Follow Him: A Come, Follow Me Podcast - Doctrine & Covenants 121-123 Part 3 : Dr. Alexander L. Baugh

Episode Date: October 17, 2021

In part 3, Dr. Baugh shares the beauty and power contained in the revelations from Liberty Jail. The crucible of difficulty purifies Joseph and enables him to become a more powerful, charitable, and Christlike man. Liberty Jail transformed Joseph, and the revelations have the power to transform the Saints as well.Shownotes: https://followhim.co/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannel"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com/products/let-zion-in-her-beauty-rise-pianoPlease rate and review the podcast.

And now, part three of Follow Him. I wanted to comment on reproving B. Times with Sharpness. I found a statement of Elder H. Burke Peterson, member he was presiding Bishop Rick a long time ago. This is in your June 1990 enzyme, but he said, perhaps we should consider what it means to reprove with sharpness. Reproving with sharpness means reproving with clarity, with loving firmness, with serious intent. It does not mean

reproving with sarcasm or with bitterness or with clenched teeth and the raised voice. One who approves as the Lord has directed deals in principles, not personalities. He does not attack character or humiliate or demean an individual

In almost every situation in which correction is required private reproof is superior to public reproof unless the whole war is in need of a reprimand. It's better for the bishop to speak to the individual rather than use the collective approach. Anyway, he goes on, but I put in my margin sharpness means clarity. And I've appreciated that, especially in as Hank just started to talk about as a mom as a dad, as a husband, as a wife. It doesn't mean anger. It means that I appreciate that definition from Bishop Peterson. It means to approve with clarity.

Here's exactly what I mean. Here's exactly what I'm talking about. Then you can retain the Holy Ghost that way. Beautiful. Those are great, great points and great application for all of us. We'll continue to hear these verses over and over again, but I think where can we practice it the best? It's in the home. And not all of us have, you know, not all of us are bishops or in, you know, preside over large numbers of people. But certainly as priesthood holders, we do preside with our sweet arts in the home and we need to exercise

that priesthood with great love and compassion and understanding. And like you say, I love the idea of just explain with clarity. That's a terrific way to have a proof. Reproof sounds so negative or so strong, but all it really takes is maybe an explanation to be of that clarity. Yeah. I've read an article about this type of thing in the Harvard Business Review just a year or two ago,

and I thought, man, I've already learned this. It was written in 1838 from Liberty Jail. People are just kind of stumbling upon this way. This idea of giving feedback, if you do it gently, it actually can be much more effective. Isn't this interesting in verse 45, let thy bowels, the center of your emotions, be full of charity towards all men. That is different than the December Joseph Smith, Alex, where he's calling out individual. No question. Like I say, I think these several weeks or a couple of months has really softened his

heart. So it's a simple, just a brief little passage in his letter to pres India, but he says, it seems to me that my heart will always be more tender after this than it was ever before. He's lost that vindictiveness that he felt, at least at least in December, when he just, you read that, it's just anger. He's just so upset. But now he says, you know, we need to, we need to just move forward and, you know, move on. And I have no, I have no indicative feelings for those things that have happened. We just move on. So he's had that purging,

if you will, that has changed his heart. There is just no question. I just see a different has changed his heart. There is just no question. I just see a different Jules of Smith. I can't say that any stronger to our listeners that Liberty Jail, there's something about suffering and hardship and extremities like this that have caused some of those chips, you know, the roughstone rolling. you know, the rough stone rolling, you know, what does he say? How, you know, I'm like a rough stone. And I just, I just had to have some things chip off my shoulder that caused me to be a smooth shaft in the quiver of the Almighty. This is what Liberty just suffering does that. And I hope that our listeners can understand that the life is meant to be

experienced and there's going to be hardships. We know that. Everyone has them, but it's how you how you deal with them that makes the difference. And we have a colleague and you know him. And he has gone undergone some terrible, terrible health conditions. And he said, whenever something like this happens or I haven't, he says, I'm going, I asked the question, I guess God wants me to learn something that I haven't learned before. And this is Joseph Smith to a T in this, in this jail experience. He's learning things and experiencing things. It's softening his heart. It's, it's refining him. There's a refining power of tribulation and sorrow and hardship.

And everybody has them for the single person, for the ones who have health problems, for the ones who may not be doing well in school or lose employment. I think the thing we need to do is think optimistically and just say, what am I supposed to learn from this? And how can I become better and more Christ-like, more holy from this experience? And I think that's what's happened to Joseph Smith. There's just no question. I just see that in these letters that he's a changed man. And I also see, you know, kind of 1820 to 1830,

Joseph is very cautious. He doesn't share a lot. He doesn't tell everybody about his first vision. He's very cautious. After the church is organized until Liberty Jail, he's quite confident. God has called me the church. It's a story. We've got it moving, we've got the scriptures,

but 1838, 39 on, he's very confident that God's with him. In fact, well, we'll talk about that with the next section. God's with him, but part of the reason he is so much is because he's had a change of heart, he's just different. And I can't impress that upon our listeners as much. Any more, it is a different Joseph that comes out of Liberty jail. What does that phrase you've often heard? Sweet are the uses of adversity. And I guess this is all a tutoring thing

for him is kind of what you're saying. And that's enduring it well. That's verse eight, like your your your colleague that I guess I need to learn something. That's part of enduring it well. I like that what you said there, the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion. He's a he's a different man. After this. Let's keep going. Well, is this the same letter? Well, it, the same, yeah, actually, this next letter goes all the way through, uh, Section 122. So he, he takes this big chunk. I do want to just mention that in verse 45, he pulls in the, the, the, the great keyword charity. verse 45, he pulls in the great key word charity.

