March–June 1844

Joseph and Hyrum Give Their Lives for the Gospel

The Prophet dies, but the Lord’s work continues

Joseph Smith was worried. What would happen to the Church if he died? He wanted to make sure the Lord’s work would keep going. So he gathered the Apostles and gave them the priesthood keys that Jesus Christ had given him. This meant that the Apostles could lead the Lord’s Church and do His work.

Saints, 1:519–20

This helped Joseph feel better. But there were a lot of people who were angry with Joseph. Some even wanted to kill him. They didn’t like what he was teaching. They wrote about him in a newspaper to make more people angry with Joseph and the Church. Some of them wanted to attack Nauvoo.

Saints, 1:526–28, 530–32, 533–34

Joseph and other leaders in Nauvoo had the printing press destroyed to stop the hatred from spreading. This made people even more angry. The governor told Joseph to go to the city of Carthage so a judge could decide if he had broken the law. Joseph knew if he went to Carthage, people would kill him.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:4; Saints, 1:533–37, 539–41

But Joseph also wanted the Saints to be safe. If he went to Carthage, maybe people would leave the Saints in Nauvoo alone. Joseph decided to go. He blessed Emma and his children, kissed them goodbye, and left for Carthage.

Saints, 1:542–44

Joseph’s brother Hyrum went with him. So did John Taylor, Willard Richards, and other friends. As they left, Joseph stopped his horse and looked back at Nauvoo. “This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens,” he said. When they arrived in Carthage, they were put in jail.

Saints, 1:543–45

While they were in jail, Hyrum read to them from the Book of Mormon. Joseph told the guards that the Book of Mormon is true.

Saints, 1:546

To comfort his friends, John Taylor sang a hymn about Jesus. It was beautiful, and Hyrum asked him to sing it again.

Saints, 1:549

Later that day, angry men with guns rushed into the jail. They pushed against the door and started shooting into the room where Joseph and his friends were. John Taylor was badly hurt. Hyrum and Joseph were killed.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:1–2; Saints, 1:550–52

The Saints were very sad when they found out that Joseph and Hyrum had died. But they knew that killing the Prophet would not stop the Church. It is the Savior’s Church, and He would continue to lead it. The Church would keep growing and blessing God’s children all over the world.

Saints, 1:553–59