June 27, 1844

On this day in 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred in Carthage Jail. Joseph, Hyrum and others had been taken to Carthage to await trail. Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards were the only ones left in the room on that fateful day. Joseph had John sing "A Poorway Fairing Man of Grief." They did things to keep their minds off of what could happen to them. At 5:00 pm, a mob rushed the jail. They were painted to disguise themselves. The four kept the door shut as best as they could. Shots were fired through the door and the window. Hyrum was the first hit. he was shot in the face. He said "I'm a dead man." and he died. Joseph mourned for his brother. John Taylor tried to jump out the window but was shot in the leg and in the chest but his pocket watch stopped the bullet forever reminding everyone the time of the martyr. Joseph jumped out of the window and was shot in the back and front. His last words were "my Lord my God." He and his brother Hyrum were not divided in life nor in death. Joseph restored Christ's Church on this Earth. He was a man of God. Hyrum was a great brother to Joseph helping him through his trials and also with translating the Book of Mormon. John Taylor later wrote and was included in Doctrine and Covenants 135:3: 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!
John Taylor did survive and had surgery. He became the third president of the Church. Willard Richards also survived and left without a scratch. He helped John Taylor to the basement where there were other jail cells to keep him safe in case the mob came back.

They are my heroes! I cannot wait to meet them in the next life. I'm grateful for Joseph for going in the grove in the Spring of 1820 to ask God which church to join. I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing or even how I would be if I was not part of this restored Gospel. It's true! And something I'm grateful for and hold dear to me.