Our family arrived in this great land of America at the
time of the pilgrims. They came seeking civil and
religious freedom and to build a better
life for their children.
The story I tell begins two days before Christmas, 1805.
While living in Sharon, Vermont, our family was
blessed with a son.
We called him Joseph, after the name of his father.
Supper's ready!
It is thought by some that I shall tell many remarkable
incidents which attended Joseph's childhood, but
nothing occurred during his early life except those
trivial circumstances which are common to that state of
human existence.
My husband farmed in the summer and taught school in
the winter.
We worked hard, and raised our children to fear God.
Let's see.
Thank you, Catherine.
Yesterday we were reading in the gospel of--
Our family consisted of nine children.
Alvin was the oldest and a hero in Joseph's eyes, as was
Hyrum, our second oldest. They, in turn, saw something
special in their younger brother.
We all did.
God gives us power over temptation, but we are weak in
the face of it.
All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Therefore, we must repent and be baptized.
It is the only path to His kingdom.
Mr. Smith, a word please.
You seem to be a God-fearing man, but I don't see you with
your family in my congregation
It seems that preacher nowadays teaches folks to fear
God too much, and trust in Him too little.
You're a difficult man, Mr. Smith.
I don't mean to be.
I'm just concerned for your salvation.
Alvin, have you ever wondered what we
need to do to be saved?
You worry too much, little brother.
But I need to know.
Well, you remember that sea shell you
found at Uncle Jesse's?
Yeah.
Well, some small creature made that shell, Joseph.
Layer by layer until they finally outgrew it.
Maybe God intends for us to outgrow ourselves too.
I just--
I can't believe he'd only want to save a few of us.
If you embrace false doctrine, you can expect coldness and
darkness all your life.
The Bible teaches that there is only one way
to salvation, Joseph.
Study the word of God, and you will know the
truth of what I say.
With his mind considerably troubled, Joseph continued his
search for answers, a search that would have been difficult
even for those much older than he, who had the benefit of an
education he never had.
I was one day reading the Epistle of James.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." The words
came with great force into my heart.
I reflected upon them again and again.
At length, I came to the conclusion that I must do as
James directs, that is, ask of God.
It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day early in
the spring of 1820.
I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my
heart to God.
I was seized upon by some power, an actual being from
the unseen world.
Exerting all my strength to call upon God, I
saw a pillar of light.
When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages.
One of them spake unto me.
Joseph, this is my beloved son, hear him.
I am Jesus Christ.
I saw God the Father, and his son Jesus Christ. They did, in
reality, speak to me.
I knew it.
And I knew that God knew it.
And I could not deny it.
I was told in the vision to join none of the churches, but
that the gospel in its fullness
was about to be restored.
I'm grateful for your help, Joseph, but you
must know how I feel.
There are no such things as visions and revelations in
these days.
All of that ceased with the apostles and there will never
be any more of it.
Don't speak of it further.
It will only bring you grief.
Hey, Joseph!
You seen any visions lately?
[LAUGHTER]
Mind your own business, Smith.
Worry about your brother.
In September 1823, as he again opened his heart to God,
Joseph was visited by a heavenly messenger.
Joseph, I am your fellow servant.
Moses truly--
He said his name was Moroni and that God had a
work for me to do.
He told me of an ancient record written upon gold
plates, giving an account of the former
inhabitants of this continent.
The writing on the gold plates was unknown to me.
I was told the plates contained a fullness of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was given knowledge of an appearance that Jesus
Christ himself made after the Resurrection to the people of
ancient America.
During this visit, Jesus invited the people to feel the
wound marks in his hands, feet, and his side.
He called twelve apostles to teach his gospel
and performed miracles.
Joseph could describe this as though he had spent his whole
life with them.
I think that we presented the most particular aspect of any
family that ever lived upon the earth.
All of us giving the most profound attention to a boy,
17 years of age, who had never read the Bible
through in his life.
In time, Joseph would be given the knowledge to translate the
record which had been revealed to him.
Until then, he was instructed to wait and prepare.
That preparation would include more challenges to
his trust in God.
I'm sorry.
I've done everything I know how to do.
Our beloved oldest son and Joseph's hero on earth.
Joseph, if Alvin dies without being baptized, He will never
see heaven.
I wish I could say otherwise.
Joseph, I'm sorry, I truly am sorry.
You're the oldest now.
Joseph.
Do everything you can to obtain the record.
Everything.
