by Andrew Knaupp
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Special Thanks to Seth Smith for making this video!
"The Death of the Patriarch" takes place in the upstairs bedroom of the Carthage Jail in
Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844. Here the Prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, and Willard Richards were attacked by and angry mob of over 100 men. In their own words Willard Richards and John Taylor, the only survivors, describe the scene:
"A ball was sent through the door, which hit Hyrum on the side of the nose, when he fell backwards, extended at length, without moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and none had their coats on but myself), pantaloons, drawers and shirt, it appears evident that a ball must have been thrown from without, through the window, which entered his back on the right side, and passing through lodged against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands, and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same time the ball from the door entered his nose.
As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically, 'I'm a dead man.' Joseph looked towards him and responded, 'Oh, dear, Brother Hyrum!'..." (Willard Richards, Two Minutes in Jail, Times and Seasons, Aug. 1, 1844, 5:598-99.)
"Almost instantly another ball passed through the panel of the door, and struck Brother Hyrum on the left side of the nose, entering his face and head. At the same instant, another ball from outside entered his back, passing through his body and striking his watch. The ball came from the back, through the jail window, opposite the door, and must, from its range, have been fired from the Carthage Greys, who were placed there ostensibly for our protection, as the balls from the firearms, shot close by the jail, would have entered the ceiling, we being in the second story, and there never was a time after that when Hyrum could have received the latter wound. Immediately, when the ball struck him, he fell flat on his back, crying as he fell, 'I am a dead man!' He never moved afterwards.
I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, 'Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!'" (John Taylor, Witness to the Martyrdom, pg. 88-90.)
The death mask of Hyrum Smith (below) shows his expression at the moment of his death. To me is shows a man at peace, "who lived great and died great" in the sight of God. I wanted to capture that moment of peace for the Patriarch as he finished his mortal life and slipped on to where traitors and tyrants would fight him in vain.
I felt that the sadness expressed by the Prophet Joseph at seeing his faithful brother fall would be a mixture of grief, brotherly love, and respect, which is a difficult emotion to capture. This of course was all happening in a matter of seconds, so the Prophet would have had to be quick in his grief, for their was still death coming from the door and the window. A quick one knee down with the hand of a loving brother saying farewell seemed fitting.
