In class on Wednesday, we talked about Sections 121-123 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which were pieces of revelation that Joseph Smith received while in Liberty Jail in 1839. I’ve had the privilege of visiting the Liberty Jail historical site, and I remember being surprised when I heard about the conditions that prisoners endured there. Constructed in 1833, what could only be seen as a shack was the prophet’s dwelling place for five months from December 1838-April 1839. With low ceiling space, no lighting and no heat, Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, his brother Hyrum, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin spent this time worrying about the Saints abroad. The men had been brought to this jail unjustly for supposed crimes against the state of Missouri and their people had faced a simultaneous extermination order. With a long, cold winter ahead, these church leaders were doomed to remain anxious in an old ice house. Joseph Smith had been a mover and a shaker in the religious world for years, and now he was stuck with a few square feet of space and no word from or about the people he loved, who were now homeless and scattered.
This kind of pressure either makes or breaks a person, and Joseph Smith found himself almost broken in March of 1839. Grieving for his people's losses, Joseph prayed to God for vengeance against his people’s enemies and for answers to their prayers, and he consequently received the rest of Doctrine and Covenants Section 121 and subsequent sections.
Here, the Lord gives Joseph a sobering lesson about trial. He reminds Joseph that both Job and Jesus Christ suffered far more than Joseph, and that Joseph’s friends were still with him. Encouraging Joseph to stay faithful and true to the end, the Lord reminded him that He was always with His children and would take care of Joseph.
The Lord’s counsel during this time is said to have changed Joseph. When Joseph and the others were released in April, they traveled to meet the Saints, and from then on, Joseph became the official spokesman for the church. Until this point, Joseph had been unconfident with his own speaking and writing abilities, and had often utilized Sidney Rigdon and Parley Pratt as spokesmen for the church. However, it was after Joseph’s time in prison that he was able to understand his calling as prophet and become a speaker in the church. The Lord’s words gave Joseph confidence and courage to continue his Earthly journey.
For more information about Liberty Jail, feel free to check out this article by Lawrence R. Flake, a BYU professor: http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Liberty_Jail
You can also check out this Youtube video segment called “My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee.” It’s from the LDS concert “Joseph Smith the Prophet.” The song sung at the 3:00 minute mark is one of my favorite songs…ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irX0E4-mc9U&feature=related
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