God has given travail to the sons of man.
For dust we are, and unto dust shall we return.
Perhaps God is trying to warn you, Joseph.
Alvin is lost, but there is still hope for you.
Forget these foolish notions.
But it was Alvin's words have were in Joseph's mind, I can't
believe God would want to save just a few of us.
As Joseph grew to manhood, he continued to ponder all that
had happened and to wonder about all he had been promised
was yet to come.
The same tomorrow, boys.
It was during this time he became acquainted with a young
woman named Emma Hale.
As so often happened, rumors preceded Joseph.
Father has heard some stories.
Well, what if I told you that they were true?
He told her of all that had happened.
She would have to decide for herself.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
That's what I did.
You win.
There's something I want to show you.
I've thought a great deal about what you told me.
And?
I believe you.
Although her parents did not approve, Joseph and Emma were
married the following year.
For four years, Joseph returned each September to the
hiding place of the sacred record.
Each time, he received further knowledge until, at length, he
was given permission to begin the long promised translation.
You married a dreamer, Emma.
Translate.
You normally read and write.
Until he gives up these foolish ideas, he is no longer
welcome in this house.
He'll change his mind after the baby comes.
They named their first child Alvin, after Joseph's beloved
older brother.
He lived only a few hours.
During their 17 years together, they
would see many sorrows.
The Lord called Joseph in his weakness, but He qualified him
for His work.
The translation continued.
Others joined Joseph in this great undertaking.
All men must repent and be baptized in His name.
One such was Oliver Caldery.
How are we to be baptized?
I don't know.
In May 1829, Joseph and Oliver inquired of the Lord.
A messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light.
He said he was John the Baptist, the same who has
baptized Jesus Christ. He laid his hands upon their heads and
gave Joseph and Oliver the authority to baptize.
Later, Peter, James and John, three of Christ's original
apostles, restored the same authority they were given
anciently by Jesus Christ, so that man could once again act
in all things for the salvation of his children.
The work of translation finished, and Joseph returned
the plates to the angel Moroni.
The ancient record was published as the Book of
Mormon, another witness of Jesus Christ.
I have been asked many times if the Book of Mormon is true.
The scriptures say, prove all things.
Read it and ask God.
And when you shall receive these things, I would exhort
you that ye would ask God, the eternal father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true.
And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the
truth of it unto to you by the power of the Holy Ghost. And
by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth
all things.
Is this book meant to replace the Bible?
Nothing can replace the Bible, Father.
This is another witness of the glory of Christ.
My husband was baptized by immersion on April 6, 1830,
the day the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
was organized.
When he came up out of the water, Joseph exclaimed,
"Praise to my God that I have lived to see my own father
baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ. " With Christ's
priesthood authority, the same church that Jesus Christ
established anciently was restored to the earth.
That we proceed and organize ourselves as a church
according to the commandments of God.
All those who are in favor, please so indicate.
Oh, God, the eternal Father, we ask--
Are you still determined to organize this church of yours?
The Lord has commanded it, but it is not my
church, it is His.
It is the Church of Jesus Christ.
I kept my promise, Alvin.
Mr. Smith, forgive the intrusion but I wonder, could
you tell me more about that book?
Yes, yes I could.
I do not believe in your religion, Mr. Smith, but I do
thank you for your kindness.
You might say that is our religion, ma'am.
I've never been thrown by anyone, so I'll just apologize
now, brother Joseph.
Sometimes the Lord brings us low before
he can lift us higher.
Have you begun?
[APPLAUSE]
Brothers and sisters, be not weary in well doing, for when
we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in
the service of our God.
We do not ask people to give up any good that they have, we
only invite them to come and to get more.
And they did come.
The word spread very fast. Many new members began to
gather in Missouri and Ohio.
These Mormons will soon be taking over the whole county.
Can you imagine?
Picking up and leaving everything behind on the word
of a so-called prophet.
I hear they worship Joseph Smith.
Well, there's one way to find out.
Joseph?
Yes, Mother?
My new friend here has a question.
We only worship God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.
And all this talk of revelation?
That is how we learn His will.
What makes you so certain, Mr. Smith, that God even cares?
He does care and you can know it.
but first you have to trust Him.
The message was always the same.
Read for yourself and ask God.
Many of our neighbors would do just that.
But there were others who felt threatened.
This time tomorrow, Joseph Smith will be long gone,
running like a scared rabbit.