Let by bals also be full of charity towards all men. That means those not of our faith, and then he says, and to the household of faith, people say things differently if they're not members of the church, obviously, but we are still expected to extend charity in all things. And then, of course, to have that kind of power and influence that the priesthood requires, we must have virtue in our lives.

Virtue, as soon as you think that, you think they must be chased, but it really is conformity to all moral laws, not just chastity. What is morally correct is someone who has virtue, not just like I say, being sexually pure or whatever. And then of course, you have the pure thoughts, the positive thoughts, and you have confidence in the presence of God. In other words, how did somebody, I was trying to think how they related that, just that charity and virtue give confidence in our lives, that God is approving of who we are and what we're doing. And we know that God will sustain us and back us up. I don't know if that's quite the best expression,

but I think the other idea here in the final thing is the doctrine of the priesthood will come upon, will understand doctrinal principles and concepts and an understanding of the gospel that we may never have before. And how do we get that? It's through the Holy Ghost and the final verse. And what a powerful thing.

I think we can all relate that over the course of our lives as we tried to keep the commandments and exercise, charity and love and virtue, we're so enlightened by the gospel and what it means to us. And the scriptures become more of a friend We're so enlightened by the gospel and what it means to us. And the scriptures become more of a friend and a power in our lives. I just sit there and go, what I taught on my mission compared to what I've, the experiences and things that I've learned from God in the, in the 40 years since that time,

what he's bestowed upon me is absolutely wonderful and so meaningful in my life, but it's a lifelong process here. But just a powerful, powerful expressions that I think we can all relate to. I've heard you say before, Alex. I've heard you say that before the church was organized, Joseph was cautious. From the organization of the

church to liberty, he's courageous. And from liberty to Carthage jail, the end of his life, he is fearless. And I think that's verse 45, right? Thy confidence waxed strong in the presence of God. That seems to happen here. You know, they say, they talk about, I think you've talked about this on your program, that some people have said that Joseph, you know, he's a fraud. No, he believed he was a prophet. He knew he wasn't trying to be deceptive in any sense of the word. So he had the confidence that, yeah, God's, God's called me and I know it. How can I be a fraud? I can't. And yeah, he has extreme confidence in, in God's promises made to him. Yeah. So which is where this whole section kind of stem from because he knew God was with him.

Well, where, where, where, where are you? When are you going to step in? Where are you? When are you going to step in? It was slow and coming in his mind, but it came. He backed him up. So is 122 the same letters that you've said? Yes. It's kind of a continuation. It sounds like it just begins in the middle of, you know, yeah, it's still the answer the Lord's giving him.

It sounds like kind of. Yeah, it's from verse 34 all the way to the end of 122 verse 9 is all one passage. Well, there's a lot to be seen here. And a lot that we can kind of reflect upon. Verse 1, if people read that verse, at least one thing that comes to my mind is the promise made by Barroni on the evening of September 21st, 22nd, when he tells him what, the I name will what, be both good and evil spoken among all nations. And what does he say? The hands of the earth, the entire future inhabitants of the earth. Among them, people will look to you, inquires, inquires, implies to seek for. We are still looking to Joseph Smith

for understanding, for not only his revelations, but his teachings. Was David O. McKay said that on his mission, something about he was, I guess they were just preaching kind of general gospel principles, but the mission president said, you got a preach about Joseph Smith. And he said something about every time you mention Joseph Smith,

it will tingle in their ears. Because of course, the Lord's going to try to say, we have prophets again. And I think that's true. When people hear the name Joseph Smith, something happens most of the time. Who is he? What did he do? Why is he so significant? And then they look into it, at least we hope they do. But what a promise, a reiteration of that Moroni promise that people will look to you, Joseph, for what? For knowledge, for understanding, for the gospel. I mean, we always are quoting Joseph. We will inquire after Joseph from now. I mean, he is the prophet of the restoration. He's the prophet of the prophets. I mean, I know President Nelson goes, he's the one, he's the head of the dispensation.

So we, he's got a little bit more preeminence here. Now, that's not taking away from his responsibility as a living prophet. He's just, we're, we look to Joseph as the, the, the prophet of the restoration itself as it came through him. And even in this instance, he's 33 years old, right? He's very young. He says, it is his fools.

