Emma Belle and Grandpa

Emma Belle and Grandpa

In commemoration of events that took place June 27,^, 1844, I offer the following.

One day, many years ago, some little girls were playing in front of Emma Belle’s house. They were talking about their grandfathers. Emma Belle had never heard of a grandpa, so she asked where hers was. One of the older girls, said, “Your grandpa was bad man and somebody killed him.” Then the girl turned to her friends and started laughing.

Emma Belle turned and ran into the House. Her father, Alexander opened the door for her, and she rushed in. “Where’s my grandpa,” she said, “Why can’t I have a grandpa like the other girls? Was he a bad man, and did men kill him?”

Emma was clearly upset, but her daddy picked her up, walked over and sat down. “Your grandpa,” he explained, “was my father….He was not a bad man….They killed your grandpa and my father.” As Alexander spoke, “his tears fell on [her] face.” Emma Belle always felt the tears were not for his loss of so long ago, but for hers.

That little girl was Emma Belle Smith. The Grandfather she never knew was Joseph Smith Jr.

Source: The Emma Smith We Knew A collection of memories and recipes from Emma, as recalled by her posterity.

Written and Compiled by Darcy Kennedy and Angeline Kennedy Washburn.

Published by the Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society, Inc. Alpine, Utah.