Praise to the Men

In driving to Michigan late last night, I spent three hours with church history scholars Susan Easton Black and Truman Madsen remembering the legacy of a man who was instrumental in bringing about a marvelous work and a wonder in our day, a man who helped restore eternal truths about our relationship with God and His son, Jesus Christ, a man who communed with angels and received revelatory instruction directly from our Savior. This man has left a testimony that will stand until the end of time, one that he sealed with his own blood. In speaking of this man and his brother who fell by the bullets of assassins on this day, June 27, 1844, John Taylor wrote,

"They were innocent of any crime as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to "Mormonism" that cannot be rejected by any court on earth... a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach... an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till heaven avenges that blood on the earth."

This man was told of an angel at the young age of 17 that his name would be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues. This prophesy has undeniably held true with the name of Joseph Smith, a man I know to have been a prophet of God; a man who spoke with God and received revelation for the people of his day; a man like Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, and the apostle Paul. And just like many of these men, he was rejected, ridiculed, persecuted, and eventually gave his life for his testimony of the truth.

Well, as I listened to a recounting of events leading up to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, I couldn't help but feel anger at the injustice and the cruelty, sorrow at the suffering of those inhabitants of Nauvoo, and a great gratitude for the man who "lived great and died great in the eyes of God and his people," a man who "has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it."

I do not believe that these statements, also by John Taylor, seek to deify the man Joseph Smith. Surely we do not worship or pray to Saint Joseph Smith as many might think. But as Brother Taylor states, he has done so much for this world. If you were to make a list of the top ten prophets in their importance to the entire history of the world, I would first and foremost write our Savior's name at the top. From there, I don't want to argue about the rest, but if you were to ask about those prophets who hold the greatest significance and importance to us in our day and in our generation, I would unequivocally agree with Brother Taylor and list Joseph Smith's name in the number two slot, followed by that of our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, as number three.

Joseph Smith ushered in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, meaning he received all keys and restored all the plain and precious truths that had been lost over time, leading to an enlightened era of revelation and truth, where we once again have a direct link to our Heavenly Father and can know of a surety what He would have us do. And because of this and to seal this testimony, Joseph was required to sacrifice his life.

In thinking of his important role, not on the same level as that of the Savior, but certainly along the same lines, I can't help but find many similarities in their last days, as I was remembering the details as related by these scholarly lectures I was listening to.

Joseph Smith was presented with multiple arrest warrants in the two weeks prior to the martyrdom. These warrants charged Joseph with inciting a riot on the streets of Nauvoo in the destruction of the printing press for a paper called the Nauvoo Expositor. This publication was authored by apostates, those who had become disaffected with the church and took it upon themselves to destroy the Mormon church. This paper printed many lies and had the sole purpose to stir the citizens of Nauvoo up in revolution.

The Nauvoo city council spent over fourteen hours deliberating on what to do concerning the paper. There was a dilemma here over the Bill of Rights, with the freedom of press and the freedom of religion at stake. The decision to act was not taken lightly. Legal experts have sought to either defend or condemn that decision to destroy the press as a violation of constitutional rights. I will undertake to do neither. I am convinced, however, that the destruction of the press was conducted as due process of law. It was not the act of vigilantes or a mob. Ironically enough, many will condemn Joseph and justify his murder for the destruction of a printing press, while little thought is given to the destruction of our own printing press by mobs and the countless other unconstitutional violent mob actions in Kirtland, Ohio, Independence and Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois.

Well, Joseph was accused of inciting a riot or a mob and was tried and acquitted before a judge of law. He received a second arrest warrant for the same charges. It was felt that since that first judge had been a Mormon, he should perhaps be tried by a non-Mormon to appease the opposition. And so he was tried a second time and once again acquitted. If the violation of the constitutional right protecting against double jeopardy were not enough, Joseph was served with a third warrant for the exact same charges and was facing triple jeopardy. This time, Joseph was told by the governor of the state, Governor Ford, that if he would come to Carthage, the matter might finally be settled. This brings me to some of the parallels I found between the martyrdom of Joseph and that of Jesus.

