The Prophet in Liberty Jail

Joseph Smith, Chapter 31
Taught by Sandy Fultz

You can have sacred, revelatory experiences
with the Lord in the most miserable experiences
of your life.

A Prison-Temple Experience

"Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a 'jail' or a 'prison'—and certainly it was that. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a 'prison-temple.'

"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? And what does such a title tell us about God’s love and teachings, including where and when that love and those teachings are made manifest?

"[The message is] that when you have to, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in any situation you are in. 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." Jeffrey R. Holland, Lessons from Liberty Jail

Binding Our Hearts to Family and Friends

Joseph Smith also taught that "every species of wickedness and cruelty practiced upon us will only tend to bind our hearts together and seal them together in love." How does this work? Several ideas were given by the sisters...we are humbled and turn to one another and Lord; we can choose love and doing what's right in the midst of the trial rather than being broken and becoming cynical; the bonding with others is often recognized later; and over time we come to understand and feel empathy for others with similar pain.

He Will Be With Us

The Savior descended below all (D&C 122:8-9), so He understands and can give us peace. That peace can be a feeling of calm during the trial. It can be acceptance and the strength to move on. It can be greater faith or a knowledge that all things will work together for our good. It can be a realization that we are stronger than we think we are.

All things will work together for your good.
~ D&C 100:15