--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Evan Stephens collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 5 published: 1921-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Evan Stephens, "The Martyrs," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 5 (March 1921): 431–436.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2405unse start_page: 431 end_page: 436 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2405unse publication_year: 1921 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Martyrs THE MARTYRS. A Sacred Historic Cantata. PROLOGUE. Words and Music by Evan Stbphbns. Largo Maestoso. r-TO-r^ i. LJ i-UU -\\frfTT f T ' ^<-2~ Zdim e rit.'. ^J= ==F ¥= __!__ =-& 8 va lower 1==^ BeJfcs. E^^mmm pi« Jenfo. pp ^^^sSgrBs^lEf^Pr^p^^ Choral Recit. «-• * X. ^ pp (S>- =9 ^~U^E$=r=^ ~i^^d^^?^^^^^^^^= A/W.— /108. Joseph. the Prophet, Hyrum, the Patriarch Chosen of God, ^ nkns ^ ^ iv s •» ^ r^ ^^^^J^d^i^^^ the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, to live, to die. 432 IMPROVEMENT ERA cres. mf those the latter days, as witnesses of the Father and the Son, that they do live, and again have spoken to man, here upon the earth. AAA -F=F= m r- *} -f- £ -r i p -c -r , r:r:r m EJ^gig^fea^^Ei^Egl^g Joseph, the Prophet, Hyrum, the Patriarch: «/ brothers ^^Ep in life, in j I ajLLjLL£jg^P^E 3E5 «==E=E=jjg f^N > A pp Affettuoso. ^^F^r^^^g^^^^^ggf: death not parted. Slain for the sake of Truth, in Carthage jail. "He that loseth his life for My sake, the same shall find it." A kax ^V^V — A Sacred Cantata Respectfully inscribed to President Heber J. Grant Words and Music by Evan Stephens (A Companion Cantata to "The Vision.") Prologue Choral Recit. Joseph, the Prophet, Hyrum the Patriarch. Chosen of God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, to live, to die, in these the latter days, as witnesses of the Father and the Son, that they do live, and again have spoken to man, here upon the earth. Joseph, the Prophet, Hyrum, the Patriarch: brothers in life, in death not parted. Slain for the sake of Truth, in Carthage jail. "He that loseth his life for My sake, the same shall find it." Amen. PARTI FULL CHOIR, CHOIR OF WOMEN, CHOIR OF MEN, AND CONGREGATION. Full Choir With their blood they have sealed their testimony! Like to their Master great: Giving their lives, so pure and innocent, Bravely each met his fate. Like gentle lambs led to the slaughter The brothers and martyrs true, Winning the prize, the reward and the glory To martyrs for Christ only, due. Men's Voices Giving the life which the Father had given Back to the Giver good, After the mission for which it was purposed Here, all accomplished, stood: Women's Voices Giving the life to receive it, and keep it Through all eternity: Joseph, the prophet; Hyrum, the martyr, Endless their lives shall be. Men's Voices For every moment of anguish and sorrow, Borne for the sake of truth, Joy shall be given them both, in His Kingdom, Joy, and eternal youth. Women's Voices Joy, and eternal, ne'er-fading glory: Honors and all-renown. Life everlasting, with Christ and the Father, Wearing the martyr's crown. Congregation and Chorus "Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah." — — 434 IMPROVEMENT ERA Recti, and Aria: Ye would that I return? Joseph Ye would that I return, and face gur foe Who seek to take my life? 'Tis well, 'tis better so; Void of offense, calm as a summer's morns I come to seal the message I have borne. What is my Life to Me? (Aria) Joseph What is my life? What is my life to me, My Father, but of service unto thee, And unto those thou gavest unto me? What is my life? What is this life to me? my Nauvoo! how passing fair thou art! And grown full dear and cherished to my heart; 1 have no wish from thee and thine to go, Now thou'rt surrounded by thine evil foe. But I foresee thou'rt fated not to last; In flames and ashes soon thou shalt be cast, And westward far my vision'd eyes behold The vales of refuge, long ago foretold. Far in the wilderness, like to the mourning dove, The Saints shall find a resting place to love, From persecutions, and the tyrant hand, — There to be free on God's own chosen land. But I return, a captive to be led. Lamb to the slaughter, soon among the dead, Out of the strife of mortal life, I'll be, Living the life of immortality. What is my life? What is my life to me, etc. PART II THE IMPRISONMENT AND DEATH W omen's Voices See them led to the jail at Carthage, — Guiltless the brothers fond, Joseph and Hyrum, the never-parted On earth, as in the beyond. Men's Voices Hear the weeping of wives and mothers, As they are forced to part Torn from their arms and fond protection, Breaking each tender heart. Full Choir Hear the distressing cries of their people Calling for God above Now to protect, or avenge, the outrage Threatened to those they love. Vainly they plead, for the trying hour Set for the final scene, Nearer, and nearer around them is closing, Only by heaven seen. — THE MARTYRS 435 Men's Voices Taken by guards sworn to protect them Safely by night or day, Guards of their foes, in the guise of friendship, Sworn only to betray. Full Ckcir Cast into prison, they group together They and their brethren true: Hark! to the hymn they now are singing Hushing the mobbing crew. Words that repeat how the Savior-Master, He once the "Man of Grief," Spoke of the blessed joys awaiting Those who gave sweet relief. (Here solo voices (baritone) take up verses from hymn No. 34, Psalmody. "A poor wayfaring man of grief," while the chorus accompany in subdued voices with sentences from the last eight lines of the above, until the crashing, discordant announcement of the shooting, and death — moment, arrives after which the full choir proceeds with the text.) Full Ckoir Hark, through the crash of guns, Up to the silent sky, Mid horrid curses vile, and oaths, Ascends death's solemn cry. After a brief pause of silence — The deed is done! and soon The murderers are fled. While both the martyrs, in their gore, Lie silent, pale and dead. Women's Voices Dead! And their mission done: Their noble work fulfilled; Their voice of warning to the world From their loved lips is stilled. Stilled, only to awake And evermore rebound From silent martyr'd lips to shake The universe around. Full Choir The message, sealed in death, Grows ever yet more loud: * Like mighty thunder's crashing breath. Heard from the soaring cloud. Bear it o'er all the world, Ye messengers that fly. Proclaim salvation's flag unfurled. Redemption's day come nigh. Full Choir The martyrs' sacred blood Bears witness to the earth: God's final dispensation's come To give it endless birth'. — 436 IMPROVEMENT ERA PART III THE FINAL RITES. EARTHLY, TENDER SORROWS. HEAVENLY FULNESS OF JOY Lament and march Women's Voices * Tread softly, bear them home, Home to the waiting hearts Of the belov'd bereft, From whence they're torn apart! Tread softly, bear them on, The earthly forms we love, While angels bear their souls To their fair home above. Men's Voices Tread softly, while the tear Dims every tender eye; While we're all mourning here, Angels rejoice on high. While music, soft and low, Express our mournful song, There are no sounds of woe Heard from the heavenly throng. Full Choir In triumph bear them home, Though dead, their labor done. In triumph still they come, Their full reward is won. Our woes will turn to joy When, healed from wounds and pain, In bliss without alloy, We'll meet them both again. (When the march music has died away, in the distance, voices break out into the following hymn.) Full Choir The heavens ring with songs of love Around the throne of glory; The work assigned them from above Is finished, and the story Of how they died, will fill the earth And thrill the hearts of mortals; While heaven resounds with holy mirth Within its sacred portals. Final Chorus Honor and fame, Eternal Life and Glory Be their reward forever, evermore. Amen. "Pine Lodge," Sept. 27, 1920