135 – The Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum
What would you be willing to give your life for?
The prophet Abinadi was offered the chance to avoid execution by recanting the message God had sent him to deliver. In response, he declared, “I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands. Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day” (Mosiah 17:9-10).
Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum similarly gave their lives because they were true to their prophetic mission. A few days before they were murdered by an armed mob while incarcerated in Carthage Jail, Joseph said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:4).
On the morning of their death, Hyrum read the following passage from the Book of Mormon: “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” (Ether 12:36-37, see Doctrine and Covenants 135:5).
Perhaps standing up for what is right always requires some courage, but when a person is willing to sacrifice his or her life for what they believe, that is an extraordinarily powerful testimony.
Here are some principles I have learned from the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum:
- Some things are more important than life itself, as evidenced by those who have been willing to pay the ultimate price for their testimony: Martyrdom.
- To “bear witness” is to carry a burden with significant implications for other people: Why Do We “Bear” Witness?
- We can help God accomplish His purposes in spite of our limitations and shortcomings: Out of Weakness…
136 – Winter Quarters
In January 1847, more than 7,000 church members who had fled from Nauvoo, Illinois were encamped on the banks of the Missouri River, 300 miles away. Another 3,000 people were en route, at various locations along the trail. Brigham Young was distraught as he saw the suffering of the people he was called to lead.
In response to his prayers for guidance, Brigham received a revelation, which he entitled “The Word and Will of the Lord” (D&C 136). The revelation gave instructions about how church members should organize themselves to continue their journey to their new home.
Sometimes the journey is as important as the destination. Although these people would face many challenges during their migration, they found strength and safety by organizing themselves according to guidance given by the Lord. (See Chad M. Orton, “This Shall Be Our Covenant,” Revelations in Context.)
Here are some lessons related to this revelation:
- One way we receive God’s light is by “[walking] in all the ordinances of the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:4): Light.
- We can learn from the journeys in the scriptures about how to organize ourselves, trust in the Lord, and work together: Lessons from Journeys in the Book of Mormon.
Blog Posts: November 23-28
Walk in the Ordinances
As Brigham Young led thousands of church members into an unknown frontier, he received a revelation teaching them how to organize themselves for the journey. Near the beginning of that revelation is a concise statement encapsulating the standards of behavior expected of this group of travelers: And this shall be our covenant—that we will walk in all the ordinances of…
Borrowing
To borrow something is to make a commitment. Inherent in borrowing is a promise to return the object to the owner in good condition. In the law of Moses, the Lord decreed that if someone borrowed an animal, “and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he [the borrower] shall…
With Thanksgiving
Many of the psalms encourage us to express our gratitude to God. For example: These passages depict a spontaneous and joyful expression of thanks. When Isaiah speaks of Israel’s return to Zion, he describes it in similar terms: Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3, 2 Nephi…
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Talk is cheap. It’s easy to say something, and in many circumstances the speaker pays no price if their words are inaccurate. When we need more certainty that a person is telling the truth, we take formal steps to increase our confidence. For example, in court, we have witnesses swear an oath before they testify,…
Not Separated
An Israelite woman named Naomi lived in Moab for many years. Both of her sons married Moabite women. After her husband and both sons died, Naomi decided to return home, and she encouraged both of her daughters-in-law to return to their families. One of them, Orpah, agreed and affectionately bid farewell to Naomi. But Ruth…
Edifying
It’s a lot easier to destroy things than to build them. That imbalance creates one of the conundrums of life: you can spend an awfully lot of time and energy creating something which can be demolished with very little effort. “Destroy this temple,” said Jesus, “and in three days I will raise it up” (John…
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