Doctrine and Covenants 135

The Martyrdom That Forged a Foundation: 

A Sacrifice for the Truth

Doctrine and Covenants 135 is a solemn and poignant tribute to the lives and sacrifices of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Brigham Young, who would soon lead the Church as its second prophet, wrote with a profound understanding of the significance of their passing. He declared:

This powerful statement underscores the profound impact of Joseph Smith's prophetic ministry. His role in restoring the fullness of the gospel, bringing forth the Book of Mormon, and re-establishing the Church of Jesus Christ was, as Brigham Young stated, unparalleled. Hyrum Smith, his devoted brother, also shared in this ultimate sacrifice and is recognized for his unwavering faith and integrity.

Eternal Progression and Gospel Principles

The principle of eternal progression is exemplified by the sacrifice at Carthage Jail. Joseph and Hyrum Smith laid down their lives in defense of the truth, a testament to their commitment to the Savior and His gospel. Their martyrdom serves as a powerful reminder that true discipleship often involves sacrifice.

As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints unfolds, Doctrine and Covenants 135 stands as a beacon, illuminating the unwavering faith of those who dedicated their lives to the restoration of God's kingdom. It reminds us of the eternal truths contained within the gospel principles that Joseph Smith was instrumental in re-establishing.

A Legacy of Faith

The events surrounding the death of the prophet are a somber yet inspiring chapter in the history of the Church. Doctrine and Covenants 135 is a vital scripture for Latter-day Saints, offering comfort, confirmation, and a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made to bring forth the gospel in its fulness. The legacy of Joseph and Hyrum Smith still motivates faith and devotion, reminding us of the enduring power of truth and the divine guidance that continues to lead God's children.

In understanding Doctrine and Covenants 135, we gain a deeper appreciation for:

• Joseph Smith played a crucial role as a prophet.
• Joseph Smith made a profound sacrifice of martyrdom in defending truth.
• The divinely appointed process of succession and the continuity of priesthood keys are crucial.
• The early Latter-day Saints demonstrated unwavering faith.
• The principle of eternal progression underpins the ultimate triumph of God's work.

This chapter reminds us that even in the face of tragic loss, the Lord's work will prevail, guided by righteous prophetic leadership and sustained by the faith of His people.

Thank you for studying with me. your thoughts, comments, and questions are appreciated. use the comment area below.

What knowledge have we received?

Section 135

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, at about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of 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, 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 be to 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.