The drama “Jane & Emma” takes an intimate and intense approach to a historic event — the 1844 death of Joseph Smith, founder and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — through the eyes of two women close to the scene.
One of the women is Emma Smith (played by Emily Goss), the first wife of the prophet, who watches over Joseph’s body in the family’s hotel in Nauvoo, Ill., pistol at the ready, in case an angry mob comes to cart him away. She dreads the public viewing his followers will demand, and seeks just a moment to mourn in private.