Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 121–123
Liberty Jail, by Welden Andersen
The bottom level of the jail in Liberty, Missouri, was known as “the dungeon.” The walls were thick, the stone floor was cold and filthy, food was scarce and rotten, and the two narrow, iron-barred windows near the ceiling allowed for very little light. This is where Joseph Smith and a few others spent four frigid months during the winter of 1838–39. During this time, Joseph was constantly receiving news about the suffering of the Saints. The peace and optimism felt in Far West had lasted only a few months, and now the Saints were without a home once again, driven into the wilderness in search of yet another place to start over—this time with their Prophet in prison.
And yet, even in that miserable jail, “knowledge from heaven” came “pouring down” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:33). Joseph’s question “O God, where art thou?” was answered clearly and powerfully: “Fear not … , for God shall be with you forever and ever” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:1; 122:9).
D&C 121: Prayer and prophecies written by Joseph Smith the Prophet in an epistle to the Church while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, dated March 20, 1839. The Prophet and several companions had been months in prison. Their petitions and appeals directed to the executive officers and the judiciary had failed to bring them relief.
D&C 122: The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).
D&C 123: Duty of the Saints in relation to their persecutors, as written by Joseph Smith the Prophet while a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri. This section is an excerpt from an epistle to the Church dated March 20, 1839 (see the heading to section 121).
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 43: D&C 121–123 (2021), Jonn Claybaugh
Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 43 (D&C 121–123) (2021)
- Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me D&C Lesson 43
- Interpreter Radio Show — June 17, 2018, Administration, June 22, 2018
- “O God Where Art Thou?” D&C 121, 122, Taylor Halverson, November 29, 2013
Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 25, "Priesthood: 'The Power of Godliness'", Administration, June 16, 2017
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 28, "O God, Where Art Thou?", Administration, June 16, 2017
- “How long can rolling waters remain impure?”: Literary Aspects of the Doctrine and Covenants, Richard Dilworth Rust, October 6, 2017
- Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
- If Thou Endure It Well, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Robert D. Hales
- Haun’s Mill, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Henry B. Eyring
- Within the Walls of Liberty Jail, Revelations in Context
- Chapter 46: Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–10; 122–23, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Chapter 47: Doctrine and Covenants 121:11–46, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 121, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 122, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 123, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Why Were the Saints Driven from Missouri in the Fall of 1838?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #620
- Why Did Joseph Write His Famous Letter from Liberty Jail?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #621
- Doctrine & Covenants 121, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 122, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 123, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 121 to 123 – “O God, Where Art Thou?”, BYU Studies
- The Textual Context of Doctrine and Covenants 121–23 from Religious Educator Vol. 13 No. 1 · 2012
- BYU Religious Education Discussions on the Doctrine and Covenants: Peace Be Unto Thy Soul D&C 121
- BYU Religious Education Discussions on the Doctrine and Covenants: Art Thou Greater Than He? D&C 122-123
