D&C 135:1

I feel like we’ve kind of come full circle because when we started in the D&C the Church hadn’t even been organized yet and we’ve gone through this journey of growth with the Saints and watched Joseph Smith as learned and grew spiritually as well, and now we get to the section that mourns his passing after he is murdered with his brother. I thought that all I would get out of this section was the perspective of how amazing Joseph Smith was, but there are many other aspects that we learn that are very interesting. The IM gives background saying, “On Tuesday, 25 June 1844, Joseph and Hyrum presented themselves to the authorities in Illinois to be arrested on a charge of treason. Governor Thomas Ford that morning assembled the state militia and told them that Joseph and Hyrum Smith were ‘dangerous men in the community, and guilty of all that they might have alleged against them, still they were in the hands of the law.’ John Taylor and Willard Richards, members of the Quorum of the Twelve, were allowed to stay with Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage Jail… At about 5:00 p.m…. The mob was made up mainly of Carthage Greys, members of the local militia that was in charge of guarding the Prophet… Hyrum Smith was struck by a bullet in the face, and by several other bullets, and fell to the floor, saying, ‘I am a dead man!’ John Taylor was shot in several places in his body and rolled under the bed. Joseph Smith was shot in the back from inside the jail and in the chest from outside. He fell dead out the window. John Taylor and William Richards were eyewitnesses to the Martyrdom, and each wrote an account of the events. The account contained in Doctrine and Covenants 135 ‘was written by Elder John Taylor who offered his life with his beloved brethren in this tragedy in Carthage, Illinois. President Taylor was severely wounded and carried the balls with which he was wounded to his grave. His devotion and willingness and that of his companion, Willard Richards, bear a strong testimony of their conviction and integrity to the truth of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.’”


135:1- - Announcing the “martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch.” I always wondered why Hyrum Smith died with his brother. Thinking about it later it seems that if Hyrum would have lived through that and only Joseph died then Hyrum probably would have been tapped to be the next president of the Church, but Brigham Young was set to be the next president, he had the skills, he was meant to be next President. The IM asks, “Was it necessary that Hyrum seal his testimony with his blood?” And answers by quoting President Joseph Fielding Smith, grandson of Hyrum Smith, “The Prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon Hyrum Smith all the keys, authority and gifts of the priesthood which he, the Prophet, held, and which were formerly held by Oliver Cowdery. The Lord also revealed to Hyrum Smith all that was necessary to make him completely and to the full degree, a witness with his brother Joseph, as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church, and to stand through all time and eternity at the head of this dispensation with his brother Joseph, a witness for Jesus Christ. Thus, we see, Hyrum Smith became a president of the Church with Joseph Smith, which place Oliver Cowdery might have held had he not wavered and fallen from his exalted station. I am firmly of the opinion that had Oliver Cowdery remained true to his covenants and obligations as a witness with Joseph Smith, and retained his authority and place, he, and not Hyrum Smith, would have gone with Joseph Smith as a prisoner and to martyrdom at Carthage. The sealing of the testimony through the shedding of blood would not have been complete in the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith alone; it required the death of Hyrum Smith who jointly held the keys of this dispensation. It was needful that these martyrs seal their testimony with their blood, that they ‘might be honored and the wicked might be condemned.’” If I understand this correctly, Hyrum and Joseph Smith were co-presidents of the Church, though Joseph received the revelations for the Church, but if Hyrum was the patriarch then he would be receiving revelations too. Interesting. This also makes me wonder if there are co-presidents of the Church now. Now that I think about it, I remember discussing the revelation where Oliver Cowdery is called to be co-president of the Church with Joseph.