First, I found it interesting to learn about the second trial in Nauvoo with the judge who was not a member of the Church. According to the law, he acquitted Joseph of all charges. Pontius Pilate had listened to Jesus and claimed, "I find no fault in this man." What was interesting was that this judge asked Joseph to tell his story, to effectively bear his testimony as a prophet of God. Pilate similarly had opportunity to interview the Savior and was moved upon by the Spirit to the point where he not only found Jesus innocent but may have been led to believe in part in his message.

Ultimately, Pilate feared the Jews and the impact they might make on his standing with Rome, and he allowed the capital punishment. This judge of Joseph in Nauvoo ultimately became Joseph's last convert. Like Alma in Noah's court who heard the words of Abinadi, like Agrippa who heard Paul and said, "Almost thou persuadest me to believe...", like the centurion who was there at Golgotha and claimed, "Truly this man was the Son of God," he received a witness of the truthfulness of a divine message by the Spirit of God. And this judge later followed the Saints west as they were driven from Nauvoo.










On to Carthage. The city of Carthage, Illinois, was a hotbed of opposition, hatred, and hostility toward Joseph Smith and the Mormons. For Joseph to follow the summons to Carthage was like Jesus leaving the favorable political and religious climate of Galilee and going to Jerusalem, the political seat of the Sanhedrin and other counsels who wanted nothing more than His blood. Joseph at first refused to go, knowing of the danger that awaited him there, but under the encouragement of many of his people, including his wife, he willingly went to Carthage. There were many Mormons who felt that if Joseph would just go to Carthage, the governor would protect him and that they as a city and as a people might be kept safe. Joseph had faced trials, prisons, and mobs before. Surely, he would once again be protected. But Joseph knew otherwise. Whether he knew of a surety that he would not return from Carthage or not, he clearly knew that he had completed his work as a prophet. In his own words, he had said, "I am just as liable to die as any other man." And, though he felt inclined toward self-preservation, he went to Carthage "as a lamb to the slaughter", saying, "If my life is of no value to my friends, it is surely of no value to me." Christ went to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, and finally to Golgotha for His friends, for every single child of God. Joseph went to Carthage for his friends.

Appearing before a judge, Joseph was informed that the bail for him and his brother would be $500 apiece. Now in that day, $500 was a great sum of money, money that neither Joseph nor his brother Hyrum possessed. To the credit of Joseph's friends, over $1000 was quickly pooled so that bail might be posted. The judge in Carthage was taken aback, shocked that the sum had been collected, and he would not post bail till the next day as he claimed that his schedule was too full. Before the next day, however, a new warrant was issued, one with charges for which bail could not be made. The charge this time: treason against the United States.

I can't help but think of the crimes for which Jesus was accused. He was accused by those who despised him of blasphemy, the crime of teaching and claiming spiritual truths that the majority of the populace believed to be untrue and a mockery to God. Joseph was similarly hated and persecuted for teaching truths that were not popular or widely believed by the people of his day. The charge concerning the printing press and the riots was just convenient a excuse to get Joseph to come to be near the mobs of Carthage.

When the Jews had laid their hands on Jesus, after paying Judas Iscariot to betray his Lord and committing countless "unconstitutional" acts of injustice according to their own law in the arrest and trial of Christ, they were determined to see that He be killed, and they would raise whatever charges and conjure whatever false witnesses were required to obtain a death sentence. A guilty verdict of blasphemy, however, was not enough to convict Jesus to death according to Roman law, so the charge was changed from blasphemy against God to treason against Caesar. The opposition of Carthage was similarly committed to see Joseph killed, and if the charge of rioting was not enough to hold him in prison, the new charges of treason were raised with a handful of perjured witnesses standing by, prepared to aid their case.

Joseph, as mayor of Nauvoo, one of the largest cities in the state, asked for an audience with Thomas Ford, the Governor, hoping to discuss the plight of his city. Governor Ford answered that he did not have time. He would, however, take Joseph with him the next day as he inspected the Carthage Greys, the military troops of the city. At the time of the martyrdom, the Carthage Greys were responsible for the protection of the Carthage jail. But the military disbanded, abandoning their posts and their duty, and there were many among its ranks who painted their faces black and joined with the mob in the siege on the jail. So an inspection of these troops with Joseph standing by might have been perceived by Governor Ford as an opportunity to parade Joseph before his enemies, perhaps with the aim of appeasing them and cooling emotions.

