Liberty Jail

When Joseph Smith was held as a prisoner in Liberty Jail in Missouri for five months, his isolation allowed him to contemplate his relationship with God. There he was-- all alone. Or so it appeared. He was without his wife, without his children, without his close friends and fellow priesthood holders, and yet, despite all this, Joseph Smith recognized that God was with him, supporting him in his darkest trial. Being human, Joseph had questions about what was going on and why he sometimes felt alone. He wanted to know how long his suffering would last, why it was happening, why now-- the things we all ask when we are faced with a challenge. Now, I recognize that it's important to avoid comparing our challenges, but clearly this was a difficult test. I can't even fathom the pain, both emotional and physical, that Joseph Smith endured. I have no comprehension of just how difficult those five months were. But I do know everything I need to about his faith and character, because at the end of five excruciating months, the prophet Joseph Smith emerged as the greatest version of himself yet, and that is because he relied on the Lord.

During his time in a nasty, isolated jail cell, Joseph's primary concern was his prayers-- he wanted to know that his prayers were heard and acknowledged by God. He understandably felt abandoned. He asked, “Oh God, where art thou?” Even the prophet needed some confirmation that, although he felt sad and alone, that he still had the accompaniment of God. And sure enough, he did. Joseph’s experience in Liberty Jail surely taught him hundreds of important truths, but from an observer’s standpoint, that which I most readily see from this story is that Joseph learned: a) his prayers were always heard—even when it didn’t feel like it, and b) as a son of Heavenly Father and the prophet of the Lord’s church, he was absolutely capable of receiving personal, timely revelation. I am so grateful for the prophet’s example of faith and endurance. He truly exercised hope and steadfastness in his trials.

Each of us is asked to make sacrifices or overcome challenges, just as Joseph Smith was. I think that sometimes we are inclined to compare our challenges—what seems “toughest,” the most painful, the most impossible, etc. But in my first semester at BYU, religion professor Tod Parker shared a quote with our New Testament class that meant a whole lot to me. As stated by President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve in the October 1980 General Conference:

"We may foolishly bring unhappiness and trouble, even suffering upon ourselves. These are not always to be regarded as penalties imposed by a displeased Creator. They are part of the lessons of life, part of the test. Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of age. Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury. All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect."

I believe these words are powerful, and so true. Each of us faces challenges. While some may appear “harder” than others, I think we should try to remember that no one escapes testing. Everyone is tried. Every test is difficult, and in spite of our varying challenges, we do share one very important thing in common—something Joseph Smith clearly understood: the way for us to overcome our trials, no matter what they may be, is to rely on the Lord. He is always, always with us.