In the Non-Fiction Corner

In the Non-Fiction Corner With Lauren

I was so excited to read Glorious Truths About Emma Smith by the always enjoyable and very popular Susan Easton Black. What drew my attention even more was that it was a book dedicated to one of the most interesting characters in Church History, Emma Smith. I know a few stories about Emma here and there, but most of them are tied to Joseph. I love that the author dove into Emma’s perspective and experiences, and maybe even what she was feeling during the most difficult times of her life. Even tough topics like Emma’s views on plural marriage and her relationship with Brigham Young were discussed towards the end of the book.

My favorite part of the book was when the author talked about how Emma lived out her life in Nauvoo, her second courtship and marriage, and what happened to all her children. She was kind-hearted all throughout her life despite the trials that she had faced. What happened to the Smith family is a little known part of our Church History, but it impacted the Saints who lived in Utah as well as the ones that stayed behind to form their own church. I learned more about Emma than I had before and it made her become more real to me as I saw her strengths, but also a few of her faults. Emma Smith deserves to be recognized for the incredible woman that she was, and this book does exactly that.

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Here's the back copy:

Although Emma Smith was one of the most important women in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences remain largely unknown. With few writings from Emma to search, speculation about her life and beliefs has led to unsubstantiated notions that have little basis in truth. In Glorious Truths about Emma Smith, historian Susan Easton Black seeks to eliminate guesswork and present the truest possible account of Emma's story. Relying on a wealth of information from Emma's friends and family, Black weaves together the threads of history to present the phases of Emma's life and her contributions to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Discover in Glorious Truths about Emma Smith the life, love, and legacy of one of the most revered and perhaps the most misunderstood women of the Restoration.