Why Martyrdom?

[Calm]

In Smith's case, I think it was different. See this FAIR article.

Your point?

[Abulafia]

I'm curious why some passionately seek it.

In Ignatius's case, it may be that he took the rap so to speak for his community. Leave them alone and punish me. I think he was also following Jesus's example of 'peaceful resistance'. There is some good evidence that some of the early christian communities were pacifists and took Jesus's words to 'love enemies' seriously.

I would have thought that once he is marked for execution by the Roman Authorities that he made the best of it. He used it to his advantage in theological terms. What else could he do? Act like a coward as some others had done and bow down to Roman Rule?

It may be that he saw the act of martyrdom as transforming, not only for him as he embraced death, but also for the communities he left behind.

Am having a read of this http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1247&context=lts_fac_pubs to see if I can glean any other insights.

On the recent course I was on, the Catholic Scholar emphasised the transformative nature of martyrdom and the role it played in solidifying, inspiring and unifying the early christian communities.

I think a question to ask is would Christianity have survived had it not been for the actions of the early martyrs.

[why me]

I think a question to ask is would Christianity have survived had it not been for the actions of the early martyrs.

Most likely it would have survived. Christianity was not based on martyrdoms but on belief in God and his son. However, early martyrdoms did set the tone for early christianity which had lasted hundreds of years. We also need to remember that the crusaders were also promised a martyrs death if they died on the battlefield. It seems that martyrdom was a special christian death even at the time of the crusades.

[Scott Lloyd]

From what I read in the FAIR article, it seems to have been politically motivated. Nothing

about the mobs coming to the jail to get him to renounce his cause. They were there to

kill him, not to talk with him.

Regards,

Jim

why me has responded well to this. I whole-heartedly endorse his post.

I was referring to the years of cumulative hatred by mobs in reaction to Joseph's teachings and religious cause. Obviously, the die was already cast by the time the mob with faces painted black to disguise their identity stormed the jail at Carthage and murdered the prophet and his brother in cold blood.

At most any point prior to that occasion, Joseph could have renounced his cause, cowered before their threats and retired to obscurity, and the mobs likely would have left him alone. He refused to do so and was killed as a result.

That makes him a martyr.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[why me]

At most any point prior to that occasion, Joseph could have renounced his cause, cowered before their threats and retired to oblivion, and the mobs likely would have left him alone. He refused to so and was killed as a result.

That makes him a martyr.

Not to mention his experience in Liberty Jail facing the death penalty. I think that if I were a fraudster, I may have given it up then. And if sidney was in on it, I could just imagine those two together if they were both fraudsters going into the corner trying to come up with a plan. But the other prisoners saw no such thing. Just men waiting for their punishment with Joseph writing emma loving letters.

http://josephsmith.n...0001f5e340aRCRD

http://magazine.byu....act=view&a=2358

Now this is church history that every doubting member should learn. In the heart of suffering, revelations occurred and all the prisoners faced their death with dignity and with faith, including Joseph. But all were spared.

Edited May 23, 2013 by why me

[why me]

Now after writing this letter if he would have been killed for his faith in liberty jail, a martyrdom could never be challenged:

Liberty Jail Clay County Mo March 20th 1839.

To the church of Latter-day saints at Quincy Illinois and scattered abroad and to Bishop Partridge in particular,

