Did the Testators Seal Their Testimonies with Their Blood?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 135-136 in a lesson titled “He ‘Has Sealed His Mission and His Works with His Own Blood.’” 

The afternoon of June 27, 1844, found Joseph and Hyrum Smith in jail once again, accompanied by John Taylor and Willard Richards. They believed they were innocent of any crime, but they submitted to arrest, hoping to keep the Saints in Nauvoo safe. This wasn’t the first time that enemies of the Church had put the Prophet Joseph in prison, but this time he seemed to know that he would not return alive. He and his friends tried to comfort each other by reading from the Book of Mormon and singing hymns. Then gunshots were heard, and within a few minutes the mortal lives of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had come to an end.

And yet it was not the end of the divine cause they had embraced. And it was not the end of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was more work to do and more revelation that would guide the Church forward. The end of the Prophet’s life was not the end of the work of God.

Some principles taught in this scripture block are (1) Joseph and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimonies with their blood (Doctrine and Covenants 135; 136:37-39; (2) Joseph Smith was a prophet and witness of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3); and (3) I can help accomplish the Lord’s will as I follow His counsel (Doctrine and Covenants 136). This essay will discuss principle #1 about sealing testimonies.

Doctrine and Covenants 135 was published three months after the assassinations of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. There could have been several reasons for its publication, such as a way to comfort the Latter-day Saints after losing their Prophet and Patriarch, a way to help the Saints make sense of the tragedy, or simply a way to document the experience.

A good question to ask is, “Why would God allow His Prophet to be killed?” This question was clearly answered in Doctrine and Covenants 136:37-39.

37 Therefore, marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure; ye can not yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you, from the days of Adam to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and his apostles, and from Jesus and his apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants, and by mine own voice out of the heavens, to bring forth my work;

38 Which foundation he did lay, and was faithful; and I took him to myself.

39 Many have marveled because of his death; but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored and the wicked might be condemned.