We'll have the indirision. That's ridicule, right? Fools. That's contempt, scorn. Yeah. And he takes his hits, too. I mean, still today. Yeah, and always will. Yeah, they'll they'll be critical of Joseph Smith and you can understand why he if his message is true

All else that follows should be well, I like to think and tell my students he if you hear somebody Say something negative derogatory Accusatory something about Joseph Smith. They just testified that Maroni was a prophet. Yeah. That's what Maroni said. When Maroni says, your name will be had for both good and evil. Every nation, kinder tongue, I mean, for a long time, for hundreds of years after your life is

over. That's impressive. His influence is widespread. I mean, it continues and is expanding. And look what the Joseph Smith papers have done is made even more of his teachings and doctrines and principles, even more available and understood. It's been tremendous. I think, verses two and three are talking about you two and our listeners. The pure in heart, the wise, the noble, the virtuous, they'll seek counsel and authority and blessings constantly from under thy hand.

Thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traders. So, I mean, I like to, I'd like to hope I'm in that category, right? That I'm one of Joseph's people, then I'm never gonna be turned against him by the testimony of a traitor. So, I hope I can fall into that category, the verse two and three category.

Yeah, and again, he's suffered from some who of course were, have turned against him. And but the, the majority, the vast majority, I, I think we can safely say it continued to follow him, made their way out of Missouri, you know, established, helped establish commerce in Navu. But yeah, we had a few. But the majority will be with you, Joseph. They'll follow you. They've received that testimony and they'll support you. And indeed they did. And the church, you know, you think, at this point in time, the church is pretty, pretty

dark days. I mean, how are we going to regroup? And yet look what Navu becomes in just a short amount of time and the mission to England going very well. So yeah, a pretty big hiccup, but the gospel and the church are going to be in fine shape. Yeah, but in the meantime, verse four, and although they're influential, cast the end of trouble, you know, thank you, W. W. Phelps and McLellan and others. And into bars and walls, which is where you're at, they'll shall be had in honor.

So they'll kind of what we've been referring to here. But look at this, this is an interesting passage. And but for a small moment, and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of the enemies than the fierce lion because of thy righteousness, and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. Well, verse 5 and 6 gives us all the problems a person could have in life. Parallels among false brethren, he's had that. Parallels among robbers, well, unfortunately, McLellan and

ankle robbed his home. Later, he's going to file a suit trying to get some of his property back. If they are parols by land or sea, well, I don't know if he's had perils on land, but not so much the sea part. He's been accused of false, all false matters of accusations. Animes fell upon him and look at this and they tear thee from the society of their father and their mother and their sisters. And if with a drawn sword, that animes's terribly from the bosom of thy wife, and the vibe thy offspring, and thy elder son, although but six years of age, shall claim

to thy garments, and shall say, my father, my father, why can't you stay with this, own the father? My father, what are the men going to do with you? And then if he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou shall be dragged to prison and nine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the Lamb, well, what happened here is quite simply the experience Joseph had when they brought him back to far west. He's been before a court marshal, but they, they're not going to execute him, but they're going to let him put him in prison. But before he goes, he has to go see his family

and get some personal effects. I'm sure they had some clothes and blankets and things he needed to take. And what happened during that time, he tries to say goodbye to his wife and his son and they rip him from him. Joseph Smith the third probably never read this, but he recounted when he was older what happened on that. I've got that right here.

Here's Joseph Smith III in his elderly years remembering that event. I'm going to read it. I remember vividly the morning my father came to visit his family after the arrest that took place in the fall of 1838. When he was brought to the house by an armed guard, I ran out of the gate to greet him, but was roughly pushed away from his side by a sword in the hand of the guard and not allowed to go near him. My mother also was not permitted to approach him and had to receive his farewell

by word of lip only. Just goodbye. The guard did not permit him to pass into the house nor to her to pass out, either because he feared an attempt would be made to rescue his prisoner or because of some brutal instinct in his own breast, who shall say, great remembrance of a six-year-old boy. He's got it right on. I'm not sure he ever read that passage of scripture, because that letter was in the possession of the Willard Richards and others of the Church historians, and not in Emma's possession.

Tell, yeah, tell it's published. You know, I'm so glad you clarified this. These are actual events. This very personal being pulled from your family, which to me sounds like the hardest thing, you know. Can you tell me again, when approximately was that event that he wrote about during an arrest on to go to far west? Did you say? Yeah, so he, yeah, he's, remember, he's arrested and then he's arrested on what the November 1st, 30th, 30th.

October 30th, and on the first, he's had this hearing, but they're not going to kill him. They're going to just, going to have a civil hearing and so they have to have if they're going to have a hearing They got to take him away so but they're giving him in just a few minutes to go into the town of far west and and see his family and and get the Personal effects that he needs obviously, you know few belongings and he's trying to get these and He's getting ripped apart. He won't even, can't even really hug and kiss his family. I mean, he's just torn from them. So, so this is November 1838 basically?

