O God, Where Art Thou? – Doctrine and Covenants 121-123

Links to free resources for children, youth, and adults to enhance the Come, Follow Me reading of Doctrine and Covenants 121-123. Choose one thing a day to do with your children or choose a couple to do for family home evening. All links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study.

Everyone

Article – Light in the Darkness, Liberty in a Jail – Shows pictures and shares details of Liberty Jail and what Joseph and others experienced there.

Article – Voices of the Restoration: Liberty Jail – Read letters written by Emma and Joseph to each other while he was in Liberty Jail.

Music – Where Can I Turn for Peace? – Listen and watch the Tabernacle Choir sing this hymn.

Saints, Volume 1 – How Will This End? – Narrative history of events surrounding the revelations

Saints, Volume 1 – O God, Where Art Thou? – Narrative history of events surrounding the revelations

Sing Along – Peace in Christ – Gather the family to sing this song together.

Video – Stunning 3D Recreation of Liberty Jail – Experience the Liberty Jail like never before with this recreated 3D model of one of the most sacred sites in Latter-day Saint history. Here Joseph Smith was imprisoned for about 5 months on false charges and received the powerful words of comfort from the Lord as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 121. The model was created from advice from leading scholars to try and recreate the location as close as possible to the original. Doctrine and Covenants Central (1:54 minutes)

Video – Be of Good Cheer| Quentin L. Cook – From December 1838 to April 1839 the Prophet Joseph Smith was unjustly confined to Liberty Jail in Missouri. While incarcerated, Joseph pled with the Lord on behalf of the suffering Latter-day Saints; the Lord’s answer is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 121. On May 28, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Liberty Jail — where he reflected on the life and teachings of Joseph Smith and read from the Doctrine and Covenants. His visit is featured in this Church News video.

Children

Activity – Jesus Christ knows what I am going through – Coloring page

Activity – For Doctrine and Covenants 121–123: Talk about what makes your little ones feel better when they’re sad, like singing a Primary song or saying a prayer. Help your little ones say, “I can feel peace.” From Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones.

Activity – For Doctrine and Covenants 121–123Sing “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75). Hard times don’t last forever. Heavenly Father and Jesus can bless and help us (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8). Take turns lifting something heavy. Talk about how lifting that load is like going through a hard time. How can trials make us stronger and help us grow? Now lift the object with someone else’s help. Remind everyone that Jesus Christ helps us carry our load. From Scripture Time Fun.

Activity – Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail – Use these scripture figures to tell the story. Can be used with the illustrated story below.

Article – Joseph’s Experiences in Jail page 1 and page 2 – An illustrated retelling of the story.

Article – Challenges in Missouri – A description of some of the events in Church history in Missouri, including information about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.

Audio – More Mobs in Missouri, Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail – A Primary teacher and children learn about mobs in Missouri and about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. Mobs attacked the Saints in Missouri. Because of lies that were being told, the governor of Missouri would not help the Saints and instead sent soldiers after them. The soldiers put Joseph Smith and others in jail.

Audio – The Saints Leave Missouri, Joseph Smith Asks for the President’s Help – A Primary teacher and children learn about the Saints leaving Missouri and about Joseph Smith’s plea to the president of the United States for help. The Saints left Missouri for western Illinois. There they began building a city that they called Nauvoo. Joseph Smith had the Saints write letters detailing what happened to them. Joseph then took the letters to the president and asked for help. The president would not help.

Video – Far West Missouri – Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Reader

Video – More Mobs in Missouri – Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Reader

Video – Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail – Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Reader

Video – The Saints Leave Missouri – Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Reader

Video – Joseph Smith Asks for the President’s Help – Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Reader

Youth

Article – How to Find Help in Your Hardest Trials – Even during one of the most miserable experiences of his life, the Prophet Joseph Smith found hope, help, and healing.

Video – Haun’s Mill – (D&C 121) President Eyring narrates a video portraying the events at Haun’s Mill. (1:37 minutes)

Video – If Thou Endure It Well – (D&C 121:7-8) Elder Hales teaches about enduring trials. (2:12 minutes)

Youth & Adults

Article – How Do We Draw Upon the Powers of Heaven? – Insights into the Doctrine and Covenants.

Article – The Price of Priesthood Power – Are we willing to pray, fast, study, seek, worship, and serve as men of God so we can have priesthood power? A General Conference talk by Russell M. Nelson.

