Am I an Emma?

While researching my talk last night - and wasting some time procrastinating and surfing the web - I came across this tribute to Emma Smith. I thought it was so beautiful and such a tribute to a woman who sacrificed so much to support her husband. I wonder sometimes, when I get a little discouraged about the time my husband is away with work and his calling or when I hear other sisters complain about the time their husbands are gone serving, have we really forgotten the sacrifices made in our behalf to the extent that we actually feel to complain?

As I watched this last night I was reminded and humbled at the great sacrifices Emma made including the companionship of her husband. I read another quote about one of the early leaders of the church who left his wife and children to serve a mission in a foreign land. I marvel at the sacrifices these women made. Who knows? Maybe they complained and maybe there were women who held their men back from being who the Lord wanted them to be or doing what the Lord wanted them to do-I do believe we have that kind of influence in our homes. We know from the stories we have heard that many women didn't. Many women raised their children alone for months and months while their husbands served and built Zion. Some women crossed the plains with their children while their husbands were serving elsewhere. I know Emma is a somewhat controversial figure but as I listened to the song and watched the video I asked where I would be if I endured her life? I have been very reflective the past several months of who I am and I wonder, "Am I an Emma?" "Am I a mother who raises my child to be one of Helaman's warriors?"

I have wondered how these hero mothers and women acted on a daily basis to become the women we reverence? I know our trials are not their trials and have heard they would not trade places with the us and the trials of our time. I think that means I need to be better and stronger and more courageous and less complaining and mostly I need to not be overwhelmed but be sure to trust in the Lord and turn to Him as they did. It is kind of overwhelming but I bet on a day to day basis Emma could have never imagined our day and that anyone would sit at their computer and wonder, "Am I an Emma?"