It's the day of no, it doesn't tell you the exact day is November 2nd, 1838. And then they took him to far west and you've been there that square where that temple side is. And then from there they another commander was commanded it was instructed to take him down to independence to wait until they found out what what kind of hearing he's going to have. And he is dragged to prison. His enemies prowl around the like wolves for the blood of the lamb. If you've been cast into the pit That's almost that sounds like the dungeon. Yeah, the dungeon of Liberty jail We're into the hands of murders and the sentence of death passed upon these had that happened to him

Right if they'll be casting the deep if the billowing surge combined against the fierce winds become a thine enemy, and then it's just It's all out if the very jaws of hell shall gap open thy mouth wide after thee you're thinking, okay, what's gonna come next? He says if all this happens Know that my son that all these things shall give the experience and shall be for thy good. Oh I want him to save all this happens. Then you can know I am going to step in and I am going to stop it all. Nope. Yeah. All these things. No, this will be a good experience for you. Yeah. Yeah. That's rough. I think that somebody said once, what was the funny saying that, I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he

didn't trust me so much. I'd like to make one of their point here and I think this is also reflective of Christ. Did Christ pass through much tribulation verse 5? Yes. Was he in perils among false brethren? We'll try Judas, but there was others who you know went not after him after certain points. Was he in Parles among robbers? I don't know about that Samaritan road, but that might have been an experience he had. I don't know. Parles by land or sea? Well, he had a stormy sea night. Was he accused with all matter of false accusations? And was he torn from his family, his mother? Did they cast him into the, was he cast into a pit right right there before Caiaphas and hands of murderers

and the synopsis of death passed upon them. Did the heavens gather blackness and was everything pretty dark, savior went through it and more, much more. And he can relate to Joseph. And we too can relate, because we know he has passed through everything, he knows everything we understand and feel

and have experienced ourselves. So I think this is a great testimony even of the experiences of the Savior and his condescension, if you will. Kind of a, you know, you've talked about this with section 93 and the condescension, if you will. You've talked about this with section 93 and the condescension of God, well, he went through some pretty brutal times. And Joseph, this is yours, but I understand what you're experiencing. So it's kind of a compassionate, even though it sounds kind of like, well,

It's, it sounds kind of like, well, you know, you can do this. Well, I've been there. Yeah. I've, I've got in my margin here, um, Alma 7, 11 and 12, those verses that kind of sound like they're expanding the atonement beyond our sins to our infirmities, our sicknesses, and that he may know according to the flesh, how to sucker his people according to the flesh it's this side and it's not saying so don't complain it's saying I've been there. I've been there I can help you because I have been there.

And that boy that verse eight is just art thou greater than he will what a question where you have to say look he's been through it all. But I love what you just said. This is a, I've been there. I can help you type of a verse, not a scolding verse, just. No. I've been there and I'm going to help you through this. He's not demeaning him at all.

He understands. John, that was so well said. And like I say, it's the same for all of us. Where Christ has understand through, understand through his atoning sacrifice, every thought and feeling and anguish we've ever experienced. You just can't understand that totally. We can't, but he can understand us. So I just think there's a beauty in these three sections, Alex, that you're bringing out here for anyone who is suffering greatly. I have a good friend who lost her husband just suddenly and unexpectedly. And you know, they have eight children and are just devastated by this loss.

And these are the type of sections that can bring peace when nothing else can. Nothing else can bring that kind of peace, except for the Savior himself saying, I see you, I understand you, I know how dark this is. Hold on, thy way. Verse nine, yeah, hold on thy way. And someday it will be a small moment to you, maybe not right now, but someday this will be a small moment. And the tears will be wiped away. And I think we'll have, we always have to maintain an eternal perspective. And I think that is brought out in verse 9 where he says, thy priesthood shall remain with thee.

Joseph is the head of this dispensation and he still is. And he's still directing this work from behind the veil. I mean, if we went to the spirit world church of Jesus Christ, later he said, I hope I have some time before I go there. You would see Joseph Smith anxiously engaged in this cause from behind the veil. He is still in charge. That priesthood is still with him. And this is still his dispensation, if I could say it that way. and this is still his dispensation, if I could say it that way. And it's not going away, I mean, just because he's gonna die, doesn't mean he's done.

This dispensation continues both in mortality and in eternity. And I think that's what he's saying there in verse nine. And then I know people don't sometimes like this doctrine, but it's true. Thy days are known and thy years shall not be numbered less. We talk about people who have a terminal disease or something. We are all terminal.

We have a death date. And all our hands. It's just you cannot get out of this earth alive. And I know they you can't say that God knows off in the beginning. And I was at Elder Maxwell said you can all the priesthood you can exercise if your if the Lord's plan is for your you know you're done you're done. You're done. You're done. And I just hate to think of that at some time, but sometimes, but you know, he knows from the beginning to the end, and death is not a surprise to him. And I have to say, Lyman White, remembered Joseph Smith saying in Liberty Jail, and I believe it was the spring of 39. He said, the Lord has guaranteed me five years, at least five years.

