GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?"

Don’t Miss This Study with Emily Freeman & David Butler
Episode Date: October 13, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Emily Freeman and David Butler dive deeply into Doctrine and Covenants sections 121-122—scriptures written during Joseph Smith's agonizing time in Liberty Jail. They explore themes of suffering, divine silence, the legitimacy of questioning God, and how heaven can be near even in “prison” moments. They extract patterns of coping with hardship from Joseph’s example, emphasizing how asking tough questions can be an act of faith and how God answers with surprising kindness and intimacy. The hosts also discuss how the rights and privileges of the priesthood and principles of righteousness can flow into any life, no matter how dire the circumstance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Turning to God in Hardship: Legitimate Questions in Liberty Jail

• Context: Joseph Smith’s suffering in Liberty Jail—terrible conditions, unjust accusations, betrayal by friends—mirrors the unearned tragedies we all sometimes face.
• The Big Questions:
  • “O God, where art thou?”
  • “How long is this going to happen?”
  • “Why is this happening?”
    (See 04:37–10:17)
• Faith in Questioning:
  • David emphasizes that pouring out our confusion and pain to God is not an act of faithlessness but of trust:

    “I don’t think asking questions to God in this manner is faithless. I actually think it is an act of faith because it means that you trust his answer, that you think he's there.” (05:50, David Butler)

  • They introduce a practical pattern: Turn to God, Tell Him what hurts, and Trust Him (“Turn, Tell, Trust”). (08:00–08:50)

2. God’s Response: Kindness, Specificity, and Companionship

• How God Answers:
  • God does not avoid the hard questions; He responds with kindness and specificity rather than chastisement.

    "There's not a question that he asks that God avoids. ... Instead, God responds in kindness." (09:19, Emily Freeman)

  • God describes, in remarkable detail, Joseph’s suffering to show He truly sees and understands—down to the heartbreak of his six-year-old son (13:48–14:12).
  • The answer is not escape from hardship but assurance of companionship and ultimate good:

    “Where are you? ... I am in the middle of the mess with you.” (15:03–15:55)

3. The Reality of Ongoing Suffering—and Its Transformation

• Not Immediate Relief:
  • God affirms, “Your afflictions will be just a small moment.” (17:20)
  • The message is not that suffering will be avoided, but that it will be brief and purpose-driven.
  • Emily highlights the role of others:

    "Your friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." (17:56, quoting D&C 121:9)

• Heaven Can Be Near in a Prison Place:
  • Even in prison (literal or metaphorical), the rights of the priesthood and powers of heaven can be accessed.
  • Moving story: Early Saints held church meetings in the basement of Liberty Jail, experiencing sanctity and divine presence in a place of suffering. (35:30–36:16, Emily Freeman)

4. Lessons and Patterns from Suffering ("Prison Sentences")

• What Distance Us from Heaven:
  • Covering sins, pride, vain ambition, or compulsion distance us from heavenly power.
  • Self-assessment in hard times: “If I need heaven closer, I should be looking at this list and Saying, what am I doing wrong?” (32:14–33:34, Emily Freeman)
• What Brings Heaven Closer:
  • Principles of righteousness: persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, kindness, charity, virtue. (37:14–37:25, David Butler)
  • After correction, show increased love so that your faithfulness feels “stronger than the cords of death.” (37:54, paraphrased)
  • The power of daily divine influence:

    “Dew comes a little bit every single day ... a hint toward the way that God's power might flow into our lives. Most often a little bit every day, distilling quietly upon your soul, almost imperceptible, but over a period of time. Great power.” (39:53–40:40, David Butler)

5. Reframing Suffering: Purpose and Promise

• God Does Not Send the Wolves, But Redeems the Experience:
  • “God is not the problem. He's actually the solution.” (42:43, David Butler)
  • Even what is deeply unfair can be used for our ultimate good.
  • All things work together for good (Romans 8 echo).
  • Notable: Prisons (and crosses, and stables) are not signs of abandonment, but opportunities for transformation.

