1/28/2019 - Section 135:1-7

January 28, 2019

Section 135:1-7

Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Charity, Lord Can Direct Our Lives if We Let Him, Prayers What to Include,  

This section, by John Taylor, is written “to seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon”.

John Taylor and Willard Richards, both apostles, were in the room with Joseph and Hyrum when the mob attacked. V 2 speaks of Elder Richards saying “through the providence of God escaped, without even a hole in his robe.” I never knew the following:  “Dr Richards’ escape was miraculous; he being a very large man, and in the midst of a shower of balls, yet he stood unscathed, with the exception of a ball witch grazed the tip end of the lower part of his left ear. His escape fulfilled literally a prophecy which Joseph made over a year previously, that the time would come that the balls would fly around him like hail, and he should see his fiends fall on the right and on the left but that there should not be a hole in his garment.” (History of the church, 6:619)

Joseph went to Carthage with full knowledge of what was to come. V 4 states “two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: ‘I am going like a lamb t the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocient, and it shall yet be said of me – he was murdered in cold blood.

And v 5 tells what Hyrum read in Ether 12:37 just prior to leaving for Carthage: “And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, for thou hast been faithful; wherefore they garments shall be made clean.  And because thou hast seen they weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I …bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.”

Joseph and Hyrum truly gave their lives to the Lord and His purposes. And today, the prophets who lead this church do the very same thing. Can I, in my small sphere, be charitable enough to, each day, give portions of my thoughts, my efforts, and my energy to be directed by the Lord in accomplishing those small things that can often change the course of a day, or a life, for someone else. I need to expand my prayer beyond myself and my family to include those the Lord would have me serve?

11/22/2021 – D&C 135:1-7

This section is about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. V 1 tells it all: “To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarchy. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock pm., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150-200 persons. Hyrum was shot first, and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: “O Lord my God!” There were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.”

Two of the Twelve Apostles were in the room at the time of the attack. John Taylor was shot 4 times, but he did recover. Amazingly, Willard Richards was not injured. 

The morning of that day, before Joseph left his home, he wrote the following in a hasty letter to Emma: I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am justified and have done the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and all my friends… and as for treason, I know that I have not committed any, and they cannot prove one appearance of anything of the kind, so you need not have any fears that any harm can happen to us on that score. May God bless you all. Amen” [Teachings: Joseph Smith, 531). The mob action occurred that afternoon--- much before Joseph and Hyrum were to be brought to court.

V 2 is his obituary: “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty hears, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many otherwise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum In life there were not divided, and in death they were not separated!”

V’s 4-5 tell us about Hyrum’s last day on earth: “The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? Yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it: “And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.[I think that is my favorite sentence, because it teaches the importance of real humility. My prayer is to see my weaknesses, but not be depressed by them, for they may form the best foundation for my goals.]  And now I…bid fare well unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgement-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.”

Hyrum was Joseph’s older brother. Heber J. Grant gave a wonderful description of that kind and loving man: 

“There is no better example of an older brother’s love than that exhibited in the life of Hyrum Smith for the Prophet Joseph Smith. … They were as united and as affectionate and as loving as mortal men could be. … There was no place for jealousy in the heart of Hyrum Smith. No mortal man could have been more loyal, more true, more faithful in life or in death than was Hyrum Smith to the Prophet of the living God”

As Joseph and Hyrum left Nauvoo on horseback to come to Carthage as they had promised, they paused near the uncompleted temple and Joseph said: “This is the loveliest place, and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them.” [Joseph Smith Papers, 151]

11/23/2021 – D&C 135

The following are quotes about Joseph Smith from the prophets and apostles in our day:

Joseph F. Smith: “The work in which Joseph Smith was engaged was not confined to this life alone, but it pertains as well to the life to come, and to the life that has been. In other words, it relates to those who have lived upon the earth, to those who are living and to those who shall come after us. It is not something which relates to man only while he tabernacles in the flesh, but to the whole human family from eternity to eternity”

Gordon B. Hinckley: “During the brief 38 and one-half years of his life, there came through him an incomparable outpouring of knowledge, gifts, and doctrine. Looked at objectively, there is nothing to compare with it. Subjectively, it is the substance of the personal testimony of millions of Latter-day Saints across the earth” 

Neal L. Anderson: “Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. His spiritual work began with the appearance of the Father and the Son, followed by numerous heavenly visitations. He was the instrument in God’s hands in bringing forth sacred scripture, lost doctrine, and the restoration of the priesthood. The importance of Joseph’s work requires more than intellectual consideration; it requires that we, like Joseph, ‘ask of God’ [James 1:5; see also Joseph Smith—History 1:11–13]. Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God. …

“Each believer needs a spiritual confirmation of the divine mission and character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is true for every generation. …

“A testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith can come differently to each of us. It may come as you kneel in prayer, asking God to confirm that he was a true prophet. It may come as you read the Prophet’s account of the First Vision. A testimony may distill upon your soul as you read the Book of Mormon again and again. It may come as you bear your own testimony of the Prophet or as you stand in the temple and realize that through Joseph Smith the holy sealing power was restored to the earth. With faith and real intent, your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith will strengthen. …

“To the youth listening today or reading these words in the days ahead, I give a specific challenge: Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith”