This was taken from a post I put on a Mormon Apologetics site. I put it here with minor corrections and additions. I truly love this story and the implications it has on my own theology and spirituality.
QUOTE"Joseph told her, "I have a message for you. I have been commanded of God to take another wife, and you are the woman." Lucy was astounded..."What have you to say," Joseph asked her. "Nothing," she replied. Rather than exert more pressure, Joseph backed away. "if you will pray sincerely for light and understanding in relation thereto, you Shall receive a testimony"...Lucy felt tempted and tortured beyond endureance untill [sic] life was not desirable. For months Joseph said nothing more.
"Facing an ultimatum, Lucy bluntly refused, unless God Himself told her other wise..."
After a sleepless night in prayer, Lucy felt something in her room. "My room became filled with a heavenly influence. To me it was in commparison like the brilliant sunshine bursting through the darkest cloud...My Soul was filled with a calm sweet peace that I never knew. Supreme happiness took possession of my whole being." Going down the stairs o "go our into the morning air," she met Joseph, who took her by the hand...On May 1, 1843, William Clayton married Joseph to Lucy" Rough Stone Rolling pg. 491-492
From Josephs initial search for truth and the subsequent revelation(s), I believe one of the hallmarks of this Church is personal revelation. Just as it was for Peter in the NT:
And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:17
Some may point to creeds, or interpretations of scriptures, or institutional degrees as proof of authority; but my Church simply says inquire for yourself if it is true, and let God reveal the truth of all things to you.
Not once have I been pressured, coerced, or manipulated in this Church. It has always been by free will and the encouragement to receive Personal Revelation for myself.
Big UP!
Lamanite
P.S. If you prayed about the truthfulness of the Church and the BoM and the answer was in the negative, then you better do what God revealed. We'll meet again, and hopefully we will all be better for our search for God.
7 comments:
Hey I finally know how to get a hold of you! I love the blog and the family page! Especially the pictures!
Smile
Smile like you want another woman in your home?
I smile cuz Lucy had spunk!
Emma is my hero...not one of us knows how we would react to something...until it is actually placed in front of us...we like to think we know...
By the way, Lucy Walker was my fourth great aunt on my mothers side...there is another story of spunk and willingness to do something, even when hard and goes against the very grain of the natural man...(or at least woman!
Hope all is well!!
Hey McDonald-
Go over to Mike Haggarton's and see if you can borrow "In Sacred Lonliness" by Todd Compton.
If not go to the Centerville Library, I think they have a copy.
I've never found a good bio of Emma. :-(
I used to have that book...dang it...it is out of print now..or at least it was when I worked at the bookstore..I am going to track it down...
The girls want your girls to come and play!!!! They miss em!! and so do we!
Wasn't Lucy only 15 years old and living with Joseph Smith at this time? Also, didn't her mother recently pass away? I believe that her dad was on a mission that Joseph had sent him on, right? Why did Joseph send her Dad on a mission before he commanded marriage on this young girl? She must have been terrified!! The way that Joseph pressured Lucy is similar to something you would find in an FLDS community. Not to mention, he did all of this in secret. Joseph was still in the process of lying to Emma about his other wives at this point in time wasn't he?
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