But a Small Moment

Liberty Jail Week 3

“The Liberty jail, one of the few and certainly one of the more forbidding of such structures in that region, was considered escape proof, and it probably was. It had two stories. The top or main floor was accessible to the outside world only by a single small, heavy door. In the middle of that floor was a trapdoor through which prisoners were then lowered into the lower floor or dungeon. The outside walls of the prison were of rough-hewn limestone 2 feet thick, with inside walls of 12-inch oak logs. These two walls were separated by a 12-inch space filled with loose rock. Combined, these walls made a formidable, virtually impenetrable barrier 4 feet thick.

In the dungeon the floor-to-ceiling height was barely 6 feet, and inasmuch as some of the men, including the Prophet Joseph, were over 6 feet tall, this meant that when standing they were constantly in a stooped position, and when lying it was mostly upon the rough, bare stones of the prison floor covered here and there by a bit of loose, dirty straw or an occasional dirty straw mat.

The food given to the prisoners was coarse and sometimes contaminated, so filthy that one of them said they “could not eat it until [they] were driven to it by hunger.” On as many as four occasions they had poison administered to them in their food, making them so violently ill that for days they alternated between vomiting and a kind of delirium, not really caring whether they lived or died. In the Prophet Joseph’s letters, he spoke of the jail being a “hell, surrounded with demons . . . where we are compelled to hear nothing but blasphemous oaths, and witness a scene of blasphemy, and drunkenness and hypocrisy, and debaucheries of every description."”[1]

It was under these conditions that the prisoners were to spend the next four months.  Being frustrated at the injustices forced upon them by the state and U.S. governments, by the intolerable conditions in the jail, and by their separation from family, friends, and church, the prophet began to show his true strengths.

There may be times in our own lives when it seems as though all is lost; that which we love and hold dear has been taken from us and there is nowhere to go, no one to turn to.  At times like this I want you to know that we are never alone. The Savior will help you see and understand the vision He has for you. We are His beloved children. He knows you personally and has a plan for your life. He has promised that as you live worthily, His Spirit will always be with you.  

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane when our Savior, in his hour of greatest darkness said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death,” he then plead with the Father “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”. Matt 26:38, 3.  But he was not left alone, “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him”. Luke  22:43. 

When we seem most alone, we too can have angels around us; angels from heaven on high, angels in the form of family, friends, or fellow saints; even from a nudge, nuzzle or cold wet nose of your favorite pet.

After months in the Liberty Jail, Joseph wanted the work of the Lord to move forward, but he was being frustrated by his incarceration.  He wanted to be able to lead the saints, to be with his friends and family during these hard times of persecution.  Under these circumstances he pleads with the Lord for the suffering saints;  " O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?  How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?  Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?  O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol--stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.  Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.   Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever”. (D&C 121:1.)

In response to Joseph’s pleading the Lord answered “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes”. D&C  121:7-8

“Thine afflictions shall be but a small moment”.  In the depths of our misery, grief, or misfortune, time seems to move by ever so slowly.  There is no suspension of our pain, the discomfort or agony; yet after it is all over, when we have finally crossed the chasm of our distress, we can often look back and see the truer measure of time, and that it was indeed but for a “small moment”.

Then in verse 9 the Lord tells Joseph: “Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hand”.  Our friends are of such great comfort to us during our times of tribulation.  How often do we cry out for the acceptance, confirmation or help from a friend, and how often are we greeted with their warm hearts and friendly hands?

Within past months I have so often seen this scenario played out, where one of our Facebook friends reaches out in despair, with a cry for help or support, and time after time there are a multitude of friends who will post their “warm hearts and friendly hands”. The Lord has touched my spirit time and again, and more often than not, His touch has reached me through the hand of a friend.

Joseph wrote of his experiences in the Liberty jail; “I think I could never have felt as I now do if I had not suffered the wrongs that I have suffered”.

