“A Multiplicity of Witnesses: Women and the Translation Process” By Amy Easton-Flake and Rachel Cope
March 24, 2025 - For the Discussion: “A Multiplicity of Witnesses: Women and the Translation Process” by Amy Easton-Flake and Rachel Cope
Discussion:
One group member recently taught her Young Women class to look at the Restoration through the eyes of women - Mary Whitmer, Emma Smith, Lucy Smith, etc. — the ordinary work can become extraordinary — even Lucy Harris, who was never really satisfied with what she witnessed, was connected to the translation process
God uses whoever can get the job done despite their personality flaws
Emma never took the cover off the plates but moved them around and never looked at them. She was content with not seeing them, but Lucy Harris was not content.
There was a neat relationship between Joseph and his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, as he gave her updates throughout the translation process.
Mary Whitmer really is the first witness, not the fourth or 12th witness, as some people note. She saw the plates and conversed with Moroni before any of the first three witnesses (not including Joseph Smith) did.
Mary Whitmer was validated in how she felt—Moroni knew, and more importantly, the Lord knew how she felt.
One group member remembers that her mom had the following DVD about the Mary Whitmer story
Seer stones, a hat - church history is interesting, and Emma still believed, she never waivered.
During the recent Worldwide Relief Society Devotional, Elder Renlund said “God’s power” over and over — this is priesthood power, the same power we all use
This reminds us of how the Restoration was a communal project—everyone played a role, and every role was important and necessary to move the work forward.
Emma was faced with hardships that she wasn’t brought up with. After Joseph was tarred and feathered he left for Missouri and wanted her to leave the Johnson home and return to live with the Ann Whitney family. Ann’s Aunt Sarah refused her and once again Emma was trying to find a place to live. Five years of marriage and still no stability for her and their children.
Joseph told the Lord would provide, someone to come with him to to retrieve the plates and Emma was the one appointed to go (connected to the Alvin story)
The revelation in Section 25 must have helped Emma get her through all of the horrible times. President Camille Johnson talks about being “covenant confident,” and Emma was covenant confident throughout her life.
Not to mention the blessing she wrote for herself that Joseph later gave to her. Emma knew what she needed to get through her life.
Why wasn’t Emma allowed to see the plates? She made so many sacrifices and she feels them and carries them. Did she care or have a desire to see them?
Emma was private—maybe she had no desire or considered them too sacred or had a vision and was shown them. Emma didn’t keep a journal (that we are aware of) and she gave very few interviews.
It was noted that have a “journal” on our phone, which only one member knew about. There are so many benefits for ourselves and others to keep a journal. It is therapeutic for ourselves. We can have a journal for our spiritual experiences, promptings, etc.
One of our group members writes three gratitudes per day and will now work to tie it back to God’s hand in her daily life.
The Bushman quote is one of the best statements for understanding priesthood: "The priesthood had one purpose in every age: exaltation. Rather than being a governmental hierarchy or a corporate organization, the priesthood held the sacral power to bring people into the presence of God.” Richard Lyman Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Knopf, 2005), 205. (Sacral: of, for, or relating to sacred rites or symbols.)
It is clear that priesthood is open to everyone. It is expansive not restrictive. In the temple, we are expanding priesthood power every time we go because we are taking someone with us and through our authority bringing them the power of priesthood.
Bonus - Family Search Tip: One of our members learned this at Roots Tech. To find descendants with tasks: Go to the Family Tree app (only on phone, not on computer), click on fan chart, go to 7th generation and pick one person, click on the three dots, click on descendants with tasks and it will list what is needed for completion for that individual.