Many wonder about or criticize Emma Smith for not traveling west with the Saints after Joseph’s death. Understanding her frame of mind at that point is difficult without looking more closely at her lifetime experiences. Many sources record the events in Emma’s life—and some with valuable detail. The frequent moves, the death of her children, the severe persecution and the development of plural marriage all had their impact on Emma. Richard uses his training as a counselor/social worker to better understand Emma’s frame of mind, her responses to hardships and loss, and her decision to remain in Illinois rather than moving West.

Richard Delewski