Mormon Martyrs

[Ray Callis Hatton III]

A Catholic wants me to talk about Mormon martyrs. I assume she'd like to know if LDS Missionaries or members get killed over religion, I'd assume the documented cases, not just a word of mouth story. Though a resource on historic LDS martyrs would be great too. I have heard many stories, but I can't seem to remember anything off the top of my head and would like to know if there are resources about this subject.

[Vex]

A Catholic wants me to talk about Mormon martyrs. I assume she'd like to know if LDS Missionaries or members get killed over religion, I'd assume the documented cases, not just a word of mouth story. Though a resource on historic LDS martyrs would be great too. I have heard many stories, but I can't seem to remember anything off the top of my head and would like to know if there are resources about this subject.

Do you have a specific time frame in mind? You do have the early martyrs which were killed. You also have matyrs that were killed all the way up to today. In that 170 year span you might have to make a book and not just a "talk"

[cjcampbell]

You want something beyond Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, or Parley P. Pratt, then?

You know, I don't think we very often document modern-day martyrs. I think nearly all of the missionaries who are killed nowadays die in accidents or sometimes from criminal activity. Our resources are rather limited, so missionaries tend to be sent to areas that are more receptive.

[Lightbearer]

Aside from the Prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum, and Parly P. Pratt, there also was David W. Patten the first Apostle that was martyred in this dispensation. Another was Joseph Standing, and others who's names I do not recall. Most were in the 19th century and early 20th century.

[LifeOnaPlate]

For a period in the late 1800's missionaries in the Southern States mission were in a lot of danger. B.H. Roberts, the mission president for a time there, dealt with the murder of 2 elders and 2 church members. They were killed at a house meeting in 1884 at Cane Creek, Tennessee. According to accounts, the murderers would have killed B.H. as well. B.H. was striken, and decided to go to retreive the bodies himself. He shaved his mustache, donned a disguise as a tramp and went to get the elders, and suceeded. This is a brief synopsis; it is a fascinating story and I read it in his biography by Truman Madsen.

[cdowis]

Two members in Mexico were executed in the early 20th century.

[Homestar Runner]

Joseph Smith is sort of the quintessential martyr for us mormons.

Critics have often attacked our claim that he died a martyr. They make big mention that he initially attempted to evade capture by hi-tailing it across the Mississippi river to another state. They talk about his defending himself and his friends with that pistol, claiming a true martyr would never do such a thing. They talk about the stated reason he was in prison to begin with - 'treason against the US' - and claim that the real martyrs were only jailed and killed for their belief in Christ. They talk about the unstated reasons of the mob - destruction of a printing press - polygamy - Joseph's power and money - all reasons, they claim, that he cannot be considered a martyr.

So I find it quite interesting to go and actually read Fox's Book of Martyrs. Let's take a look at some of the folks who made it into those pages:

Polycarp tried to run:

"Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place."

Hermenigildus defended himself, and fled:

"Hermenigildus, a Gothic prince, was the eldest son of Leovigildus, a king of the Goths, in Spain. This prince, who was originally an Arian, became a convert to the orthodox faith, by means of his wife Ingonda. When the king heard that his son had changed his religious sentiments, he stripped him of the command at Seville, where he was governor, and threatened to put him to death unless he renounced the faith he had newly embraced. The prince, in order to prevent the execution of his father's menaces, began to put himself into a posture of defence; and many of the orthodox persuasion in Spain declared for him. The king, exasperated at this act of rebellion, began to punish all the orthodox Christians who could be seized by his troops, and thus a very severe persecution commenced: he likewise marched against his son at the head of a very powerful army. The prince took refuge in Seville, from which he fled, and was at length besieged and taken at Asieta. Loaded with chains, he was sent to Seville, and at the feast of Easter refusing to receive the Eucharist from an Arian bishop, the enraged king ordered his guards to cut the prince to pieces, which they punctually performed, April 13, A.D. 586."

Seven soldiers tried to escape:

"In the year of our Lord 251, the emperor Decius having erected a pagan temple at Ephesus, he commanded all who were in that city to sacrifice to the idols. This order was nobly refused by seven of his own soldiers, viz. Maximianus, Martianus, Joannes, Malchus, Dionysius, Seraion, and Constantinus. The emperor wishing to win these soldiers to renounce their faith by his entreaties and lenity, gave them a considerable respite until he returned from an expedition. During the emperor's absence, they escaped, and hid themselves in a cavern; which the emperor being informed of at his return, the mouth of the cave was closed up, and they all perished with hunger."

