That is a hard thing to ask when we’re hurting or have been offended, are tired or stressed out or suffering innocently. In our moments of pain and trial, I guess we would shudder to think it could be worse, but the answer to that is clearly that it could be worse and it would be worse. Lessons from Liberty Jail. . In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. And I testify that They are close, perhaps even closest via the Holy Spirit, when we are experiencing difficult times. . Letter to Isaac Galland, March 22, 1839, in Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. Indeed, they knew that the real test of our faith and our Christian discipleship is when things are not going smoothly. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us. But how empty would our lives as Latter-day Saints be if we did not have sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The best company that has ever lived. I wish it were possible for us to be in each of your individual locations, seeing you personally and being able to shake your hands. Every one of us, in one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. 54:7–10; see also 3 Ne. Lessons from Liberty Jail My beloved young friends, it is a thrill for Sister Holland and for me to be with you tonight for this worldwide satellite broadcast. When he wrote those lines, Joseph did not know when he would be released or if he would ever be released. We don’t have to seek to be martyrs. On the other hand, the Spirit finds instant access to a heart striving to be charitable and forgiving, long-suffering, and kind—principles of true discipleship. But sometimes suffering comes to the righteous, too. Smith at Liberty Jail Rites,” Church News, Sept. 21, 1963, p. 14; emphasis added. God was not only teaching Joseph Smith in that prison circumstance but He was teaching all of us. For further understanding of this revelation, read Within the Walls of Liberty Jail. Time does not permit a detailed discussion of the experiences that led up to this moment in Church history, but suffice it to say that problems of various kinds had been building and by October of 1838, all-out war seemed inevitable between Mormon and non-Mormon forces in Missouri. Church Leaders in Liberty Jail Author Leonard J. Arrington When war between the Latter-day Saints and "the Missouri mob" seemed inevitable in October 1838, five Church officials approached the camp of General Samuel D. Lucas, commander of the Missouri Militia, … 10. Teaching Thoughts. As a valedictory to the lessons from Liberty Jail, I refer to the last verse of section 123: “Therefore … let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:17; emphasis added). That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple. Download Citation | On Sep 1, 2009, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland published Lessons from Liberty Jail | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate To his eternal credit, Brigadier General Alexander Doniphan, an officer in the Missouri forces, boldly and courageously refused to carry out the inhumane, unjustifiable order. Even though seemingly unjust circumstances may be heaped upon us, and even though unkind and unmerited things may be done to us—perhaps by those we consider enemies but also, in some cases, by those whom we thought were friends—nevertheless, through it all, God is with us. What lessons does Joseph Smith's experience in Liberty Jail teach us about God's love? This Day in Church History. Katy Perry Jokes She'll Be the Good Cop and Orlando Bloom Will Be the Bad Cop to Their Daughter. I love him and sustain him as I know you do. Surely, to say it again, it was the bleakest and darkest of times. . Letter to Emma Smith, March 21, 1839, in Personal Writings, p. 449. 1, p. 521; see also p. 526. You will recall that from the depths of Liberty Jail when Joseph was reminded that he had indeed been “cast . I testify that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, our prophet for this hour and this day. However heavy our load might be, it would be a lot heavier if the Savior had not gone that way before us and carried that burden with us and for us. When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. In giving us this sober reminder of what the Savior went through, the revelation from Liberty Jail records, “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. where we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths, and witness a scene of blasphemy, and drunkenness and hypocrisy, and debaucheries of every description.”3. He is your Father, and you are His child. At any rate they became school teachers to our people. And then we can justifiably turn to the Lord, wait upon His mercy, and see His arm revealed in our behalf. The lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven. What a magnificent attitude to maintain in good times or bad, in sorrow or in joy! Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Dec. 16, 1838; “Communications,” Times and Seasons, April 1840, p. 85. As Joseph was taught in his prison-temple, even in distress and sorrow we must “let [our] bowels … be full of charity towards all men … ; then [and only then] shall [our] confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and … the Holy Ghost shall be [our] constant companion” (D&C 121:45–46). But they could, and they did. . 