In an address to the entire Community of Christ in April 2009, President Veazey acknowledged "We also need to recognize the longer part of our history is by far the Reorganization... It is the story of the faith, courage, and tenacity of Emma Smith. Without her we would not be here."

A few weeks after Emma's baptism in June 1830, a revelation was given through Joseph Smith to his wife Emma at Harmony, Pennsylvania. It is the only revelation addressed solely to a woman, calling Emma to take an active role in the collecting and publishing of new hymns for the newly established church. Known as the "Elect Lady" revelation, her hymnal assignment formed Emma's leadership role in the ministry of music and the publication of four hymnals over her lifetime. However, collecting hymns was only one of the many contributions Emma Smith made in service to others.

We invite you to take the time to discover the story of Emma Hale Smith through twenty-two lesson plans designed to uncover the courage and complexity of our "Elect Lady." Each lesson includes discussion questions for stimulating classroom conversation, group activities, and a variety of educational resources including maps, historic images, and primary sources that encounter Emma's story like never before.

Learn more about our "Elect Lady" and the early Community of Christ in Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell and Linda Tippetts Avery (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994 2nd edition) with accompanying lesson plans for a deeper understanding of our "Elect Lady." All lesson plans were created by Kevin Bryant, 2010.

Please contact Barbara Walden for the Emma Smith Lesson Plan package.

Barbara Walden, Executive Director

E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: (440) 477-9562

NOTE: The Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation is pleased to make the lesson plans available for use by all. To help the Foundation produce additional resources such as these, we would ask you to consider a donation of $2 per lesson plan download. Donations are accepted online here.

Thank you for helping share and preserve church heritage with your generosity!