| 353 'LAST TESTIMONY OF SISTER EMMA.
"In a conversation held in the Herald Office during the early days of the present year, between Bishop Rogers, Elders W. W. Blair, H. A. Stebbins, and a few others, leading minds in the church, it was thought advisable to secure from Mother Bidamon (Sister Emma Smith) her testimony upon certain points upon which various opinions existed; and to do this, it was decided to present to her a few prominent questions, which were penned and agreed upon, the answers to which might, so far as she was concerned, settle these differences of opinion. In accordance with this understanding the Senior Editor of the Herald visited Nauvoo, in February last, arriving on the 4th and remaining until the 10th. Sister Emma answered the questions freely and in the presence of her husband, Major Lewis C. Bidamon, who was generally present in their sitting room where the conversation took place. We were more particular in this, because it had been frequently stated to us: 'Ask your mother, she knows.' 'Why don't you ask your mother; she dare not deny these things.' 'You do not dare to ask your mother!'
"Our thought was, that if we had lacked courage to ask her, because we feared the answers she might give, we would put aside that fear; and, whatever the worst might be, we would hear it. The result is given below; it having been decided to give the statements to the readers of the Herald, in view of the death of Sister Emma having occurred so soon after she made them, thus giving them the character of a last testimony.
"It is intended to incorporate these questions and answers in the forthcoming history of the Reorganization.
"We apologized to our mother for putting the questions respecting polygamy and plural wives, as we felt we ought to do.
"Question.-Who performed the marriage ceremony for Joseph Smith and Emma Hale? When? Where?
"Answer.-I was married at South Bainbridge, New York; at the house of Squire Tarbell, by him, when I was in my twenty-second or twenty-third year.
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