All life experiences change and shape the character of those involved. Some affect them very little, being merely routine happenings. It is rare that a trip to the grocery store alters the philosophical views of an old man. Other events can radically change those they happen to. Liberty Jail did this to Joseph Smith. He considered it the worst possible experience of his life. Trapped in a small room for months, with no sight of the end, and little word from those outside, he was cut off from everything he cared for.
The pain and misery of the experience was never forgotten, and its memory stayed with him for life. But he also grew in that time, and changed. No longer was he the young leader of a church, a voice of God, but lacking the ability to articulate his own thoughts. When he emerged, he was a powerhouse of conviction, clarity, and even charisma. He still may not have been the strongest speaker, but his talks touched the souls of many. He was able to express his personal views and direction for the church. Before Liberty, Joseph relayed God’s messages. Now he understood the end goal himself, and was able to act freely to guide his followers in the right direction.
How could Joseph come out of such a dark and miserable experience with such an increase in power and conviction? There is probably no one answer. Some reasons may weigh more heavily than others, but having not been born until well over 100 years after the fact, I will not try to choose one reason as a main reason. However, I do believe that two key elements guided the change, and many other specifics can be included in these categories.
First is Joseph’s new relationship with God. During his time incarcerated, Joseph lost almost all hope. His well-know opening to a prayer is recorded in D&C 121: “Oh God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” In complete despair he turned to a God he could no longer feel in his life. Although he had not been abandoned, he felt so alone and cast out that it was as if he were. God answers His prophet’s soul-deep plea with personal comfort: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.” Even as Joseph was beginning to lose hope, his Father was there, and looking after him. With this assurance, in even the darkest moments, Joseph was able to develop a new sense of assurance in his God’s protection.
Secondly, Joseph spent much of his time pondering. With not much else to do, he was able to think about all that had happened to him since the first vision. Being in the moment, it is often hard to see the bigger picture. Liberty Jail took him out of the time line, as it were, for five months. In close communion with God, Joseph was able to spend this time reviewing all the commands he had received, and the reasons behind them. By this point, a more unified end goal began to come clear. Joseph was able to see several yards down the path, rather than relying on God to tell him where to place his foot as each new step came about. Once he was released from Liberty, Joseph kept this greater perspective. He was confident in where he was to go next, and where the church should be right at the moment. This allowed him to step up on his own, and speak to his followers. He could confidently preach without worrying that he was out of line of the plan. Along with the assurance that God would look after him and not allow him to blindly stumble and fail, Joseph began again with a new confidence in his cause, and in the steps he was taking to seek it’s goal.
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