[Your] humble servant Joseph Smith Jr. prisoner for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the saints taken and held by the power of mobocracy under the exterminating reign of his excellency the Governor Lilburn W. Boggs in company with his fellow prisoners and beloved Brethren Caleb Baldwin Lymon Wight Hyrum Smith and Alexander McRae send unto you all greeting. May the grace of God the father and of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ rest upon you all and abide with you for ever. May knowledge be multiplied unto you by the mercy of God. And may faith and virtue and knowledge and temperance and patience and Godliness and brotherly kindness and charity be in you and abound that you may not be baron in anything nor unfruitful. Forasmuch as we know that the most of you are well acquainted with the wrongs and the high toned injustice and cruelty that is practiced upon us whereas we have been taken prisoners charged falsely with every kind of evil and thrown into prison inclosed with strong walls surrounded with a strong guard who continually watch day and knight as indefatigable as the devil is interrupting and laying snares for the people of God. Therefore dearly and beloved Brethren we are the more ready and willing to lay claim to your fellowship and love. For our circumstances are calculated to awaken our spirits to a sacred remembrance of every thing and we think that yours are also and that nothing therefore can separate us from the love of God. and fellowship one with another and that every species of wickedness and cruelty practiced upon us will only tend to bind our hearts together and seal them together in love we have no need to say to you that we are held in bonds without cause neither is it needful that you say unto us we are driven from our homes and smitten without cause we mutually understand that if the inhabitance of the state of Missouri had let the saints alone and had been as desirable of peace as they ware there would have been nothing but peace and quietude in this state unto this day we should not have been in this hell surrounded with demons if not those who are damned, they are those who shall be damned and where we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths and witness a scene of blasphemy and drunkenness and hypocrisy and debaucheries of every description. And again the cries of orphans and widows would not have ascended up to God. the blood of innocent women and children yea and of men also would not have cried to God against them it would not have stained the soil of Missouri. but oh! the unrelenting hand the inhumanity and murderous disposition of this people it shocks all nature it beggars and defies all description. it is a tail of wo a lamentable tale yea a sorrowful tale too much to tell too much for contemplation too much to think of for a moment to much for human beings it cannot be found among the heathens it cannot be found among the nations where Kings and tyrants are enthroned it cannot be found among the savages of the wilderness yea and I think it cannot be found among the wild and ferocious beasts of the forest that a man should be mangled for sport women be robed of all that they have their last morsel for subsistence and then be violated to gratify the hellish desires of the mob and finally left to perish with their helpless offspring clinging around their necks but this is not all after a man is dead he must be dug up from his grave and mangled to pieces for no other purpose than to gratify their spleen against the religion of God. They practice these things upon the saints who have done them no wrong who are innocent and virtuous who loved the Lord their god and were willing to forsake all things for Christ sake these things are awful to relate but they are verily true it must needs be that offenses come, but WO! to them by whom they come. O God where art thou and where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place how long shall thy hand be stayed and thine eye yea thy pure eye behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants and thine ear be penetrated with their cries yea o Lord how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions before thine heart shall be softened towards them and thy bowels be moved with compassion to-words them. O Lord God almighty maker of heaven earth and seas and of all things that in them is and who controleth and subjecteth the devil and the dark and benighted dominion of shayole. Stretch forth thy hand let thine eye pierce let thy pavilion be taken up let thy hiding place no longer be covered let thine ear be inclined let thine heart be softened and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us let thine anger be kindled against our enemies and in the fury of thine heart with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs remember thy suffering saints oh our God and thy servants will rejoice in thy name for ever. Dearly and beloved Brethren we see that perilous times have come as was testified of we may look then with most perfect assurance for the rolling in of all those things that have been written and with more confidence than ever before lift up our eyes to the luminary of day and say in our hearts soon thou wilt vail thy blushing face he that said let there be light, and there was light hath spoken this word, and again thou moon thou dimmer light thou luminary of night shall turn to blood we see that every thing is fulfilling and the time shall soon come when the son of man shall [p. 4] descend in the clouds of heaven. our hearts do not shrink neither are our spirits altogether broken at the grievous yoke which is put upon us. We know that God will have our oppressors in derision that he will laugh at their calamity and mock when their fear cometh oh that we could be with you Brethren and unbosom our feeling to you we would tell you that we should have been at liberated the time Elder Rigdon was on the writ of habeas corpus had not our own lawyers interpreted the law contrary to what it reads against us which prevented us from introducing our evidence before the mock court, they have done us much harm from the beginning they have of late acknowledged that the law was misconstrewed and tantalized our feelings with it and have literally forsaken us and have forfeited their oaths and their bonds and we have a come back on them for they are co-workers with the mob. As nigh as we can learn the public mind has been for a long time turning in our favor and the majority is now friendly and the lawyers can no longer browbeat us by saying that this or that is a matter of public opinion for public opinion is not willing to brook it for it is beginning to look with feelings of indignation against our oppressors and to say that the mormons were not in the fault in the least we think that truth honor and virtue and innocence will eventually come out triumphant we should have taken a habeas corpus before the high Judge and escaped the mob in a summary way but unfortunately for us the timber of the wall being very hard our auger handles gave out and hindered us longer than we expected we applied to a friend and a very slight uncautious act gave rise to some suspicion and before we could fully succeed our plan was discovered we had every thing in readiness but the last stone and we could have made our escape in one minute and should have succeeded admirably had it not been for a little imprudence or over anxiety on the part of our friend. The sheriff and jailor did not blame us for our attempt it was a fine breach and cost the county a round sum but public opinion says that we ought to have been permitted to have made our escape that then the disgrace would have been on us but now it must come on the state. that there cannot be any charge sustained against us and that the conduct of the mob, the murders committed at Hawn's Mill, and the exterminating order of the Governor, and the one sided rascally proceedings of the Legislature has damned the state of Missouri to all eternity I would just name also that General Atchison has proved himself to be as contemptible as any of them we have tried for a long time to get our lawyers to draw us some petitions to the Supreme Judges of this state. but they utterly refused we have examined the law and drawn the petitions ourselves and have obtained abundance of proof to counter act all the testimony that was against us, so that if the Supreme Judge dose not grant us our liberty he has got to act without cause contrary to honor evidence law or justice sheerly to please the devil but we hope better things and trust that before many days God will so order our case that we shall be set at liberty and take up our habitation with the saints we received some letters last evening one from Emma one from Don C. Smith and one from Bishop Partridge all breathing a kind and consoling spirit we were much gratified with there contents we had been a long time without information and when we read those letters they were to our souls as the gentle air, is refreshing but our joy was mingled with grief because of the suffering of the poor and much injured saints and we need not say to you that the flood gates of our hearts were hoisted and our eyes were a fountain of tears but those who have not been inclosed in the walls of a prison without cause or provocation can have but a little idea how [sweet] the voice of a friend is one token of friendship from any source whatever a wakens and calls into action every sympathetic feeling it brings up in an instant every thing that is passed it seizes the present with a vivacity of lightning it grasps after the future with the fierceness of a tiger it retrogrades from one thing to an other until finally all enmity malice and hatred and past differences misunderstandings and mismanagements be slain victims at the feet of hope and when the heart is sufficiently contrite then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers my son peace be unto thy soul thine adversity and thy afflictions shall be but a small moment and then if thou endure it well God shall exalt thee on high thou shalt triumph over all thy foes thy friends do stand by thee and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands thou art not yet as Job thy friends do not contend against thee neither charge thee with transgression as they did Job and they who do charge thee with transgression there hope shall be blasted and there prospects shall melt away as the hoary frost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun and also that God hath set to his hand and seal to change the times and season and co blind their minds that they may not understand his marvelous workings that he may prove them also and take them in there own craftiness also because their hearts are corrupt and the thing which they are willing to bring upon others and love to have others suffer may come upon them selves to the very utmost that they may be disappointed also and their hopes may be cut off and not many years hence that they and their posterity shall be swept from under heaven saith God that not one of them is left to stand by the wall cursed are