How and Why Was Joseph Smith Killed?

Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. Join professors Casey Paul Griffiths and Scott Woodward as they travel to places in Illinois such as Nauvoo, Warsaw and Carthage. In these locations they explain the external and internal challenges the Saints were facing, such as the Nauvoo Expositor and Warsaw Signal newspapers. Casey and Scott then explain in detail what exactly happened in Carthage Jail the moments before Joseph and his brother were murdered by a mob.

[elioli]

Nothing but LDS propaganda. If you want the real story look for "The Untold Story of the Death of Joseph Smith" by Aaron Shafovaloff.

[Fromabigailwithlove]

Funny how he’s the martyr, but he burned someone else’s property and tools of free speech and was rightfully punished for it? Like if someone came up to me and destroyed my phone for posting this comment, they’d go to jail. What a coward. I feel really bad for people born in to this religion. I came out of a repressive religion myself but the lies that lds was founded on are truly shocking and harmful to this day.

[DONTLIMITGOD]

Love this! I left church for 15 years however in 2018 I had a literal Come to Jesus moment. I felt so impressed to research my Moms family through her genealogy and all I had to work with was her maiden last name. BROWER...The very same Ariah Coates Brower who helped make the death masks of Joseph and Hyrum Smith..The Spirit of Elijah was all over my journey to learn not only about my Moms ancestors but also my Biological Fathers Italian family who are all Catholic. Worlds collided..Fast forward, I realized that MY ways were not the LORDS ways and that's exactly when my testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints pierced my very soul. It feels GOOD to be HOME🙌🏼

[daverawcliffe]

I’d like to bear my testimony,
All I have to say is that I was raised in the Mormon church and as a child I believed in everything that I was taught I grew up poor, My mother had 3 open heart surgeries, and my father had severe confidence issues, we moved around quite a bit, I was an only child, and now that I’m older I think about those difficult times, Out of all the different wards we were in I can honestly say that most of them were very judgmental, I specifically remember one time when my mother and father wanted to go to the temple in Cardston , but because they couldn’t afford to pay tithing for the last few months they were denied by the bishop. Not only they felt humiliated and embarrassed, they were told that they were not worthy of being able to experience going to the temple. I was 15 at the time and I was very angry, both of them were so devoted, and I realized that I never wanted anything to do with the church. Both of my parents eventually became inactive and we relocated once again, but this time I was really happy because I knew that they would never go back and finally I could be able to be a normal person just like everybody else who were much better people than religious people. I believe if you have a conscience and you have morals, there’s no reason to go to a religious establishment who tells you how to live your life.

[NdgOlily]

It is people like you, Mister Tour Guide, that made me want to leave the church. The name of this channel, “church history matters” is the ENTIRE point! Grew up in a devoutly LDS home, yet the ACTUAL church history was hidden from us. You’re doing exactly the same thing. Stop acting like JS was hated for no reason. You never mentioned people found him disgusting because he was having sex with underage girls, creating his own church as a cover. Yes he was angry about the printing press, but they were printing truths. Why are you still trying to spin it as poor Joseph martyred as a lamb to slaughter?? That’s the Mormon way, twist it until it fits!

[danielhickmott]

The attack against Church leaders (Joseph Smith in particular) at Carthage was a political assassination as much as anything. Governor Ford of Illinois didn't like the fastest growing city (with more permanent bldgs. than Chicago at the time) being guided by a charismatic abolitionist. The Saints were known for voting in block and were buying land in Illinois and Iowa placing them strategically on both sides of the Mississippi. They were poised for phenomenal growth.
After being advised by the President of the United States to protect themselves, Joseph formed the Nauvoo Legion which immediately became the largest and most well equipped militia in Illinois. They were never deployed.

[hipchik]

Joseph was arrested because he burned down a printing press which was going to report on his polygamy.

[archangel_one]

0:45 Two Martyrs??? They were killed for their crimes and sins, not for their faith! Yes, it was wrong. They should have received a fair trial.
In general, martyrs are not known for killing people. Martyrs also aren't know for multiple accounts of adultery, committing treason, bank fraud, perjury, fornication, polygamy, rioting, and conspiracies to murder.
19:35 If only he had lived his life for goodness and holiness instead of for himself.

[vickiecoles]

I visited Navuoo and Carthage years ago. As I stood in that room listening to our guide I cried very sad tears. It was a deeply emotional experience for me…..watching this video I had those same emotions. Although very sad, I’m grateful for the opportunity to see it again and hear you teach us. Thank you so much.

[amygreen]

Wow this was missing so many important details. It's like this is trying to romanticize the event and smoothe out what really happened. This is not ok when real history should be shared.

[maryloissnow]

I lived in Burlington, Iowa for many years. An 82 year old man was baptized while we lived there. He grew up in Warsaw. He told me he remembered as a 5 year old boy hearing the old men in town playing checkers outside a store boasting about killing Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum.

[kereamapene]

Come on now. So you saying under all that pressure that he went to the window to draw the gun fire away? Nah thats bs. He tried to run and jump out the window to save himself like anyone scared would.
Interesting how much information is manipulated to make him look like a saint.

[waygo]

Remember 36-year-old Joseph Smith married 15 year old Fanny Alger behind Emma Smith's back... This is well documented. Completely disgusting!

[snivelinj]

These two "historians" and their dramatizations almost make me want to cuss. What silliness this is ! Dramatic music playing, soft dramatic words supposedly spoken while all this confusion is going on. Hyrum shot many times through a second story window while he is in the middle of the room? Are you kidding me? Joseph firing a gun 6 times with a single loader gun? Why did you leave out how they got their guns. Why didn't you talk about the liquor that was provided them which they drank and felt mellow? Well, you characters have a master to serve, which is the almighty church, and had to make this event almost as earth shattering and spiritual as the crucifiction of Jesus. Joseph Smith is the greatest charlatan in American history, and the church continues with his lies.

[gundriver]

Did this guy mention the fact; the main reason he was imprisoned is because the State of Illinois charged him with treason for unlawfully declaring marshall law?

[ty]

This is a great video for many reasons, but I want to specifically point out the high production quality! Very well done, and thanks for sharing!

[jessicamasonsonneborn]

This is a totally different story from the people who lived here. He was killed because of the lies and sexual assaults of local residents.

[leslieshelton]

I love that all of you wonderful amazing professors do what you do so we can glean more from church history and the scriptures. Thank you so much.

[Legomer_McGoat]

Why was it legal to destroy the printing press? This is taking away someone's first amendment rights.

[timothyhudson]

My wife and I made the trip to Nauvoo and also the Carthage Jail recently, my wife's first-ever visit. The first time I made the trip to Carthage I cried my eyes out in the parking lot. I was so overwhelmed by the spirit that I felt there. This past summer (2024) I was angry, very angry. A mob straight up murdered Joseph and Hyrum. I imagined myself with a time machine and a modern assault rifle with plenty of ammo. I would place myself at the top of those stairs and that doorway below would have become a death funnel to any mob member. No bullet would have penetrated those 18" thick stone walls. That jail would have become a fortress. And then the Spirit whispered to me that this had to happen. Joseph and Hyrum had to become martyrs to seal their testimonies with their blood. I cannot begin to imagine how painfully difficult or downright impossible it would have been to be an eyewitness to the Savior Jesus Christ hanging on the cross in agony. Jesus had to die. He had to suffer and die to fulfill all righteousness. I stopped being angry and let those bad thoughts go. Joseph and Hyrum are safe in the world of spirits and we will see them again. I look forward to the day when I can thank the Prophet Joseph Smith for enduring faithfully to the end of his life.