Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-06-27
THE MtRrYRDOM.

Joseph aud Hyrum are slain! II Il
fifty years today, June -, since this
sad message was dispatched to Nauvoo
from Carthage, H., where the tragedy
was enacted by which the Prophet
and Patriarch were enrolled Ia the
list Of noble martyrs for truth, and tho
infant Church was left, ns macy
thought, without visible leader. Half
a century IL but moment Ia history,
but II has been sufficient TO prove
TO all open 10 conviction, that
the liiewotk Of those men was
directed by the omnlpolent In.
telllgenco that rules the universe |
and that the rcsul,s Of their lie AMI |
death will be manifested throughout
time aud eternity.
The causes that led TO the mass ere
can now be- weighed with more i'm.
Partially than sometimes has been the
case. Excitement, local prcJudiota
aud personal preferences are among
tue obstacles that generally prevent n
cotempopry from percelving the whole
truth. But these fade away Ne time
rolls on, aud only tho facts remain 10
tho view OF the historian.
when the life Of the martyrs IA con.
sidered, II 10 difiicult to perceive why
Il should end az II did, were II
not for the fact that according TO the
annals Of man righteousness 40 often is
rewarded with mattyrdom. Joseph
the Prophet proclaimed that he had an
important message to deliver from the
Almighty. lie proved this by striv.
log to promote the honor Of God and
the woll.being Of his fsllowmon IN all
no did, and also by numerous miracles
and mighty deeds, such as accom-.
panied the ministry OF our Lord anu
His Apostles. Why should ho then
incur the hatred Of the world2 We
may ask, too, why should the world
thirst for the blood OF Jesus Of
Nazareth, who preached anu exempli.
ned the Gospel Of lover The cases
arc In this respect parallel, be.
cause Joseph was faithful servant
Of his divine Master, Rnd
the Carthage massacre was In part
repetition OF tho Calvary tragedy.
Let US reflect a moment. From the
time II became clear that Jesus would
Join none Of the existing sects Of His
time they all combined In influencing
the people against Him, The Phariseos
aud the Sadducees neither would nor
could lawfully take His life, but they
prepared a sentiment among the mas
aos which made It possible for the jew.
ish priests TO plot His destruction, Tho
hatred was further intensified on the
part Of the leading eoolesiaatics, be.
cause He olsansed the temple prem.
isos and denounced the detileIs. They
were aroused 10 defend their upright.
eous source OF revenue and concluded
10 Rvenge themselves. But they
had TO enlist the civil author.
tiles TO their aid and did NO by
inyentlng charge Of a political ma
ture, and thus It came about that tho
spotlesa Lamb OF God was slain, con.
demned To death by an ecclesiastical
tribunal for blasphemy anu by civil
governor for treason, although the
judges themselves were convinced Of
His innocence and His only "cume''
was burning zeal for the glory OF
His Father.
The history OF the mattytdOm We
are now considering presents many
similar features, Joseph was hated by
the religious element whose errors he
underworld 10 correct In the name OF
the Almighty; the various opponents
OF that element kept up constant
agitation against him ana succeeded
hnaily Ga oulistlug 10 their aid
the political element on false 10.
approximations that the infant Church
wBua menace TO tnu state. But neither
sgciariau fanatics nor political ugita.
toss were able g. prove q aiugle charg,
againsy him anu bis noble brother
lheIt death, however, was decreud it
the secret councils VI tho consplrat1rs
II tho law could not reaou them,
deadly volley would, Consequently
lawiesa moi was brought together 4
40 the work, while those whose duty
IL WAS to guard their lives washer
their hands in Innocence, like Pom
thus Pilato, anu permitted the guutlgs
blood TO stain the soil OF liberty.
But there isanothsr eide 10 It. Tn
blood OF the martyrs always has bee
the seed OF the Church. The Churc
oiJesus Christ Of Lat.er.day saiHts
no exception TO this rule. Probabl
1t Was necessary that tho founder