Doctrine and Covenants 135

 

How do the truths that stood out to you during your study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year help you understand and draw closer to the Savior?

"Announcement of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, at Carthage, Illinois, June 27, 1844. This document was included at the end of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was nearly ready for publication when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered.

1–2, Joseph and Hyrum martyred in Carthage Jail; 3, The preeminent position of the Prophet is acclaimed; 4–7, Their innocent blood testifies of the truth and divinity of the work.

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

2 John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe.

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

4 When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—he was murdered in cold blood.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:

5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.

6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.

7 They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 135)

And here's the end part of the commentary entitled: "Joseph Smith was a prophet and witness of Jesus Christ." :

"Another way to learn about Joseph Smith’s mission is to try writing a brief obituary or eulogy for him. What would you say to build faith in Christ and His restored gospel? You might want to include important events or accomplishments found in Doctrine and Covenants 135 or those mentioned in the resources below.

Jesus Christ revealed many truths about Himself and His Atonement through Joseph Smith. Consider pondering the experience you have had studying the Doctrine and Covenants this year. What truths have stood out to you? You may want to share these with your family, class or quorum members, or others as you study this week. How do these truths help you understand and draw closer to the Savior?

See also “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” (video), Gospel Library; Tad R. Callister, “Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 35–37; “Praise to the Man,” Hymns, no. 27; Topics and Questions, “Joseph Smith,” Gospel Library."

The truths that stood out to me during my study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year are these:

• The Lord wants to shower us with blessings and strengthen us so we are prepared for our challenges in this earthly life, that's why He wants His house to be built and He wants us to perform ordinances vicariously for our ancestors. We receive blessings for ourselves and for our ancestors when help our ancestors receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation in the house of the Lord.
• Our adversities and afflictions are just for a small moment. 
• The Lord wants me to look unto Him in every thought. 

These truths did help me understand and draw closer to the Savior. He has overcome the world when He carried everyone of God's children's adversities and afflictions, including mine. When I look unto Him in every thought, I am able to find peace and joy whatever circumstances I find myself in, whatever is happening or not happening in my life. And even when there are uncertainties in the future. I'm like Peter who was able to walk on water while having his eyes fixed on the Lord, and yet, when his attention turned to the wind, he begun to sink. I'm learning to walk on water by striving to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord, and not allowing the wind (challenges and uncertainties) to take my attention away from the Lord. One way I'm able to fix my eyes more on the Lord is by receiving His blessings from His house as I help my anscestors receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. During my recent visit to the Bangkok Thailand Temple last month, I felt God's love in abundance and I saw How He's blessing me abundantly in every way. I'm abundantly blessed in love, health, money, and time. He's taking of the uncertainties in the future so there is really nothing to worry about as long as I am doing all I can.