Latter Day Sinner

I like to believe I have an informed testimony of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith Jr. The basic fact that he was murdered in jail before he could stand trial for treason is uncontroversial. Whatever else you might think of his life and glory he was definitely shot to death before he could be tried. I do believe that he was a martyr for my religion. That could be debated but I’m not likely to change my mind on the subject. D&C 135 says he was innocent as he had been proved many times before. I don’t think he was a traitor but I also don’t think burning a printing press is a frivolous accusation. I also know that on the day of his death he shot a pistol into an angry mob and wounded several men in that mob. Would he have lived if he didn’t have a gun? I think it would have been more likely. Would he have been found guilty of treason if he lived to see a trial? Maybe, but it was hardly like he ever got a fair trial. Would Mormonism even be a thing without the martyrdom of Brother Joseph? That’s a question that cuts me deeper because I don’t think Christianity would have been a thing if Jesus wasn’t crucified. But Christianity is a thing and so is Mormonism. The history is there for everyone to examine.