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August 2009 Ensign

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August 2009 Ensign MESSAGES FROM THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS The Path to Martyrdom: The Ultimate Witness Since that day I have learned more about ELDER ANTHONY D. PERKINS Of the Seventy the life and death of the Prophet. I know that We need not visit everal years ago I stood in the upper studying the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith has Carthage Jail to bedroom of Carthage Jail surrounded strengthened my testimony of his calling as a strengthen our tes- by my wife and our six children. prophet of God. timonies of Joseph’s S Over the prior week, our family had vis- The term martyr comes from a Greek calling as a prophet ited the various locations of Joseph Smith’s word for “witness.” 1 Joseph Smith’s path of God. We need remarkable life and mission. As we traveled, to Carthage followed four steps walked by only study patterns each family member felt the Spirit testify of ancient apostles and prophets who also died of prophets in the Joseph’s divine calling as the Prophet of the as witnesses of the truth. scriptures and learn Restoration. We felt that same witness as we of Joseph’s life. exited this room in Carthage, Illinois, where Step 1: Persecuted for Bearing Testimony of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, “the the Son of God best blood of the nineteenth century” (D&C When the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi 135:6), were martyred by an angry mob. testified to the inhabitants of Jerusalem 52 More than 600 years after Lehi testified in oseph Smith’s Jerusalem, a young priesthood leader named last glimpses Stephen was called to stand before the Jof Nauvoo Sanhedrin. When he testified of the apostasy came after 24 of Israel, these religious leaders “were cut years of persecu- to the heart, and they gnashed on him with tion that included their teeth.” But when he testified of Jesus nearly 20 attempts “standing on the right hand of God,” these on his life. leaders “cast him out of the city, and stoned him” (Acts 7:54–55, 58). ON BY A. VELOY EATON I Joseph Smith’s life follows the pattern of ILLUSTRAT Lehi, Zenos, Zenock, and Stephen. A few , RIGHT; , RIGHT; days after experiencing the First Vision in 1820, Joseph shared his experience and bore NAUGHTON c personal testimony of God the Father and His Beloved Son. According to Joseph, the almost BY JON M immediate response was “a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:23). As with ancient proph- ets, the Prophet of the Restoration taught CARTHAGE REMEMBERED, CARTHAGE truths regarding the nature of God that ran LEFT; LEFT; counter to the inherited traditions of religious sects. During the next 24 years, nearly 20 attempts were made on Joseph’s life. 2 Step 2: Forewarned of Death After His resurrection, Jesus prophesied to the senior Apostle, Peter: “When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, The Ultimate Witness and another shall gird thee, and carry thee “of their wickedness and their abomina- whither thou wouldest not. tions,” they mocked him. But when he “This spake he, signifying by what death testified “of the coming of a Messiah, he should glorify God. And when he had and also the redemption of the world,” spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” the people “were angry with him . ( John 21:18–19; see also 2 Peter 1:14). ON BY WALTER RANE ON BY WALTER and they also sought his life” (1 Nephi I On another occasion the Lord described 1:19–20). The people wanted to do to ILLUSTRAT Paul to Ananias: “He is a chosen vessel unto Lehi what had been done to the proph- Joseph’s life followed the me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, ets Zenos and Zenock. Because Zenos pattern of martyrs like and kings, and the children of Israel: “did testify boldly” of Christ, “he was Stephen, who was cast “For I will shew him how great things slain,” and because Zenock had “testi- out and stoned after he he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts fied of the Son of God, and because the testified that he saw Jesus 9:15–16). people would not understand his words “standing on the right The Prophet Joseph Smith was 17 years old they stoned him to death” (Helaman 8:19; hand of God.” when first visited by the angel Moroni in 1823. Alma 33:17). Moroni prophesied that Joseph Smith’s name ENSIGN AUGUST 2009 53 oroni told Joseph Mthat his name would be had for good and evil “among all people.” LIZ LEMON SWINDLE BY HE