alI those that shall lift up the heal against mine anointed saith the Lord and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me saith the Lord but have done that which was meat in mine eyes and which I commanded them but those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin and are the children of disobedience themselves and those who swear false against my servants that they might bring them unto bondage and death. Wo unto them because they have offended my little ones they shall be severed from the ordinances of mine house their basket shall not be full their houses and their barns shall famish and they themselves shall be despised by those that flattered them they shall not have right to the priesthood nor their posterity after them from generation to generation it had been better for them that a millstone had been hanged about their necks and they drowned in the depth of the sea wo unto all those that discomfort my people and drive and murder and testify against them saith the Lord of hosts a generation of vipers shall not escape the damnation of hell behold mine eye seeth and knoweth all their works and I have in reserve a swift judgement in the season thereof for them all for there is a time appointed to every man according as his work shall be and now beloved Brethren we say unto you that inasmuch as God hath said that he would have a tried people that he would purge them as gold now we think that this time he has chosen his own crucible wherein we have been tried and we think if we get through with any degree of safety and shall have kept the faith that it will be a sign to this generation altogether sufficient to leave them without excuse and we think also that it will be a trial of our faith equal to that of Abraham and that the ancients will not have were off whereof to boast over us in the day of judgment as being called to pass through heavier afflictions that we may hold an even weight in the balances with them but now after having suffered so grate a sacrifice and having passed through so grate a scene of sorrow we trust that a Ram may be caught in the thicket speedily to relieve the sons and daughters of Abraham from their great anxiety and to light up the lamp of salvation upon their countenances that they may hold on now after having gone so far unto everlasting life. Now brethren concerning the places for the location of the saints we cannot counsel you as we could if we were present with you and as to the things that ware written heretofore we did not consider them any thing very binding therefore we now say once for all that we think it most proper that the general affairs of the church which are necessary to be considered while your humble servant remains in bondage should be transacted by a general conference of the most faithful and the most respectable of the authorities of the church and a minute of those transactions may be kept and forwarded from time to time to your humble servant and if there should be any corrections by the word the Lord they shall be freely transmitted and your humble servant will approve all things what soever is acceptable unto God if any thing should have been suggested by us or any names mentioned except by commandment or thus saith the Lord we do not consider it binding. therefore our hearts shall not be grieved if different arrangements should be entered into nevertheless we would suggest the propriety of being aware of an aspiring spirit which spirit has oftentimes urged men forwards to make foul speeches and influence the church to reject milder councils and has eventually been the means of bringing much death and sorrow upon the church we would say be aware of pride also for well and truly hath the wise man said that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall and Again outward appearance is not always a Criterion for us to Judge our fellow man but the lips betray the haughty and over baring imaginations of the heart, by his words and his deeds let him be scanned flattery also is a deadly poison a frank and open Rebuke provoketh a good man to Emulation and in the hour of trouble he will be your best friend, but on the other hand it will draw out all the corruption of a corrupt heart And lying and the poison of asps shall be under their tongues and they do cause the pure in heart to be cast in to prison because they want them out of their way, A fanciful and flowery and heated imagination be aware of be cause the things of God Are of deep import and time and experience and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. thy mind O Man, if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation must stretch as high as the utmost Heavens, and search in to and contemplate the lowest considerations of the darkest abyss, and Expand upon the broad considerations of Eternal Expanse, he must commune with God. how much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart, none but fools, will trifle, with the souls of men, how vane and trifling, have ben our spirits, our Conferences our Councils our Meetings our private as well as public Conversations to low to mean to vulgar to condescending, for the dignified Characters of the Called and Chosen of God, according to the purposes of his will from before the foundation of the world to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have ben kept hid from the foundation until now, of which some have tasted a little and which many of them are to be pored down from heaven upon the heads of babes, yea the weak obscure and despicable ones of this earth. Therefore we beseech of you brethren that you bear with those who do not feel themselves more worthy than yourselves, while we Exhort one another, to a reaffirmation, with one and all. both old and young. teachers and taught both high and low rich and poor bond and free Male and female. Let honesty and sobriety, and candor and solemnity, and virtue, and pureness, and meekness, and simplicity, Crown our heads in every place, and in fine become as little Children without malice guile or hypocrisy: and now Brethren after your tribulations if you do these things, and exercise fervent prayer, and faith in the sight of God Always he shall give unto you knowledge [p. 13] by his holy spirit yea by the unspeakable gift of the holyGhost that has not been revealed since the world was until now which our fathers have waited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times which their minds were pointed to by the Angels as held in reserve for the fullness of their glory a time to come in the which nothing shall be with held whither there be one god or many gods they shall be manifest all thrones and dominions principalities and powers shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ and also if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas or to the dry land or to the sun moon or stars all the times of their revolutions all their appointed days months and years and all the Days of their days, months and years, and all their glories laws and set times shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fullness of times according to that which was ordained in the midst of the council of the eternal God of all other Gods before this world was that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest but I beg leave to say unto you Brethren that ignorance superstition and bigotry placing itself where it ought not is often times in the way of the prosperity of this church like the torrent of rain from the mountains that floods the most pure and crystal stream with mire and dirt and filthiness and obscures every thing that was clear before and alI hurls along in one general deluge but time tethers wethers tide and notwithstanding we are rolled in for the time being by the mire of the flood the next surge peradventure as time roles on may bring us to the fountain as clear as crystal and as pure as snow while all the filthiness flood wood and rubbish is left is left and purged out by the way. How long can rolling waters remain impure what power shall stay the heavens as well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri River in its decreed course or to turn it up stream as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter day saints what is Boggs or his murderous party but wimbling willows upon the shore to catch the flood wood as well might we argue that water is not water because the mountain torrents send down mire and riles the crystal stream although afterwards renders it more pure than before or that fire is not fire because it is of a quenchable nature by pouring on the flood, as to say that our cause is down because renegades liars priests thieves and murderers who are all alike tenacious of their crafts and creeds have poured down from their spiritual wickedness in high places and from their strong holds of the divine a flood of dirt and mire and filthiness and vomit upon our heads no God forbid hell may poor forth its rage like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius or of Etna or of the most terrible of the burning mountains and yet shall mormonism stand. water, fire, truth, and god are all the same truth is as mormonism God is the author of it he is our shield it is by him we received our birth, it was by his voice that we were called to a dispensation of his gospel in the beginning of the fullness of times it was by him we received the book of mormon and it was by him that we remain unto this day and by him we shall remain if it shall be for our glory and in his almighty name we are determined to endure tribulation as good soldiers unto the end but brethren we shall continue to offer further reflections in our next epistle you will learn by the time you have read this and it you do not learn it you may learn it that walls and iron doors and creaking hinges and half scared to death Guards and jailers grinning like some damned spirit lest an innocent man should make his escape to bring to light the damnable deeds of a murderous mob is calculated in its very nature to make the sole of an honest man feel stronger than the powers of hell. But we must bring our epistle to a close. [We] send our respects to Fathers, Mothers, wives, and children, Brothers, and Sisters. we hold them in the most sacred remembrance we feel to inquire after Elder Rigdon if he has not forgotten us it has not been signified to us by his scrawl. Brother George W. Robinson also and Elder Cahoon we remember him but would like to jog his memory a little on the fable of the bear and the two friends who mutually agreed to stand by each other and perhaps it would not be amiss to mention Uncle John and various others, a word of consolation and a blessing would not come amiss from any body while we are being so closely whispered by the Bear but we feel to excuse every body and every thing. Yea the more readily when we contemplate that we are in the hands of a worse than a Bear for the Bear would not pray upon a dead carcass. Our respects and love and fellowship to all the virtuous saints we are your Brethren and fellow sufferers and prisoners of Jesus Christ for the gospels sake and for the hope of glory which is in us. Amen.

