Search Results for: blog the martyrdom of joseph smith

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

This last weekend, my three sisters and I took the opportunity to go up to Salt Lake City to see “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” in the Legacy Theater inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was a little hard to find a parking spot – there was a Jazz game that night, and we hadn’t taken that into consideration – but we eventually found a place to park and walked over to the theater. I had not yet seen the film, and neither had another of my sisters. The other two assured us we were in for … Continue reading →

Gospel Questions: Do Mormons Worship Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith was a young boy of fourteen, living in upstate New York with his family, when a religious revival hit their area. Everyone was divided on which church was true, and in the Smith home, two religions were practiced. This was confusing to Joseph. How could both churches be right? One night as he read in the Bible, he happened upon the verse James 1:5 which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. Struck by the idea that he … Continue reading →

The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith

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One hundred and sixty-three years ago today, Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were shot and killed in jail in Carthage Jail at Carthage, Illinois. Willard Richards and future prophet John Taylor were with them. Taylor was wounded, while Richards escaped harm. I cannot express in adequate words the events of that day, and so I will not try. I will, however, provide you with a link to an Ensign article describing what happened. One of the things I most struggled with when I joined the church was my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Indeed, I was baptized without … Continue reading →

Relief Society Presidents: Emma Hale Smith

The first and probably most well known of all of the Relief Society presidents was the wife of the Prophet, Emma Smith. Over the years, Emma has probably received more than her fair share of criticism for her decision not to journey west with the Saints following the martyrdom of her husband. However, I would speculate that few women have had to endure the trials that this “elect lady” bore in her lifetime, most of which began when she married her beloved Joseph. Born near Harmony, Pennsylvania on July 10, 1804, Emma Smith was the seventh of nine children. She … Continue reading →

Monday Nights in Nauvoo – Janet Burningham

How cool is this? With the focus this year on Joseph Smith, it only makes sense that we would undertake a deeper study of his background, surroundings, and lifestyle. “Monday Nights in Nauvoo” is a great family home evening resource book that centers the lessons around life in Nauvoo, particularly on elements of Church history. Now your family can study Church history together at home as well as at church. Each lesson begins with the background of the lesson, which ties it in to Church history. We are also told what pictures from the Gospel Art Kit would coordinate with … Continue reading →

In Memoriam – Religious Martyrs

This week, much has been said about those who have died to preserve our freedom. How grateful I am for those courageous men and women who have put their lives on the line to keep me free. I can’t say enough about our fallen heroes, and those who risk their lives every day even now, including firemen, police officers, and all those who endanger themselves so I might enjoy peace of mind. As I’ve thought about how truly blessed I feel, my mind wandered to those who have given their lives so that we might have religious freedom. The first, … Continue reading →

General Conference: “Do You Know?”

In his talk “Do You Know?” Elder Glenn L Pace speaks specifically to the youth of the church. He begins by sharing the story of how he gained a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith when he was eleven years old. He also shares the story of a young woman who is the only member in her high school. She admits that at times she finds it difficult to be the only member. Elder Pace goes on to speak about the witness of the spirit. He challenges the parents to help their children feel the spirit, so that when the … Continue reading →

LDS Family Week in Review: June 24-30

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Thanks for sticking with us for another great week in the LDS Families blog. We covered topics ranging from genealogy to baby blues to working through marriage struggles this week, and we’re glad you could join us for them. In case you missed anything, here is the week in review. Gospel Doctrine: In Whosoever Killeth You…, we discussed the various modern day apostles who gave their life for their faith. In The Mission of the Holy Ghost, we discussed the various roles of the Spirit. In Sorrow Turned to Joy, we discussed both the sadness and the joy of the … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: “Whosoever Killeth You…”

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As I reviewed the Gospel Doctrine lesson for this week, the second half of John 16:2 stood out to me. Here, Jesus tells His disciples that “whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” Given that today is the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, these words took on a special significance to me. Of course, Joseph was not the only person in the restored church who died because of his faith. Early church history is filled with a number of Saints who gave their lives because of their faith. One story that stood out … Continue reading →

The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided (2007)

When I first found out that “The Work and the Glory” series by Gerald Lund was being made into three movies, I was ecstatic. While the movies were, in some ways, everything I’d hoped for, they did fall short in other ways. The third movie is the perfect example of this. The Saints are now living in Kirtland, Ohio. Benjamin Steed still doesn’t know how he feels about the Church. He supports Joseph Smith, but as a man, not so much as a prophet. Nathan, his second-oldest son, follows Joseph with absolute devotion. Joshua, the oldest son, is still as … Continue reading →