6. The Call to "Do Your Best" and Trust

• Practical Encouragement:
  • “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. Let us do our very best.” (44:34, Emily Freeman quoting D&C 123:17)
  • Stand still, with assurance, and watch for God’s arm to be revealed.
  • “If that is you, and you are saying to yourself in that little whisper in the middle of tears, I am just doing your best. You stand in confidence knowing that the arm of the Lord will be revealed. He is on his way that he will reach out to save.” (44:49–45:19, Emily Freeman)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• David Butler (Faith in Questioning):

  "To ask this question is the opposite of faithlessness." (05:58)

• Emily Freeman (God’s Kindness):

  “There's not a question that he asks that God avoids. ... Instead, God responds in kindness.” (09:19)

• David on God’s Specificity:

  “It's showing in the specificity ... God's way of saying, I see you. The question was, where are you? ... I'm actually watching the whole thing.” (14:12)

• Emily Freeman (The Sufficiency of “Your Best”):

  “And instantly I just thought in my head, oh, and that is enough. That is. That is enough in those moments.” (44:08)

• David Butler (On God's Consolation):

  “'My son.' ... It's a reminder that he's still a good, good father. And that line, 'peace be unto thy soul.' That sounds like a whispered line to me.” (19:31)

• Emily on the Power of Sacred Places:

  "Those men were experiencing heaven even in a prison, ... heaven can be close. So close that years and years later, they still experienced the fruits of that experience." (36:14)

• Final Encouragement:

  “Therefore, hold on thy way. Don't give up... God himself shall remain with thee ... for God will be with you forever and ever.” (46:03–46:24, David Butler paraphrasing D&C 122:9)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:37–10:17 – Joseph’s questions in Liberty Jail: “Where are you? How long? Why?”
• 09:03–12:00 – Is it okay to ask God hard questions? God’s response of kindness and specificity
• 13:48–15:03 – God’s answer: affirmation, “I see you,” and reference to Joseph’s personal agony
• 17:56–18:41 – God sends people with “warm hearts and friendly hands”
• 31:31–33:49 – What distances us from heaven and how to self-assess in suffering
• 35:30–36:16 – Early Saints turn Liberty Jail into a church and experience heaven there
• 39:53–40:40 – How God’s power and comfort come “like dew” every day
• 42:43–43:39 – God as the solution, not the cause, of our deepest pain
• 44:34–45:19 – The sufficiency of doing your best and trusting divine timing
• 46:03–46:24 – Closing promise: God's eternal companionship, “hold on thy way”

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Structured Takeaways

Practical “Prison Lessons” from Joseph’s Suffering:

• It’s faith to take hard questions to God.
• God’s answers are kind, personal, and nuanced.
• Even in darkness and unfairness, heaven can be close—through others, sacred patterns, and priesthood privilege.
• The “rights of the priesthood”—connection, guidance, peace, revelation, etc.—are available to all covenant people, even in prisons.
• Righteous living (gentleness, love, honesty) makes heaven accessible, while pride, control, and hidden sin distance us.
• Suffering is not a sign of God’s anger or absence; it can be a transformative, sanctifying experience.
• Do your honest best, trust God for the rest, and don’t give up: “Hold on thy way. ... God will be with you forever and ever.”

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Tone and Delivery

The episode is warm, honest, and conversational, using real-life anecdotes and scriptural storytelling. Both hosts are vulnerable about their struggles and invite listeners to apply deep spiritual principles to their own “prison moments.” The mood is ultimately hopeful, empowering, and encouraging for anyone wrestling with unanswered prayers or unfair suffering.

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For more, follow @dontmissthisstudy or visit dontmissthisstudy.com.

Transcript

[A]

Hi there. Welcome to Don't Miss this, a scripture study podcast with Dave Butler and Grace Freeman.

[B]

Each week we point out things in the scriptures that we love and think you don't want to miss.

[A]

Thanks for listening. Hey, everyone, I'm Dave Butler.

[B]

I'm Grace Freeman. Welcome to Don't Miss this, our weekly scripture study class.

[A]

Guys, we're hoping to help you fall in love with the Doctrine and Covenants this year. Create just a love for scripture, a scripture centered Jesus centered home. So thanks for being along with us. Last week we introduced the fact that all of our study materials are available for next year's study of the Old Testament. I'm so happy. Today's lesson is one of my favorite sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Otherwise I would quit and jump into the Old Testament because that's how excited I am for that. We are going to help you. Love that book. I prophesy it will become one of your favorites. Now, a prophesying guy on here. But all of the things, our new journal, which is so good. The tippins, the posters. You can get them [e-mail] or at Deseretbook if you want a local place to go pick those up. So they're available. We announced that last week, in case you missed it. All right, these have got to be like, I've said this a couple times this year. I realize that everybody, but these are just golden sections of the doctrine incumbents. They are about to become a fan favorite. They're the sections that happen in Liberty Jail. Now, there's just some things in life, some consequences that we experience that when it happens, we say to ourselves, yep, I deserve that one. I knew better. I blew it. I shouldn't have done that. I was worried, warned against it. You're speeding and you get a ticket and you're like, yep, I was. I was. I was just. I shouldn't have. I remember one time getting pulled over and I was breaking so many laws at the time. I just. Not on purpose. We were like in a hurry. Number one, I had too many people shoved into the car. I was driving with no shoes on. I didn't have my license.

