Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-29
THE MARTyRDoNi.

Z The eth OF June is a day ever me-
4morabie In the annals OF the history oil
the Church for, on that day. ls44, the
Prophet Joseph and his faithful proth-
Ter, Hyrum. fell. martyrs to the TRUTH
The two brothers were murdered III
carthage while awaiting trial on false
charge Of treason against the state
They were sla.u while under the pro-
Election of tho commonwealth the Cow
ternor having given a solemn pledge
40 that effect. But Notwithstanding this,
the assassination was perpetrated by
mob without interference by tho Gov
ernor
The Prophet Joseph and his brother
had, ever since they came TO manhood.
llived to bless their fellowmen- And
thousands upon thousands had
found in their ministrations both
temporal and spiritual saliva
tIon. They were true as gold
10 their friends, loyal to their country
and its institutions. and faithfully de-
voted TO the service Of their God They
could truly say that they knew of no
offense willingly committed. Why. then.
Mere they slain?
They had several classes OF enemies.
There were political plotters who saw
I'm the loyalty of The prophets of tho
Almighty an imponetrable obstacle to
The success of their plans for personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. There were religious
fanatics who hoped that the removal Of
the leaders would end a religious move
mcnt they regarded with adherence.
because unable to understand 1t, There
were apostates, STEPPED In sin and with
out conscience. who hated the Prophet
and all who were loyal to him with a
bitter hatred Darkness hates the
light Sin hates righteousness, In the
same manner and for the same reason
tapostates always hate those who re-
main faithful and loyal to truth. When
men and women. inspired by political
jcaiousies and religious fanaticism COM
blne with unscrupulous apostates who
have sold themselves 10 do evil, and
their murderous agitation Is permitted
10 go unchecked by the officers whose
sworn duI~ 1t As to protect the
citizens IN their rights under the law
anarchy is sure 10 prevail, and that
WAS the situation in the part Of the
state OF Illinois. whore the blood OF the
martyrs was shed by the mob.
But. in the overrulng power Of ProvI-
dcnce. even the tragedy of Carthage
became one Of the most effective Illus
traiions OF the truth of the Gospel IL
is said OF some OF the martyrs " tho
carly ages OF our era that by the faith
they exhibited and the sentlenoss and
love manifest in their death no less
than IN their lives many pagaus were
drawn with irresistible force to Chris
tianity. ono girl, on her way TO the
altar OF slaughter so touched the heart
of a young Roman that no openly
ipliied her, whorcupon she gave him 4
handkerchief as n token Of apprecia-
lion. OyerpoWered he followed her
into the arena ana died win her. Very
often the faith of martyrs and their
Happiness In. death won hearts for the
Master. Their blood became the seed
OF the Church. It has been so in this
age
1t is a notable fact, ON tho other
hand that n curse seems to have been
following prosecutors. Nero took his
own life. The reign Of Aurclius was
marked with war tamne, ana pesti-
lcnce Dcclps persisted IN marsh
and Wild beasts devoured his body.
Valorian. Il If said, was captured by
The Persians and msornhly tortured "a
death. Dioeletian suffered Tor many
years OF painful maladles ana finally
committed suicide. herod was NJ
orally eaten alive by worms. The Nom
isis Of pagan mythology seems 10 have
pursued prosecutors.
This is true Of the modern perseeu-
tors too quite 40 interesting chap
tor OF ecclesiastical history could be
written ON the fate OF many proml'
nent prosecutors Some time ago wS
published an interesting letter on thai
subject, by ELDER Andrew Jenson W.
notice In the current number OF Liza
bona, The Elders Journal, an article
: on the same subject. In this the nam'