Joseph Smith Jr., Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Alexander McRae.

[why me]

Continued to the church of Latter-day-saints,

We continue to offer further reflections to Bishop Partridge and to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-saints whom we love with fervent love and do always bear them in mind in all our prayers to the throne of God. It still seams to bear heavily in our minds that the church would do well to secure to themselves the contract of the Land which is proposed to them by Mr Isaac Galland and to cultivate the friendly feelings of that gentleman in as much as he shall prove himself to be a man of honor and a friend to humanity. We really think that his letter breaths that kind of spirit if we can judge correctly. and Isaac Van Allen Esqr. the attorney General of Iowa Territory that peradventure such men may be wrought upon by the providence of God to do good unto his people. Governor Lucas also. We suggest the idea of praying fervently for all men who manifest any degree of sympathy for the suffering children of God. We think that peradventure the United States surveyor of the Iowa Territory may be of grate benefit to the church if it be the will of God to this end if righteousness should be manifested as the girdle of our loins It seems to be deeply impressed upon our minds that the saints ought to lay hold of every door that shall seem to be opened for unto them to obtain foot hold on the Earth and be a making all the preparations that is within the power of possibles for the terrible storms that are now gathering in the heavens with darkness and gloominess and thick darkness as spoken of by the prophets who cannot be now of a long time lingering. For there seems to be a whispering that the angels of heaven who have been intrusted with the council of these matters for the last days have taken council together and among the rest of the general affairs that have to be transacted in there honorable council they have taken cognisance of the testimony of those who were murdered at Hawn's mills and also those who were martyred with D. W. Patten. and else where and have passed some decisions peradventure in favor of the saints and those who were called to suffer without cause. These decisions will be made known in there time and they will take into consideration all those things that offend. We have a fervent desire that in your general conferences that every thing should be discussed with a gate deal of care and propriety lest you grieve the holy spirit which shall be poured out at all times upon your heads when you are exercised with those principals of righteousness that are agreeable to the mind of God. and are properly affected one toward another and are careful by all means to remember those who are in bondage and in heaviness and in deep affliction for your sakes and if there are any among you who aspire after their own aggrandizement and seek their own opulence while their brethren are groaning in poverty and are under sore trials and temptations they cannot be benefited by the intersessions of the holy spirit which maketh intersession for us day and night with groanings that cannot be uttered . We ought at all times to be very careful that such highmindedness never have place in our hearts but condescend to men of low estate and with all long suffering bare the infirmities of the weak. Behold there are many called but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world and aspire to the honors of men that they do not learn this one lesson. that the rights of priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principals of righteousness that they may be conferred upon us it is true but when we undertake to cover our sins & or to gratify our pride or vain ambition or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness behold the heavens with draw themselves the spirit of the Lord is grieved and when it has withdrawn amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man behold ere he is aware he is left unto himself to kick against the pricks to persecute the saints and to fight against God. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men as soon as they get a little authority as they suppose they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion hence many are called, but few are chosen. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned, by kindness by pure knowledge which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the holy ghost and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love to ward him whom thou hast reproved lest he esteem thee to be his enemy that he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death thy bowels also being full of charity to ward all men and to the household of faith and virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God and the doctrines of the priesthood distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever the ends of the Earth shall inquire after thy name and fools shall have thee in derision and hell shall rage against thee while the pure in heart and the wise and the noble and the virtuous shall seek council and authority and blessings constantly from under thy hand and thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors and although their influence shall cast thee into trouble and into bars and walls thou shalt be had in honor and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more teribIe in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce Lion because of thy righteousness and thy God shall stand by thee for ever and ever. If thou art called to pass through tribulation if thou art in peril among false brethren if thou art in peril amongst robbers if thou art in peril by land or by sea if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations if thine enemies fall upon thee if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife and of thine off springs and thine elder son although but six years of age shall cling to thy garment and shall say my father Oh my father why can't you stay with us oh my father what are the men going to do with you and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword and thou be dragged to prison and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for blood of the Lamb and if thou shouldest be cast into the pit or into the hand of murderers and the sentence of death passed upon thee if thou be cast into the deep if the billowing surge conspire against thee if the fierce wind become thine enemy if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up thy way and above all if the very jaws of hell shall gap open her mouth wide after thee know thou my son that all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good The son of man hath descended below them all art thou greater than he therefore hold on thy way and the priesthood shall remain with thee for their bounds are set they cannot pass thy days are known and thy years shall not be numbered less therefore fear not what man can do for God shall be with you for ever and ever now Brethren I would suggest for the consideration of the conference of its being carefully and wisely understood by the council or conference that our brethren scattered abroad who understand the spirit of the gathering that they fall into the places of refuge and safety that God shall open unto them between Kirtland and Far West Those from the East and from the West and from far countries let them fall in some where between those two boundaries in the most safe and quiet places they can find and let this be the present understanding until God shall open a more effectual door for us for further considerations. And again we further suggest for the consideration of the council that there be no organizations of large bodies upon common stock principals in property or of large companies of firms until the Lord shall signify it in a proper manner as it opens such a dreadful field for the avaricious and the indolent and corrupt hearted to pray upon the innocent and virtuous and honest we have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the saints before God had signified the times and not withstanding the principles and plans may have been good yet aspiring men or in other words men who had not the substance of Godliness about them perhaps undertook to handle edge tools children you know are fond of tools while they are not yet able to use them. Time and experience however is the only safe remedy against such evils there are many teachers but perhaps not many fathers there are times coming when God will signify many things which are expedient for the well being of the saints but the times have not yet come but will come as fast as there can be found place and