Aunt Em's Spiritual Impression of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Published October 21, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Contributed by
Young Woman's Journal Research
As a fifteen-year-old convert arriving by boat in Nauvoo, Emmeline B. Wells (Aunt Em) felt a distinct, powerful spiritual sensation, described as a "shock" or "galvanic sensation," upon touching the hand of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She interpreted this as a mutual recognition between her spirit and his, solidifying her belief in his prophetic mission.
In the official biographical chronology of her life, it is documented that Emmeline B. Wells arrived in Nauvoo in May 1844 as part of the James Harris company, confirming that the meeting with the Prophet occurred upon her arrival by steamboat at the Nauvoo landing. She noted in later years that she repeatedly bore witness of this electrifying experience of first meeting a prophet of God.
In Their Own Words
“As we approached the landing, I saw a man coming down the road, his stature first attracted my attention; then as I looked at him I seemed to be thrilled from head to foot. Everyone was watching him and as he came aboard I seemed spell-bound. It is impossible to describe the sensation that took possession of me. The Prophet went around shaking hands with the people and as he came near me a tremor shook me. He took my hand in a friendly way, and the moment he touched it, I received a shock. It was not a painful sensation, but it was as if I had received a galvanic shock, and it thrilled me through and through to the very tips of my fingers and every part of my body. I felt as if I were in the presence of some great being, and I was so overcome that I could not speak. As he turned to say goodbye and shake hands I felt the same, what I might call galvanic sensation through all my body, my arms and hands shaking violently. I am sure our spirits were in harmony and the recognition mutual and, although he casually addressed me, he must have known intuitively that a friendly spirit was near and another believer in his wonderful message to the world had been found.”
— Emmeline B. Wells, The Young Woman's Journal
Sources & References
The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 30 no. 1 (January 1919). L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University digital collections. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/YWJ/id/9500 (account extracted verbatim from the collection's page-level OCR; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): The Church Historian’s Press, 'Chronology: Emmeline B. Wells,' https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/emmeline-b-wells/events?lang=eng Full first-person account: The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 30 no. 1 (January 1919) https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/YWJ/id/9500
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