Description
Fifty-Three Years Ago Today: Emily Dow Partridge Young – Smith
Although like her sister Eliza, Emily was married for a short period to the Prophet Joseph, she had no children by him. She married President Brigham Young in 1844, and was the mother of seven of his children.
As a person, Emily was tall and slim, with a rather dark complexion. She was considered to be dignified as befitted her station as a wife of the President of the Church. She was very devout, and like her father, faithful to the end in her dedication to the restored gospel. Throughout her life she relished the chance to tell others of the testimony she held of the truth of Mormonism and especially that the Prophet Joseph was called of God. In her later years she spent much of her time performing vicarious services for the dead in the Salt Lake Temple.
Although married to a man considered by her peers to be a prophet, it is apparent from her writings that Emily kept a special place in her heart for Joseph Smith whom she continued to be sealed to in the temple even though her earthly husband was, without question, great in his own right. Emily’s feelings toward Joseph are made clear in something she wrote on the 53rd anniversary of his death on June 27, 1897. At this time, Emily was 73 years old. Even fifty-two years after having married President Young she still ended her name with the one nearest her heart – Smith.
SALT LAKE CITY
June 27th 1897
This is the anniversary of the most solemn and sorrowful day ever experienced in all the history of this church. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
Fifty three years ago today our Prophet and Patriarch fell, martyrs to the cause of truth. Slain by the hands of a wicked and bloodthirsty mob, led by those who had once been their sworn friends. Oh that terrible day! So long to be remembered! Who can portray the gloom and deep sorrow that settled over the people of Nauvoo when the terrible news came from Carthage? It was like a thunderbolt crushing the people to the earth. They were almost paralyzed, prostrated with the deepest grief.
My soul is harrowed up when I let my mind revert back to those days of sorrow and persecution that followed the Prophet Joseph all his life long. His troubles at home being more sad, and harder to bear than all the trials that could be heaped upon him by outside enemies. My heart is filled with bitter regret when I think that I might have added, even one drop of sorrow to the abundance already heaped upon him. I was intimately acquainted with him for several years.
More acquainted with his home life than with his public – or rather his private life outside of his home. I have known him to come in with his head bowed; he would walk the floor back and forth, with his hands clasped behind him (a way he had of placing his hands when his mind was deeply troubled) his countenance showing that he was weighed down with some terrible burden.
Many times my heart has ached for him. He did not often speak of his outside troubles to his family. – Yes it is fifty three years ago today that he was shot down like an escaped criminal – or rather a caged animal (for he was imprisoned at the time). The law could not touch him, but powder and ball did.
Woe, to those false friends who entered into the conspiracy and took the most solemn oaths to never cease their efforts until his life was taken. Well they accomplished their hellish design. I shrink from the awful fact.
Joseph was a Prophet of God, and a friend of man. His was a noble character, all who knew him can testify to that assertion. He was all that the word “gentleman” would imply. Pure in heart, always striving for right, upholding innocence, and battling for the good of all. Oh how could people so misjudge him.
Why could he not have been spared to us a little longer? Perhaps we did not appreciate him as we had ought. I fear we did not. We are not apt to place much value upon our blessings until we are deprived of them. How short sighted we are. We have to learn wisdom and gain knowledge by sad experience; and may the Lord be merciful and help us to be worthy to meet our dearly beloved friend again. Oh Lord how long must we wait before we are permitted to enjoy his society again?
Shall we ever be worthy to enjoy and listen to his wise counsel again? And associate with the good and great man that he is?
There may have been passages in my past life when I was not as patient as I should have been, but I hope he will forgive me; and I think he will for he well knew the trying conditions of my life, and that I was subject to many disagreeable and humiliating circumstances, and being young and inexperienced did not always count the cost beforehand. Well, this is all past and gone. I have felt sad and lonely all this day but have shed no tears. There are griefs too deep for tears. I have been living over again the sorrowful scenes of fifty three years ago today; well may we weep and mourn.
EMILY D. P. YOUNG- SMITH
Emily lived a comfortable life in Salt Lake City. Her last home, given her by President Young, was a two-story house on Third East Street. Emily died in December 1899 and was buried in Salt Lake City.
Sources:
https://josephsmithspolygamy.org/plural-wives-overview/emily-dow-partridge/
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KWJ5-C96/emily-dow-partridge-1824-1899
