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.