[B]

It's not a law.

[A]

I think so. I don't know. Better look it up anyways. And I got pulled over and I was like, sir, I can't even. Like, this is my fault. Put me in handcuffs right now. Like, there's just some things that we can look back in our lives and we can say, and we should be gentle with ourselves on this, but like, hey, that one was my bad and that one was my fault. It seems to sting a little bit more when it comes to out of the blue, like a wrecking ball from left field. And it causes a particular state of heart when that happens. And it causes us to sort of question God a little bit and his goodness. This is not the first time that this has come up in the Doctrine Covenants, but in this particular situation, Joseph is in one of the hellish experiences of his life in Liberty Jail. It's too short for him to stand up in there. It's in the middle of the winter. He's in there with other grown men who also can't stand up. The conditions are terrible in that place. Like he is not just in a prison, but a dungeon. Like we are talking. I know this is in the ancient times for some of us, the 1800s, but it reads like the Middle Ages. It just is a horrific. There's no human rights people. The human rights people would go crazy today if they realize this. And not only was it not his fault he was falsely accused to be in there, he was falsely accused by one of his friends. So just imagine what his heart is feeling. Those places that you have been in, that I've been in, where we're like, why would this happen to me? Why do these things happen to the. To the good guys, right? The people who are actually trying to make a difference in this world. And Joseph asks questions here in section 121 that I think will reflect some of the same questions that you may have been asking, too. We're going to look at those questions, and then we actually get to look at God's answer to them. How God responds to somebody saying, why did you let something like this happen to me? So if you open up in section 121, just the very beginning, and before we look at what the questions are, I think it's important to know that these questions of agony and grief that Joseph asks the Lord, we read them in Scripture, they're preserved in Scripture, the Psalms, the Book of Job. That means that God intended for these inspired words to be read by us. He's not hiding this as a bad example. Sometimes it's easy to be tempted to think, I shouldn't ask God questions like this. I shouldn't question his goodness. I shouldn't question my circumstance. And I would just like to say that I don't think asking questions to God in this manner is faithless. I actually think it is an act of faith because it means that you Trust his answer, that you think he's there, that you think he has a reason for this. To ask this question is the opposite of faithlessness. And so I think we're invited to. Not subconsciously, but almost like. Well, not indirectly. That's the word I was looking for, invited, indirectly, to pour out our concerns, to pour out the questions that we have. And I think there's a pattern here. You maybe want to write this in the margin. It's to turn, tell and trust. It's. We turn to God when we don't understand or confused or find ourselves in this terrible situation that was not our fault. We tell him what's in our heart, we tell him what hurts, we tell him what we're confused about. And then we trust him. We trust his heart and we trust his goodness. So we turn, we tell and we trust. Here's the questions. And what I did is I kind of rewrote the questions in my own. Just in David language. And that might be a cool. You might resonate more if you do something like that. So verse one. O God, where art thou? Where are you? I do not see you in this situation. You're not intervening. You don't seem to be helping. You didn't prevent any of it. And it's been long enough, by the time this is written, him being in there to say, like, listen, I think I've been patient enough. Like, I know that might be an answer, but it's been months and there hasn't been any reprieve at all from this. Where are you? And where is the pavilion that covers your hiding place? He's essentially asking, and how do I find you? Like, am I doing something wrong that you're not answering? Like, what is it? Do you see this? Like, him, like, just pouring out what's in his heart here. It's so good. How long? He says twice in verse two, and in verse three, how long is this going to happen? Can just. Just, you know. And then this one line, he says, how long can you, your eye, your pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of your people and your hearts be penetrated with like, how long will it be before your heart is softened and you are moved with compassion toward them? This is him asking, do you not see what's happening? Why aren't you doing anything about this? Do you not care what is happening? But at the same time, you see faith in there, too. Look in verse four. Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and seas, and of all things that in them are and who control Us and subject us, the devil himself. I know you can. I know who you are. Please let your eyes see what's happening. Let your hiding place be gone. Let your ear be inclined. Let your heart be softened. Let your anger be kindled against our enemies. Remember us. Don't forget us. So these are just questions that we ask. And I think it's worth looking over that, rewriting some, wondering yourself, when have I asked these kind of questions myself? And also give your heart permission to ask them to turn to him, to tell him what's in there, but then to trust him. And I think you see those three principles in here.

