On December 1,
1838, Joseph, his brother Hyrum, and other leaders were
jailed at Liberty, Missouri, to await trial on the unfounded
charge of treason. Their "treason" was the result of
trying to defend themselves against mobs who resented
the Saints' growing political and economic power in
Missouri. In this jail the Prophet languished four and
a half months.
"Peace be unto
thy soul," the Lord comforted Joseph in Liberty Jail. "Thine
adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on
high." The
Lord continued, "Know thou, my son, that all these
things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy
good."
Through the
bitter winter and beyond, Joseph suffered extreme hardship
and held fast to his faith in Jesus Christ. "If I had not
actually got into this work and been called of God, I
would back out," he admitted. "But I cannot back out:
I have no doubt of the truth."
"He that holds
out faithful to the end shall in no wise lose his
reward," wrote Joseph and Hyrum to one struggling soul. "A
good man will endure all things to honor
Christ."
Liberty Jail
The Clay County jail at Liberty, Missouri, in which the Prophet Joseph Smith and others were unjustly imprisoned from December 1838 to April 1839.
