Today marks the 182nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Jr. and his brother Hyrum Smith (June 27, 1844).
We remember the monumental divine mission accomplished through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Chosen by the Lord as a young boy following his remarkable First Vision in 1820, Joseph served as the instrument to bring about a great and marvelous work.
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. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated! (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3)
Under Joseph’s prophetic leadership, the early Saints gathered to build communities of faith, including temples in Kirtland, Ohio, and in Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph revealed profound eternal truths concerning the nature of God, the plan of salvation, and the redemption of the dead. He introduced sacred temple ordinances, including baptism for the dead, the endowment, and eternal family sealings, which continue to bind families together today.
Standing firmly by his side throughout these trials was his brother Hyrum. Serving as the Patriarch to the Church and Associate President, Hyrum was a pillar of absolute integrity, wisdom, and unwavering support. Joseph loved him dearly, once noting that Hyrum possessed the mildness of a lamb and the integrity of a Job. Their shared devotion meant that in life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated.
On that fateful afternoon at Carthage Jail in Illinois, a hostile mob of armed men stormed the second-floor room where the brothers were being held. Hyrum was shot and killed first through the room’s door. Joseph was struck by four balls—twice by shots fired from the doorway behind him, and twice by shots fired from the courtyard outside. As he fell from the window, he cried out, “O Lord, my God!” and landed near the well pump below, where the mob shot him again to ensure he was dead.
In sealing their testimonies with their blood, they concluded an extraordinary mortal ministry that laid an enduring foundation for the Restoration of the Gospel.
One hundred and eighty-two years later, millions of people across the world enjoy the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. As we remember Carthage Jail today, we honor their ultimate sacrifice and celebrate the enduring, living legacy of the Restoration.
- Learn more about Joseph Smith and his ministry.
- See various photorealistic images of Joseph Smith.
“When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do His will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not, seek His face in vain.”
— Joseph Smith, Jr., 1835