Pontius Pilate allowed Jesus to be stripped, whipped, robed and crowned in mockery with thorns, and then "paraded" Him before the Jews, perhaps hoping to calm their blood lust and invoke pity. It did not work in either case, but served to only further intensify the mobs.

Joseph told Governor Ford that he would be safe as long as the governor remained in Carthage. The governor promised to not leave the city for Nauvoo without Joseph. However, on the morning of the 27th, Joseph was notified that the governor had broken his promise and left for Nauvoo. At the time that the mob stormed the jail, late that afternoon, Governor Thomas Ford was speaking to the people of Nauvoo, relaxing in the Mansion House, and being served dinner by Joseph's wife. Governor Ford may not have been a Caiaphas or a Herod, but he was clearly a Pontius Pilate. He was one who feared the people, one who took a passive role and let the mob violence rule. Ironically enough, in a book he later wrote, giving his version of the history of the state of Illinois, Thomas Ford expressed three great fears:

1. He feared that there would be those in some future day who would speak of Joseph Smith, and that the name would go far and wide.
2. He feared that there would be place names like Carthage and other places like Palmyra that would be as common to people throughout the world as were such names as Bethlehem and Gethsemane.
3. And he feared that there might be someone who might link his name to such infamous characters that had lived in the past as Pontius Pilate and Herod.

Governor Ford never claimed to be a prophet, but his fears literally became true prophesies on all three counts.

After the inspection of the troops with Governor Ford, there were several commanders and military leaders who came to Joseph's room at the hotel where he was under house arrest. They claimed that during the inspection they had not had a good opportunity to see Joseph and wanted a chance to meet the man. Joseph perceived otherwise and accused these men of being among those who most fiercely wanted his life. He then gave one of his last prophesies concerning these men who would be among the mob that took his life. He said that there would come a day when each of these men would "wallow in their own blood," when they would be so sick of blood that they could not stand it. Each of these men present, after the mob actions of Carthage, later went on to be very successful in the military and all served as generals and officers in the Civil War. In fulfillment of Joseph's prophesy, every single one of these men, at some point during that war, wrote letters to loved ones or commanding officers claiming that they never wanted to see the blood of any man again, that they could not stand the sight of blood.

I think of one of Christ's last prophesies, that which He made in Matthew 24 concerning His second coming and the destruction of the Jews. He prophesied that the temple would be completely destroyed, that not one stone would be left standing on another. He also prophesied that his murderers, the Jews, would be delivered up to be afflicted and killed, that they would be hated of all nations for His name's sake. Yes, Christ forgave his executioners, the Romans, who Christ claimed knew not what they did. But he prophesied concerning the condemnation of those who had actively sought his life, and those prophesies were indeed realized. So were those of Joseph.

When Peter listened to Jesus at the mount of Olives before continuing on to Gethsemane, he was horrified at the prospect of offending his Lord and failing to stand by Him in danger. He said, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." Peter effectively voiced his willingness to die with the Savior or to even die in His place. When the mob came to take the Savior, Peter was the first to draw his sword. When the other apostles fled, Peter was one of the few to follow the mob to the place where Jesus would be tried. The Lord's words, however, were prophetic, and Peter became a changed and a stronger man through his weakness. Peter was not called upon to die in Jesus' place, but he was truly willing. When he was sent to his death years later, he asked to be crucified upside down so as to show respect toward His master's own martyrdom.

There was a Peter-like character, a close friend of Joseph Smith who similarly offered to die in place of his prophet. This man was Willard Richards. He was one of the Twelve. Joseph had once told him that he would one day stand in the midst of a literal rainstorm of bullets and not be injured, a prophesy that seemed even more unlikely given Willard's very large and portly frame. In Carthage jail, when instructed by the jailers to go to the upstairs room where they might be more "safe", and where they would shortly be attacked, Joseph asked Willard if he would come with him up to the room. Willard said (and I paraphrase), "You didn't ask me to come to Carthage, and here I am. You ask me to come up with you, and I will come. If you are to die, I will hang in your place." This offer, so similar to that of Peter, bears even greater significance than might seem at first. Joseph, in previously thinking of mobs and those who wanted his blood, had claimed that if he was to die, he only hoped and prayed that his life would not end by hanging. What a powerful offer by a friend in those last moments. Willard, unlike Peter, would not be required to share a martyr's fate, but his act of friendship and love in that offer cannot be forgotten.

