Joseph Smith

[SlaveofChrist]

I am starting this thread to discuss Joseph Smith and who he was (in response to a statement made by Powell in this thread http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7083). There is already a giant thread discussing the issues of Mormonism, so I hope we can avoid those.

A useful case to keep in mind is the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. Non-Mormons will claim that he knew that what he taught was false, yet he was willing to risk martyrdom rather than say "Hey everyone, I was just kidding about all that Book of Mormon and visits - from - God stuff. Please don't let my enemies kill me!"

Joseph Smith was rightly thrown in jail for burning down a printing press that printed some of his secrets. He smuggled a gun into the jail and opened fire on a crowd killing 2 people and wounding one other I believe. I hardly think that was martyrdom, that is a murderer, liar, occultist, etc. getting off easy.

[Alma]

07-13-2003 @ 09:01 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=147978#post147978)
SlaveofChrist:

Joseph Smith was rightly thrown in jail for burning down a printing press that printed some of his secrets. He smuggled a gun into the jail and opened fire on a crowd killing 2 people and wounding one other I believe. I hardly think that was martyrdom, that is a murderer, liar, occultist, etc. getting off easy.

I hope my comment here is in keeping with the parameters of this forum. If not, please let me know.

I think the information you present above is mistaken. Joseph Smith was in jail, initially for the charge of “riot” because as major of Nauvoo, the mayor and city council gave the order to “abate” as a nuisance, a newspaper. It wasn’t burned down, and the decision to stop its publication was based upon the legal precedent of the New York City council’s action of abating as a nuisance a dilapidated warehouse.

After the destruction of the printing press by the city police department, there was a threat of mob violence and so the mayor declared martial law. Several days following this event, the governor of Illinois promised Smith protection if he would surrender for trial for the charge of riot. He did surrender and after bail was set, Joseph Smith posted bail and was immediately re-arrested for “treason.” The charge of treason because it was a capital offense carrying the death penalty and consequently not eligible for bail.

Initially, Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum and others were confined in the jail cell but the sheriff thought it was unreasonable to make them stay in the cell and gave them his and his wife’s apartment adjoining the cell. On the night of June 27th, 1844, a mob of armed men stormed the sheriff’s apartment, shooting through the door. Joseph Smith’s brother was shot in the face and those in the apartment shot back. Mormon historians claim that two members of the mob were killed and one wounded but there is no evidence that any members of the mob were killed. However, they forced open the door and shot Joseph Smith several times as well as his associate John Taylor. Taylor survived. If that’s what you call “getting off easy” I wonder how defending yourself from a mob while in custody qualifies as “murder?”

Alma

[John Powell]

JOHN MORMON (my former believing self):
It's important to define what constitutes a martyr. I'm inclined to think Joseph and Hyrum Smith count. Also David Koresh and many of his people of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.

Jesus decided to die, no one could take His life from Him.

However, what about the other Christian martyrs?

If any of them had had a futuristic gun would they have used it to protect themselves by scaring away or killing the leaders of those trying to kill them? I think yes.

If Stephen, for example, had had an army of supporters to protect him would he have called for their assistance or would he have told them to keep out of it so he could humbly accept a martyr's fate? I think Stephen would have chosen life.

Do martyrs seek to die or is it that they refuse to deny even in the face of death or what? If it's the second then Joseph, Hyrum, and many of the Branch Davidians probably count as martyrs for their beliefs.

John Powell