Class 27 – Section 135
Joseph Smith
Praise to the Man
1. 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 nonMormons.
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?