Apostates Thirst for Joe Smith’s Blood

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (2002),  Section 76, ‘The Vision of the Degrees of Glory,’ pp 158–166; “Of apostates who had committed the unpardonable sin, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “When a man begins to be an enemy to this work, he hunts me, he seeks to kill me, and never ceases to thirst for my blood. He gets the spirit of the devil—the same spirit that they had who crucified the Lord of Life—the same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost.” (Teachings, p. 358.)” – Joseph Smith

Luke 12:34; “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Why would Smith care so much if these were merely  apostates? 

Why is it about Smith and not the ‘work’? 

Why is something like this in a student manual? Could it be they’re training young minds what it means to be loyal to the prophet and promote divisiveness against outsiders? 

Why are those who oppose Mormonism out to ‘kill’ Smith or ‘thirst for his blood’? Did he have absolute proof of this and if so where is it? 

Smith seemed to be more worried about those who opposed his god than following the Lord and what He said in His word.