1840, 85. It has always been a wonderful testimony to me of the Prophet Joseph’s greatness and the greatness of all of our prophets, including and especially the Savior of the world in His magnificence, that in the midst of such distress and difficulty they could remain calm and patient, charitable, and forgiving—that they could even talk that way, let alone live that way. Well, without trying to determine which of these kinds of experiences in our life are “mandatory” and which are “optional” but still good for us, may I suggest just a very few of the lessons learned at Liberty—those experiences that were “school teachers” to Joseph and can be to us, experiences that contribute so much to our education in mortality and our exaltation in eternity. . Our prayers are heard. into trouble,” had passed through tribulation and been falsely accused, had been torn away from his family and cast into a pit, into the hands of murderers, nevertheless, he was to remember that the same thing had happened to the Savior of the world, and because He was triumphant, so shall we be (see D&C 122:4–7). Now then, three lessons from Liberty Jail: May I suggest that the first of these is inherent in what I’ve already said—that everyone, including (and perhaps especially) the righteous, will be called upon to face trying times. of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given on 7 September 2008. . When what has to be has been and when what lessons to be learned have been learned, it will be for us as it was for the Prophet Joseph. Keep knocking on that door. The top or main floor was accessible to the outside world only by a single small, heavy door. The food given to the prisoners was coarse and sometimes contaminated, so filthy that one of them said they “could not eat it until [they] were driven to it by hunger.”1 On as many as four occasions poison was administered to them in their food, making them so violently ill that for days they alternated between vomiting and a kind of delirium, not really caring whether they lived or died. We must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. lessons from liberty Jail iberty Jail 5 Here is a cross section of the Church’s reconstruction of the prison, which can now be seen at our visitors’ center there. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us. . What a tremendously optimistic and faithful concluding declaration to be issued from a prison-temple! . He does see us. 5 years ago | 163 views. Secondly, we need to realize that just because difficult things happen—sometimes unfair and seemingly unjustified things—it does not mean that we are unrighteous or that we are unworthy of blessings or that God is disappointed in us. We may face persecution; we may endure heartache and separation from loved ones; we may be hungry and cold and forlorn. Joseph Smith was unjustly confined in Liberty Jail from December 1838 to April 1839 along with several other Church leaders. 49:14–16; see also 1 Ne. That is when we get to see what we’re made of and how strong our commitment to the gospel really is. There was every indication that his enemies were still planning to take his life. Liberty Jail, one of the more forbidding structures in that region, was considered escape proof, and it probably was. In fact, the restricting brutality and injustice of this experience at Liberty would make it seem the very antithesis of the liberating, merciful spirit of our temples and the ordinances performed in them. BYU-Idaho values suggestions and ideas that can improve the university. I would highly recommend watching the talk first, though. As the prophet Isaiah wrote, the Lord has “graven thee upon the palms of [His] hands” (Isa. These two walls were separated by a 12-inch space filled with loose rock. When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. Yes, before our lives are over we may all be given a little taste of what the prophets faced often in their lives. . 2. Now, don’t misunderstand. 8. It’s always a thrill to be in the Marriott Center. Furthermore, we note that not only has the Savior suffered, in His case entirely innocently, but so have most of the prophets and other great men and women recorded in the scriptures. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! . Fidelity in Marriage: It’s More Than You Think, The Saga of Revelation: The Unfolding Role of the Seventy, Two Cans of Corn: Home Storage for Newlyweds, Church Publishes LDS Edition of the Holy Bible in Spanish, LDS Family Services Launches New Web Site, Sister Cook, Sister Dibb Visit West Africa, Missionaries in Uganda Aid Congolese Refugees, Elder Wickman Honored for Service to Youth, “Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 26–33. This was a terribly difficult time in our history for the Church generally and certainly for the Prophet Joseph himself, who bore the brunt of the persecution in that period. And what a high price was paid for it! In the end it “shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7), and you will see “everlasting dominion” flow unto you forever and ever “without compulsory means” (D&C 121:46). Thirdly, and lastly, may I remind us all that in the midst of these difficult feelings, when one could justifiably be angry or reactionary or vengeful, wanting to return an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the Lord reminds us from the Liberty Jail prison-temple that “the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only [or “except”] upon the principles of righteousness” (D&C 121:36). There was every indication that his enemies were still planning to take his life. 2008: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passes away in Salt Lake City. What a tremendously optimistic and faithful concluding declaration to be issued from a prison-temple! Fear not . It had two stories. First, God has not forgotten you, and second, the Savior has been where you have been, allowing Him to provide for your deliverance and your comfort. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow (see Luke 18:1–8; see also Luke 11:5–10). . Keep pleading. 3, pp. Surely the classic example of this is that in the most painful hours of the Crucifixion the Savior could say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). There are also episodes about Liberty Jail at Mormon Channel. Lessons From Liberty Jail. You can read the transcript from this PDF link. 1838: Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and others are incarcerated in Liberty Jail. 21, 1839, in Personal Writings, 449. We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. 3. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Lessons from Liberty Jail. . My point? All rights reserved. How I love the majesty of these elegant, celestial teachings taught, ironically, in such a despicable setting and time. Joseph was to remember that the same thing had happened to the Savior of the world. In the cold, lonely hours, Joseph says let us do all we can and do it cheerfully. God is our Father, Jesus is the Christ, and this is the true and living gospel—found in this, the true and living Church. Second, we need to realize that just because difficult things happen, it does not mean that we are unrighteous or that we are unworthy of blessings or that God is disappointed in us. To make the points that I am now going to try to make in my message to you, I have drawn directly upon the revelatory words that came from the lips of Joseph Smith during this heartbreaking time, words that we now have canonized as sacred scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. A Seattle public school taught students as young as 11 to refer to riots as "uprising" and rioters as "freedom fighters." Yea, O Lord, how long shall [thy people] suffer . . Very early in the Prophet Joseph’s ministry, the Savior taught him this doctrine. We don’t have to look for sorrow. Remain Calm, Patient, Charitable, and Forgiving. Make a donation online or call 1-800-525-8074. 1. I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs, and that heavenly promises are always kept. By Todd A. Knowles, Published on 09/01/02. If you are having a bad day, you’ve got a lot of company—very, very good company. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced. On the other hand, the Spirit finds instant access to a heart striving to be charitable and forgiving, long-suffering and kind—principles of true discipleship. Surely, to say it again, it was the bleakest and darkest of times. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the First Council of the Seventy, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a “prison-temple.”7 Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) used the same phrasing in some of his writings. We thank heaven and the presiding Brethren that more and more of them are being built, giving more and more of us greater access to them. I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs, and that heavenly promises are always kept. 3, p. 290. From a CES Fireside given on September 7, 2008, at Brigham Young University. When that happens we can sometimes fear that God has abandoned us, and we might be left, at least for a time, to wonder when our troubles will ever end. . The Spirit has a near impossible task to get through to a heart that is filled with hate or anger or vengeance or self-pity. Follow. They arrived in Liberty on Dec. 1, 1838, just as winter was coming on. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace. 22, 1839, in Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, comp. He does see us. Jeffrey R. Holland was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ . How empty our lives as Latter-day Saints would be if we did not have sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants! They remembered their covenants, they disciplined themselves, and they knew that we must live the gospel at all times, not just when it is convenient and not just when things are going well. Donors who contribute at least $25 to BYU Annual Giving receive the magazine for one year. How long shall thy hand be stayed . Into this dismal dungeon the voice of God came, saying: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes” (D&C 121:7–8). The lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven. Zachariah Tenney. From your study of Church history, you will all know something of the experience the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brethren had while imprisoned in the ironically named Liberty Jail during the winter of 1838–39. . Only through our faith and repentance and obedience to the gospel that provided the sacred Atonement is it kept from being worse. Use our Feedback Form to let us know what you think. As individuals, as families, as communities, and as nations, probably everyone has had or will have an occasion to feel as Joseph Smith felt when he asked why such sorrow had to come and how long its darkness and damage would remain. 6. By Jeffrey R. Holland (BS ’65) in the Winter 2009 Issue. 26 LETTER WRITTEN BY JOSEPH SMITH WHILE IN LIBERTY JAIL. Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a “jail” or a “prison”—and certainly it was that. The Seattle Times Local section covers Seattle, the Eastside, Snohomish County, the Puget Sound region and the Pacific Northwest. . He does hear us. It has always been a wonderful testimony to me of the Prophet Joseph’s greatness and the greatness of all of our prophets, including and especially the Savior of the world in His magnificence, that in the midst of such distress and difficulty they could remain calm and patient, charitable and forgiving—that they could even talk that way, let alone live that way. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace. We are not alone in our little prisons here. © by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Used by permission. Letter to Emma Smith, April 4, 1839, in Personal Writings, pp. Painting by Al Rounds, Liberty Jail. ; Use the photos from the Liberty Jail … • The third lesson of Liberty Jail, he said, is that in times of difficult feelings, "the Lord reminds us from the Liberty Jail prison-temple that 'the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only (or "except") upon the principles of righteousness."' . Third, remember that in the midst of these difficult feelings when one could justifiably be angry or reactionary or vengeful, wanting to demand an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the Lord reminds us from the Liberty Jail prison-temple that “the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only [or ‘except’] upon the principles of righteousness” (D&C 121:36). 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