reception for them And again we would suggest for your consideration the propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts and sufferings and abuses put upon them by the people of this state and also of all the property and amount of damages which they have sustained both of character & personal injuries as well as real property and also the names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppression as far as they can get hold of them and find them out. And perhaps a committee can be appointed to find out these things and to take statements and affidavits and also to gather up the libelous publications that are a float and all that are in the magazines and in the encyclopedias and all the libellous histories that are published and that are writing and by whom and present the whole concatenation of diabolical rascality and nefarious and murderous impositions that have been practiced upon this people that we may not only publish to all the world but present them to the heads of the government in all there dark and hellish hugh as the last effort which is enjoined on us by our heavenly father before we can fully and completely claim that promise which shall call him forth from his hiding place and also that the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm it is an imperious duty that we owe to God to angels with whom we shall be brought to stand and also to ourselves to our wives and our children who have been made to bow down with grief sorrow and care under the most damning hand of murder tyranny and oppression supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers who have inherited lies upon the hearts of the children and filled the world with confusion and has been growing stronger and stronger and is now the very main spring of all corruption in the world. And the whole Earth groans under the wait of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke it is a strong band they are the very handcuffs and chains and shackles and fetters of hell therefore it is an imperious duty that we owe not only to our own wives and children but to the widow and fatherless whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell itself shudder and to stand aghast and pail and the hands of the very devil tremble and palsy and also it is an imperious duty that we owe to all the rising generation and to all the pure in heart which there are many yet on the Earth among all sects parties and denominations who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men where by they lay in wait to deceive and only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it therefore that we should waist and ware out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness where in we know them and they are truly manifest from heaven. These should then be attended to with great earnestness Let no man count them as small things for there is much which lieth in futurity pertaining to the saints which depends upon these things you know brethren that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm by being kept work ways with the wind and the waves therefore dearly beloved brethren let us cheerfully do all things that layeth in our power and then may we stand still with the utmost assurance to see the salvation of God and for his arm to be revealed. And again I would further suggest the impropriety of the organization of bands or companies by covenant or oaths by penalties or secrecies but let the time past of our experience and sufferings by the wickedness of Doctor Avard suffice and let our covenant be that of the everlasting covenant as is contained in the Holy writ. and the things that God hath revealed unto us. Pure friendship always becomes weakened the very moment you undertake to make it stronger by penal oaths and secrecy. Your humble servant or servants intend from hence forth to disapprobate every thing that is not in accordance with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is not of a bold and frank and an upright nature they will not hold their peace as in times past when they see iniquity beginning to rear its head for fear of traitors or the consequences that shall flow by reproving those who creep in unawares that they may get something to destroy the flock we believe that the experience of the saints in times past has been sufficient that they will from henceforth be always ready to obey the truth without having mens persons in admiration because of advantage it is expedient that we should be aware of such things and we ought always to be aware of those prejudices which sometimes so strongly presented themselves and are so congenial to human nature against our neighbors friends and brethren of the world who choose to differ with us in opinion and in matters of faith. Our religion is between us and our God their religion is between them and their God there is a tie from God that should be exercised to wards those of our faith who walk uprightly which is peculiar to itself but it is without prejudice but gives scope to the mind which enables us to conduct ourselves with grater liberality to word all others that are not of our faith than what they exercise to wards one another these principals approximate nearer to the mind of God because it is like God or God like There is a principal also which we are bound to be exercised with that is in common with all men such as governments and laws and regulations in the civil concerns of life this principal guarantees to all parties sects and denominations and classes of religion equal coherent and indefeasible rights they are things that pertain to this life therefore all are alike interested they make our responsibilities one toward another in matters of corruptible things while the former principals do not destroy the latter but bind us stronger and make our responsibilities not only one to another but unto God also hence we say that the constitution of the United States is a glorious standard it is founded in the wisdom of God it is a heavenly banner it is to all those who are privileged with the sweats of its liberty like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and a weary land it is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of an inclement sun. We brethren are deprived of the protection of this glorious principal by the cruelty of the cruel by those who only look for the time being for pasturage like the beasts of the field only to fill themselves and forget that the mormons as well as the Presbyterians and those of every other class and description have equal rights to partake of the fruit of the great tree of our national liberty but notwithstanding we see what we see and we feel what we feel and know what we know yet that fruit is no less precious and delicious to our taste we cannot be weaned from the milk neither can we be drawn from the breast neither will we deny our religion because of the hand of oppression but we will hold on until death we say that God is true that the constitution of the united States is true that the Bible is true that the book of mormon is true that the book of covenants is true that Christ is true that the ministering angels sent forth from God are true and that we know that we have an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God a consolation which our oppressors cannot feel when fortune, or fate, shall lay its iron hand on them as it has on us now we ask what is man remember brethren that time and chance happeneth to all men we shall continue our reflections in our next We subscribe ourselves your sincere friends and brethren in the bonds of the ever lasting gospel prisoners of Jesus Christ for the sake of the gospel and the saints. we pronounce the blessing of heaven upon the heads of the saints who seek to serve God with an undivided heart in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Joseph Smith Jr, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Alexander McRae.

http://theearlyantho...m/1839/id3.html

I see no fraudster in this long letter. But I do see a martyr's soul, if it were necessary to be one.

Edited May 23, 2013 by why me

[Questing Beast]

The letter is fascinating, since it is dictated by JS to the entire priesthood of the church. In the midst of the dictation JS uses his own persecution and sacrifice as exemplary of what any priesthood holder might have to endure. But there is nothing of the singular "revelation" to JS personally as the Church portrays it, because of the editing done to this letter to include it in the D&C. What was general advice and counsel to the priesthood of the church became later the Lord's voice to JS alone. That is the kind of revisionism of its history that the Church has always engaged in that annoys me greatly....

