REMEMBERING THE MARTYRDOM
Invite guests—check
Order the table cloths— check
Find centerpieces for the tables—check
Weed the yard— check
Locate easels for paintings—check
This last week was the anniversary of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, and we were making plans to have a beautiful backyard garden feast in honor of these two prophets.
Many prophets have encouraged the Saints to always remember this day. Joseph F. Smith taught:
“The martyrdom has always been an inspiration to the people of the Lord … and must ever be held in sacred memory by the Latter-day Saints who have learned the great truths that God revealed through his servant, Joseph Smith.”
EARLIER YEARS
We started celebrating this anniversary about 5 years ago. Some of the things we have done were to gather with others and sing songs of the Restoration, or read a few stories from They Knew the Prophet by Hyrum Andrus each night the week previous and discuss them at family prayer. Other years as a family we have watched the movie The Two Prophets, discussing their lives and our dedication in defending their character.
However this year we decided to do something different after reading about a magnificent vision that Parley P. Pratt had in which he was attending a Holy Feast in heaven. The entire heaven was gathering for a celebration.
AN ETERNAL HOLIDAY
Parley shared the following:
“Our curiosity excited us to inquire, what day they celebrated? To which the guide replied: “This is the Feast-day of the Lord to JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH, for being martyred for the truth, held yearly on the 7th day of the fourth month, throughout all the tribes of Israel.”
Flesh and blood cannot comprehend the greatness of the scene; the worthy of the earth, with Adam at their head; the martyrs of the different dispensations, with Abel at their head; and honorable men from other worlds composed an assemblage of majesty, dignity, and `divinity,’ so much above the `little pageantry’ of man in his self-made greatness, that we almost forgot that mortals ever enjoyed anything more than misery, in all the pomp and circumstance of man’s power over man! This was a feast-day for truth! This was the reward of integrity!—This was the triumph of “kings and priests,” unto God, and was a holiday of eternity! Who could be happier than he that was among the holy throng? No one, and away we rode out of Zion among her stakes.”
It seemed most appropriate to mirror this vision, and hold a feast in their honor—and what better place to enjoy it than out on the lawn under string lights?
As we worked on the details, we also began immersing our home with stories of Joseph. Music about him was played hourly, and many of us dove into his teachings to share with each other for dinner discussions. Our home became a sanctuary as we spent the week remembering the lives of these two men.
CHANGE OF PLANS!
However, what was to be a large event was now canceled when attention was needed elsewhere for Brad, whom we believe may have suffered from a silent stroke [He is well- future story].
Instead, we gathered with just the family for a mini feast. Everything was to be kept simple. A small table was brought out, and the flowers were placed in the center next to two candlesticks which represented the two prophets. Fruit, finger foods, and veggie wraps were on the menu.
Next, the story of the heavenly feast was related to my grandchildren—whose attention I held closely believe, it or not! I spoke about the long, beautiful table that stretched out for miles, filled with the 300,000 guests, the fun chariot rides Jesus was giving to the people and all the guests who came to pay honor to these two prophets.
A PROMISE MADE
As stories were shared, I was reminded of an oath I had just learned about. The earlier Saints had promised to always defend Joseph and Hyrum’s name and to teach their children to do the same. This had become part of the temple endowment in 1845.
“You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will pray and never cease to pray to Almighty God to avenge the blood of the prophets upon this nation, and that you will teach the same to your children and to your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.”
As I sat there holding my 3-year-old granddaughter, Claire, the Spirit taught me that this was how I was to celebrate the martyrdom—that I did not need to do something big and grand. By passing down these precious stories to my posterity, we were indeed avenging the blood of Joseph and Hyrum right there at that moment.
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