And what happens in the spring of 1844? Joseph starts worrying this might be it. So his days are known, but the point is to our days are known, they won't be numbered less. God will be with us. He'll help us, but we're not all meant to live to 95 and die in our sleep. This is this temporary testing time, that eternal perspective thing, easy to say, harder to do, but I'll be with you forever and ever at the end there. And, uh, so make it through this time, but I'm going to be with you forever. And that's, that's a long time. And Joseph taught it himself, right? Alex, uh,

a righteous person will never be taken before their time, but they'll be taken on their time. Right? And I could even say that to my friend and her family that their husband is, their husband and father is still involved in the work, still very much involved and his days are known and their days are known and the Lord is guiding this whole thing. Unfortunately, for many of us, Jacob, our lives passed away as it were like a dream. I mean, it goes so mortality is so swift. What's the hymn? The days are swift in passing. His as a single day. The older you get, the faster it goes.

And, you know, I'm clearly, I still remember when I told my family that I'm closer to death than birth. And now I'm a lot closer. Thank you. Thanks a lot, so am I. We all are. And so again, another reminder to not procrastinate the days of your penance because quite frankly,

John and Hank, I may not be here tomorrow. So I better be in good shape. You know what you said, Alex about it starts to be referred to as a day of this life. And I'm thinking of Alma 30, the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labor because the older you get, the faster it seems to go, it's a good day. Well, 123, should we go there?

I mentioned to you earlier that there was just one passage that I really felt like, Orson Pratt, if he would have included that, would help us understand a little bit about how expansive Joseph's mind was and what he probably understood, which he couldn't convey, because how do you convey what he's learned through revelation? He had a hard time conveying He had a hard time conveying section 76 or some of the marvelous truths. And then he talks about in this letter, this marvelous phrase, Hank, if you'd read that. Yeah, I got it right here. He says, a fanciful and flowery and heated imagination, be aware of, because the things

of God are of deep import and time and experience and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man, if thou wilt, lead us soul into salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss and expansive eternity. Thou must commune with God, how much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart? None but fools will trifle with the souls of men, but vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations,

too low, too mean too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God. Wow. Isn't that great? And that's so much our society today. We focus on things that are of no import. There is absolutely no reason for discussion or even inquiry. And if you really want to know what's important, think about the things of God. Not that we can't have good times and, you know, frivolous conversation, I don't know, that's not exactly what I mean, but serious discussion about who God is and his plan and his character. And that's what's important, and to search those things and expand the mind rather than just, you know, punch in a little cell phone and finding out things

that make no consequence, have no consequence, and doesn't help you become a better person or have greater feelings toward God and our fellow men. I just love that. I wish in a way, Orson Pratt would have put that in, but it's still there. It doesn't mean it's not true,

and it's not important because it's there, but I love that thought. It's very expressive and eloquent. And again, I think inspired. Yeah, that is beautiful. You can find that in Joseph Smith papers. I do have one more. And this one to me is very inspiring just because it's kind of like a coach's pep talk. And you've all been involved in athletics. And in a right before you go out

to the game, they just try to pump you up. Well, this is Joseph Smith, and I just, I am just thrilled to be a member of this church when I read this in those same letters from Liberty. Yep, March 20th, yeah. Hell may pour forth its rage like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius or Eventna or the most terrible of the burning mountains, and yet shall Mormonism stand. Truth is Mormonism. God is the author of it. He is our shield. It is by him we received our birth. It was by his voice that we were called

in a dispensation of his gospel in the beginning of the fullness of times. It was by him we received the Book of Mormon, and it was by him that we remain unto this day, and by him we shall remain, if it shall be for our glory and in his almighty name. We are determined to endure tribulation as good soldiers unto the end. Gosh, that's great stuff. That's good stuff. Talk about again, this is the march. He wouldn't have said this in December. He's optimistic.

We're going to get through this. And again, this was very comforting these verses that, you know, they're friends who stand by the hill. They'll hail you again. Mormonism will stand. It's going forth. It looks dark, but we're okay. Same thing today. If people think church is heading the wrong direction, things are doing. We're doing fine. Lord's in control. This

is Is Kingdom. God apostles and prophets. We're in a good ship and it's strong and it's sturdy and it's going places. You just need to be on board yourself. Don't jump. Yes, down the ball. Alex, that seems to be the tone of section 123, where section 121 started so depressing, but just so in anguish, 123 feels more energetic and more moving forward.

three fills more energetic and more moving forward. Yeah, and it's a firm counsel and really jolt is requesting the church to do something here. And they follow through really, really well. So what he's saying here, and again, a lot of us, the kind of just gloss over 123 and say, oh, okay, but there's some key verses there that are, you know, we cite all the time as well. But part of the thing, Joseph is encouraging, well, the thing that Joseph Smith is encouraging at this point is, okay, we're out of Missouri and at least everyone to him and those who was with him. But the point is, at least everyone to him and those who was with him. But the point is, we need to have the Latter-day Saints leave a record of what took place in Missouri.

