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After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Jr., his wife Emma Hale Smith was left with much to shoulder: salvaging Joseph’s estate, the safety of her family, her own grief, and growing isolation as danger and rumors swirled around her. Through the eyes of one of her sons and Lucy Mack Smith, Emma’s struggles reveal a courageous woman who stood as a pillar of strength for her loved ones, and who looked forward to a promise of being together with her family forever.
From the writer of Singing with Angels and The Joseph Smith Jr. and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society, this new movie In Emma’s Footsteps is coming to Megaplex Theaters in Utah beginning June 1st.
To the public, this may look like any other historical movie about LDS figures. Yet, to the descendants of Joseph and Emma Smith, this movie a step toward the reconciliation of many years of misunderstandings about the LDS Church and any prejudices there may be towards the descendants. The movie focuses on a heartfelt conversation about Emma between Lucy Mack Smith and Alexander Hale Smith, who is the 2nd great-grandfather of Michael Kennedy, the President of the historical society and the first male in Joseph’s line to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Currently, there are 256 living descendants of Joseph and Emma on the records of the LDS church. Michael Kennedy is hoping that this movie will create more opportunities for the descendants to be receptive to the gospel. One movie which focused on Emma, Emma Smith: My Story, removed quite a few of the prejudices about her but there were still a lot of questions and concerns that remained. A survey was conducted among Latter Day Saints in 2014, which showed many people still didn’t understand why Emma didn’t come west or what was going on between her and Brigham Young.
As the movie begins, Alexander, as a young man, asks hard questions such as why people speak ill about his mother and why the mob was still attacking the Mormons. Throughout the film, Emma’s struggles are relayed by Lucy Mack Smith, helping to give insights on the numerous difficulties she faced, starting first and foremost with the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Jr. This film covers from that moment, through the westward exodus of the Saints, and to her death.
Kennedy said, “This film gives a chance for Emma to tell her story and why she made the choices that she did. We are putting you in the mind of Emma to see the issues she was facing at the time and not having help with it. She needed protection, and resources for that protection were not available, especially as a woman. You will be able to see the church’s point of view and Emma’s point of view. Emma was right and the church was right. It is all about softening hearts.”
Kennedy recalled Doctrine and Covenants 109:68-70, which states: “Remember thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and all his afflictions and persecutions…have mercy, O Lord, upon his wife and children, that they may be exalted in thy presence, and preserved by thy fostering hand. Have mercy upon all their immediate connections, that their prejudices may be broken up and swept away as with a flood; that they may be converted and redeemed with Israel, and know that thou art God.”
Kennedy said he is grateful to the filmmakers and distributor Candlelight Media Group for their years of dedication in bringing the film to fruition, and for giving Emma a voice. His hope now is that moviegoers will be able to see Emma as the strong and courageous woman she was, and recognize the difficult decisions she had to make.
For more information on the film, visit www.InEmmasFootsteps.com. The film comes to theaters June 1.