Fabian was martyred not because he professed Christ, but for other reasons:

"Fabian, the bishop of Rome, was the first person of eminence who felt the severity of this persecution. The deceased emperor, Philip, had, on account of his integrity, committed his treasure to the care of this good man. But Decius, not finding as much as his avarice made him expect, determined to wreak his vengeance on the good prelate. He was accordingly seized; and on January 20, A.D. 250, he suffered decapitation."

Nichomachus actually recanted:

"Nichomachus, being brought before the proconsul as a Christian, was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols. Nichomachus replied, "I cannot pay that respect to devils, which is only due to the Almighty." This speech so much enraged the proconsul that Nichomachus was put to the rack. After enduring the torments for a time, he recanted; but scarcely had he given this proof of his frailty, than he fell into the greatest agonies, dropped down on the ground, and expired immediately."

Agatha was killed by the pretext that she was a Christian, but in reality because she refused the sexual advances of the Governor of Sicily:

"Agatha, a Sicilian lady, was not more remarkable for her personal and acquired endowments, than her piety; her beauty was such, that Quintian, governor of Sicily, became enamored of her, and made many attempts upon her chastity without success. In order to gratify his passions with the greater conveniency, he put the virtuous lady into the hands of Aphrodica, a very infamous and licentious woman. This wretch tried every artifice to win her to the desired prostitution; but found all her efforts were vain; for her chastity was impregnable, and she well knew that virtue alone could procure true happiness. Aphrodica acquainted Quintian with the inefficacy of her endeavors, who, enaged to be foiled in his designs, changed his lust into resentment. On her confessing that she was a Christian, he determined to gratify his revenge, as he could not his passion. Pursuant to his orders, she was scourged, burnt with red-hot irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Having borne these torments with admirable fortitude, she was next laid naked upon live coals, intermingled with glass, and then being carried back to prison, she there expired on February 5, 251."

Susanna was martyred because she didn't want to enter into arranged marriage:

"Susanna, the niece of Caius, bishop of Rome, was pressed by the emperor Diocletian to marry a noble pagan, who was nearly related to him. Refusing the honor intended her, she was beheaded by the emperor's order."

Didymus was martyred because he tried to save an innocent young lady from disgrace:

"Theodora, a beautiful young lady of Antioch, on refusing to sacrifice to the Roman idols, was condemned to the stews, that her virtue might be sacrificed to the brutality of lust. Didymus, a Christian, disguised himself in the habit of a Roman soldier, went to the house, informed Theodora who he was, and advised her to make her escape in his clothes. This being effected, and a man found in the brothel instead of a beautiful lady, Didymus was taken before the president, to whom confessing the truth, and owning that he was a Christian the sentence of death was immediately pronounced against him. Theodora, hearing that her deliverer was likely to suffer, came to the judge, threw herself at his feet, and begged that the sentence might fall on her as the guilty person; but, deaf to the cries of the innocent, and insensible to the calls of justice, the inflexible judge condemned both; when they were executed accordingly, being first beheaded, and their bodies afterward burnt."

An unnamed Christian was martyred because he destroyed a published edict:

"Diocletian and Galerius, who, not contented with burning the books, had the church levelled with the ground. This was followed by a severe edict, commanding the destruction of all other Christian churches and books; and an order soon succeeded, to render Christians of all denomination outlaws.

The publication of this edict occasioned an immediate martyrdom, for a bold Christian not only tore it down from the place to which it was affixed, but execrated the name of the emperor for his injustice. A provocation like this was sufficient to call down pagan vengeance upon his head; he was accordingly seized, severely tortured, and then burned alive."

[One wonders if he would have had a go at the printing press that produced the edict, if one had been in existence...]

In chapter IV, Fox's book of martyrs now tells stories of non-Catholic people being persecuted by the Church of Rome. "We come now to a period when persecution, under the guise of Christianity, committed more enormities than ever disgraced the annals of paganism."

The Earl of Toulouse is considered a martyr, even though he fought back militarily, and even recanted:

"The brave earl defended Toulouse and other places with the most heroic bravery and various success against the pope's legates and Simon, earl of Montfort, a bigoted Catholic nobleman. Unable to subdue the earl of Toulouse openly, the king of France, and the queen mother, and three archbishops raised another formidable army, and had the art to persuade the earl of Toulouse to come to a conference, when he was treacherously seized upon, made a prisoner, forced to appear barefooted and bareheaded before his enemies, and compelled to subscribe an abject recantation. This was followed by a severe persecution against the Albigenses; and express orders that the laity should not be permitted to read the sacred Scriptures."