I want you to swear before a judge. They call it an affidavit. You write out a statement of your experience and what you experience in Missouri and you write it out and you appear before a judge or a justice and you swear before that justice that this is a true statement of your experience. We call it an affidavit, you could call it a petition, whatever you want to call it. And what are you supposed to do? Well, gather up, where is it say? Verse 1. And again, we would suggest for your consideration

the propriety of all the saints gathering up a knowledge of all the facts and sufferings and abuses put upon them by this people of this state. And also the property and amount of damages, which have sustained both character and personal injuries as well as real property. The names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions, I mean we want information. And what's he going to do with it? Okay, so Joseph's already thought this through. And I know he's thinking when I get out of here, I'm going to take this to the federal government. The state of Missouri treated us pretty rotten. And I'm not going to get any justice here, but I know where I can get, at least he believes

he can get some justice, is if he goes and somehow petitions the national government. And I will tell you, the Saints responded in a very terrific way. We have in over 700 affidavits or petitions written by Latter-day Saints and they vary in a lot of their content but the idea was, tell us what happened in Jackson County, tell us what happened in Clay Tells what happened. They've called well whatever and sweared to the veracity and truth of our sub-it. Today, we have the Joseph went back, and this is a course in late fall of 1839 after the October conference,

we're just barely in Naboo, and Joseph takes several individuals with him. Elias Higby, he takes Sydney Regnant, he takes Robert Foster, Several individuals with him, Elias Higby. He takes Sydney, Regnant. He takes Robert Foster, who's later gonna be an enemy to Joseph Smith, and Orn Porter Rockwell, here comes Port. And they make a trip back to Washington, DC.

And there they meet with President Dan Bira. And we know that story. He basically said, when he met with him on the 29th of November 1839, your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you. I'd lose the whole state, both of the state of Missouri, but he was acting like a politician, but at the same time, states rights prevailed. He knew, he said, no, this is a state's issue.

I'm not gonna interfere here. Well, that didn't stop children of Smith. He immediately went to the Senate and he met with Richard Young, who was the senator from Illinois. He was a one-time senator, but he said, I need help. I'd like to somehow work through the legislature

and perhaps get some sort of work done here that would help us rectify some of the, you know, get redress for some of the problems in Missouri. Ironically, Richard Young, later, will be the judge in the hearings at in Carthage, Illinois, a year after the death of Joseph and Hiram. He's the presiding judge in that trial. But he was willing to help the Latter-day Saints and help Joseph Smith. And eventually, he got the, there was a memorial. Joseph Smith and Elias Higby crafted a memorial that's published in the Congressional Globe, the historical record of the legislature. It took him several days to write it, but it was presented in Congress in the Senate.

Joseph, while that process was going through, Joseph takes a month off and goes down to Philadelphia in New Jersey. That's all in the restory. But he comes back and his case was put before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early February. And unfortunately in that judiciary hearing, the Judiciary Committee considered this, this the incidents and problems associated with Missouri could only be handled in the Missouri courts. So it didn't, it didn't pan out like Joseph had hoped, but he was

trying to get the terrible situations that had happened in circumstances that had happened in Missouri before the national government and and the United States itself. We want people to know what happened to us. We got kicked around. And here's our evidence of that mistreatment. Now, I have to tell you as a historian, a man by the name of Clark Johnson, who was formerly a colleague of ours at RYU, produced all of those petitions. And I consider that one of the most valuable contributions. I can go back and with that those published affidavits and reconstruct and recreate numerous events that happened during Missouri. You want to read Isaac Leone? Isaac Leone was at Hans Mill and he was shot and he survived. I mean it's a terrific account of the Hans Mill and he was shot and just he survived. I mean, it's a terrific account of the Hans Mill

problems. So for historians, this is proven to be a marvelous document to help us understand the Missouri experience of the latter days Saints. So I'm just grateful for that injunction by Joseph. And I think Or or some prat felt that was an important inclusion, important enough to say that we did this, and this has helped our history to help verify to the world that these terrible things did indeed take place in Missouri. I love the language you're using, Alex, you say, we were treated pretty rotten,

but the things that the words Joseph uses, look at verse 5, diabolical rascality and nefarious and murderous impositions, he goes on that the heads of government in all their dark and hellish hue, verse 7, we have been suffered grief, sorrow, care, under the most damning hand of murder, and tyranny, and oppression. I mean, this is, he is not, he is not backing down. Not holding back. Yeah, he is saying, this is the truth of what happened to us in Missouri, and it needs to be recorded. He calls it an imperative duty, doesn't he? Three times. I like down to, in verse 10, that dark and black need deeds are enough to make hell itself

