Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum Smith met a violent death at the hands of a mob during their imprisonment in Carthage, Illinois. Their arrest stemmed from growing unrest in the area surrounding the Latter Day Saint community, largely due to fears and suspicions surrounding the group’s beliefs and practices, which included a distinctive theology and communal lifestyle. Tensions reached a boiling point when a local newspaper, the Nauvoo Expositor, critical of Smith, was destroyed by the Nauvoo city council, leading to a wider outcry against the Smiths and the church.

Following their arrest, the Smith brothers were held in the Carthage jail, where they faced an angry populace demanding their punishment. On June 27, a mob, composed of several hundred men, descended upon the jail, overpowering the small number of guards present. They broke into the jail and fired upon the brothers, resulting in their deaths. Joseph Smith’s martyrdom was seen as a pivotal moment for the Latter Day Saint movement, galvanizing followers and increasing their resolve to continue the faith.

The deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith highlighted the persecution faced by the Latter Day Saints and encouraged the community to seek a safe haven, ultimately leading to the migration to Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young, which would become a significant aspect of their history and development as a religious group.