Fox's book records countless nameless Protestants as martyrs, being murdered by French soldiers.

"This horrid butchery was not confined merely to the city of Paris. The like orders were issued from court to the governors of all the provinces in France; so that, in a week's time, about one hundred thousand Protestants were cut to pieces in different parts of the kingdom!"

Many martyrs tried to buy their freedom, but were killed anyway:

"Many who gave great sums of money for their ransom were immediately after slain; and several towns, which were under the king's promise of protection and safety, were cut off as soon as they delivered themselves up, on those promises, to his generals or captains."

"At Penna, after promising them safety, three hundred were inhumanly butchered; and five and forty at Albia, on the Lord's Day."

HSR

[LifeOnaPlate]

[...interesting information...]

Thanks!

[Truth]

Do not forget Helmut Huebner, executed by the Nazis.

[Ron Beron]

Do not forget Helmut Huebner, executed by the Nazis.

Speaking of the Saints in Germany I would imagine there were quite a few in addition to Helmut that were executed.

Here are some others, including those already mentioned.

* Haun's Mill massacre

* Rulon C. Allred

* Edward Partridge

* David W. Patten

* Parley P. Pratt

* Hyrum Smith

* Joseph Smith, Jr.

* Joseph Standing

* James Strang

I also remember a couple of missionaries who gunned down by communists in Peru. I have known a few missionaries who were threatened with death because of their membership. It probably happens a lot more than we are willing to admit.

[smac97]

A Catholic wants me to talk about Mormon martyrs. I assume she'd like to know if LDS Missionaries or members get killed over religion, I'd assume the documented cases, not just a word of mouth story. Though a resource on historic LDS martyrs would be great too. I have heard many stories, but I can't seem to remember anything off the top of my head and would like to know if there are resources about this subject.

In the LDS paradigm, martyrdom is not about "get[ting] killed over religion." That's too broad.

Rather, martyrdom is about "[a] person who gives his life rather than forsake Christ, the gospel, or his righteous beliefs or principles."

All the righteous blood from Abel to Zacharias will testify against the wicked, Matt. 23: 35 (Luke 11: 50). Whosoever shall lose his life for Christâ??s sake and the gospelâ??s shall save it, Mark 8: 35 (D&C 98: 13). And they stoned Stephen, Acts 7: 59 (Acts 22: 20). Where a testament is there must be the death of the testator, Heb. 9: 16-17. Abinadi fell, having suffered death by fire, Mosiah 17: 20. Converted Ammonihahites were thrown into the fire, Alma 14: 8-11. Many were slain because they testified of these things, 3 Ne. 10: 15. Whoso layeth down his life in my cause shall find life eternal, D&C 98: 13-14. Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were martyrs to the restoration of the gospel, D&C 135. Joseph Smith sealed his testimony with his blood, D&C 136: 39.

If you are looking for specific instances of Mormon martyrs, start with Joseph Smith.

Also, here is a Wikepedia entry on the same subject.

I'm not sure the folks at Haun's Mill would be "martyrs," per se. They weren't exactly given the option of "forsak[ing] Christ, the gospel or their righteous beliefs or principles."

I don't mean to diminish their murders, but I don't think they were given the option that is essential to martyrdom.

Hyrum Smith is considered a martyr.

David W. Patten is apparently regarded as a martyr (he was killed at the Battle of Crooked River).

Parley P. Pratt is likewise considered a martyr.

Edward Partridge could be termed a martyr, I suppose. Joseph Smith commented that his death could be attributed to the stresses and persecutions accosted on him and other Mormon settlers in western Missouri in the 1830s, which problems he could have avoided by "forsak[ing] Christ, the gospel or their righteous beliefs or principles."

Joseph Standing has, I understood, been described as a martyr.

-Smac

[urroner]

Could those who were killed at Haun's Mill and also those pioneers who died crossing the plains be considered martyrs or is that pushing the envelope a little too much?

[urroner]

Do not forget Helmut Huebner, executed by the Nazis.

I thought of him also, but the interesting thing about him is that he wasn't, technically, a member of the Church when he died, though he was reinstated after his death. It's a very sad case.

[blueadept]

Could those who were killed at Haun's Mill and also those pioneers who died crossing the plains be considered martyrs or is that pushing the envelope a little too much?