[B]

Well, and I think it's something really important to realize that sometimes we feel almost a little bit guilty for asking those questions. And when you say an honest prayer like that, there's this tiny part of your heart that's like, oh, like, am I being too mean to God? And is it fine that I'm angry at him? And is it okay that I'm asking these really difficult questions? And how would God respond? And that, to me, is the beauty of these sections. Like, I can almost not even believe it. Because what happens when he asks those really raw and vulnerable questions? Is God answers? And God is kind. And there's not a question that he asks that God avoids. There's not a question that he asks that God says, why did you ask that? There's not a question that he asked that God says, that hurt my feelings that you asked that. Instead, God responds in kindness. And the tip in for the, the adults and the teens, Tippin goes through, and it goes through those three questions. Look for the three questions in section 121 and then look through section 121 and 122 and discover the answers. And from the very beginning, that first question, where are you?

[A]

Yeah. And can we just say simply the questions you'll see them lined out on there are, where are you? How long is this going to happen? And why is this happening?

[B]

Yep, easy. And you'll go through in that first one. Where are you? Might be, I think, one of the most heartfelt prayers that anyone could ever possibly ask God, where are you? And I wonder if in the back of Joseph's mind, he thought to himself, you showed up to me when I was 14, when I had nothing going for me. I could hardly read, I was weird, and no one even really liked me. And you showed up for me then. And what about when I messed up? Even when you told me how to do something, you showed up for me even after A mess up. And what about when I was still trying to figure things out and how.

[A]

To start a church?

[B]

And I had never done that. You know, you still guided me, even when I didn't know. But now. But now when none of this was my fault, when I don't feel like I deserved any of this. Where are you now? Because if you were really kind, this would be the first moment you showed up.

[A]

And I'm. He's kind of saying, I'm here because of you. Right? Like, if I. What if I just.

[B]

If I didn't get that prayer at 14?

[A]

Yeah. And what if I just lived in Palmyra back on the Erie Canal and just sold root beer from the side of the road? Or whatever job he wanted. He did that. Don't act like I just made up a random thing. Did you know that he used to sell root beer? Okay, a root beer is fancier than a lemonade stand. But this is what I'm saying. There's so many people in scripture where Paul. Paul ends up in prison. Why? Because he started following the Lord. Peter ends up crucified upside down. Why? Because he decided to follow the Lord. And Joseph's like, this actually was not my idea. None of this was my idea. And I. I'm trying and I'm doing it. And you introduced me to the friends that actually turned their back, led me here. Yeah, that led me here. So there is a lot of angst in his heart here.

[B]

And I love that. We don't believe in a God that avoids. And God hears that question. If you go to section 122 and you start looking, beginning in verse number four, you will go through this list of verses where it's almost as if God wants to make himself abundantly clear. And he's like, okay, if you are.

[A]

Into bar one, section, he's like, four, what you talking about?

[B]

Wait. No, I'm actually serious. I. Wait. This is my answer. I'm doing this.

[A]

Oh, in 122.

[B]

In 122.

[A]

Okay, you're in 122.

[B]

I'm skipping ahead. I'm doing a skip ahead, everyone. It's fine. Just trust. Just trust 122. And it's gonna go through. And it really does feel like God says, oh, you wonder if I know where you are. And then he says, let me make something abundantly clear. If you find yourself in trouble behind bars and walls in verse number four, or if you go through tribulation in verse number five, if you are in peril with your false brethren, if you are with robbers if you find yourself in land or by sea, if you are accused with false accusations, if the enemies fall upon you and tear you from the society of your father and mother and brethren and sisters. And it almost like this little moment where Joseph must have began to clue in. He's talking about me and he's saying all of the things that I've gone through because I am behind bars and walls right now. I have found myself cast in there. I am living in tribulation. I am there for false accusations. This isn't my doing that I got here and it was because of people I decided to trust and it didn't work out. I did have to leave my family behind and all the places that I've loved time and time and time again. And now I found myself here and it gets worse and worse. And he says, listen, and just so you know, not only where you have been, but then God goes into verse number seven, the Lord starts speaking again.

[A]

And he says, and can I say something about six? It's interesting where he says, and if this happens, and if you're accused and if this and if that. And he says, and if by chance your kid, who's almost six years old is clinging to you and saying, father, Father, why can't you stay with us, Father, what are they going to do to you? And you are dragged away by someone who's holding a sword. Because that's mighty specific. Yeah, it just doesn't feel like a.

[B]

It's a six years old, you know, like.

