Summary:

Why this matters:

• Emily lived with Joseph while he made advances towards her
• Emily first shut him down when he asked if he could write her a letter

After a year in the Smith home, Emily remembers: “...in the spring of 1842...Joseph said to me one day, ‘Emily, if you will not betray me, I will tell you something for your benefit.’ Of course I would keep his secret...he asked me if I would burn it if he would write me a letter. I began to think that was not the proper thing for me to do and I was about as miserable as I ever would wish to be...I went to my room and knelt down and asked my father in heaven to direct me...[At Joseph’s insistence] I could not speak to any one on earth...I received no comfort till I went back...to say I could not take a private letter from him.  He asked me if I wished the matter ended. I said I did.” Emily recalls, “he said no more to me [for many months].”

• Joseph acquired the help of a third party (an older woman already married to Joseph) to help convince Emily to marry Joseph
• Joseph married Emily and her older sister Eliza twice. Once behind Emma's back in secret and then another time when Emma picked out Emily and Eliza as brides for Joseph. They had to pretend they were not already married for Emma and Joseph's sake.

Emily recalls, “I do not know why she gave us to him, unless she thought we were where she could watch us better...” Emily continued, “To save the family trouble Brother Joseph thought it best to have another ceremony performed...[Emma] had her feelings, and so we thought there was no use in saying anything about it so long as she had chosen us herself...Accordingly...we were sealed to JS a second time, in Emma’s presence.”