Mosiah 17:9

[pam]

Mosiah 17:9 

9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.

Quote for Discussion

An Incident in the Life of Joseph Smith

The most classic of all the incidents in the life of the Prophet Joseph of his fearlessness, took place one dismal night in the dark dungeon in Richmond, Missouri, when Colonel Price’s guards were boasting of their heinous deeds, the wicked acts that they had committed against the Mormons, of defiling wives and daughters, and bashing the heads of men which Parley Pratt said was so loathsome and so repulsive that he could hardly refrain from rebuking them himself as he lay on the hard ground. But he said nothing to Joseph, although he knew he was awake. All of the brethren were chained together with two big chains, and they were padlocked to one another. On a sudden impulse, the Prophet rose to his feet and in a voice of thunder roared at the filthy guards:

“Silence, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still. I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die this instant!”

He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained to his brethren and without a weapon except the power of God which was mightily in him, he was calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, while the foul-mouthed men quailed before, dropped their guns, and crouching at his knees, begged his pardon. For the rest of the night they remained quiet.

Elder Parley P. Pratt declared:

“I have seen the ministers of justice clothed in magisterial robes and criminals arraigned before them, while life suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones, and crowns, and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms, but dignity and majesty have I seen but one, as it stood in chains at midnight in a dungeon in an obscure village in Missouri.

Parley P. Pratt