READ D&C Section 121:  -  http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121?lang=eng

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[1] Jeffrey R. Holland; Lessons From Liberty Jail

Bullies

Liberty Jail Week 2

 

As seen from the Dec 1 post, the early Mormon saints suffered many persecutions during the early days of the church.  While there were various causes for these persecutions, for the most part the actions against the church were carried out by the mobs.

Mobs, gangs and bullies have these things common; they hurt, frighten, threaten, intimidate or tyrannize those who are smaller or weaker. Much of the persecutions the Mormons suffered were the result of inciting to violence by particular individuals or groups.  It is true that the local residents had some valid reasons to dislike the Mormons, but those differences were of such a nature that they could have been worked out and solved by working together and within the law.  It was a lawless element of the frontier which found opportunity to plunder and ravage for personal gain which incited the mobs and resulted in much of the persecutions.

Where are the accusing politicians of that day who persecuted the saints?  Where are the mob bullies who tyrannized without just cause; who were the members of the mob; husbands, fathers, and everyday citizens who would rather follow the inciting dialect of an enraged bully rather than even slightly scratch the surface of discovery to find truth for himself; gone, they are all gone, delegated  into the fine print of history.

“When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sandpaper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless.”
― Chris Colfer

 

Bullying

 

Recognize Bullying

Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.
Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.
Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.

Respond to Bullying

Stop it on the Spot
Don’t’ give Bullying an audience
Help those who are being bullied to get away
Find out what happened
Support the Kids
Be a good example

Don’t get caught up in rumor, gossip or malicious comments.

 

“You can’t be right by doing wrong,
You can’t be wrong by doing right”.
              Pres. Thomas S. Monson

 

 

Joseph Smith and the Liberty Jail

Thoughts on Liberty Jail - 1

In the early spring of 1820, Joseph Smith, a boy of 14 years of age, knelt in earnest prayer and received a vision of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in answer to a prayer Joseph had offered as to which church he should join.

Later, after the appearance of other heavenly messengers, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the proper authority from God to organize the Church of Jesus Christ again on the earth.

1830

March : Joseph Smith finished the translation of The Book of Mormon and the first copy is published.

April 6: Joseph Smith officially organizes the Church at Fayette.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 20.)

The church grows and thrives as the Lord blesses the saints, but, they are not always looked upon favorably by the surrounding communities.

The recent influx of Mormons into the state of Missouri gave the local residents cause for concern; in the summer of 1938 the number of saints in Missouri totaled fifteen thousand. 

The local residents did not know much about their new neighbors, but they could see the changes they were making to their community.

• The huge co-operative farms the Mormons had started were disturbing to the local farmers.
• Distorted reports circulating throughout the region that the Mormons were “Abolitionists” was of great concern to the Missouri slave holders.
• The bitterness of the Protestant ministers concerning the Mormons and their religious practices did much to arouse the prejudices of the community.

1833

November 22: Joseph Smith learns of the expulsion of Saints from Zion (Jackson County, Missouri) and the tragic consequences of Missouri mob action.

 

1838

Problems of various kinds had been building and by October of 1838, all-out war seemed inevitable between Mormon and non-Mormon forces in Missouri.

October 27: Responding to false and inflammatory reports that the Saints are committing aggressive actions, Governor Boggs issues his “extermination order” against them at Jefferson City, Missouri.

 

1838

November 1,

Under false pretenses Joseph Smith and other church leaders were gathered together and then turned over to General Lucas of the Missouri state militia.  The Prophet Joseph and six other church leaders were held in a military “court” convened by officers of that militia.  The decision was made that Joseph Smith and five other leaders of the church all be taken to the public square at Far West and summarily shot to death.

The order was never carried out.  General Doniphan, to whom the execution order was given, made a curt refusal:

“It is cold blooded murder.  I will not obey your order.  My brigade shall march for Liberty tomorrow morning at 8:00 o’clock; and if you execute these men I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal;, so help me God”  - A. Doniphan, Brigadier General

The execution orders were dropped but the prisoners were instead marched and ridiculed before the general populace. 

December 1

Joseph smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Hyrum Smith, Alexander McRae, and Sidney Rigdon were sent to the jail at Liberty, Clay County, to await trial for treason and murder.