Perhaps fearful of a doctrine they did not understand,
perhaps distrustful of so many new arrivals.
There he is.
Grab him!
[SCREAMING AND YELLING]
Come on, children!
They're right here.
Hold him!
Don't do this.
Put tar in his mouth.
It is difficult to take the measure of such things.
There will always be opposition.
How much do we have to endure?
Perhaps I am meant to swim in deep water.
Better deep than shallow.
Pray unto the Father, with all the energy of heart, that ye
may be filled with this love.
God has restored to the earth the spirit of prophecy in the
revelation.
I am a witness that Jesus is the Christ. He invites all men
to repent and to come unto him.
He will bear our grief.
He will carry our burdens.
And if we are faithful, we may have this hope that we may be
purified even as He is pure.
The little town of Kirtland, Ohio grew at such a rate that
houses could scarcely be built fast enough.
Their family just arrived.
Who have we here?
That's Rachael, Susan, and Abigail.
But she prefers Abby.
Oh really.
Mm-hmm.
Abby.
The Jacobsens are in our room tonight.
I thought their home was finished.
It is, except for hanging the doors and
closing the back wall.
[LAUGHS]
So, what is all the excitement about?
The Lord has commanded us to build a house to his name.
What kind of a house?
A house of holiness where the Lord can grant us knowledge
and power and authority.
A temple, like the one where Jesus Christ taught his
disciples in Jerusalem.
And will we build this temple before or after the walls go
on the Jacobsen home?
[LAUGHING]
Soon church members were donating one day in ten to
build a temple to their God.
I know you've got a good heart, Lymon.
I certainly hope you've got a good eye.
The first time I read this book, I knew that no mere man
could have written it.
Joseph really is a prophet.
You're right.
Parley.
He's everything I expected, sometimes more.
One of the hardest working among them was a new convert,
Brigham Young.
Joseph opens up in cleanness things that I'd never
understood before.
Morning, Brigham.
Joseph began to rely on Brigham's skill as a builder,
and recognized his deepening faith.
This should be our finest work, Brigham.
Nothing but the best for the Lord.
We're not just building a temple here, the Lord is
building us.
But how can He call someone like me to be an apostle?
You have been prepared, Brigham.
The Lord takes raw materials, shapes them and refines them.
The Lord has great things in mind for you, Brigham.
Greater than you have ever dreamed of.
Brigham Young, in the name of Jesus Christ we lay our hands
upon your head and ordain you to the office of high priest.
The Kirtland Temple became the connection between heaven and
earth that our people were looking for.
Not only a symbol of God's presence, but a
pathway for his word.
What is it?
Mother, tonight in the temple I saw a vision of the
celestial kingdom of God.
The voice of the Lord revealed these words.
"All who die without knowledge of this gospel who would have
received it will be heirs of the kingdom of God." Mother.
Alvin is not lost.
Joseph's prophecy was fulfilled.
The Lord did come to his temple.
Behold, I have accepted this house.
Other heavenly messengers appeared.
Old Testament prophets, Moses, Elias, and Elijah.
--to the children and the children to their fathers.
The Lord built us in wonderful ways as he revealed through
Joseph, line upon line, precept upon precept, every
truth, every principle, every doctrine of Christ pertaining
to life and salvation.
God is the father of our spirits.
Jesus Christ is His Son.
Their work and their glory is to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man.
It's time we got rid of these Mormons for good, and if we
need to kill a few to do it, all the better.
Some of the older settlers became jealous
of our growing influence.
Suspicion and fear took root in ignorance.
Heavy harassments turned into
persistent slander and violence.
Why are you doing this?
Shut up!
Why?
It is beyond me to answer such questions.
How can we leave this behind, Joseph?
I'm not the only one under threat now.
This has become too dangerous here for everyone.
That is what we must consider.
A temple we can rebuild, but we cannot replace lives.
Will things be better in Missouri?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[BANG]
Lay down.
[BANG]
It seemed wherever our people tried to
settle, conflict followed.
Missouri proved to be the refiner's fire.
Mama!
Mama, please!
[CRYING]
This isn't just a mob.
There are 2,500 Missouri militiamen standing against us
with that order from Governor Boggs.
"Mormons must be treated as enemies and exterminated or
driven from the state for the public peace."
18 of our brothers and sisters lay dead at Haun's Mill.
Is this is the public peace the governor speaks of?
Fathers and mothers and children slaughtered for the
crime of building homes and worshipping God.
You should make this very point.
