Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Prison-Temple Experience

I recently read "Lessons From Liberty Jail," an address given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland for a BYU CES fireside. You may recall my adoration of all things Elder Holland, but this is one of his best ever (I think). To go along with our monthly theme, the following quote discusses how Joseph Smith's experience in Liberty Jail was a temple-like experience. Enjoy!

"Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a “jail” or a “prison”—and certainly it was that. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a “prison-temple.” ...Certainly it lacked the purity, the beauty, the comfort, and the cleanliness of our true temples, our dedicated temples. The speech and behavior of the guards and criminals who came there was anything but templelike. In fact, the restricting brutality and injustice of this experience at Liberty would make it seem the very antithesis of the liberating, merciful spirit of our temples and the ordinances that are performed in them. So in what sense could Liberty Jail be called a “temple”—or at least a kind of temple—in the development of Joseph Smith personally and in his role as a prophet? And what does such a title tell us about God’s love and teachings, including where and when that love and those teachings are made manifest?

"As we think on these things, does it strike us that spiritual experience, revelatory experience, sacred experience can come to every one of us in all the many and varied stages and circumstances of our lives if we want it, if we hold on and pray on, and if we keep our faith strong through our difficulties?...

"But tonight’s message is that when you have to, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, let me say that even a little stronger: You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life—in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced.

"Now let’s talk about those propositions for a moment. Every one of us, in one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not have been our fault. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord. We may face persecution; we may endure heartache and separation from loved ones; we may be hungry and cold and forlorn. Yes, before our lives are over we may all be given a little taste of what the prophets faced often in their lives. But the lessons of the winter of 1838–39 teach us that every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through that difficulty. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace."

Scripture of the Day: D&C 133:2

11 comments:

  1. We were able to go to a play recently that was about the time Joseph spent in Liberty Jail. A BYU-I Professor wrote it about 12 years ago. There were a few artistic liberties taken, but most of what happened was true. It was really interesting to see how Joseph struggled and tried to know what to do, but questioned so much of what he had already done. It was definitely a humbling experience!

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  2. You are an answer to a prayer. Really. My daughter is in the MTC. She found out yesterday she needs to have surgery on her foot that isn't healing from an MTC volleyball accident. She is feeling alone and afraid as she's trying to do the Lord's work. I know she will be able to relate to this quote and find strength from it. I sent it to her this morning via 'dearelder'. Thank you for a timely post.

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  3. Thank you for this post! My husband and I are going through some very hard times right now and this added comfort to my troubled heart. Thank You!

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  4. Dear Debbie and Moana--that is the very reason this quote resonated with me. I also have a challenging trial to work through. Elder Holland's words really helped put things in perspective for me. Becky

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  5. grumpy {my husband} and i keep wondering what we need to learn from the trial we are facing right now. he keeps saying we are here for a reason going through this for a reason. i needed this today. i am not always so sure we will come out of this trial ok. i need to have more faith. everything is going to be ok i know that. i just need to hear it from someone else sometimes.

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  6. Oh, yay for you for posting this! Look at all the people who have benefitted from it! Me, too! Ever since I visited the liberty jail museum last summer, this has been an even more tender topic for me. My great great great great grandfather, Caleb Baldwin (my maiden name) was one of the four men there and after bisiting, it has made the whole experience so much more real and meaningful to me.

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  7. I have a complete testimony of this. People look at my life and wonder how I do it. Or how I have made it through the things that I have. This princeapal of the Gospel is why and how. My most difficualt things I have ever had in my life are my most sacred and powerful. It is just amazing how the Lord can change things. Water to Wine.

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  8. I love love love this talk. I came into contact with it a few months ago, and reread it often. I am living the prison temple experience right now, and I do believe that God put me here to learn things I could have never learned any other way.

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  9. I love this talk! Thanks so much for posting it. It is so comforting.

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  10. Thank you for this post!
    www.mytitleofliberty.blogspot.com

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  11. Are we not so blessed to have living Apostles who speak words of hope and encouragement to our souls?
    Thank you for purposefully using your time to share such a profound message in the simplest form.
    It made a difference to me.

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Comments are much appreciated!