On June 27, 1844 Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were shot in Carthage jail. A new section of the Doctrine and Covenants was added just in time for the 1844 publication including a memoriam to their martyrdom. What is now Section 135 has those words from the prophet’s friends announcing the death as a seal to the testimony of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.
Segment 1
Quotes:
It is a deed that will not soon be forgotten. Such transactions outlive their actors—they go down to posterity on the page of history—they never die. (Quincy Herald, 10 July 1844, as recorded in footnote 51 of “Doctrine and Covenants 135:Account of Murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, between Mid-July and Mid-August 1844”, in Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
D&C 135:1 (Seal the testimony)
Study Helps:
As men wrote the sacred Book of the Law; the roll is to be sealed up, partly as a security against its being tampered with, till the time came for its disclosure, partly as an attestation, like the seal of a king’s letter, that it was authentic. (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, Isaiah 8:16)
The announcement was added to the end of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants as the 111th section. Because space was limited in that edition, the printers used smaller fonts and closer spacing to fit the announcement onto the final two pages of the book. (“Doctrine and Covenants 135:Account of Murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, between Mid-July and Mid-August 1844”, in Joseph Smith’s Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
D&C 135:1-2 (The account of the martyrdom)
Words of the General Authorities:
Dr. Richards’s escape was miraculous, he being a very large man, and in the midst of a shower of balls, yet he stood unscathed, with the exception of a ball which took away the tip end of the lower part of his left ear; which fulfilled literally a prophecy which Joseph made over a year previously, that the time would come that the balls would fly around him like hail, and he should see his friends fall on the right and on the left, but that there should not be a hole in his garment. (Historian’s Office, Martyrdom Account, ed. Hawkins, Grimshaw, Bullock, Smith, Joseph Smith Papers)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
D&C 135:3 (The legacy of Joseph Smith)
Helaman 13:37 (Encircled by those opposing us)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
D&C 135:4-5 (Like a lamb to the slaughter)
Matthew 5:44-47 (Love your enemies)
D&C 135:7 (Judgement is God’s only)
Moroni 7:45-48 (What charity is)
Words of the General Authorities:
Peacemaking is not a new thing, hot off the press. It was taught by Jesus Christ Himself, both to those in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Peacemaking has since been taught by modern-day prophets from the earliest days of the Restoration even to this day. (Gary E. Stevenson, “Blessed Are the Peacemakers”, October 2025 General Conference)
Nothing is more congenial to my feelings and principles than the principles of universal freedom and has been from the beginning…Let us from henceforth drive from us every species of intolerance. When a man is free from it he is capable of being a critic. When I have used every means in my power to exalt a man’s mind, and have taught him righteous principles to no effect, he is still inclined to his darkness, yet the same principles of liberty and charity would ever be manifested by me as though he embraced it. (Joseph Smith, “Council of Fifty Minutes, March 1844–January 1846”, Joseph Smith Papers)
Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us. (Joseph Smith, “Discourse, 2 July 1839”, Joseph Smith Papers)
it is my disposition to give and forgive, and to bear and to forbear, with all long-suffering and patience, with the foibles, follies, weaknesses, and wickedness of my brethren and all the world of mankind; and my confidence and love toward you is not slackened, nor weakened. And now, if you should be called upon to bear with us a little in any of our weaknesses and follies, and should, with us, receive a rebuke to yourselves, don’t be offended…When you and I meet face to face, I anticipate, without the least doubt, that all matters between us will be fairly understood, and perfect love prevail; and the sacred covenant by which we are bound together, have the uppermost seat in our hearts. (Joseph Smith, “Letter to Edward Partridge and Others”, 30 March 1834, Joseph Smith Papers)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
Articles of Faith 1:9 (All that God reveals)
Articles of Faith 1:11 (Claim to religious freedom)
D&C 135:7 (Touch the hearts of the honest)
Words of the General Authorities:
Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Safety for the Soul”, October 2009 General Conference)
View transcript here.