[MormonMason]

The letter is fascinating, since it is dictated by JS to the entire priesthood of the church. In the midst of the dictation JS uses his own persecution and sacrifice as exemplary of what any priesthood holder might have to endure. But there is nothing of the singular "revelation" to JS personally as the Church portrays it, because of the editing done to this letter to include it in the D&C. What was general advice and counsel to the priesthood of the church became later the Lord's voice to JS alone. That is the kind of revisionism of its history that the Church has always engaged in that annoys me greatly....

You aren't reading the letter very carefully, then. If you have seen and read the entire letter you know there is revelation and prophecy contained therein. But, consider that inspired counsel is also contained therein that breaks forth into quoted revelation as well. Based upon that there was revelation underlying even that portion. But that is not all. There are also a couple "saith God" and a couple "saith the Lord" phrases contained in the text of that letter.

But, also give consideration that the Section headings for these three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants have been modified. Here are the section headings for sections 121-123, as they used to appear in the 1981 edition and will appear in new printed editions as of this year. They still are aiming for greater accuracy in the headings and that should at least be somewhat appreciated.

Section 121

Old:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail atr Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. HC 3: 289-300. The Prophet with several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

New:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet in an epistle to the Church while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. The Prophet and several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

Section 122

Old:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3:300-301.

New:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Section 123

Old:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as set forth by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3: 302-303.

New:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Of course, I marked this section up in my copy of the scriptures years ago, placing ellipses where material was left out of the original letter, also identifying inspired counsel, personal counsel and revelation.

Edited May 23, 2013 by MormonMason

[Scott Lloyd]

You aren't reading the letter very carefully, then. If you have seen and read the entire letter you know there is revelation and prophecy contained therein. But, consider that inspired counsel is also contained therein that breaks forth into quoted revelation as well. Based upon that there was revelation underlying even that portion. But that is not all. There are also a couple "saith God" and a couple "saith the Lord" phrases contained in the text of that letter.

But, also give consideration that the Section headings for these three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants have been modified. Here are the section headings for sections 121-123, as they used to appear in the 1981 edition and will appear in new printed editions as of this year. They still are aiming for greater accuracy in the headings and that should at least be somewhat appreciated.

Section 121

Old:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail atr Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. HC 3: 289-300. The Prophet with several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

New:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet in an epistle to the Church while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. The Prophet and several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

Section 122

Old:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3:300-301.

New:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Section 123

Old:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as set forth by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3: 302-303.

New:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Of course, I marked this section up in my copy of the scriptures years ago, placing ellipses where material was left out of the original letter, also identifying inspired counsel, personal counsel and revelation.

I've heard at least one LDS scholar opine that more of the epistle — perhaps the entire thing — ought to have been canonized as scripture.

[Questing Beast]

You aren't reading the letter very carefully, then. If you have seen and read the entire letter you know there is revelation and prophecy contained therein. But, consider that inspired counsel is also contained therein that breaks forth into quoted revelation as well. Based upon that there was revelation underlying even that portion. But that is not all. There are also a couple "saith God" and a couple "saith the Lord" phrases contained in the text of that letter.

But, also give consideration that the Section headings for these three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants have been modified. Here are the section headings for sections 121-123, as they used to appear in the 1981 edition and will appear in new printed editions as of this year. They still are aiming for greater accuracy in the headings and that should at least be somewhat appreciated.

Section 121

Old:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail atr Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. HC 3: 289-300. The Prophet with several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

New:

Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet in an epistle to the Church while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. The Prophet and several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.

Section 122

Old:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3:300-301.

New:

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Section 123

Old:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as set forth by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. HC 3: 302-303.

New:

Duty of the saints in relation to their persecutors, as written by Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).

Of course, I marked this section up in my copy of the scriptures years ago, placing ellipses where material was left out of the original letter, also identifying inspired counsel, personal counsel and revelation.

So removing the HC references is an "improvement"? At least if you go to the HC references you can read the entire thing, and see the 121, 122, 123 D&C sections in brackets and double space for clarity. When you read it holistically it is obvious that the excerpts are based on later impressions and not revelation. I agree that the entire "epistle" should be kept if any of it is.

The annoying thing about the "scriptural parts" (sections) is that the historical slant portrays JS as receiving them (in movie form, even with light shining upon him) as an answer to private prayer, while his companions in prison are sleeping. Actually Alexander McRae is the scribe, so the entire thing was dictated by JS. There was no metaphysical manifestation to the prophet JS all by himself. To select portions and represent them as such is misleading, something the church does with its history continuously....

[theplains]

Joseph could have renounced his cause, cowered before their threats and retired to obscurity, and the mobs likely would have left him alone. He refused to do so and was killed as a result.

That makes him a martyr.

Do you have any material that shows the mob came to the jail to get Joseph to renounce his beliefs in

Christ? From the FAIR article, the killing was politically motivated, not in relation to his faith.

Regards,

Jim

[tyler90az]

Joseph Smith Jr. was killed because he was a Mormon. That makes him a martyr.

Hyrum Smith was killed because he was a mormon. That makes him a martyr.

If you are killed because of your religious beliefs you are a martyr. It does not matter that the straw that broke the camels back was his political activity. That was just the finishing piece on built up hatred over him being a Prophet.

[why me]

The letter is fascinating, since it is dictated by JS to the entire priesthood of the church. In the midst of the dictation JS uses his own persecution and sacrifice as exemplary of what any priesthood holder might have to endure. But there is nothing of the singular "revelation" to JS personally as the Church portrays it, because of the editing done to this letter to include it in the D&C. What was general advice and counsel to the priesthood of the church became later the Lord's voice to JS alone. That is the kind of revisionism of its history that the Church has always engaged in that annoys me greatly....