Accept the offer, I beg you.
General Lucas.
I was told you wanted to talk with me.
Here are your prisoners, General, as we agreed.
When we heard that Joseph and Hyrum had been betrayed, we
were filled with mourning, lamentation and woe.
Gentlemen.
Gentlemen, please!
Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock General Doniphan and his
brigade will take these men to the town square and far west.
And he will shoot them!
[CHEERING]
In the midst of my grief, I was comforted by the spirit of
the Lord and received the following promise.
Your sons shall not be harmed, and in five years from this
time, Joseph will have power over all his enemies.
This is cold-blooded murder.
These men are innocent.
I will not obey your order.
And if you execute them, I will hold you responsible
before an earthly tribunal, so help me God.
Though their lives were spared, Joseph and Hyrum found
themselves charged with treason against the state of
Missouri, and treated as prisoners of war.
Who's gonna save you now, Smith?
Prophesy, Smith.
Give us one of your revelations.
Tell us, Joe.
Tell us more about Haun's Mill.
Hey, you ever actually kill any Mormons?
Two, maybe three.
Course, the young'uns, they don't count for much.
Yeah, but they're good for target practice!
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, some of them Mormons ran into the woods and others of
'em hid in their blacksmith's shop.
[LAUGHTER]
We aimed right through them boards and we started shooting
'em just like fish in a barrel.
[LAUGHTER]
I found one 10-year-old boy trying to hide
and shot him dead.
I couldn't get his father's boots off.
[LAUGHTER]
Those Mormon women--
oh hoh hoh, now they put up a real fight.
I remember two or three of them were hiding out--
Silence, silence, Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you and
command you to be still.
I will not live another minute and hear such language.
Cease such talk, or you or I die this instant.
The worth of every soul is great in the eyes of God.
Many of our fathers and brothers fought in the
Revolutionary War and struggled to establish a
government of liberty and equal rights upon this land.
We violated no laws, yet thousands of our innocent
people were driven from place to place at the barrel of
their lives.
Smith!
Get yourself up here.
Don't you try nothing.
It's so good to see you.
Mary?
Hyrum.
I brought someone to meet you.
We have a fine new son.
One at a time.
As Joseph and Hyrum languished in the Liberty jail waiting to
be tried for their lives, our people were scattered across
Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.
I have Mary and the children.
And all this work is true.
What a faithful heart you have, Hyrum.
Oh, God, where art thou?
My son, peace be unto thy soul.
Thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a
small moment.
And then if thou endure it well, God shall
exalt thee on high.
After six months in jail, and by the grace of God, Joseph
and Hyrum escaped their captors.
We were reunited in Illinois, where we felt welcomed.
We hoped that our sufferings had not been in vain, and that
we would now enjoy a season of rest.
Don't lose heart, brethren.
Nauvoo in Hebrew means beautiful place.
What's the Hebrew word for swamp?
During that first summer in Nauvoo, hundreds became sick
with chills and fever.
Here.
Let me help you, sisters.
Brother Joseph, my pride has brought me very low.
Now the Lord can lift you higher.
Am I indeed the mother of a prophet of God?
The honored instrument in performing so great a work
that my soul did magnify and my spirit
rejoiced in God, my Savior.
Within five years, Nauvoo grew into a thriving community of
some 15,000.
At the same time, Joseph was considering the wider world.
The truth of God will go forth, boldly, nobly and
independent until it has penetrated every continent,
sounded in every ear, and the purposes of God shall be
accomplished.
God desires to bless all of His children with light and
truth and salvation.
Brethren, a man filled with the love of God cannot be
content in blessing his family alone.
He will be anxious to bless the whole human race.
This is what the Lord desires for you.
In 1830, the first missionaries set out to share
the Book of Mormon.
In ancient days, God spoke to prophets who in turn shared
God's word with all those who were willing to listen.
Nonsense!
God has again spoken to his prophets who have
given us His word.
The book of Amos teaches us that this is
part of God's plan.
10 years later, Brigham Young and the other apostles were
sent to England.
Great success there dispelled any thought that our faith was
just an American religion.
Good morning, brother.
If he asks with a sincere heart, having real intent and
faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto
you by the power of the Holy--
The missionaries sent out into the world gathered converts by
the thousands to help build Nauvoo into the city of God.
Boatloads came up the Mississippi from the port of
New Orleans.
Ah, you play the pipes.
Brother Joseph, please don't encourage him.