CALLED ME BY NAME, “should be both good and delivered the message which the Lord sent me evil spoken of among all to deliver; . therefore, God will not suffer people” ( Joseph Smith— that I shall be destroyed at this time. But I History 1:33 ). In March nish my message” ( Mosiah 13:1, 3, 9 ). SAM LAWLOR 1829, when Joseph was Later, the prophets Alma and Amulek were just 23, the Lord warned, forced by the rulers of Ammonihah to watch “There are many that lie believers be martyred by re. ILLUSTRATION BY ILLUSTRATION in wait to destroy thee “Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, “There are many that from off the face of the earth” ( D&C 5:33 ). One perhaps they will burn us also. lie in wait to destroy month later, the Lord revealed, “Even if they “And Alma said: Be it according to the will of thee,” the Lord do unto you even as they have done unto me, the Lord. But, behold, our work is not nished; warned the Prophet. blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in therefore they burn us not” ( Alma 14:12–13 ). glory” ( D&C 6:30 ). Joseph gained con dence that his mission In the remaining 15 years of his life, “on at would be completed before his life on earth least 19 different occasions . Joseph Smith could be cut short. In March 1839, while in told the Saints that he would probably not jail at Liberty, Missouri, the Lord declared: leave this life peacefully.” 3 “If thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sen- Step 3: Remained Con dent in Finishing Work tence of death passed upon thee. After the prophet Abinadi’s initial preach- “ . Thy days are known, and thy years GLEN S. HOPKINSON ing to King Noah and his council of wicked shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear BY priests, King Noah said, “Away with this fellow, not what man can do” (D&C 122:7, 9 ). and slay him.” But Abinadi boldly responded, The Prophet’s father, Joseph Smith Sr., gave “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if his son a blessing in September 1840, telling ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not him, “ ‘You shall live to nish your work.’ BUILDING OF NAUVOO TEMPLE, 54 “At this Joseph cried out, ‘Oh! Father, shall I?’ Step 4: Executed While Imprisoned for Treason “ ‘Yes,’ said his father, ‘you shall. You shall live to lay out all Early Christian history records that many Christians, the plan of all the work that God requires at your hand.’ ” 4 including the Apostles Peter and Paul, were executed in During the latter years of his life, Joseph Smith Rome under the direction of the emperor Nero. They were focused on nishing his work. Building a temple, accused of subversion, starting a re in Rome, and unwill- revealing its sacred ordinances, and conferring the ingness to sacri ce to Roman gods or the emperor’s image. 8 priesthood power to perform those ordinances pro- In the Book of Mormon, Abinadi was found “worthy vided a sense of urgency. 5 Finally, in a climactic meet- of death” because he had said “that God himself should ing in late March 1844, Joseph imparted to the Twelve come down among the children of men.” The accusa- Apostles all of the priesthood keys and power necessary tion was blasphemy, but after Abinadi had powerfully to lead the Church. defended himself, “king Noah was about to release “After he had thus spoken, he continued to walk him.” The priests then asserted that Abinadi had “reviled the oor, saying: ‘Since I have rolled the the king,” invoking a new charge of crime Like Abinadi in the Book burden off from my shoulders, I feel as light against the state, or treason. Abinadi was of Mormon, Joseph as a cork. I feel that I am free. I thank my then delivered up “that he might be slain,” “sealed the truth of his God for this deliverance.’ ” 6 suffering death by re, “having sealed the words by his death.” Elder Parley P. Pratt quoted Joseph truth of his words by his death” ( Mosiah as saying, “The Lord is about to lay the 17:7–8, 11–12, 20 ). burden on your shoulders and let me Despite being acquitted of charges related rest awhile; and if they kill me . the ARNOLD FRIBERG to the June 10, 1844, destruction of the kingdom of God will roll on, as I have Nauvoo Expositor press, Joseph and Hyrum now nished the work which was laid faced new charges of riot. 9 “On June 24, ILLUSTRATION BY ILLUSTRATION upon me.” 7 Joseph and Hyrum Smith bade farewell to uilding a temple and Bconferring priesthood power GLEN S. HOPKINSON to perform sacred ordinances pro- vided a sense of urgency for Joseph to nish his work.
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