I would definitely consider those killed at Haun's Mill as martyrs. IMO, if the pioneers were killed by Indians (etc) I wouldn't have any problem considering them martyrs as well.

my 2 cents

[smac97]

Could those who were killed at Haun's Mill and also those pioneers who died crossing the plains be considered martyrs or is that pushing the envelope a little too much?

The folks at Haun's Mill were murdered because they were Mormon. I don't dispute that.

But did they have the chance to forsake the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ? Did they then make the decision to not forsake it? And were they then killed after having made that decision?

I don't think so.

In contrast, the folks crossing the plains had a choice. They could have forsaken the Restored Gospel rather than face the very real risk of death while crossing the plains (this is particularly so for those Saints who left Nauvoo in mid-Winter and who were not well-prepared)? Yes. Did they then choose to take that journey? Yes. And can the subsequent deaths of many thousands of Mormon pioneers be reasonably construed as martyrdoms? Yes.

Why? Because they had the choice to reject the Restored Gospel and chose to stick with it.

-Smac

[blueadept]

The folks at Haun's Mill were murdered because they were Mormon. I don't dispute that.

But did they have the chance to forsake the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ? Did they then make the decision to not forsake it? And were they then killed after having made that decision?

I don't think so.

From my understanding of the event, all the men (and couple others) chose to make a last stand in a central store and where mostly killed. Those running from there, were not hunted down. They definitely killed anyone that stayed in that store; therefore, I definitely consider all of these as martyrs for choosing to stay. I'll see if I can find where I read that.

Peace

[Doctor Steuss]

From my understanding of the event, all the men (and couple others) chose to make a last stand in a central store and where mostly killed. Those running from there, were not hunted down. They definitely killed anyone that stayed in that store; therefore, I definitely consider all of these as martyrs for choosing to stay. I'll see if I can find where I read that.

Peace

Joseph had advised all of them to flee prior to the massacre. Those who "ran" may not have necessarily been hunted down (i.e. the women and children who hid in the nearby trees). But there were a few that were "cut down" while fleeing.

[blueadept]

Joseph had advised all of them to flee prior to the massacre. Those who "ran" may not have necessarily been hunted down (i.e. the women and children who hid in the nearby trees). But there were a few that were "cut down" while fleeing.

I guess I'm confused, does this change their status as Martyrs? For me it doesn't.

[smac97]

I guess I'm confused, does this change their status as Martyrs? For me it doesn't.

Did they choose death over renouncing Jesus Christ?

Or were they simply murdered without having the chance to make such a meaningful decision?

But I won't say any more. I don't feel comfortable trying to adjudicate this issue.

-Smac

[Doctor Steuss]

I guess I'm confused, does this change their status as Martyrs? For me it doesn't.

Dunno. They were given the opportunity to join the other Saints that were slowly (or quickly) fleeing other areas of Missouri to get away from Boggâ??s little extermination order. Jacob Haun (the owner of the small mill on Shoal Creek -- and the namesake of the place) approached Joseph while Joseph was speaking with Lyman Wright and IIRC, John D. Lee about Far West fortifications.

Haun expressed concern that if they left (the thirty or so families that were living in the area), the â??Gentilesâ? would burn all of it to the ground. Josephâ??s reply was that it would be better for them to lose their property than their lives, and â??one can be replaced while the other canâ??tâ? (not an exact quote, going by memory). Haun then argued that it would be better if the settlers were to move into the mill and use the blacksmith shop as a stronghold to ward off any type of assault.

The raid brought about by the mob caught the settlement by surprise, and there was a general state of confusion. Sardius Smith (probably the most well-known victim) plead to have his life spared, but he was shot in the head with the infamous reply of â??Nits make lice.â? Issac Laney, who actually survived, was shot eleven times as he fled towards the blacksmith shop.

Thus concludes Doctor Steussâ?? brief history of Haunâ??s Mill (it was fairly fresh on my memory as I re-read an account of it about three weeks ago. 90%+ should be accurate).

I donâ??t know if they could be considered â??martyrsâ? or not. I tend to think they were â??Mormon martyrs,â? in that they were killed because they were Mormons, and there might be a chance that had they chosen to leave the LDS settlement and/or had chosen to leave the saints, their lives would have been spared. However, in the strictest sense that Smac proposes of â??renouncing Christ,â? then I would be tempted to not classify them as martyrs. There was however ample opportunity in the time prior to the assault (and in the climate of potential violence against Mormons) for them to have renounced Mormonism and moved out of the Mormon settlement.

[urroner]

Basically, what are the definitions of "martyr" (noun only)?

mar

[Ron Beron]

Basically, what are the definitions of "martyr" (noun only)?

mar