Light in the Darkness, Liberty in a Jail
At a time of great need, the Lord provided direction and hope for His prophet and His people.
On December 1, 1838, residents of Liberty, Missouri, gathered near the center of town. They watched six men descend from a wagon and walk slowly up the steps of the county jail.
Those six men were leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Joseph Smith Jr., Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, and Alexander McRae. The state militia had arrested and falsely accused these men of treason one month before. Now the leaders waited in Liberty’s jail until they could appear before a judge. As they waited and appealed their case, a judge released Sidney Rigdon in February for medical concerns, but the others remained imprisoned until early April.
Those six men were leaders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Joseph Smith Jr., Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, and Alexander McRae. The state militia had arrested and falsely accused these men of treason one month before. Now the leaders waited in Liberty’s jail until they could appear before a judge. As they waited and appealed their case, a judge released Sidney Rigdon in February for medical concerns, but the others remained imprisoned until early April.
Rock walls of the replica Liberty Jail.
The months in jail were grim. The jail was dark, cold, and confining. Thick walls enclosed two small rooms, one above the other, with only small, barred windows to let in a little light and air. The food was coarse and contaminated. The guards allowed a few walks outside and some friends to visit, but these occasional acts of kindness did little to calm the prisoners’ concerns about their family and friends outside the jail.
Original door of the Liberty Jail.
On October 27, 1838, five weeks before these men entered the jail, the governor of Missouri ordered the state militia to “exterminate” the Latter-day Saints or drive them from the state. Days after the order left the governor’s office, militiamen captured Joseph Smith and other Church leaders and laid siege to their city of Far West . By December, the Church leaders’ families joined thousands of other Latter-day Saint refugees who were making their way east across Missouri into Iowa and Illinois.
Joseph Smith and the others in jail received news of their progress from time to time through visits and letters. Joseph observed that the letters “breath[ed] a kind and consoling spirit” and “were to our souls as the gentle air is refreshing.” But they were also reminders of the hard times outside their prison walls. “Our joy is mingled with grief,” Joseph said, “because of the suffering of the poor and much-injured Saints” (Joseph Smith Papers ).
Consider the frustration, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty they felt as they could do little to help their loved ones. Some of their own people had betrayed them before. Would others also turn away? How could the Latter-day Saints—those in jail and those in exile—gain the peace and strength they needed? How would they ever build Zion?
Consider the frustration, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty they felt as they could do little to help their loved ones. Some of their own people had betrayed them before. Would others also turn away? How could the Latter-day Saints—those in jail and those in exile—gain the peace and strength they needed? How would they ever build Zion?
Basement of the replica Liberty Jail.
After two weeks in jail, Joseph optimistically wrote, “Zion shall yet live though she seemeth to be dead” (Joseph Smith Papers ). But as time wore on, and the Prophet felt the weight of his people’s suffering through the long winter months, he expressed his anguish in prayer.
“O God, where art thou?” the Prophet cried. “And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:1 ).
“How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:2 ).
“O God, where art thou?” the Prophet cried. “And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” (
“How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?” (
Original text of Doctrine and Covenants 121.
The Lord answered,
“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;” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7 ).
The Lord’s counsel touched Joseph and the other prisoners. At a time of great need, the Lord provided direction and hope for His prophet and His people. The light of Heaven penetrated the darkness of that prison. Through this revelation, God blessed Joseph Smith with the courage to endure. He declared to His faithful children that He will never forget them, He will always be with them in their trials, and that He would exalt all those who make and keep covenants.
Even with the Prophet still in jail, God’s revealed word reached those beyond the prison walls. Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners preparedtwo letters addressed to the entire Church. Doctrine and Covenants 121 and 122 contain these words. Included in the second letter is a message from the prophet guiding the Saints in their continuing efforts to build Zion:
“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;” (
The Lord’s counsel touched Joseph and the other prisoners. At a time of great need, the Lord provided direction and hope for His prophet and His people. The light of Heaven penetrated the darkness of that prison. Through this revelation, God blessed Joseph Smith with the courage to endure. He declared to His faithful children that He will never forget them, He will always be with them in their trials, and that He would exalt all those who make and keep covenants.
Even with the Prophet still in jail, God’s revealed word reached those beyond the prison walls. Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners prepared
“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.”
Fifteen men transferred Joseph Smith and his companions to Daviess County on April 6, 1839. There, Sheriff Morgan was assigned to take them to a hearing. With the help of their guards, the five prisoners escaped on April 16. They traveled to Quincy, Illinois, where they reunited with their families and fellow Saints. That same year, the Saints would begin to establish the city of Nauvoo , a cornerstone of Zion.