Many “Progressive
Mormons” disdain the hymn “Praise to
the Man,” and many are hoping that the Church removes it from the forthcoming
new hymnal. I, for one, love the hymn and hope that the Church will retain in (see my article Joseph Smith Worship? Responding to Criticisms of the Role and Status of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Latter-day Saint Theology) Furthermore, I also vote that the following should also become part of the new
hymnal which also praises the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and
his brother Hyrum (and to further annoy “ProgMos”):
The Assassination of Generals Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith
By Eliza R. Snow--1873
Ye heavens, attend! Let all the earth give
ear!
Let Gods and seraphs, men and angels hear:
The worlds on high—the Universe shall know
What awful scenes are acted here below!
Let Gods and seraphs, men and angels hear:
The worlds on high—the Universe shall know
What awful scenes are acted here below!
Had nature’s self a heart, her heart would
bleed
At the recital of so foul a deed;
For never, since the Son of God was slain,
Has blood so noble flowed from human vein,
As that which now on God for vengeance calls
From Freedom’s ground—from Carthage prison walls!
At the recital of so foul a deed;
For never, since the Son of God was slain,
Has blood so noble flowed from human vein,
As that which now on God for vengeance calls
From Freedom’s ground—from Carthage prison walls!
Oh, Illinois; thy soil has drunk the blood
Of prophets, martyr’d for the truth of God.
Once-lov’d America! what can atone
For the pure blood of innocence thou’st sown?
Where all the streams, in tear torrents shed
To mourn the fate of those illustrious dead,
How vain the tribute for the noblest worth
That graced thy surface, O degraded earth!
Oh, wretched murderers, fierce for human blood!
You’ve slain the Prophets of the living God,
Who’ve born oppression from their early youth,
To plant on earth the principles of truth
Of prophets, martyr’d for the truth of God.
Once-lov’d America! what can atone
For the pure blood of innocence thou’st sown?
Where all the streams, in tear torrents shed
To mourn the fate of those illustrious dead,
How vain the tribute for the noblest worth
That graced thy surface, O degraded earth!
Oh, wretched murderers, fierce for human blood!
You’ve slain the Prophets of the living God,
Who’ve born oppression from their early youth,
To plant on earth the principles of truth
Shades of our patriot fathers! can it be,
beneath your blood-stained flag of Liberty,
The firm supporters of our country’s cause,
Are butcher’d while submission to her laws?
Yes, blameless men, defamed by hellish lie,
Have thus been offer’d as a sacrifice
To appease the ragings of a brutish clan
That has defiled the laws of God and man!
‘Twas not for crime o guilt of theirs they ell:
Against the laws they never did rebel.
True to their country, yet her plighted faith
Have prov’d an instrument of cruel death!
beneath your blood-stained flag of Liberty,
The firm supporters of our country’s cause,
Are butcher’d while submission to her laws?
Yes, blameless men, defamed by hellish lie,
Have thus been offer’d as a sacrifice
To appease the ragings of a brutish clan
That has defiled the laws of God and man!
‘Twas not for crime o guilt of theirs they ell:
Against the laws they never did rebel.
True to their country, yet her plighted faith
Have prov’d an instrument of cruel death!
Great men have fallen, mighty men have died
Nations have mourn’d their fav’rites and their pride;
But two so wise, so virtuous, and so good,
Before, on earth, at once, have never stood
Since the creation—men whom God ordain’d
To publish truth when error long had reign’d;
Of whom the world itself unworthy prov’d;
It knew them not; but men with hatred mov’d
And with infernal spirits, have combin’d
Against the best, the noblest of mankind!
Nations have mourn’d their fav’rites and their pride;
But two so wise, so virtuous, and so good,
Before, on earth, at once, have never stood
Since the creation—men whom God ordain’d
To publish truth when error long had reign’d;
Of whom the world itself unworthy prov’d;
It knew them not; but men with hatred mov’d
And with infernal spirits, have combin’d
Against the best, the noblest of mankind!
Oh, persecution! shall thy purple hand
Spread utter desolation through the land?
Shall Freedom’s banner be no more unfurled?
Has peace indeed been taken from the world?
Then God of Jacob, in this trying hour
Help us to trust in thy Almighty power--
Support thy Saints beneath this awful stroke,
Make bare thine arm to break oppressions’ yoke.
Spread utter desolation through the land?
Shall Freedom’s banner be no more unfurled?
Has peace indeed been taken from the world?
Then God of Jacob, in this trying hour
Help us to trust in thy Almighty power--
Support thy Saints beneath this awful stroke,
Make bare thine arm to break oppressions’ yoke.
We mourn the Prophet, from whose lips have
flow’d
The words of life thy Spirit has bestow’d--
A depth of thought no human art could reach,
From time to time roll’d in sublimest speech.
From thy celestial fountain, through his mind,
To purify and elevate mankind;
The rich intelligence by him brought forth
Is like the sunbeams spreading o’er the earth.
The words of life thy Spirit has bestow’d--
A depth of thought no human art could reach,
From time to time roll’d in sublimest speech.
From thy celestial fountain, through his mind,
To purify and elevate mankind;
The rich intelligence by him brought forth
Is like the sunbeams spreading o’er the earth.
Now Zion mourns—she mourns an earthly head;
Her Prophet and her Patriarch are dead!
The blackest deed that men and devils know
Since Calv’ry’s scene, has laid the brothers low!
Once while in life, and one in death, thy prov’d
How strong their friendship—how true they loved;
True to their mission until death they stood,
Then seal’d their testimony with their blood.
Her Prophet and her Patriarch are dead!
The blackest deed that men and devils know
Since Calv’ry’s scene, has laid the brothers low!
Once while in life, and one in death, thy prov’d
How strong their friendship—how true they loved;
True to their mission until death they stood,
Then seal’d their testimony with their blood.
All hearts with sorrow bleed, and every eye
Is bath’s in tears, each bosom heaves a sigh,
Heart-broken widows’ agonizing groans
Are mingled with the helpless orphans’ moans!
Ye Saints! be still, and know that God is just
With steadfast purpose in His promise trust;
Is bath’s in tears, each bosom heaves a sigh,
Heart-broken widows’ agonizing groans
Are mingled with the helpless orphans’ moans!
Ye Saints! be still, and know that God is just
With steadfast purpose in His promise trust;
Girded with sackcloth, own His mighty hand,
And wait His Judgments on this guilty land!
The noble Martyrs now have gone to move
The cause of Zion in the Courts above. (taken from N.B. Lundwall, The Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft Publishers, 1952], 224-25)
And wait His Judgments on this guilty land!
The noble Martyrs now have gone to move
The cause of Zion in the Courts above. (taken from N.B. Lundwall, The Fate of the Persecutors of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft Publishers, 1952], 224-25)
