Did Joseph Smith submit to his enemies?

Question

I remember reading and answer from a mormon saying that he was a martyr and that he submitted to his enemies even though he was the commander of the most powerful army in Illinois.

On the other hand, I've read that he was the major of Nauvoo and he had a newspaper press destroyed because the first and only issu was very antagonistic towards him. He was imprisoned for this and it was then that his enemies asaulted the building where he was captive and died during the attack.

Is there an official document online that narrates the story according to the C. of J.C. of L.D.S.?

Answer 1

Documented Church History...Volume 6
Yes he was mayor Of Nauvoo. He and the city council labled the newpaper a nuisance, disturbing the peace and should be destroyed and it was destroyed. He was acquitted twice in Nauvoo by two nauvoo juries, but because they were Mormon juries outside cities and counties in the state of Illinois demanded a jury outside of Nauvoo. There was no double jeopardy back in 1844. While waiting for trial and promised by Gov. Ford to protect him (what a joke) a mob came dressed in black and faced blackened storm the jail and murdered Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith on June 27, 1844 in Carthage, Illinois.

Answer 2

Here is some info from lds.org that might provide what you want......
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=84010fd41d93b010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&hideNav=1&query=did+joseph+submit+to+his+enemies&bucket=AllChurchContent

I have not found any legitimate proof that Joseph Smith ordered any attacks. I have found indications that the people who loved him and had faith in the restored gospel often made bad decisions in protecting or defending that faith, and it has sometimes been blamed on the leaders, often without reason.

Being a martyr means being a witness willing to suffer for principle - but it does not require that one make murder easy for one's enemies - especially when they are trying to kill others as well. The Apostle Paul, for example, used legal means to try to resist the persecution of those who sought to stop him. He didn't give in easily. His life became a powerful witness for Christ, with no question of his willingness to suffer for the cause.

Joseph Smith was a martyr in that he died because of his faith.....but did he submit? No. He fought for his life, like most humans would. There were others with him as a mob attacked him and his small group of helpless prisoners being held illegally in a jail, and Joseph successfully sought to save some of their lives, though he knew his would be taken.

Somebody had brought a small pistol to Joseph for self-defense, and he did fire into the mob as they advanced up the stairs and into the room where he and others were held.

His desperate efforts to save others or himself hardly detracts from the fact that he gave his life, or that a mob of vile conspirators, stirred by some of the best anti-Mormon ministers of the day, deliberately murdered the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.

Answer 3

I don't know of any document you will find that does not contain bias either way. I do know that he did have a chance to flee across the Mississippi, but turned around to turn himself in. Does it really matter whether he was taken or if he let himself go? The truth is that He and all of the other witnesses of the Book of Mormon, never recanted their witness. He and his brother were willing to watch their families as well as thousands of others suffer, because they knew it was true. They could not deny it, for they knew it.

Answer 4

He was murdered because people were angry with him for destroying the newspaper press.

Answer 5

I am not certain, but any book on Joseph Smith ought to explain his life and his views. You can pick one up in any Christian bookstore, in the section on cults. OR in any secular bookstore in the section on Religion. As for Joseph Smiths personal writings, i am sorry, but those are unavailable to you unless you are part of the Mormon Church.
I had to go to great lengths to get a copy of the Book of Mormon, and Pearl of Great Price. (Unfortunately 'Pearl' was stolen from me, but i still have the other one.)

I do know, that he was into witchcraft, and afraid of hell (just like Charles T. Russell of the Watchtower (JW's) fame) but that he claims God told him that all of the other religions were wrong. Even Christianity. And that after Christ's ascencion, he (Jesus) went and preached to American Indians. Now, logically why would God do that? Why would God say, oh yes by the way, i forgot to tell my disciples whom i saw face to face that everything i said about me, and that they wrote about me was a load of bull; and oh yes, erm by the way, i told them everything else about me but i forgot to mention a few things? He wouldn't do that. Everything God felt we ever needed to know about Him is in the Bible. (KJV, NKJV, NIV, RSV, NRSV, AB, LB, etc... they all say the same thing).
And Joesph Smith claimed he had a 'revelation from God' and an angel named 'Moroni' showed up and preached a different gospel, as well as told him of some ancient plates hidden in the woods. but, they are not 'ancient plates'. Anyways, no one ever saw them but him? And he claims they were in a biblical language. The man was not a linguist and did not study archaic, biblical, or dead-languages. So HOW did he translate these so-called ancient texts? He read them out of a hat. Seriously.

Common sense would tell you the man had mental problems if he thought he could translate the Bible by reading Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic out of a hat.

I am not mocking the LDS, i am however stating an obvious fact from the evidences and testimonies about Joseph Smith.

The Bible is quite clear on false prophets and false teachings. Galatians 1:6-9 is indicitive of this so-called 'Moroni". vs8 reads "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel OTHER THAN the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned."

Also, Matthew 24 touches on the subject of false prophets, as well as Jeremiah 23 and a great deal of other verses and chapters in both the Old and New Testaments.

Mormons are not bad people, but the doctrines, despite how some have been changed by the LDS in the last century still do not negate it's origins. Joseph Smith was a heretic, a lunatic, and a false prophet. Any book from any source will show this statement to be evidentary. Do not hate the LDS, as they are (most of them) nice, law-abiding, god-fearing people; BUT the doctrines are definitley NOT christian at all.
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*edit* as i said Most, not all.... as is evidentary from all the thumbsdown LOL.