Today marks the 175th anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail.
I cannot express adequately my feelings for Joseph and Hyrum, other than to say, I am profoundly grateful for their sacrifice. I am thankful that Joseph, as a young boy, had the courage to “ask God in faith, nothing wavering”. I know that Joseph was the prophet of the restoration and that the Church of Jesus Christ continues today with the same priesthood keys, and authority from God. In 1842, as part of the Wentworth Letter, Joseph declared the following:
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540)
Last year I shared Doctrine & Covenants 135, and a video of the Tabernacle Choir singing “Praise to the Man”. Click HERE to read and listen.
Here are some other articles and media on this subject. I will update these links as I find more today:
96 Hour Timeline Surrounding the Martyrdom
Conference Talks about Joseph Smith
From the series, “Joseph” episode 49, The Martyrdom of Joseph & Hyrum Smith
Martyrdom at Carthage, by Reed Blake
John Taylor: Witness to the Martyrdom, from BYU Religious Studies Center, article by Mark H. Taylor