Does it follow that only perfect people can do good and worthy things? – Of course not. Imperfect people often do things that demonstrate great character and strength, notwithstanding their weakness.

Emma was only 39 years old when her husband was killed, leaving her with five small children and a burden of great care. Nonetheless, she moved forward with courage and determination to provide for herself and take care of her little ones.

And then 3½ years later she made the decision to marry again. Her intended, Lewis, well, he had less than a sterling reputation – something of a checkered past. But notwithstanding, they made a life together, they loved each other, and they were happy.

And then, 17 years into their marriage, a little boy was born in their small community to a quiet shy self-effacing woman named Nancy Abercrombie. The boy was named Charles. Nancy was not married. It soon became known that the little boy’s father was Emma’s husband Lewis.

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Her husband’s infidelity was apparent. There’s no record of her saying anything about it, but her subsequent actions speak volumes of her heart. Without bitterness or rancor, Emma accepted things as they were, forgave her husband, and went on making a happy life and a home.

Four years later, struggling to provide for her young son, Nancy came to Emma and asked if she would take Charles in and raise him as her own. And believe it or not, Emma did, and treated him with such love and kindness that in his later years Charles would say of her:

“I was raised in her home and knew what kind of a woman she was …. She was a person of very even temper. I never heard her say an unkind word, or raise her voice in anger or contention …. She had a queenly bearing without the arrogance of a queen, a noble woman, living and showing charity for all, loving and beloved.”

Emma’s kindness and her compassion continued to reach out. There even came a day when she invited Nancy Abercrombie to come into her home so she could be closer to her son. Nancy remained in the home, a friend and a sister.

Then one day April day, Nancy and Lewis were summoned to Emma’s bedside. Emma was not well and knew that her days were numbered. In one of her last acts of mortal compassion, she requested that Lewis and Nancy marry after she was gone that young Charles might have the family he so much deserved. A year later they fulfilled that dying request.

Well, from that point forward, Emma’s health declined steadily. Her need for care became constant and exhausting. Her family took turns watching over her.

Then one night in the predawn darkness, her son heard her cry out, “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph!”

Emma raised herself up in spite of her weakness, and extended her left arm. “Joseph,” she said, “Yes, yes, I’m coming!” They were her last words.

At twenty minutes past four in the morning of April 30, 1879, Emma Hale Smith, the elect lady passed from this life.