The Choice of John Proctor in "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller.

There are things more important than your own life is that all people will be affected by the causes you are willing to die for. There was once a young man, and his mother, who were visiting New York City. As they traveled by subway, a gang of men climbed on board. This throng of men approached the mother and began to harass her. The young man, who quickly realized the intentions, separated his mother from the crowd. He was all that stood between the group of men and his mother. As they attempted to move him away, he stood firm. Facing the crowd with defiance his eyes glanced a small reflection, but before he could react he was stabbed. Bleeding to death, he remained vigilant in his protection of his mother, but couldn't save his own life. News of this boys heroic quickly spread throughout the nation, and an amazing thing began to happen. Teenagers and parents met on equal ground, and the understanding that there was a mutual love towards one another blossomed. The boy's death stood for much more than just his life, or his mother's. His death signified a cease fire, a treaty of sorts between generations. His sacrifice was that bridge that spanned the gap between the mother and son that had been formed. With a single teenage boys thoughtful act of giving, he had changed the minds, and ideas of many around the nation. He had sealed his cause with his blood, in the same way that Martin Luther King Jr., John Proctor, and Abraham Lincoln had. When a person is willing to give away his life for the ideals that he stands for, they make a deep and lasting impression on all who here his story.

Finally the last justification that there are things more important than your life is that others will be saved by the sacrifice of one's own life. Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ were both "men" who became legendary for the price that they paid. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) believed in the faith that he had restored to the