[A]

And you know, it's like, oh, if bad things happen. If it's like. And if you wake up on a Tuesday and get a phone call from the hospital at 5pm and they tell you, you're like, whoa. Really specific. But it's showing in the specificity, if that's a word. Okay, specificity. I think it's whatever I'm trying to say. I said a minifun too, right now. But in the specifics of it, yeah, perfect is God's way of saying, I see you. The question was, where are you? Where are you? And why have you covered? Why are you in a hiding place? He's like, I'm actually watching the whole thing. I'm here, I'm here now. It's going to lead to him saying, why aren't you doing anything about it? But at least step one, and the answer is, I see you 100%.

[B]

And then not only that, but number seven goes in and it starts saying, well, and if it gets worse, and if things still keep getting worse. I'm still there for that. And verse number eight is the most intriguing to me. That it says the Son of Man hath descended below them all. And then it's like that little line that all of us love like, art thou greater than he? But there's this moment right before that that it makes me want to pause and think if maybe there was a little bit longer of a break between those two sentences than we give credit for. And this moment that he says, I have seen every single thing, down to the specifics of your six year old son. I've seen every single thing that you have gone through. And do you remember that the Son of Man has descended below them all? And if he descended below them all, that means he experienced every single moment that you have gone through. He has been there. Where are you? Right there in the middle of it. And if it gets worse, don't you worry, I've experienced worse. So you can trust that not only am I with you right now, not only have I been where you have been, but in case things get worse and they do, don't worry, I have gone even below that. I have experienced even worse than that. Where am I? I am in the middle of the mess with you. And you'll go through. And there's those other questions as well. How long and why? And he answers every sing one. So specifically in section 121, if you go back verse number seven, your afflictions will be just a small moment. You won't, you won't have to worry. This is just for right now why he's going to go through and answer. It's going to be for your good. You're going to grow here. You're going to experience things that you will need for the rest of your time serving me and all eternity as well. And these verses are beautiful and when you read them, they really like. I think that's one of the most beautiful parts about the Doctrine and Covenants. I say this all the time, but it's so powerful that it's the Lord speaking because it feels like he's speaking directly to us. And yes, was he talking to Joseph? For sure. But when you read these verses particularly, it almost feels like he's talking to you. But one of my favorite tip ins is just the kids tippin for this week. And at the very top it says how to get through hard days. And I think that is a powerful lesson when you go through those questions and answers is what is God going to say? What does God. What is God willing to do? And what has he given you that is going to give you the ability to get through hard days? And I think that like one of my favorite verses is 9 in section 121, your friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. And I think it's powerful to pause and say, what are the hard things you're going through in your life right now? And who are the good people that are standing there with warm hearts and friendly hands? Who is going to be those who are going to be those people? And it's interesting because like, there's even that story from Liberty Jail of like, Emma goes and visits him and she says, like, we need a blanket, Joseph. Like, we don't even have, like, our kids are freezing. Like it's the worst winter of all time in the history of the world practically. And like, we need a blanket. And Joseph says, I don't even have one to give to you. And how beautiful that that verse says with warm hearts and friendly hands that the Lord knew exactly what they needed. And even they knew he knew they needed something warm. And he said, I will give you people. And even like that kid's tip. And it just made me want to stop and be like, oh, I want to make a list next to that verse in my scripture of the people who have showed up for me with warm hands, with warm hearts and friendly hands. Who are those people in my life right now? And maybe if I name them, it'll be easier to get through the days that I'm going through.

[A]

So awesome. And so many things that you could list there and talk about with. Right? Like what, what answers does God give God? Those questions. And they're questions that we ask. Well, how would God respond to something like that? And one of my favorites is how it just starts in seven. My son, like, there's something about him. I, I just, I. I remember being in the MTC when Jenny's younger brother was going to on his mission and we were right next to this row of these people and I was really close to him and I was so close to watch this dad and his son hug. And he just said, I'm so proud of you, my special boy. And when I read this, my son, it's not like my servant, that's fine if you wanted to say that or Joseph, it's a, like, it's a reminder of the relationship that they have with each other and it's a reminder that he's still a good, good father. And that line, peace be unto thy soul. That sounds like a whispered line to me. It sounds like he's like. It's like a shh, right? Which means he's within whispering distance there. And there's a sweetness to the answer where he's just like, I know, I know, I know. It just sounds like a mom or a dad, like, just quieting and comforting one of their kids who's, you know, who's been hurt. And it's just so sweet. And I love that. Part two and nine, I circled the word again because somebody who's in a prison place right now needs to know there will be warm hearts again. There will be friendliness again. There will be happy times, and there will be laughter again and again. This is not the end. There are still good times ahead for you. Not right now. For a small moment. You're going to be in this. And I'll tell you about some of my purposes for that in just a minute. But, hey, your good things are coming again for you. And then 10, this is not super helpful thing to say, but in connection with everything else, like, but you're not yet as Job, you know, like, that's.