Still others came by any means they could manage.
We walked almost 900 miles to get here.
God bless you, Jane Manning.
Oh, He already has.
He already has.
Brother Joseph?
Jesse!
A word?
Certainly.
I was thinking--
Yes?
People notice everything you do and I wonder if a man of
your position should engage in such menial chores.
Well, if there are demeaning things to be done in a man's
house, who better than the head of the house to do them?
Well, my wife does most such work at our house.
Maybe, maybe she could speak to Sister Emma.
How long have you been married?
Three years next month.
That long?
May I offer you some advice.
Aye.
The Lord intends for marriage to last much longer than that,
in fact, forever.
Now.
If a man is not willing to help and cherish his wife
here, why would she want him here hereafter?
Now you give that some thought.
Therein lies happiness, brother.
Now there's a very wise man.
They're beautiful.
That's what made me think of you.
It is the duty of a husband to love, cherish
and nourish his wife.
Start counting.
One, two, three.
Two, two, three.
Do not count out loud.
To honor her as himself, to regard her feelings with
tenderness.
For she is his flesh and she is his bone.
The Lord hath revealed the sacred sealing ordinances
which bind families together in life will exist in
eternity, only coupled with eternal glory.
We can one day dwell with God as families.
Just a little weird, that's all.
You've watched after us all of our lives, Father.
That's what fathers do.
Let us watch after you.
Joseph, will I see Alvin again?
Yes.
You will see Alvin again and be with him.
You will always be his father and he will
always be your son.
The Lord has revealed that that is His plan.
We can be together with the ones we love forever.
We will all see Alvin again.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Heave, once more.
Over, over easy, very good.
It's as magnificent as they say it will be.
The Lord has great blessings in store for all of us.
Why does the Lord want us to build another temple?
It may seem to some a very bold doctrine, a power which
binds on earth and in heaven.
But God has restored that authority again.
In the temple we can receive all of the ordinances of
salvation, not only for ourselves but for those who
have died without them.
If we are faithful, all our losses will be made up.
Even as a new glorious temple rose up in Nauvoo, the old
fears returned.
We would not be surprised to hear of the death of Joseph
Smith by violent means.
This isn't news.
It's a threat.
There's an easier way to get rid of these Mormons.
Old Joe Smith is still wanted in Missouri.
I say let them have him.
Hold it right there, Smith.
Don't move or you're a dead man.
Gonna shoot me?
No.
We're taking you back to Missouri for good.
The governor of Missouri demanded Joseph be extradited
to stand trial, again on false charges.
Sadly, the Illinois
authorities honored the demand.
Come on, boys!
Our men found him just before they crossed the
Illinois-Missouri border.
Well, gentlemen.
Looks like I won't be going with you to Missouri today.
But just to show there are no hard feelings, why don't you
be my guests tonight?
Gentlemen?
I don't believe we've had the pleasure.
You might say we're the guests of honor.
Oh.
We rejoiced in the bold rescue, but the authorities
took it as an act of defiance.
Joseph was given an ultimatum.
Joseph, the governor insists that we come to Carthage.
The governor of Illinois promised my sons would receive
fair treatment.
History suggested otherwise.
If Hyrum and I do not do what the governor orders, he will
send the militia into Nauvoo, and that will mean bloodshed.
God does not want that, and I can only do His will.
Did you ever wonder if He asks too much?
I do not let myself.
Sometimes I do.
I have longed with all my heart to finish this temple.
I shall never live to see it, Brigham.
You will.
Promise me, when the time comes, you will lead our
people to the Rocky Mountains.
Brethren, my mission is to testify of Jesus Christ. I
know that He lives.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I love you, brother.
Joseph and Hyrum arrived in Carthage, Illinois, and
surrendered themselves to face charges.
Despite all the promises of fair treatment, what happened
came as no surprise.
[BANG]
Ooh.
Joseph.
[UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Hyrum.
No!
[BANG]
What do we hear in the gospel that we have received?
Truth out of the earth.
Mercy from heaven.
A voice of gladness for the living and the dead.
[BANG]
Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
The mobs are determined we shall not have justice while
we stay in Nauvoo.
I do not know that I shall go west, but I pray that the Lord
will let Brother Brigham take the people away.
I am the first witness of the restoration of Christ's Church
upon the earth.
I leave the world at liberty to pass judgment upon what
I've spoken, esteemeth them good.
But this much I will say.
All that I have told you is true and will stand forever.