Joyful Wells | Sharing Cups of Water

Today is the anniversary of when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed.  They did not kill themselves out of guilt for betraying Christ, like Judas; they did not die by old age surrounded by loved ones, from an illness, or some alignment; nor did they die by fair battle. Instead, they were pinned into a small room with nowhere to go and ambushed by armed men as if they were hunted animals.  It was a deliberate, planned attack. Last year, a friend and I visited the place where Joseph and Hyrum were killed. We were greeted by a lovely elderly couple serving as senior ministers for the LDS Church. The man of the couple graciously gave us a tour of the building and grounds.  Because we were the only two people there, after the tour was over, we asked him if we could have a few minutes alone in the room where they were killed. He agreed to accommodate our request.  We intended to pray to God, thanking him for sending us those two servants. Words cannot express what we e...

Most Mormons are familiar with Martin Harris's involvement in the early days of the Restoration, but some aspects of the story should receive more attention. Here's my take.  The plates were given to 21-year-old Joseph on September 22nd, 1827. He began translating them about two months later, in late December [1], with help from his pregnant wife, Emma, and close friend, Martin Harris, who were his  scribes. Emma was his first scribe from the beginning, and Martin stepped in for her on April 12th, 1828, a few months later.  It's helpful to know the date Martin stepped in for Emma because, as it turns out, this was when she entered her third trimester. Evidently, help was needed, and Martin could be trusted to assist in the work and be close to the family during this time.  On June 14th, after translating nearly every day and completing 116 pages, the work needed to stop. Emma is now about to give birth.  As Martin prepares to leave,...