EARLY WOMEN OF THE RESTORATION

Emma Protected Scripture By Jennifer Reeder Church History Department

Like Emma Smith, we can honor the scriptures and courageously defend truth.

ust after midnight on September J22, 1827, a carriage quietly bumped along the countryside near Manchester, New York, USA. Joseph and Emma Smith were heading to a hill where an ancient record, written on gold plates, waited for them. An angel named Moroni had told Joseph to bring the right person with him couple’s journey to Pennsylvania, of the . She was to get the record. Through personal she helped hide the plates in a bar- Joseph’s first scribe—carefully writ- revelation, Joseph knew that his wife, rel of beans. During the translation ing down verses we use today. She Emma, was that person. process, Emma gave Joseph a linen sewed a pouch for a seer stone Emma waited as her husband- cloth to cover the plates as they sat Joseph sometimes used to translate. prophet received the plates and then on a kitchen table during the day At the end of her life, Emma hid them in a hollow log. The sun and bought a red leather box for the remembered the role she played in began to rise as the couple returned written paper manuscripts. She also helping share these scriptures with the home. asked her brother-in-law for a box, world. “I was an active participant,” The next day, Emma heard from which she and Joseph kept under she said. She testified that Joseph was Sr. that a group of men their bed and where the plates were a prophet of the Restoration and that were plotting to steal the gold plates. locked each night. Several years later, the Book of Mormon was “a marvel Taking a spare horse, she rode more Emma protected the manuscript of and a wonder.” 1 ◼ than an hour to warn Joseph, who the Prophet’s translation of the , See a longer article about Emma Smith, with detailed sources, in the digital version of this issue was able to secure the plates in a carrying it under her skirt while in the Gospel Library (at ChurchofJesusChrist.org locked box. crossing the frozen Mississippi River. and in the mobile app). NOTE This was not the only time Emma In addition to protecting scriptures, 1. “Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” ’ protected priceless scripture. On the Emma helped with the translation Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 290. ILLUSTRATION BY TONI OKA ILLUSTRATION

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