A Woman of God

As God continued to reveal principles to Joseph Smith, about how the church should be established, One revelation is particularly meaningful to me. Section 25 is a revelation directed to Emma Smith, Joseph’s wife. God revealed this revelation through the prophet in July of 1830.
Emma Smith must have had a singular perspective of the restoration of the gospel. She likely knew the prophet’s personality better than anyone on earth. They lived together; they worked together; they had children together. She knew his virtues and his faults. In some ways it would be hardest for her to accept that this man whom she knew so intimately was a prophet of the Lord.
At the same time, it must have been difficult for her to be so near, but not involved with all of the spiritual experiences that Joseph had. She never saw the gold plates. She wasn’t their when Jesus Christ came to Joseph and other apostles in the Kirtland Temple. In this revelation the Lord outlines her callings and responsibilities, and promises her blessings.
The first calling mentioned specifically is that she is to comfort her husband, Joseph, in the spirit of meekness. Now, from a 21st century perspective, this assignment might seem sexist: The woman is merely auxiliary to the man. That is not what God is saying. First, not everyone can be the prophet. We all have different assignments none of which is more honorable or valuable than another. (Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 12.) And who better to have the assignment to comfort the prophet in his afflictions than the woman who loves him so affectionately?
Second, “the spirit of meekness” is not a consignment to weak submission. Remember it was Christ, the King of kings who said “I am meek and lowly in heart. “(Matt 11:29) It was He, the Creator of the universe who comforted his friends in their afflictions (See John 11). It is also important to recognize that Joseph is commanded in verse 9 to support Emma in the church.
The assignments that the Lord gives to Emma in this revelation grand and noble. She is promised that she will receive an inheritance. Women at this time couldn’t own property, let alone inherit it. (Remember Jesus’ promise that the meek will inherit the earth.) She is named an elect lady called by God. God calls her to work as a scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon. He tells her that she will be ordained to expound the scriptures and to exhort the church as she is guided by the Holy Ghost. This is an especially empowering assignment as many Christian churches in that day didn’t even allow women to speak in church meetings, let alone reveal divine instruction.
Emma is commanded, or rather blessed, that her “time shall be given to writing, and to learning much.” I plan to marry a woman that has this same gift from God. She is commanded to “Lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.” Through the coming years of persecution for the church, she does in fact lose almost every worldly possession. She is assigned to compile hymn book for the church. I still sing hymns that Emma collected in obedience to this divine injunction. Finally God commands her: “Let thy soul delight in thy husband and the glory which shall come upon him.” Conditional on this assignment is the final promised blessing – the greatest of all the gifts of God .
“Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive.“ She will rule and reign with God forever.