I think that you are missing something. What you are missing is the letter itself and its tone. It is an epistle from a possible martyr for his faith. But not for him alone but for the others in jail too. It is an epistle of faith and what the future of the priesthood had in store for it as a group. But also, it set the tone of what was to become a huge sacrifice for the members, both men and women when they headed to Nauvoo and eventually to the Rockies.

Such a tone for an epistle could have also been written by the early christians as they languished in their own prisons waiting for their judgement.

Edited May 24, 2013 by why me

[why me]

Do you have any material that shows the mob came to the jail to get Joseph to renounce his beliefs in

Christ? From the FAIR article, the killing was politically motivated, not in relation to his faith.

Regards,

Jim

FAIR is made up of human beings who have given their own interpretation of the event. They stress the political motivation. However, one could also stress the religious motivation when one considers the persecution that Joseph received throughout his church life. I would say that his death was both political and religious. The two are mixed together and they both caused him his life. Being Mormon and running for president did not help his case.

Mobs were no slouches. I don't think that they cared for the Nauvoo Expositor at all. But that was the excuse to arrest him and once in a small prison, organize tens of men to kill him to end the religion for once and for all. But they failed. The ended a life but gave new life to the religion.

And so, off went the Mormons to practice their faith in peace. But they were not allowed to do so, as the federal army eventually headed west to confront the Mormons. How many martyrs did the faith need? The faith had many already in Missouri as people were murdered and homes destroyed.

Edited May 24, 2013 by why me

[why me]

And again the cries of orphans and widows would not have ascended up to God. the blood of innocent women and children yea and of men also would not have cried to God against them it would not have stained the soil of Missouri. but oh! the unrelenting hand the inhumanity and murderous disposition of this people it shocks all nature it beggars and defies all description. it is a tail of wo a lamentable tale yea a sorrowful tale too much to tell too much for contemplation too much to think of for a moment to much for human beings it cannot be found among the heathens it cannot be found among the nations where Kings and tyrants are enthroned it cannot be found among the savages of the wilderness yea and I think it cannot be found among the wild and ferocious beasts of the forest that a man should be mangled for sport women be robed of all that they have their last morsel for subsistence and then be violated to gratify the hellish desires of the mob and finally left to perish with their helpless offspring clinging around their necks but this is not all after a man is dead he must be dug up from his grave and mangled to pieces for no other purpose than to gratify their spleen against the religion of God.

Such are what martyrs are made of. How to experience such brutality and yet, keep the faith as many saints in Missouri experienced? And yet, this history is overlooked by the critics because it is very faith promoting. People in America were murdered for their faith, in cold blood. And one can argue that early mormon history is a history of faith and martyrdom.

[tyler90az]

I do not understand how Joseph Smith Jr. was an actual threat to be President. If he was killed for political reaons it was the voting power Mormons had. They thought if they killed Joseph that would be the begining of the end. Can somebody explain to me how he posed a real threat to become President.

[why me]

I do not understand how Joseph Smith Jr. was an actual threat to be President. If he was killed for political reaons it was the voting power Mormons had. They thought if they killed Joseph that would be the begining of the end. Can somebody explain to me how he posed a real threat to become President.

Just the fact that he was also running for president would set off the rumors and newspapers. It was an accumulation of the political and the religious that got the mormons persecuted. We need to remember that the frontier mind was not the most open mind nor was it the most tolerant mind. His run for president did not help his cause.

[Glenn101]

The critics are splitting hairs, employing sematics, raising technical points which do not really seem to be pertinent on this one. Why even ake such a fuss about it? Does anyone actually believe that Joseph would have been murdered for polictical reason alone? If he had just been a charismatic leader that had managed to gain a pretty large following without the religious trappings?

Those critics may not recognize Joseph and Hyrum as martyrs, but that is really irrelevant. Most of the members of the Church do, and I think that God does (although I have received no revelation on the matter).

Glenn

[tyler90az]

Just the fact that he was also running for president would set off the rumors and newspapers. It was an accumulation of the political and the religious that got the mormons persecuted. We need to remember that the frontier mind was not the most open mind nor was it the most tolerant mind. His run for president did not help his cause.

He would have been the Ralph Nader of any election. Anywhere the Mormons went they were getting persecuted. No way would he have received enough votes to become President.

[why me]

He would have been the Ralph Nader of any election. Anywhere the Mormons went they were getting persecuted. No way would he have received enough votes to become President.

Just the fact that he chose to run would set nerves afire. We need to remember that for years the press was antimormon, writing all sorts of things about mormons, mormonism and its leaders. For a narrow minded community of outsiders, it would have set alarms bells ringing. Although critics wish to claim one reason for his murder: nauvoo expositor, it was actually an accumulation of reasons. These mobs destroyed mormon property and presses. No one basically cared.

[why me]

Anti-Mormon Meeting.

The citizens of Warsaw Precinct are respectfully requested to meet at the Church in Warsaw, on SATURDAY EVENING, the 10th instant, (this week,) for the purpose of taking into consideration a proposition made by the Central Anti-Mormon Committee of the County of Hancock, and to take such other steps as the exigencies of the case require.

Thos. C. Sharp,

Wm. N. Grover,

Henry Stephens.

Precinct Committee.

Feb. 5, 1844.

A WORD OF PARTING TO BROTHER JOE.

We are not willing, brother Joe, to leave the station we have ocupied for a year past, and in which it has been our duty to hold up your deformities occasionally to the public gaze, without giving you, in the kindest feeling, a few words of parting advice. It shall be gratis -- and therefore the more valuable: At any rate, our fee shall not exceed what you charge to marry a brother and sister for Eternity; and we think the service will be of quite as much value.

Be an honest man, Joe! Steeped up to the very eyes in sin, as you have been from your cradle up -- deep, disgusting, foul, lothesome, soul-destroying sin -- it is yet in your power, as we verily believe, by a long process of purgation and purification, to make [a] tolerably decent man of yourself. This will be disputed by many. But we are more charitable than some of our neighbors, and verily believe it. At least in the language of the Irishman -- "If you can't be dacent be as dacent as you can." But it will be no mean labor: it will require years of penitence, in sackcloth and ashes -- but then you can accomplish it. You are strong and robust and have sufficient mental and physical energy tp carry you through, if you shall undertake it in the proper spirit. Try it then.

