Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith

Extraordinary! Filled with heartwarming stories and valuable tidbits! A must read for saint and sinner. Once opened it was difficult to put down. I read my copy in two days. Newell & Avery's exhaustive research, articulate prose, and attention to detail make this an American masterpiece. The most notable aspect of all is the life of Emma Hale Smith. Sorting through every iota of historical information that this book gathers and provides, the authors leave me with only one conclusion: She was a devoted, long suffering, hard working, charitable, enduring Christian by any standard or definition. She suffered and served for a lifetime. Her legacy stands next to the greatest of Americans whose histories get all the glory and yet she lobbied for none. Mormons believe in "being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; they believe in following Paul's admonition: they believe all things, they hope all things, they have endured many things and they hope to be able to endure all things; finally, they seek after anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy." THIS WAS EMMA HALE SMITH BIDAMON. If there is a god in heaven then Emma will be at his side--surely God would like to be at hers.

One of the authors, Valeen Avery, has a cousin (Richard) who told me about this book.... so I bought it to obtain information about the founder of the Mormon church, Joseph Smith, Jr. The book is highly researched and provides authenticated proof of the practice of polygamy by Joseph and others in the early days of the church, in spite of Joseph's claim that he never participated in that activity.My order was quickly fulfilled by retail book suppliers Phil & Kathy Bence in Idaho ... a great team.

This book arrived timely and in good shape. Talking about shape the condition of the book is very good (hardcover with a nice dust cover).

After reading most books that focus on Joseph Smith it was really nice to read about Emma's life and her perspective. I have grown up really not knowing much about her and really enjoyed having a chance to learn more about her life. In the church she is often either not talked about or thought of as "having fallen". I loved learning about her struggles and fiesty determination to stand up to polygamy, something she did not want to have to accept as having come from God (which I agree with). The things that she went through were remarkable and she was a complex interesting, intelligent, determined woman. I don't think any of us can truly understand what she went through but this book gives a glimpse into her life.

After reading Fawn Brodie's biography of Joseph Smith, I wanted to now more about his wife, Emma. Given that she did not keep a diary and and only seldom wrote letters, this book is a remarkable accomplishment. Emma was an amazing woman whose life with Smith entailed insecurity, homelessness, terror, and the death of several of her children. Through it all, she not only remained steadfast, but generous to others in need of help. She believed in her husband, but defied him on the doctrine of plural marriage, which she refused to believe was divinely inspired.My only criticism of the book is that is that in the first third, which covers the origins of Mormonism, it seems to suspend any critical thinking and to simply accept Joseph Smith's version of events. This is rectified during the rest of the book which does not defer to Smith or Brigham Young, but treats them with the scrutiny that should be afforded historical figures. I also wished that the rise of Mormonism had been put in context, rather than simply seen as inevitable. But these are small quibbles with a very compelling book. Emma was an intelligent, kind and courageous woman caught up in an extraordinary moment in history. I loved getting to know her and was sad to close the covers when her life, and the book, ended.

Every LDS member should be required to read this biography.

I have been a faithful member of the LDS Faith for over 16 years.. I can't say that learning more about polygamy and history on Joseph Smith has "strengthened my faith".To the contrary... I have been looking for answers and have not found any logical acceptable explanation on the Church... I do NOT know whether it is or is not true... but if Celestial Kingdom is the one where horny men have polygamy relations with 30 women age 14 and on... I don't want to be in that Kingdom! Or Church =).I keep seeking the TRUTH and looking for light and knowledge and believe that God is mindful of me. If anyone has insights... please post! God Bless.P.S. For years I was told that POLYGAMY was an unwanted but NECESSARY solution to take care of all those single women in the Church with no chance of ever getting married... because there wasn't enough men... Guess what... facts are to the contrary. I did my own research - took two days - to dig up the original census data for 1850 and 1860 for UT territory...And original data shows that there was LESS Females than Males in UT in both 1850 and 1860! Thus, if polygamy was based on the need (as I was told many times) It should have been POLYANDRY w multiple husbands to a woman... That's my kind of Faith =) 1850 6020 males 5310 females; 1860: 44121 males 42659 femalesSOURCES [...] [...]

This book is so very well researched and uses multiple verifiable references for all facts stated. It does not sugar-coat details yet, at the same time, does not malign this amazing and complex woman. It is a well-rounded, frank picture of the early Mormon church dealing with controversy fairly and without judgment leaving the final decision to the reader. It certainly clarifies the role of women in the church skillfully and keeps the reader engaged, allowing the reader to reach their own conclusions. An excellent biography of Emma Hale Smith showing her strengths, fortitude, courage and weaknesses.