Article – Spiritual Treasures – As you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase. A General Conference talk by Russell M. Nelson.

Article – Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives – The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God.

Article – The Powers of Heaven – Priesthood holders young and old need both authority and power—the necessary permission and the spiritual capacity to represent God in the work of salvation.

Article – Within the Walls of Liberty Jail – Revelations in Context

Article – Amanda Barnes Smith – Church History Topics

Article – Danites – Church History Topics

Article – Extermination Order – Church History Topics

Article – Hawn’s Mill Massacre – Church History Topics

Article – Mormon-Missouri War of 1838 – Church History Topics

Video – We Explored Liberty Jail and Created a 3D Model! – Doctrine and Covenants Central (16:49 minutes)

Video – Happy Endings for Those that Love God – Book of Mormon Central (11:46 minutes)

Video – Lessons From Liberty Jail – Book of Mormon Central (4:07 minutes)

Video – Trusting God – Book of Mormon Central (5:47 minutes)

Adults

Article – Where is the Pavilion? – The pavilion that seems to intercept divine aid does not cover God but occasionally covers us. God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are. A General Conference talk by Henry B. Eyring.

Article – Only Upon the Principles of Righteousness – Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them. They provide opportunities for growth as children acquire the spiritual maturity to exercise their agency properly.

Article – “My Dear and Beloved Companion”: The Letters of Joseph and Emma Smith – Though life was difficult for Joseph and Emma, they loved and supported each other through their letters.

Article – Letter to the Church and Edward Partridge, 20 March 1839 – Historical background and the earliest manuscript of each revelation, as published in The Joseph Smith Papers.

Article – Letter to Edward Partridge and the Church, circa 22 March 1839 – Historical background and the earliest manuscript of each revelation, as published in The Joseph Smith Papers.

Article – Section 121, Constitution of the Priesthood – Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual

Article – Chapter 46: Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–10; 122–23 – Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual

Article – Chapter 47: Doctrine and Covenants 121:11–46 – Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual

Article – Section 122, “All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience” – Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual

Article – Section 123, Documenting Persecution: An Imperative Duty – Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual

Article – Lessons from Liberty Jail – 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. A BYU devotional by Jeffrey R. Holland

Article – Hyrum Smith’s Liberty Jail Letters – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – The Textual Context of Doctrine and Covenants 121–23 – BYU Religious Studies Center

Podcast – Audio Roundtable: D&C 121-123 – from the Interpreter Foundation

Podcast – Nibley Lectures – from the Interpreter Foundation

Podcast – Follow Him Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 121-123 : Dr Alexander L. Baugh, part 1 (video link) – Joseph’s months in Liberty Jail were some of the most difficult yet provided the most sublime, oft-quoted, and transcendent sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Dr. Alexander Baugh returns to share the background to these sections and the historical context to Joseph’s incarceration, the Battle of Crooked River, and Haun’s Mill in Part 1 of this special three-part episode. Find the audio version here.

Podcast – Follow Him Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 121-123 : Dr Alexander L. Baugh, part 2 (video link) – In Part II, Dr. Alex Baugh returns to discuss how the events at Haun’s Mill influence the incarceration at Liberty Jail, the conditions at Liberty Jail, and the difference between enduring and enduring well. Dr. Baugh relates how good and loyal friends are a blessing in times of trial and difficulty. Find the audio version here.

Podcast – Follow Him Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 121-123 : Dr Alexander L. Baugh, part 3 (video link) – 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. Find the audio version here.

Video – Joseph Smith’s FULL letter written while in Liberty Jail – Only a few sections of the letter Joseph Smith dictated is contained with the Doctrine and Covenants. In this video, John W. Welch reads the entire letter. Doctrine and Covenants Central (1 hour long)

Video – Hard Questions in Church History: Liberty Jail and Religious Refugees – Doctrine and Covenants Central (50:41 minutes)

Video – Myths and Facts about Liberty Jail – Interview with Alex Baugh – Doctrine and Covenants Central (22:08 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Me Insights: D&C 121-123 – Take a dive into Liberty Jail with Tyler, Taylor and his wife, Lisa. Learn about the suffering and pain Joseph and his friends went through as they grappled with the challenges that came from being incarcerated. Feel of God’s ever-present love as they unwrap these chapters. (1:08:08 minutes)

Video – Act in Doctrine: D&C 121-123 – Come learn three take aways from these sections. Book of Mormon Central (38:01)