shudder and to stand a gased in pale, and the hands of the very devil to tremble in palsy. I don't know how you say it stronger. So described it. Yeah. And of course, he specifically mentions those who have suffered so much who've lost the loved ones. Right there in verse 9, widows, fatherless whose husbands and fathers have been murdered. The death factor, these people need to know that they suffered the most. And like I say, I think things like this will give the succeeding generations like you and I a greater appreciation for the hardship of these early saints. That's

why I'm saying in Amanda Barnes Smith, and she has her, Apha David in there. This helps me understand and appreciate what she went through for the gospel's sake. Certainly, I've never had what she had. I've never suffered like she has. And so my appreciation for these early saints has grown immensely, knowing what they went through and still came through in brilliant colors. Once he gets past this request, it ends pretty, it's beautiful ending. The way it ends, yeah. 11 through 17, or yeah. Of course, verse 12 was an off-use missionary scripture. And again, with the emphasis on, we've put Missouri behind us, yes, but kind of no. We want us to recount that, but our main purpose is to continue the gospel message.

And again, what does Joseph do? We barely get settled in commerce later, Navu. And he sends the 12 on a mission to England, the collective 12. Whenever we needed, the collective voice of the 12 to help Joseph get things underway was then, but no, Joseph says, we move on, and we preach the gospel hands. There are many among all Earth, let's say for there are many yet on the Earth among all sex parties and denominations, we're blinded by the subtle craftiness of man whereby they lie in wait to deceive who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. Well, they don't know where to find it.

We've got to find them and make it so they can see where the gospel is. The footnote I love to that is first Nephi 8. That is Lehigh's dream. And Lehigh says, I took out the fruit and I saw me. I saw your mother, he says, because he's relating the story. I saw your mother and Nephi and Sam. And they stood as if they knew not where they're to go. What a perfect, they're only kept from, they're not bad people. They just don't know where to go. They're only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. 1-12, where it says, wherever you go, there will be an effectual door open.

There's people who will hear and receive. We just have to get there. So I just like again, his optimism, he's saying, okay, we've got to recount for all these terrible things. But meanwhile, we got work to okay, we've got to recount for all these terrible things. But meanwhile, we got work to do. We've got to spend the hospital. We should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness.

And I think about these brethren in the corner of the 12, oh yeah, when's their release date again? When did they get that? And every single weekend, Oh, yeah, when did once their release date again? When when did they get that? And Every single weekend, I think except for July they're probably on the road and reorganizing stakes or they just work and Work and waste and we're out there lives and Bishop's and in women's presence and relief society presidents. Everybody out there listening is just just Working and wasting your way.

Motivated by their love for God and their love for God. When he says waste, or their fellow men. When he says waste, he means use, right? Use? Yeah, I think it doesn't mean waste in the way that. You and I think of it. Yeah, or maybe the world would look at it that way. But no, you're bringing things to light.

Well, I love the phrase that the Lord wants us to rest out. I don't know about you, but just because you're retired, doesn't mean you stop doing what you're supposed to be doing. You got to continue all the way to the end. He mentions here, like kind of continue what you thought there, your thoughts there. Let no man count them as small things where there's much life and futility pertaining to the saints which depends upon these things. He's got a future vision. Joseph knows the kingdom's rolling forth, kind of like that poet I read, and yeah, we were, he's still not Adam and Zuri, but he's knowing and optimistically. I was going to say, okay, we need to do some things right now if we can. But not if we can. Let's do it.

Because this is not the end and we'll move on and put this behind us. So, and then the wonderful, it's kind of the small and simple doctrine in the book of Mormon and also in doctrine of covenants. You know, brethren, that a very large ship has benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm. And this has been quite a storm. Be by being kept workways with the wind and the ways. We can work through this. That's what he's saying. He says, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. Cheerfully, isn't that interesting, Alex? If you look at section 121, verse 1,

God, where are you? And then you go to section 123, verse 17. So how we start and how we finish, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. I think what you have in between is maybe a recipe to go from discouragement to excitement. If you're an optimist, what's in between, you can have that same change. You feel like that I'm safe to go there and say, absolutely.

And I think you hit right on the head here that just weeks earlier, there was, and just earlier in this, there's total discouragement. And then now there's, you know, I've asked some reassurance that we can, we can move forward and life's going to be okay. And we'll get through this. So, I mean, there's a, like I say, you wouldn't have seen that in December. You would see it now. Yeah.

And you do see it now. So. I've told people before, you know, if you're ever discouraged, start with 121 verse 1, and go carefully and slowly through one all the way to 123 verse 17. And you'll feel the change. You'll sense the change that what he learns gives him confidence. And what the Lord says to him gives him excitement and optimism. And there's this what did Elder Holland call it became a temple prison because of yes, you know, what he learned. BH Roberts the first one to refer to the temple prison. Yeah, where God was a place of revelation for him.

Disappearance revelations and these certainly are examples of that. I've heard this called lessons from Liberty. These these three sections. It was a BYU devotional from Elder Holland. Lessons from Liberty. Yeah, lessons from Liberty JL September of 2008. You can find it on the on speeches.biu.edu. It's definitely worth your time as you're studying this week, these incredible sections, and this is a very difficult time for the profit. And for everyone else.

