That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple. I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs, and that heavenly promises are always kept. One of the most trying times in the history of the Church, both in terms of its impact on the Church generally and in the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith personally, occurred during the winter of 1838–39. 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. 1838: Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and others are incarcerated in Liberty Jail. The first lesson from Liberty Jail is inherent in what I’ve already mentioned—that everyone, including, and perhaps especially, the righteous, will be called upon to face trying times. The best company that has ever lived. For full text, see speeches.byu.edu. Dean C. Jessee (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), p. 456. Combined, these walls made a formidable, virtually impenetrable barrier 4 feet thick. It began with his hasty departure from Kirtland, Ohio, the evening of 12 January “to escape mob violence” [1] and ended with his incarceration in the … As did the Prophet Joseph, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences—even in the most miserable times of your life. 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. When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. 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. Remaining true to our Christian principles is the only way divine influence can help us. That is a hard thing to do when we’ve been offended or are tired or stressed out or suffering innocently. As Joseph was taught in this prison-temple, even in distress and sorrow we must “let [our] bowels . Donors who contribute at least $25 to BYU Annual Giving receive the magazine for one year. Those are all antithetical to the Spirit of the Lord. The reconstructed jail is housed within a visitors’ center. I testify that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, our prophet for this hour and this day. Some are … Lessons from Liberty Jail. . . PROVO, Utah — Joseph Smith's experience as a prisoner in Liberty Jail teaches some valuable lessons, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve told young adults during a Church Educational System fireside Sunday evening.Elder Holland reviewed the experiences of the Prophet and some of his brethren in the dark, depressing, bitterly cold Missouri jail. 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. In Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2nd edition, ed. And when we promise to follow the Savior, to walk in His footsteps, and be His disciples, we are promising to go where that divine path leads us. 2. Joseph Smith was unjustly confined in Liberty Jail from December 1838 to April 1839 along with several other Church leaders. Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go before your face. 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). The Saints, too, were without homes and without their prophet. The LDS Church News Web site has the full transcript of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's recent Church Educational Fireside, \"Lessons Learned From Liberty Jail.\" 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. The point is this: if you are having a bad day, you’ve got a lot of company—very, very good company. When they lay down, it was mostly upon the rough, bare stones of the prison floor covered here and there by a bit of loose, dirty straw or an occasional dirty straw mat. . 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.”2 On as many as four occasions they had poison 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. Even the Worthy Will Suffer God certainly turned adversity into blessing in giving us those sacred writings and reflections, so pure, noble, and Christian in both tone and content, yet produced in such an impure, ignoble, and unchristian setting. The top or main floor was accessible to the outside world only by a single small, heavy door. In one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, every one of us is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. He is there. 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. 2008: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passes away in Salt Lake City. But they could, and they did. Yet in these cold, lonely hours, Joseph says let us do all we can and do it cheerfully. (See Isa. Last weeks FHE was the CES Fireside talk by Jeffrey R. Holland that he gave in September 2008. As a valedictory to the lessons from Liberty Jail, I refer to the last verse of the last section of these three we have been referring to tonight. 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. In selecting these lessons I note yet another kind of blessing that came out of this adversity. 9. . . 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. 1, p. 521. Lessons from Liberty Jail: A Prison and a Temple - BYU Speeches. What a testimony that gospel principles are to apply at all times and in all situations and that if we strive to remain faithful, the triumph of a Christian life can never be vanquished, no matter how grim the circumstance might be. Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:8). . 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. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord. … Fear not … , for God shall be with you forever and ever” (D&C 122:9). . Smith at Liberty Jail Rites,” Church News, Sept. 21, 1963, p. 14; emphasis added. . Playing next. But when it is obvious that a little time in Liberty Jail waits before you (spiritually speaking), remember these first two truths taught to Joseph in that prison-temple. Indeed, let me say that even a little stronger: You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience 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. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us. . Having paid that price in the suffering that They have paid for you, the Father and the Son will never forget nor forsake you in your suffering. Very early in the Prophet Joseph’s ministry, the Savior taught him this doctrine. 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! I testify that the Father and the Son do live. The Seattle Times Local section covers Seattle, the Eastside, Snohomish County, the Puget Sound region and the Pacific Northwest. In a daring stand that could have brought him his own court-martial, he cried out against the commanding officer: “It is cold-blooded murder. Trouble has a way of finding us even without our looking for it. be full of charity towards all men . How I love the majesty of these elegant, celestial teachings taught, ironically, in such a despicable setting and time. From a CES Fireside given on September 7, 2008, at Brigham Young University. That is when we get to see what we’re made of and how strong our commitment to the gospel really is. 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. 49:14–16; see also 1 Ne. The richest man in America calls Seattle home. 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. . When that happens we can sometimes fear God has abandoned us, and we might be left, at least for a time, to wonder when our troubles will ever end. Lessons from Liberty Jail | Jeffrey R. Holland, Sep 2008. When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple. Make a donation online or call 1-800-525-8074. Letter to Emma Smith, March 21, 1839, in Personal Writings, p. 449. Copyright © 2021 Brigham Young University. Keywords. 463, 464; spelling and capitalization standardized. 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. So in what sense could Liberty Jail be called a “temple”—or at least a kind of temple—in the development of Joseph Smith personally and in his role as a prophet? 3. At any rate they became school teachers to our people. Furthermore, his wife and children were alone, frightened, often hungry, wondering how they would fend for themselves without their husband and father. 26 Lessons from Liberty Jail ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND God can turn the debilitating prisons of our lives into circumstances that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace. I testify that the Father and the Son live and that They are close, perhaps even closest via the Holy Spirit, when we are experiencing difficult times. . The height of the dungeon in Liberty Jail was barely six feet. . … How long shall thy hand be stayed … ? The year 1838 was a challenging year in the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Let me push this just a little further. By Todd A. Knowles, Published on 09/01/02. It is presented as a cutaway, giving visitors a view inside. © by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Used by permission. “The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - Lessons from Liberty Jail. If you are having a bad day, you’ve got a lot of company—very, very good company. Yes, before our lives are over we may all be given a little taste of what the prophets faced often in their lives. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not have been our fault. How can our trials be both a prison and a temple? What a scriptural gift! '. 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. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord. ; Use the photos from the Liberty Jail … 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. Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 121, Criticism, interpretation, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Presidents, History, Liberty Jail… We watched the actual video from this site. See Comprehensive History, chapter 38 heading, vol. “Text of Address by Pres. In precisely this sense: that you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. 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. 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, … Follow. 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. BYU Magazine is published four times a year by Brigham Young University for graduates and friends. . How I love the majesty of these elegant, celestial teachings taught, ironically, in such a despicable setting and time. 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