Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Was Joseph Smith truly a Martyr for God?
When Joseph Smith founded his church under the pretentious name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was chosen as the church’s first elder, and subsequently honored with the titles of prophet and revelator. In 1843, when his lawful wife, Emma became jealous of his cohabitating with other women, Smith had a “vision,” which resulted in his establishing polygamy, which he taught and practiced. Others followed his example and this scandal caused trouble at Nauvoo, Illinois, between the Mormon militia and U.S. soldiers. The governor of the state persuaded Joseph and his brother Hyrum to surrender and stand trial. While the brothers were in imprisoned in the Carthage jail, on June 27, 1844, a mob overpowered the guards and shot and killed Hyrum. Joseph used a revolver which had been smuggled to him on the mob, but when his ammunition was exhausted in his attempt to escape, he was shot and killed.
Smith was shot multiple times after falling from a window. |
The opponents of Mormonism Thus hurt their cause, as Smith became, in Mormon eyes, a martyr.
Shortly after his death, a plaster mold was made of his face. This “death Mask” provides perhaps the most accurate representation of what Joseph Smith looked like. The death mask is in possession of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day and can be seen at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The word “Martyr” means witness. The term was originally applied to those Christians who willingly gave up their lives for their belief that Jesus was the Son of God. The profession of the Christian religion is not a private affair; every Christian is called to be a witness to Christ.
Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude.”[1]
The early Christian was not accused of any crime. He was tried for his belief. It was not necessary to bring witnesses against them as they readily admitted to the charge of being followers of Jesus. If anyone rose in their defense, they too were summarily executed. If the accused consented to apostatize he was immediately released. If the accused persisted in affirming himself to be a Christian he was condemned. It was by his own free will that he suffered a violent death. While it is impossible to ascertain the actual number of martyred Christians, one author estimates: “In 200 years of persecution, from Nero to Diocletion, 2,000,000 martyrs died.”[2]
When the sheep demanded the life of the Shepherd, Jesus willingly suffered a most ignoble death, offering Himself for the redemption of humanity.
Contrast Jesus’ death with that of Joseph Smith, who died a violent death in defense of his own life.
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2473.
[2] Helen Walker Homan, Letters to the Martyrs, (New York: David McKay Company, Inc.), 1951, p. xi.