[B]

Such a classic line. Yeah. Like, I'm glad we got it from him. Like, when we say that.

[A]

Right. But don't ever just do verse 10 only would probably be my suggestion. But then there's something about Jesus saying it in 1:22. He's like, I've been there before. I know what this is like. And I was thinking of this as you were telling about that part about Jesus in 122. It would be really easy for Joseph to come to the conclusion, God must be bad at me. I must be doing something wrong and God must hate me. Yeah. Because of the condition that I'm in. And Jesus is the perfect rebuttal to that. Clearly he was his beloved Son. And he watched in Gethsemane, and he watched the thorns, and he watched the whips and he watched the nails, and he watched the cross and the soldiers and the spear and. And we would look at that moment and we would say, I know God still loves His Son. There was great purpose in him allowing this for him. The cross. He didn't remove the cross because the cross saved the world. And it just makes you wonder if something similar is happening here. Like, why didn't you remove the prison? Because there is salvation that will come through this experience. And I don't mean salvation for the world. I mean salvation as a general term is to say, like, what if good Holy things will be born from this experience. So I'm not going to take them away. And as much as we wouldn't say that God must have ignored and hated Jesus, that sounds blasphemous to even give as an example, then we wouldn't say the same for his other son or his daughter who's in a prison place as well. The prisons are not evidence of God's disinterest or dismissiveness. Right. He allows evil and wickedness in the world. We learned that from Cain and Abel in the beginning of Genesis. And we can talk about, get into that another time, but he allows it to happen in the world. It doesn't mean that he's angry or doesn't care. Right. And that is just such a powerful lesson. It's such an awesome reminder to, to everybody as, as you read this, what great discussions that you can have about this. I want to say something about this real fast in 121, because as you start after those answers, 11 all the way through, like 24 and 25, where he says, my eyes see and know their works. This is verse 24. I have him reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof for them all. And almost like that, like, yes, like count of money crystal in you. Like, sometimes it's like, yeah, you better. God's gonna bust you up, right? And. But it's also concerning when you read it because you're like, oh, I don't know if I really love that part. I don't really want God to do that. But I just want to point out for just a second here that God's judgment is. And justice making things right is an evidence of his compassion and his love. We actually don't want a God who turns a blind eye to sin. And we don't want God to sweep things like this under the rug. We don't want to look at the news and see the horrible things that are happening to people that are not their fault and then have God say, like, well, I don't really care about that. We want him to get angry. We want him to feel deep, deep emotion about what's happening. And we want him to be fully committed to making everything right to judgment and justice. We want that from him. He is also different than us because he's also fully committed to forgiveness and to mercy. We have a God who is both of those things. And I think that's important to recognize in 121 too, as we, as we read through. Okay, there's this. Jack said this line to me one time when we were in Covid. Remember that everybody, when we were locked in our houses and he like everyone forgot. Yeah. And he said, I feel like I'm serving a prison sentence. And I wrote that phrase down on like a sticky note. I don't know, you know, like you just write things, you're thinking about prison sentence. And then I looked at it later and thought it meant prison sentence. Like not time period, but collection of words, you know, like he meant a prison time period. Yeah. And which Joseph serves a prison time period. But what comes out of that are actually prison lessons or prison sentences. And I think this is a really cool way to study 121 to say, okay, in that hard place, in that prison place, Joseph actually learns some of the best lessons. I don't know why that happens. I don't know why one of the, one of the most, like my least favorite times of my life were a week long period I had to spend in the hospital in another country. And it was terrible and horrible. And I asked some of the same questions at the beginning of 121. But some of my greatest lessons and some of my deepest compassion came from those seven days in there. I didn't want them, but I came away with prison lessons or prison sentences. And we kind of want to talk about some of those that we see in 121 and 122 if we can. So, okay, first one is, let's start in 36. This is a phrase I have over the last couple of days have fallen in love with. I've heard it so many times and had a lot of lessons about it. But I have this new thought about it that's really exciting me where it says this in 36. One thing he learns is that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven. And I always read the rights of the priesthood to be. Here are the things that priesthood holders are allowed to do in order to act in the office of the priesthood. Here's what you're allowed to do. But this year, studying the doctrine and covenants, that word priesthood has taken on a much grander meaning for me, especially coupling this together with like section 84, where we learned that when he mentions priesthood, he's often talking about the covenants and ordinances of the priesthood. So now what if I read it like this? The rights of the priesthood, if I'm saying the privileges available to those who've made priesthood covenants are inseparably connected with the power of heaven, then that becomes a principle all of us can experience in our life. And I love thinking about what kind of discussions you could have with family friends about what are the privileges of those covenants? What are your rights? Right. Unearned rights as a covenant son or daughter of God. What privileges and powers of heaven are available to you? And this far into the doctrine covenants, I feel like we could just make a really awesome list. And if I could give you, like, something that you could study in connection with this, I would go to President Nelson's talk from a couple years ago. That's a lie. I wrote, like, oh, here it is right here. I wrote it. Rejoice in the gift of priesthood keys. And this is a talk that outlines the rights of the priesthood. Here are the privileges of the priesthood. You are connected. He learns to the powers of heaven. That is your privilege, is what we learn in 121. And can I just list some that you might find in there? Greater access to the Lord's strengthening power. Protection from the buffetings of this world. Experiencing the pure love of the Father and the Son in great abundance. Peace. Spiritual reassurance. Mercy. Answers to your most vexing questions. We don't even know who uses the word vexing anymore. Answers to prayer. Personal revelation. Greater faith, greater strength, greater comfort. Increased power. A vision of who you really are. The chance to live the kind of life that you want to forever. It'll enhance the way you see yourself. A fullness of the Holy Ghost, the heavens open, angels having charge over you, being armed with the power of God to not face life alone. Those are the rights and the privileges of the priesthood. Even that very last one gets me like, I mean, we just sent Christian off to Bolivia. That is crazy. That's wild that Jenny and I did that. But I sent him off with a promise from section 84 that angels would attend him, be on his right hand and on his left, and would bear him up and be there for strength and power and protection. That is a rite of the priesthood that I want to claim for me, for my family. The. This list of things, these are rites of the priesthood that I can't live without. I want to go through earth life with all of them. And he teaches us in here principles of living that allow the rights of the priesthood to flow more abundantly into your life. And I wrote down this phrase. Where did I write down? Oh, this. I just saw it. The temple is a great place to learn this because the promises and the pattern are both given to us a couple sections ago, 109 to 110 we learned about right to the priesthood promises, but then the Lord's like, do you want to know how to have those flow into your life in greater abundance? Let me show you the pattern. So we get the promises, make a list, and here are the patterns that we can make a list of. 2. Do you want me to jump into?

