cgrant

I am very aware of the sources on this subject. It is indeed fascinating. And sacred. I don't post too much about it, though I am happy to read, collect, and ponder all I can. My point is merely that an ordinance, even this one, does not assure exaltation. The only thing that can--ultimately--is God. (cf. JST Gen. 14:25-40). It cannot come by the will of man, only by the will of God. Therefore, even if a man, such as the President of the Church, were to desire to give it to a loved one, without the seal of heaven it is of no force. I think Joseph's explanation of this dual-nature of the sealing is as inspired and thorough as can be: "The more sure word of prophecy means a man's knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by [1.] revelation and the spirit of prophecy, [2.] through the power of the Holy Priesthood [the ordinance]" (D&C 131:5). Both the revelation and the ordinance are required. And I don't think it matters in which order. In Emma's case, we know the date of the ordinance (thanks to Ehat's research). Whether she has or will receive the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise (cf. D&C 132:19) is the question. I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it also would not surprise me if she had not qualified for the blessing in mortality (thank goodness that's not the end of our story). Her struggle with plural marriage gives me pause. It was why Joseph waited so long to finish restoring the temple ordinances.

I'm not sure about what "Actually" is suppose to mean here. Nothing in my previous post is incorrect. Having an ordinance performed does not guarantee that the ordinance is valid eternally. It takes the seal of heaven to make it so. Hence, some have received it because of who they were (i.e., personal connections) and not what they were (i.e., fully worthy of the ordinance). In Emma's case, it is unclear to us whether the ordinance was or will yet be ratified by revelation. There is simply no such revelation on record (there are, however, for Joseph and others). Joseph's warning seems pertinent here: "Take heed both before and after obtaining the more sure word of Prophecy" (Ehat & Cook, The Words of Joseph Smith, 208).

According to D&C 131 one needs both the revelation and the ordinance to know that one is saved. Whether she received the revelation or not is the question; the ordinance she received 28 September 1843. I like Emily Partridge Smith's view: "After these many years I can truly say; poor Emma, she could not stand polygamy but she was a good woman and I never wish to stand in her way of happyness [sic] and exaltation. I hope the Lord will be merciful to her, and I believe he will. It is an awful thought, to contemplate misery of a human being. If the Lord will my heart says let Emma come up and stand in her place" (Emily D. P. Young, "Incidents," 4 November 1883).