backlog: Liberty Jail

Liberty Jail is in Missouri. We woke up early and finished loading the car; stowing away wet towels and a wet tent fly. Another day on the road leaving at 3am. We wanted to stop and visit Far West, Missouri on our way to Liberty Jail. However, we turned on the wrong D road and missed it. Missouri has lots of back-roads labeled either a letter or two letters of the alphabet. Such as: D, DD, F, Z, U, UU, etc. It is unfortunate but by the time we learned of our mistake there was no going back. 

The prophet, Joseph Smith, was in and out of jail on numerous occasions but was never found guilty of any crime he had been jailed for. This jail stands out too many Latter-day Saints for a myriad of reasons. Here are a couple of my reasons. He was here from December 1st and stayed well through March and even into April the following year. That winter is only twice in recorded history that both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers froze. There was no heat source in this jail for the 5 men who were imprisoned. Their food was poisoned. The height of the 'dungeon' is at most 6' tall. The shortest man was 5'11". While the tallest (pictured in the center sitting on a box wearing a black coat) was 6'5". All the while these men and the prophet lay on a scant supply of straw with small rations of food and even less provisions of blankets; the other members of the church were being persecuted and driven from their homes in Far West, MO.  Many members fled during this harsh winter in poverty with only their children and a few  only able to carry some possessions along their journey. 

Eventually the governor of Missouri had legalized an extermination order to kill or run off any Mormons within the state boundaries. It seems repugnant that regardless of a man's belief or  desire to worship the Creator should result in mindless torture, sacking of homes, breaking of families, and finally murder.

Though, as our domestic situation worsens I do not assume that persecutions of certain groups of people or religious institutions will not occur. History has shown that we are capable of rounding up the Indians and impoverishing them on reservations, enslaving Africans, rounding up the Japanese during WW II, etc. I doubt not that our Muslim or Korean neighbors may be next to fall victim to the repetition of hate crimes in America. 

I know that God lives in Heaven and that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to bare witness of the Divinity of the Godhead here to those acknowledging his ministry. I know that he was betrayed, crucified, and resurrected 3 days later.