LDS: Joseph and Hyrum Two of the Greatest Who Ever Lived

27 June

I Stand in Awe of You ‘Holy God, to Whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of you’.

 I’m certain most people with an interest in Mormonism are well aware of the significance in today’s date in Mormon history. For those unaware, on June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed in a shootout at a jail in Carthage, IL. The two brothers were awaiting trial when an angry mob stormed the building, ran up a flight of stairs, and were met with a shower of bullets with Joe Smith at the other end of a gun that had been smuggled in the night prior.

When the dust settled, Joe and Hyrum were both deceased, and another member of the Church (John Taylor), found he had been shot as well. For more info, see History of the Church 6:616-618.

Although we’ve posted on this subject in our witnessing tip today, I’d be remiss not to bring attention to the news feed I received in my e-mails last night.

The Church’s top apostle, M. Russell Ballard, wrote in the Church News that he hopes members will appreciate a few things on this, the 175thanniversary of Smith’s death.

For the sake of brevity, we’re looking at just a couple of the things Mr. Ballard said. For more info, see TheChurchNews.com.

Make no mistake beloved, this man’s article sickened me to the core. I saw nothing in his pride of familial ties resembling that he knows the Lord Jesus. For the most part this article was about Ballard’s numerous trips to Carthage, his favorite memories of talks he’s given about Joe Smith, and the showcasing of carved busts of his ancestors prominently displayed in his office.

Here in part is what he said –

‘It was 2012 and he was speaking at the seminar for new mission presidents held at the Missionary Training Center in Provo. … “Much can be learned by our missionaries in following the example of these Prophets. They were men of integrity, loyalty, courage, trust, faith and unwavering testimony,” … When he concluded, William W. Phelps’ tribute hymn, “Praise to the Man,” was softly played and the hearts of everyone in the congregation were touched.’

As a quick review…

Those ‘missionaries’ escaped from two jails, were practicing polygamy, forged bank notes, fled from Ohio, to Missouri, and eventually Illinois, where they were wanted on several charges.

Their testimonies of Jesus Christ wavered with every cool breeze of the day, hence, the development of a ‘Restored Gospel’.

The article went on to say –

“My feeling is we have to stand in awe, in reverence and deep appreciation for their courage, their spirituality, their integrity, and their love for the Lord Jesus Christ,” … So you are talking about two great men, perhaps as great of sons of God who have ever lived, with the exception of the Savior, of course, Who is the greatest of all. Every Church member should know and think about that….”

Hyrum and Joe were as great as any other?

Wow. That should tell members where the loyalty of their leaders stand. It’s obviously not for our Lord who died for them on the cross. Rather, these men have chosen to stand in awe for two men who died in a gunfight, after one of them killed two people.

This was another prime opportunity to preach Jesus, and Ballard chose to preach about a guy wanted by the feds.

Pray for Mormons to dismiss this man’s false ideologies, and stand for Him who saves! The well known saying if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything is true on this one…

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18

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