Now Joe, that you have been a lazy, good-for-nothing vagabond, all the days of your life, your own conscience (if you have any left) will tell you. That you have been the ruin of hundreds of your fellow beings, men, women, and children; -- that you have been the means of sending many of your fellows into Eternity unprepared -- that you have robbed the widow and the orphan of their sixpence, and the honest laborer of his daily earnings -- the rich man of his hoarded gainl -- that you have violate the sanctuary of private life -- despoiled female virtue and innocence, and destroyed conjugal felicity; -- that you harbored the thief and robber -- directed the hand of the assassin and murder, and aided their escape from justice; -- that you have, under the garb of a Saint, done the work of a Demon -- in other words, "stolen the livery of Heaven to serve the Devil ;" that you have done all this, and a hundred times more, you need none other than that same inward monitor to tell you.

Knowing, as you must, Joe, the relation in which your black-hearted crimes and Heaven-daring blasphemies place you before God, we charge you that it is now high time that you should begin to repent in order to avert His impending vengeance. You are now near 40 years of age, and it will require all the remaining years of a life of four score and ten, to place you in the same moral position you occupied at the outset of your desparate career. You know, too, the position you occupy before your fellow men. You know that you are despised, and hated and loathed, by nineteen twentieths of all who have ever heard of your name and deeds; and all the "Appeals" that you and your understrappers can make to the sympathies of your fellow citizens, between this and the day in which you shall "shake off this mortal coil," will not change your position before them.

And more -- you cannot expect it to continue much longer in your courses of infamy and crime. Depend upon it, the day of retribution cannot be far distant, for at least some of your misdeeds. If the vengeance of the law shall overtake you, and stretch you up as quick as lightning to the gallows, and thus end your career, rest assured that individual vengeance will! Do you think that, of all the men, women and children you have so foullu wronged, that no one will be so bold as to avenge their own wrongs? be a prophet nor the son of a prophet -- yet we tell you that your career of infamy cannot continue but a little longer! Your days are numbered! The handwriting is upon the wall!

Come, now, brother Joe. Let us entreat you to begin the work of reparation. Begin it now, for you have much to do; the job is a hard one! Divide out again among the widows and the orphans whom you have beggared, [in] your knavery, the thousands you filched from their hard earnings; pay back those sums of money you have borrowed of your followers, and for which they have for years been whistling; dispoil the oxen and baptismal font of their trappings, and buy shoes and stockings for the ragged urchins of your streets; and tear down your Temple and of its materials build a hospital for the innocent victims of your ambition and licentiousness. These done, and you will have made some atonement for your past life. Until then, Joe, we shall remain as, ever, all but "your friend and most obedient servant."

From the Warsaw Signal. Notice the date. Joseph had only months left to live.

Edited May 24, 2013 by why me

[MormonMason]

...

Those critics may not recognize Joseph and Hyrum as martyrs, but that is really irrelevant. Most of the members of the Church do, and I think that God does (although I have received no revelation on the matter).

...

Brigham Young did receive a revelation on the matter. See Doctrine and Covenants 136:38-40.

[MormonMason]

So removing the HC references is an "improvement"? At least if you go to the HC references you can read the entire thing, and see the 121, 122, 123 D&C sections in brackets and double space for clarity. When you read it holistically it is obvious that the excerpts are based on later impressions and not revelation. I agree that the entire "epistle" should be kept if any of it is.

Actually, yes. It allowed the space to be used by corrections and additional valuable information without changing the overall pagination of the previous edition. You probably weren't aware that most members of the Church in the world couldn't read the History of the Church anyway, even if they wanted to do so. What was the point of keeping the references? The new headings themselves now state explicitly that these words come from an epistle written to the Church. In addition, the HC references served little purpose as they were anyway. Not only were they references to a work with inaccuracies, most members of the Church never read the HC references for all the years that the headings contained them!

Read it holistically? Really??? Based on later impressions and not revelation? Really??? It is pretty obvious from where I sit that you don't seem to have a clue in telling the difference between sections of the letter. You really can see the words "saith God" and "saith the Lord" multiple times in a text and conclude that it isn't some kind of revelation? I suggest reading the letter over and over again until you see those words and understand their import.

As to the content of the letter, only those portions that were of general benefit were included. Anyone who now wants to read the entire letter now can do so via website and pass that information on to other readers.

The annoying thing about the "scriptural parts" (sections) is that the historical slant portrays JS as receiving them (in movie form, even with light shining upon him) as an answer to private prayer, while his companions in prison are sleeping. Actually Alexander McRae is the scribe, so the entire thing was dictated by JS. There was no metaphysical manifestation to the prophet JS all by himself. To select portions and represent them as such is misleading, something the church does with its history continuously....

Yes, the entire thing was dictated by Joseph Smith to Alexander McRae. So what? Just about all of Joseph's revelations were dictated to one person or another. Some were recorded at the time and some recorded years later. As to your closing words, they are not worth my often very limited time to address further.

Edited May 24, 2013 by MormonMason

[why me]

The letter is fascinating, since it is dictated by JS to the entire priesthood of the church. In the midst of the dictation JS uses his own persecution and sacrifice as exemplary of what any priesthood holder might have to endure. But there is nothing of the singular "revelation" to JS personally as the Church portrays it, because of the editing done to this letter to include it in the D&C. What was general advice and counsel to the priesthood of the church became later the Lord's voice to JS alone. That is the kind of revisionism of its history that the Church has always engaged in that annoys me greatly....

Maybe it wasn't a revelation. No where in the introduction does it mention a 'revelation'. But it does state 'Prayer and Prophecies': 'Word of the Lord'; and 'Duty of' But then when in Nauvoo, section 124 states 'Revelation'

However, I think much was happening in that letter. What started out as a collective letter became something much more that was noticed at the time of writing it or later after the event. It is a marvelous epistle of fortitude and perseverance. And faith. And it should be read as such.