Emma Smith Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Emma Belle Smith Kennedy or "Emma Kennedy" (17 March 1869 – 3 May 1960) was a granddaughter of Joseph Smith, Jr., and daughter of his third surviving son, Alexander Hale Smith
. In her lifetime she was highly-regarded in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS, now the Community of Christ
) for several reasons: First, she was one of the earliest Latter Day Saints to return to Independence, Missouri
after the American Civil War
, when Latter Day Saints still faced some endangering prejudices. She was the first librarian for the historic RLDS Stone Church, and a regular contributor or commentator for the Saints Herald church magazine. Thirdly-—as with her grandfather, her uncle Joseph Smith III
, her father, and other relatives in the Latter Day Saint movement
-—Mrs. Kennedy over the years produced a number of writings
, revelations
and prophecies which circulated among church membership in her lifetime and afterward. A month before her eightieth birthday in 1949, Smith-Kennedy wrote in a letter to a relative:
Among other prophetic statements, she is credited with successfully predicting in mid-1947 that her Independence, Missouri neighbor Harry S Truman would win re-election in the U.S. Presidential Election of 1948, even though prevailing opinion of the era was that Truman would probably lose.
Two of Emma Smith Kennedy's earlier 'inspired writings' are contained in the book Infallible Proofs, first published circa 1931. Also published in that book is a revelation produced by her father
in 1900 which helps illustrate complicated dynamics involved among different Latter Day Saint factions in Independence Missouri in the early 20th century.
Later revelations produced by Mrs. Kennedy are more specific than those examples, a prophecy entitled "Given Through The Spirit to Emma Smith Kennedy February 25, 1944" reads:
From her obituary
published in the local newspaper: "...Mrs. Kennedy was born in Plano, Illinois
...She had lived in Independence since she was a little girl. She was married to William Kennedy, a Canadian, in 1887 in Harrison County, Missouri
. Mr. Kennedy was a blacksmith
. Surviving are a daughter...a brother...a sister...three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren..."
Mrs. Kennedy is mentioned in the August 1992 edition of the Ensign magazine, official periodical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in an article about Emma Hale Smith
by Emma Belle Smith Kennedy's granddaughter, Gracia N. Jones, an author and geneaologist
active in the LDS
faction of the Latter-day Saint Movement, unlike her grandmother who was active in the rival Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faction of the Latter-day Saint Movement
Alexander Hale Smith
Alexander Hale Smith was the third surviving son of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. Alexander was born in Far West, Missouri and eventually became a senior leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Alexander served as an apostle and as Presiding Patriarch of...
. In her lifetime she was highly-regarded in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS, now the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
) for several reasons: First, she was one of the earliest Latter Day Saints to return to Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when Latter Day Saints still faced some endangering prejudices. She was the first librarian for the historic RLDS Stone Church, and a regular contributor or commentator for the Saints Herald church magazine. Thirdly-—as with her grandfather, her uncle Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
, her father, and other relatives in the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
-—Mrs. Kennedy over the years produced a number of writings
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
, revelations
Revelation (Latter Day Saints)
Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God . They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of His true church today...
and prophecies which circulated among church membership in her lifetime and afterward. A month before her eightieth birthday in 1949, Smith-Kennedy wrote in a letter to a relative:
- "...I just am very much alive in the onward march of this church of ours and have a gift that helps many, the gift of prophecyProphecyProphecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
. I have foretold some things and they have come to pass...It sounds rather boasting but I was told in prophecies I would do this work, as a portion of the mantle of my father had fallen on me and I must to comfort God's people. So I am very busy the most of my time..."
Among other prophetic statements, she is credited with successfully predicting in mid-1947 that her Independence, Missouri neighbor Harry S Truman would win re-election in the U.S. Presidential Election of 1948, even though prevailing opinion of the era was that Truman would probably lose.
Alexander Hale Smith
Alexander Hale Smith was the third surviving son of Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith. Alexander was born in Far West, Missouri and eventually became a senior leader of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . Alexander served as an apostle and as Presiding Patriarch of...
in 1900 which helps illustrate complicated dynamics involved among different Latter Day Saint factions in Independence Missouri in the early 20th century.
Later revelations produced by Mrs. Kennedy are more specific than those examples, a prophecy entitled "Given Through The Spirit to Emma Smith Kennedy February 25, 1944" reads:
From her obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
published in the local newspaper: "...Mrs. Kennedy was born in Plano, Illinois
Plano, Illinois
Plano is a city in Kendall County, Illinois, United States near Aurora, with a population of 5,633 at the 2000 census. The city is rapidly growing with new subdivisions such as Lakewood Springs completed and several other developments under construction or in the planning stages. Former Speaker...
...She had lived in Independence since she was a little girl. She was married to William Kennedy, a Canadian, in 1887 in Harrison County, Missouri
Harrison County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,850 people, 3,658 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 4,316 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
. Mr. Kennedy was a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
. Surviving are a daughter...a brother...a sister...three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren..."
Mrs. Kennedy is mentioned in the August 1992 edition of the Ensign magazine, official periodical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in an article about Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon was married to Joseph Smith, Jr., until his death in 1844, and was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, during Joseph Smith's lifetime and afterward as a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
by Emma Belle Smith Kennedy's granddaughter, Gracia N. Jones, an author and geneaologist
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
active in the LDS
LDS
LDS may refer to:* LDS Church, abbreviation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah...
faction of the Latter-day Saint Movement, unlike her grandmother who was active in the rival Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faction of the Latter-day Saint Movement
External links
- Photograph of Emma Smith Kennedy and her husband at josephmithsr.com
- Photograph of Emma Smith Kennedy's headstone and that of her father-in-law John Kennedy at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
