Emma Smith: My Story

I just got back from seeing this movie. I really loved it. I like how it portrayed Emma. I like how it showed how strong she was and also showed the disappointment, anger and sadness she felt as well. It's interesting to me that people have become more interested in Emma Smith recently. By recently I mean the past four or five years. It seems like when I was a young adult and newly married nobody really talked about her. There were conflicting feelings and ideas about her. But more recently there has been more talk about her in the way of Church articles and books and now this full length feature film. I think it's this way for a reason. I think we as women in the church and those not members as well can really benefit from Emma's testimony and faith. Are her times really that different from ours? Yes, her trials were different. We aren't necessarily dying of Malaria or having our husband's tarred and feathered. But we are living in a world that is becoming more and more difficult to maintain our convictions and beliefs. We are becoming that peculiar people that Peter spoke of in the New Testament. He identified members of the Church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people." The gap is widening between what we as members of God's church believe and what the rest of the world believes. That's what Emma was up against as well. The early members of the church were seen as peculiar as well. They were seen as an oddity.

The Hebrew term that the word "peculiar" was translated from is segullah which means “valued property,” or “treasure.” In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated is peripoiesis, which means “possession,” or “an obtaining." So the term "peculiar" as Peter meant it means “valued treasure,” “made” or “selected by God." That is a compliment of the highest order.

When we know who we are and what God expects of us—when his “law is written in our hearts” we are spiritually protected. We become better people." - Russell M. Nelson, Quorum of the 12 Apostles.

I love this quote. It doesn't say we will be protected from all the physical challenges of life. It says we will be spiritually protected. I believe that Emma Smith received her own spiritual protection because of the great amount of faith that she showed during her life. I'm grateful for her example and testimony.


I have always had a fascination with Emma. When I was in High School I wanted to read everything I could find on her, which didn't seem like very much. When our middle daughter was born I wanted to name her Emma. She is named after Emma Smith with her middle name after my grandmother and my sister. All three of these women emulate tremendous faith that I want my own Emma to have.

So if this movie is playing near you, go see it. You will be glad you did. For those living in Portland it is only playing at Movies on TV in Hillsboro and only until the 5th of June.

Check here for locations near you.