Recently my husband gave a lesson in Sunday School about apostasy. (Guess what? We're against it!)
Our church's history is, sadly, riddled with members who apostasized. Fortunately, we also have valiant members who stand for the truth, despite persecution and threats.
Brigham Young found himself in a meeting where several prominent church members were plotting to dispose of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He listened to their blasphemy until he could stand it no longer. He related the following of the incident:
"I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, they could not destory the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destory their own authority, cut the threat that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves in hell. Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their meaasures ... This meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition."
So, for today, I am grateful for those individuals courageous enough to speak the truth.
I can't imagine why they would have been church members at that time and then think to kill Joseph. Makes no sense.
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