“Liberty Jail,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories (2024)
“Liberty Jail,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories
October 1838–March 1839
Liberty Jail
Finding the Lord during hard times
Many people who lived in Missouri did not like the Saints. The governor sent soldiers to make them leave. The soldiers chased the Saints from their homes, stole things from their houses, and hurt many of them.
The soldiers arrested the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders.
Saints, 1:357–58
Joseph asked if he could have some time alone with his family. The soldiers said no. They took Joseph and the other prisoners away.
Saints, 1:366
One night, Joseph and the other prisoners listened as their guards laughed about bad things they had done to the Saints. Joseph could not bear to hear it any longer. He stood up and yelled, “Silence!” He spoke with God’s power. The guards were scared. They said they were sorry and stopped talking.
Saints, 1:367–68
Later, Joseph and his friends were put in a jail in a town called Liberty. The jail was very cold, small, and dark. They had only some dirty straw to sleep on. There was only a little food, and it made them sick.
Joseph thought a lot about the Saints. He loved them. He worried about them. But he couldn’t do anything to help them.
Saints, 1:385–86
Joseph prayed a lot. He asked God where He was and why He was not helping the Saints. Had God forgotten about him and the Church?
Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–6
God answered Joseph’s prayer. He said, “My son, peace be unto thy soul.” He told Joseph that his challenges would not last forever, and they would be for his good. God reminded Joseph that Jesus Christ had been through even harder things. He promised that He would be with Joseph “forever and ever.”