Liberty Jail

Many people in Missouri did not like the Saints. The governor sent soldiers to make them leave.

Man on a horse pointing a sword at Joseph Smith

The soldiers arrested Joseph Smith and other Church leaders. One night, the guards were laughing about bad things they had done to the Saints.

Joseph Smith with chains on his wrists, standing up and talking to men

Joseph stood up and yelled, “Silence!” He spoke with God’s power. The guards said they were sorry and stopped talking.

Joseph Smith and other men in Liberty Jail looking sad and cold

Later, Joseph and his friends were put in a jail in a town called Liberty. The jail was cold, small, and dark. They had only dirty straw to sleep on. The food they were given made them sick.

Joseph Smith crying and a man comforting him

Joseph worried about the Saints. But he couldn’t do anything to help them.

Joseph prayed a lot. He asked if God had forgotten about him and the Church members.

Joseph Smith kneeling in jail, looking upward toward sunlight streaming in a small window

God answered Joseph’s prayer. He said, “My son, peace be unto thy soul.” God told Joseph that his challenges would not last forever and that they would be for his good. He promised that He would be with Joseph “forever and ever” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7, 46).