Class 27 – Section 135

Joseph Smith

Praise to the Man1. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.Blessed to open the last dispensation,Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;Death cannot conquer the hero again.

2. Praise to his mem’ry, he died as a martyr;Honored and blest be his ever great name!Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,Stain Illinois while the earth lauds his fame.

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;Death cannot conquer the hero again.

3. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.Ever and ever the keys he will hold.Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom,Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;Death cannot conquer the hero again.

4. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;Earth must atone for the blood of that man.Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again.

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;Death cannot conquer the hero again.

A Little History

Financial Conflicts

• The Saints couldn’t keep up payments on the property.

• The Saints incurred new debts as they tried to build up Nauvoo.

• Some people invested in property on the bluff, but Joseph Smith advocated building up the flats.

Financial Conflicts

• In the aftermath of the Panic of 1837, Federal bankruptcy laws became very liberal.

• Many church leaders including Hyrum Smith got out of debt by declaring bankruptcy.

•Joseph could not because of debts to the federal government – for a steamboat that wrecked.

Financial Conflicts

• The financial problems quieted down, but they left anger and distrust in their wake.

Missouri Problems

• Joseph Smith had been able to escape Missouri’s attempts to force him to return to stand trial.

• In 1842, Lilburn Boggs was shot. Joseph Smith was accused and Gov. Thomas Carlin signed extradition papers.

Missouri Problems

• Joseph Smith was arrested in Nauvoo, but released on a writ of habeas corpus.

• He then went into hiding.

•Assured that his position was legally solid, Joseph submitted to trial in Springfield. Joseph was freed.

Missouri Problems

• In 1843, Gov. Thomas Ford agreed to turn Joseph Smith over to Missouri authorities to be tried for treason.

• Joseph was 200 miles north of Nauvoo. Two law officers posed as Mormon elders were directed to Joseph and arrested him.

Missouri Problems

• Charges were brought against the offices, and the local authorities put everyone in jail.

• As everyone headed to Quincy for a hearing, hundreds of people from Nauvoo joined the group and forced them into Nauvoo.

Missouri Problems

• A brass band, citizens in carriages, over a hundred horsemen marched into Nauvoo in a triumphal procession. A huge feast was held and the arresting officers were invited to sit at the head table.

• Joseph was released on a writ of habeas corpus.

Missouri Problems

• The threat of extradition to Missouri still over Joseph’s head, but that was end of their efforts.

• This was perceived by enemies as an abuse of power. There were threats that the Illinois militia might intervene.

Political Conflicts

• Illinois was divided between Whigs and Democrats.

• Citizens strongly identified with party.

• Newspapers were voices for party philosophies.

• Parties formed networks of merchants, lawyers, etc.

Political Conflicts

• Governor Ford considered politics the downfall of Nauvoo.

• Mormons were block voters, but unpredictable. They backed whoever supported them the most strongly.

Political Conflicts

• Mormons had been Democrats, but turned to the Whigs when van Buren rebuffed them.

• In 1840, they voted Whig. In 1841, they backed Stephen A. Douglas, a Democrat. In 1842, they turned against Thomas Ford, a Democrat.

Political Conflicts• In 1843, Cyrus Walker, an influential Whig Congressional Candidate, agreed to defend Joseph Smith against the Missourians in return for his support. Joseph accepted his offer.

• Then, an aid to Gov. Ford offered to keep the governor from sending militia to Nauvoo in turn for Mormon support of Joseph Hoge, Walker’s opponent.

Political Conflicts• Joseph announced he was voting for Walker, as he promised, but that Hyrum thought Hoge would better serve the citizens of Nauvoo, and that Hyrum’s judgment could be relied on.

• Hoge won in a close race, and the Whigs vowed to expel the Mormons.

• But the Democrats mistrusted the Mormons, too.

Political Conflicts• In late 1843, Joseph sent letters to each of the potential presidential candidates, asking what there views were on Mormonism. The responses were noncommittal.

• So, Joseph Smith decided to run for President himself. Sidney Rigdon ended up being his running-mate.

Other Issues• Apostates: John C. Bennett became a vocal opponent. William and Wilson Law left over the issue of polygamy and led the Nauvoo dissenters.

• Militarism: The Nauvoo Legion was perceived as threat by surrounding people.

• Polygamy: Word of the practice spread and appalled non-Mormons.

Other Issues• Rapid growth: There was concern once again that Mormons would take over the entire area.

• Doctrines: Joseph Smith was bitterly criticized over his teachings about the nature of God.

Nauvoo Expositor• On June 7, 1844, the enemies of the prophet published the first and last issue of the Nauvoo Expositor.

• Joseph Smith as mayor, with the concurrence of the city council, ordered the press destroyed as a public nuisance that could induce violence through libelous reports.

• Public outcry was immense.

Nauvoo Expositor• Such actions were not uncommon on the frontier, but the outcry this time was intense.

• Demands were made that Joseph stand trial in Carthage for riot.

• The charges were later changed to treason.

Section 135• Traditionally ascribed to John Taylor.

• Written shortly after the martyrdom.

Section 135

• “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.”

• Is this true? Why?

If Joseph Smith were here today, what would he think of the church?

D&C 90:3 “Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come.”

What is Joseph Smith relation to us today?