[B]

I don't care either. You just, you just. I couldn't tell if you were going to.

[A]

No, no. I'm getting really excited, but go ahead. Let's do them together.

[B]

So he kind of does both. I'll do 37. Do you want to do 41 through.

[A]

Oh, awesome.

[B]

Does that work?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Is that good?

[A]

Okay, so let me just say this. 36 actually gives us the phrases we want. If you want to make a cool list in a journal here or put this on a board. Right. Or talk about this together. What are the rights of the priesthood and the powers of heaven? Right. And then what are the principles of righteousness? It says at the end of 36, they have to be controlled or they flow into our lives when we live out principles of righteousness. And we can make a list of what those look like also.

[B]

And he begins in verse 37, and he says, okay, let me start with telling you what will actually withdraw you from heaven. What is going to take you away from accessing these rights? Let me unpack this and show you exactly what it looks like. And he's gonna start, he's gonna say, listen, when we undertake to cover our sins, when your goal is to hide from me, you automatically are withdrawing yourself from heaven. That's your choice. It's your agency. When you're saying, I'd rather just cover up all my sins and walk away and just pretend like that didn't happen, you are excluding yourself from accessing more of heaven than you could ever imagine. When you are gratifying our pride or vain ambition, or when you're exercising control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men in any degree. And what I find so interesting is that those are the things that the Lord brings up specifically to Joseph. I think they're really important for us right now. And I think that is a really important list. And I especially think, like, what I've marked in my scriptures in the margin is, this is like I like wrote in my margins, like a reminder for when I need heaven closer, is that this is the first place that I should look at because it says the heavens will withdraw themselves. So if I need heaven closer, I should be looking at this list and Saying, what am I doing wrong? What's happened? Not that's like kind of a partial thing.

[A]

What could I be doing wrong? Is a really mature spiritual question asked.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And it's interesting to me because.

[A]

Let's just unpack this for just a second. Because he's in prison, not of his fault. Yes, right.

[B]

100%.

[A]

We do know that, like, things happen, but there's also things we could do that distance ourselves from the powers of heaven also.

