they left in destitute and diseased circumstances, with multiple mouths to feed, facing mob attrocities, and often without a penny to their name? They were left at the mercies of the world and their neighbors, and for whatever reason, were there, holding the pieces together (if they survived...) when their husbands returned years later. I could go on...

Avery and Tippets have done a wonderful job of weaving the bits of information into a tale of faith and fortitude. It's difficult to guage, however, the influence of their personal affinity for their subject and its impact on the flavor of the book. I suppose that's always the biographer's dilemma. Nevertheless, the book is well researched and thorough in its treatment of the First Lady of Mormondom, and I highly recommend it for Latter Day Saint readers or general history readers.

and well documented. I first read this book years ago, when you could still buy it in Mormon book stores and honest research was not yet suppressed. K. Ramsey ( see his vitriolic review) fails to mention that the author was excommunicated precisely because she dared to print the truth. It is always a sad state of affairs when you see authors and researchers being treated in a manner that one would associate more with a totalitarian government, or perhaps with another faith - during the time of the Inquisition. At any rate, this book is well worth reading because it is without the sugary white-washing which one so often finds nowadays in books of that genre. A good follow-up read would be Compton's well-documented and sobering book "In Sacred Loneliness", which deals with the fate of the plural ( and often polyandrous ) wives of Joseph Smith.

From reading the many biographies of Joseph Smith (hereafter "JS"), we are well acquainted with Emma and her father, Isaac Hale. My first thoughts from reading chapter 1 of this book - Emma had a mother, 5 brothers and 3 sisters...no other history I have read mentions this!

As a member of the Brighamite/LDS faction of the many sects after JS's death, my knowledge of Emma was this romanticized monogamous relationship with JS and her opposition to the principle of plural marriage. I had found very little in regards to her life prior to meeting Joseph, and certainly nothing about her after his death, and her separation from the Utah saints, the hostilities between her and Brigham Young and her fierce opposition and denial of the practice of polygamy.

While this book covers mostly her time with JS and hence reads as another "church history" book, it covers history from Emma's point of view and answers the things I was not so familiar with above.

Some highlights:

p.47 The Kirtland Temperance Society (founded 1830) opposed and condemned the use of alcohol, tobacco and eating of too much meat. The "School of Elders" smoked and chewed tobacco. Emma suggested that a revelation commanding tobacco a sin would be a good thing. The men joked/countered that another one also abstaining from tea and coffee (which the women drank) would also be in order. JS prays and receives a revelation condemning all the above ("The Word of Wisdom").

p.65 Mary Elizabeth Rollins claimed, in 1831 when she was 12, JS told her she was the "first woman God had commanded him to take as a plural wife". This eventually came to pass in 1842.

p.104 In 1841, Emma performed baptisms for the dead in behalf of her family members, including her father and uncle.

p.110,117 Sisters administered Priesthood blessings/healings sanctioned by JS. Later, they were given "keys".

p.113 "Spiritual Wifery" was a term used by JS and the Twelve. It only became a derogatory term AFTER Bennett's use of the term in his expose on polygamy.

p.128 The Church AGAIN denies publicly the practise of plural marriage and uses scriptures from both the Book of Mormon and the D&C (where it is expressly prohibited) to support its denials.

A large section of the book covers plural marriage - the many wives JS secretly married without Emma's knowledge, and the huge struggle he had trying to convince her of this principle. The revelation in 1843 was revealed well after the fact. JS had many wives by then and Emma was aware they existed. This became a deal breaker in their marriage (p.158). Emma live with constant questioning during their marriage "Is this woman he's with now, one of them?" (and all that entails).

p.152 The lengthy revelation on plural marriage was dictated by JS from memory, revealing his ability to memorise large passages of text, and recall them at a future date.

pp.166-167 This oft quoted statement put into context: JS telling a guest "...look as these Children. How Could I help loving thire mother, If Necessary I would go to Hell for Such a woman." The guest added "...altho at the time he had in the Mansion other wives younger & aparently more Brilliant-Yet Emma the wife of his youth-to me apeared the Queen of his heart & of his home." This account became the root of later anecdotes told by church leaders. After stating that Joseph said he would go to hell for Emma, the rejoiner unfortunately became, "Yes, and that's where he will find her."

p.174 The Relief Society organisation that Emma was president of, which contained many of JS's plural wives, was suspended (for more than a decade) after Emma's persistant stand and denounciation of polygamy.

p.175 Joseph Smith III is ordained as JS's successor.

p.179-185 Contain JS repeatedly denouncing plural marriage, noting that throughout his life, he PUBLICLY spoke against it while PRIVATELY practising it.

p.181 The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor over its expose of the practise of polygamy in Nauvoo by the church leaders. This leads to JS's arrest and ultimately his death at Carthage jail.

The succession issues arise after JS's death, and the relationship between Emma and Brigham Young becomes more and more strained as they fight over which assets belong to JS and which to the Church.

p.219 Brigham Young acknowledges JS's sons as future leaders of the church.

The book continues with Emma's marriage to Lewis Bidamon and the raising of her sons.

The Utah saints lived in hope of JS III and his brothers joining them in Utah, but the practise of polygamy prevented JS sons from ever associating with the polygamous Utah "Brighamites".

p283-284 Brigham Young constantly states "Emma...is one of the damnest liars I know on this earth" and perpetuates the story that she had tried to poison JS over his involvement in polygamy.

The book ends with JS's sons constant missions to Utah and their quest to discover the truth behind the stories their father was involved in polygamy. Finally before she died, Emma was questioned by her sons, and til her death, denied JS practised polygamy.

A closing statement reads: Joseph Smith III believed his father had to be a good man since the revelation of 1833 had promised him that the "keys of the kingdom would never be taken from him." It then followed that his father would never be guilty of such a heinous sin as plural marriage, then he would indeed have been a fallen prophet. If Joseph had been a fallen prophet, then the blessing of his son was not valid. Without a valid blessing and ordination, Joseph III would have no legitimate authority to lead the Reorganized Church. This fear forced Joseph to ignore weighty evidence that not only had his father introduced plural marriage to the church, but that he had also practised it.


I walked away from this book with a profound respect for Emma Hale Smith. She was an intelligent, caring and compassionate woman. The many trials and hardships she suffered during her life with the premature deaths of her children and her husband, her estrangement from her friends and church leaders after JS's death, and the bane of her life: polygamy, has given me a deeper understanding and respect for this great woman.

A careful reconstruction of the life of a woman who has always been treated as peripheral by the LDS church. Most Mormons know little about Emma Hale Smith. They know she was Joseph's first of at least 33 wives, and the mother of his only acknowledged children. They know she was the first president of the Relief Society, but not much else. This is HER story, carefully pieced together by two historians whose commitment to accuracy shows. Whether you are Mormon or not, you will find the life of this remarkably brave and kind woman fascinating. Any person interested in quality biography would love this work.

Perhaps the most accurate biography of Emma Smith. The authors, one a member of the LDS (Mormons,) and the other a member of RLDS (Reorganized LDS), represent the events of Emma's life with a respectable balance of sensitivity and scholarly detachment.

Without resorting to theological conclusions or endorsements, Mormon Enigma presents the difficutlies associated with Emma's marriage to the charismatic religous leader, Joseph, and gives insights into the turmoil that accompanied her throughout her life. Her opposition to polygamy, ridicule by Joseph and his companions, and her influence on the evolving culture of the church are all well discussed.

A reader's perspectives and beliefs can be challenged, but the integrity of the authors cannot. A highly recommended read for those interested in the history of the early Mormon church.