There is probably a great deal more that could be said of the martyrdom of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith, of Pontius Pilate's and governors, of Judas Iscariots and apostates, of Peter's and Willard's, of centurions and judges, of selflessness and of divine missions. The most important topic however is the answer to the simple question, WHY?

Why was our Savior martyred? He went willingly to Gethsemane, and despite His wish to pass the bitter cup and not carry out that incomprehensible act of love, compassion, mercy, and redemption, He carried out His mission and sealed that act through the Crucifixion, paving the way so that each of us might live again and have the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father. I wish that the Savior did not have to go through what He went through for my frailties, my weaknesses, my sins, but there is no question in my mind as to why He had to sacrifice Himself, and I thank my God for that pure act of charity.

Why was Joseph martyred? Joseph Smith was not my redeemer, he was not my savior, nor did he ever profess to be more than a man who had been entrusted with a sacred mission to restore precious truths to the world in a day when these truths were so desperately needed. When he was killed, he had already fulfilled that mission. So why was the sacrifice of his life necessary?

There are many prophets of old who were called to seal their testimonies with their blood, and there were many who were not called to die for the truth. John Taylor specifically stated that Joseph Smith was martyred "to seal the testimony of this book (the Doctrine and Covenants) and the Book of Mormon". In seeking to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ in these days, in seeking to scatter the Mormons and cut off the head of the serpent, the mobs provided martyrs crowns for Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. The mob allowed Joseph the opportunity to give his final, irrefutable, and everlasting testimony to the truthfulness of these two books of scripture that the Lord revealed through him.

So, according to Sister Black, who was entertaining my drive to Michigan, "Was it worth it? Was it worth the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world?" Her answer, that I can soundly echo, was 'YES'!

I know that both of these books are the word of God. Joseph, himself, claimed that "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." The Bible is indeed the word of God. I love the stories and the teachings contained therein. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are so plainly and eloquently written that I cannot read that book without feeling the power and the Spirit confirming the truthfulness of those words. That said, I also feel those same feelings and have an undeniable witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is indisputably another witness of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is mentioned in the very first and the very last verses. His name, in over 100 different variations is mentioned on an average of once every one and a half verses. From the first to the last pages, the book conveys many truths, but has one overall message: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and true happiness and joy come from following Him.

I can't understand why men would call the book evil, why they would take a life because of it. I can understand that some men might read, ponder, and study its pages and yet believe that it is not inspired and of God. But any book on earth that conveys a similar message of Jesus Christ, in my opinion, is not evil. It may not be inspired, it may not be true. Such testimonies of faith would be left to the reader. But I cannot see how I could demand a life for bringing forth a book about Jesus or telling people that they believe in Jesus.

I know many people whose beliefs differ from mine. I may hope that they one day convert to fully sharing my beliefs, and they may hope the same for me. But I can still see their goodness and respect their right and privilege to worship God as they see fit. Unfortunately, not everyone shares my opinion and this mutual respect when it comes to religion, and there are mobs and holy wars, and families, friendships, and even entire peoples are destroyed in God's name. Certainly more than one life has been taken. But in the life of Joseph Smith, I thank my God that he restored truth through the Prophet Joseph, and I thank my God for the Book of Mormon, which has been sealed by the testimony of Joseph Smith through his martyrdom.

So my final question to myself and to you: I may know why Joseph was martyred, and I may answer with a resounding yes that the Book of Mormon is clearly worth the best blood of the nineteenth century, but do I show enough gratitude for the martyrdom? I'm not suggesting that I pray to Joseph Smith or set up a shrine to him in my living room. I am suggesting, however, that I can show my gratitude for his life and for his sealing of the Book of Mormon with his blood in my respect for and my personal usage of that most wondrous book.

Do I appreciate that book? Do I open it up and let the pages breath? Do I take the promise of Moroni in its final pages to heart and ask God to confirm the truthfulness of that book and the teachings I learn again and again? Do I share that book with others or do I keep it to myself?

Praise to the Man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer, Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him and nations revere!

Through me and my testimony of this man and the Book of Mormon, can it be said that Millions shall know Brother Joseph again?

God Bless!