| Emma Davidson Thornton | |
| Fictional Character | |
| 1632 series POD: May, 1631 | |
| Appearance(s): | 1634: The Ram Rebellion |
| Type of Appearance: | Direct |
| Nationality: | United States of Europe (formerly United States) |
| Religion: | Mormonism |
| Date of Birth: | 1962 |
| Occupation: | LDS Missionary, Teacher |
| Spouse: | Willard Thornton |
| Children: | David Glen Thornton, Janalee Thornton |
| Relatives: | Harold Thornton (father-in-law), Arthur Thornton (brother-in-law), Martha Hudson (sister) |
Emma Davidson Thornton was a teacher and a Mormon resident of Grantville before and after the Ring of Fire.
In 1980, Emma fell in love with Mormon Willard Thornton while both were still in high school. They eloped the night of their high school graduation, believing (quite rightly, in regard to Emma's side) that both sets of parents would be profoundly opposed to their marriage. Emma's Methodist parents viewed Mormonism as a cult. The eloping couple spent on their so-called honeymoon in a strip motel in Charleston and Emma became pregnant. Unfortunately, her baby was still-born barely seven months into the pregnancy.
Emma grew depressed, believing that this was a divine punishment for the elopement—a punishment which she associated with not having honored her parents. Willard worked at the Home Center, sent her to college, while studying LDS materials on his own. When Emma discovered that she was pregnant again, the same week that she received her M.Ed. degree and seven years to the day after the first baby's death, she had interpreted this as a sign of divine forgiveness, left her Methodist faith, and joined the LDS.
Emma and Willard moved to Grantville and established a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints there. Following after the Ring of Fire, Emma was among the small minority of the LDS that was brought to the 17th century. In April 1633, Emma supported her husband's decision to act as a missionary in spreading the Mormon faith in this new world.