12a We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world;
12b but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them, contrary to the will and wish of their masters,
12c nor to meddle with, or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men:
12d such interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude.
DC 113 Intro: SECTION 113
This section is not a revelation. It was published in the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and has been retained in all subsequent editions. The Reorganized Church has deemed it better to leave it as it is rather than to omit or revise it. As far as the facts are stated, they are a part of the history of the event discussed. The conference of 1970 ordered its removal to the Appendix.
1a To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we close with the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the prophet and Hyrum Smith the patriarch.
1b They were shot in Carthage jail on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o'clock p.m., by an armed mob, painted black--of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred persons.
1c Hyrum was shot first, and fell, calmly exclaiming, "I am a dead man!" Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming, "O Lord my God!"
1d They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and each received four balls.
2 John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the promises of God, escaped "without even a hole in his robe."
3a Joseph Smith, the prophet and seer of the Lord, has done more (save Jesus only) for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.