I remember being at the visitor center and asking the sister missionaries that were there once, being at the Liberty Jail visitor center there, and looking in that little rotunda where the replica of the prison is, and I said, excuse me, but where was the bathroom? And she said, oh, it's down the hall. And I said, no, not our bathroom.

Where was their bathroom? And she said, oh, the jailers would lower a bucket from the ceiling. And I said, Oh, the jaylor's would lower a bucket from the ceiling. And I'm going, Okay, winter 1839 of half a dozen guys in there, no privacy, no partitions, no dignity. And these words come out of their brother, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. And it just changed the way I read these three, having visited there and thinking of those, that dungeon and those circumstances.

And I like to read this Hank without the word cheerfully and see if people catch me. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us do all things that lie in our power and see how much that adverb adds to it. That's like Nephi, what was it? First Nephi 17 where we're waiting through much affliction in the wilderness, we're eating raw meat. And so great, we're the

blessings of the Lord upon us, like in the very next verse. It's like next sentence. This is so great past the raw meat, you know, that it's an attitude of going through, it's a mindset, a godly mindset of going through trials that we're blessed with. You know, what we've been talking today reminds me of, there's a book, I'm sure both of you have read,

Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, who was part of the Jewish concentration camps in Germany. And this is what he says. It reminds me of Joseph in Liberty. He says, even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself. And by so doing change himself, he may turn personal tragedy into triumph. And that seems, that feels like sections 121 through 123 to me, Alex's tragedy into triumph. I love that.

That is so, and you know, he had kind of a shared experience with Joseph as a result of religious persecution. A different time and place. But yeah, he clearly made the change in his own life or the understanding of his own life about meaningful life really was and that he could triumph over that terrible adversity, which only he can, you know, we can't even comprehend. Nor can we comprehend Joseph's. Well, I think there's just an interesting last, Joseph's last letter to Emma. He writes it on the fourth and they've now received word that they're going to have their hearing. Their hearing was postponed, so they had to stay longer than March. It was, it was what's happening, and

now they're going to have this hearing in Gallatin. And so they've been instructor told that they're going to have to transport them from Liberty to Gallatin for that hearing. And this is April 4th. And he writes this letter the last one to Emma. And he says, concerning Liberty, he says, we shall be moved from this at any rate, and we are glad of it. Let what will become of us, we cannot get into a worse hole than this is. We shall not stay here but one night besides this. If that, thank God.

We shall never cast a lingering wish after liberty in Clay County, Missouri. We have had enough of it to last forever. So he's going, we're finally coming out of here. But here's the irony. And that is, in 1963, we built this visitor center to commemorate and to honor and to reflect upon this terrible experience of these later days, and their prison experience. And to add to that irony is about two miles away is the Kansas City Temple. Kansas City Temple. Now, I don't know if that sends a message to anybody, but it does to me, that that is we're back. And today, we're back in Liberty. We're back in Claycane.

We have what, seven, eight stakes in and around Kansas City. We're back. And the Lord's hand, I mean, could Joseph ever imagine that at some day we would have a memorial to that experience and his suffering that we can look at in a positive vein. And then, like I say, to have congregations at a temple in Clay County, Missouri, where he said, in Clay County, Missouri, where he said, we're glad to get, we've had enough forever. Well, we're not done and we're back. And there's wonderful, saying to have wonderful people

in Clay County, Missouri, in Caldwell County, Missouri, and in Davies County, Missouri, and in Jackson County, Missouri. I just think it's so amazing how God's hand works. Terrible situation in Missouri, but you know what, the things have changed and things are a lot different. 200 years down the road and we got a temple right in that place that he didn't really want to be around. Who could he couldn't maybe not even understand what would have. I don't know if he did and how much vision he had. But I just think that's wonderful. And this closes the

Missouri revelations. This is this is the book and if you will for these marvelous revelations given in Missouri. But the future of Missouri is glorious. Zion is not moved out of her place. Something's going to happen there. I'm grateful to be part of it now and look forward to a glorious Zion in the future. Thank you so much, Alex. I just we have been uplifted and edified today, John. I don't know about you. Well, I do know about you. I know you'll say the same thing. Just beautiful sections. I'm beautiful time.

Something so profound coming out of such a hard time, but I don't want to wish for hard times. wish for hard times. But look what how we have benefited from this today, how the whole church will triumph out of tragedy. Look what the Lord can do. We want to thank Dr. Alex Baw for being with us today. We want to thank you for listening and staying with us. We wouldn't have a podcast if it weren't for you. We want to thank our production team David Perry, Lisa Spice, Kyle Nelson, Jamie Nilsen, Will Stouten. Thank you to our wonderful team and of course we want to thank our executive producers Steve and Shannon Swanson whom we love and we hope you'll join us next time on our next episode of Follow Him. you