[B]

100%. And I think it's so interesting to read this thinking about Joseph because it's going to go through and it's going to say, okay, like, are you hiding any of your sins? Are you gratifying your pride or your vain ambition? And like, instantly when you look at those two, you're like, no, he's in prison. Like, he's not trying to be ambitious right now. Like, he. There's not even ambition that's open to him right now. That's like the most humbling experience of your entire life. The fact that he was like living in those conditions ripped away any pride that you could ever possibly have. Like, that would have taken like one week probably in my mind. And then it's so interesting that he says, or exercising control, like forcing like your hand on other humans. And it's like that was being done to him. It wasn't even like he had the option of doing that. Like, that was his reality. And what I think is interesting is there must have just been like a glimmer of hope that I think the Lord was whispering to Joseph in that sentence that was saying, look, this is what disqualifies you from heaven. And there must have been like, to me, when you read that, it makes you do a self assessment and how powerful for Joseph to realize, like, oh, that means heaven is still accessible to me. That means that heaven doesn't have to be far away because not even in a prison. Even in a prison, I can be experiencing heaven even in the worst conditions of my entire life. This can still become heaven. And it's interesting. I was at Liberty and I didn't even know this until I was there this summer and years after this experience with Joseph. And it was like really early on into, like, I think the church brought it, like, bought it back. I'm not 100% certain about the history of Liberty Jail, but I do know one thing. At some point, the church bought it back or they had it all along. No, they had to have bought it.

[A]

It was a prison.

[B]

They bought it back.

[A]

It's Fine. Everyone.

[B]

After Joseph was already in prison. And I didn't listen to that part. I didn't listen to that part of the lesson.

[A]

I'm sorry. When 121 was written. Don't worry.

[B]

Let's clarify that.

[A]

That's big.

[B]

But what happened is when they had got it back, like, at the very beginning, they didn't, like, make it into, like, the. Like. It's like, not necessarily like a memorial or like a museum, but it's like kind of a museum, I guess. They, like, walk through the visitor center. That's the word I was looking for. It wasn't the visitor center that we know now, and they just kind of owned it, and they didn't know what to do. And what happened is the members of the church that lived in that area began to have church in the basement of the prison. And.

[A]

Wow. Really?

[B]

Yes. Did you know that?

[A]

No.

[B]

And every. They would go there every single week. And it, like. There's this picture of them having church in the prison in Liberty Jail right now. So you should all go to Liberty Jail so you can see it. And it, like, stopped me in my tracks. And they said that the people, the saints there just kept saying, like, it just feels different here. It just feels like sacred ground. And what is so powerful to me is that Joseph was accessing the rights of the priesthood there. That those men were experiencing heaven even in a prison, that they looked at this and Joseph said, I know that even in the worst conditions, even in the worst places, even in the worst moments of my life, heaven can be close. So close that years and years later, they still experienced the fruits of that experience. It still felt like heaven. Like, it was like a tangible feeling in that place. And I think that is a really cool lesson. Even just like, of that one sentence, the heavens withdraw themselves. That means that heaven can be close.

[A]

Yeah. And remember, we're learning something. This. We're in a list right now, remember, of, like, prison lessons, things that he's learning in this place, and maybe he could only learn in that place, because how else do you learn that a prison can become heaven unless you're in a prison? Right? And he learns that lesson for himself and for all of us. That whatever circumstances or situations in our life may be heaven, they can turn into heaven. Right? Here's more of those. Kind of like, this was like, don't do these. But then here's some started in 41, where he says, here are some of those principles of righteousness, persuasion, long suffering. It might be awesome to say, like, what does this actually look like lived out in someone's life? Because these aren't just like facts, they're patterns of living. Yep. Gentleness, meekness, love, unfaked, unfeigned is what it says. But it means like love, unfeigned, kindness, knowledge, living without guile or hypocrisy. 43 is such an awesome advice for sometimes we have to reprove betimes with sharpness. Sharpness means like right away. And I mean specific. Oh my gosh, is this my second time again? I gotta look up that word because obviously it's a really important word for me. It's gonna be in a word puzzle or something. Okay. Reproving means to correct. Betimes means quickly. With sharpness means specifics. Right. I'm telling you exactly right. Then this key, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, that's your permission in dealing with difficult people in situations. Because sometimes that's okay. That's a part of principles of righteousness too. But then afterwards, showing an increase of love towards that person you've reproved, lest he think you are his enemy, that he may know, act in a way so liberal in your love that he thinks your faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. Like, be overtly obvious of how much you love people. Let your bowels, that is just your heart and your guts before full of charity towards all men and to the household of faith. And let virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then, and this is where I think I connected back to the rites of the priesthood. Then will your confidence wax strong in the presence of the God of God? Presence means in his presence. And also present tense is what this verse is talking about. You can have your confidence wax strong approaching and being in the presence of God and the doctrine of the priesthood or the promises of the priesthood will distill on your soul like the dews from heaven. Keep in mind that dew comes a little bit every single day. And it seems to be a hint toward the way that God's power might flow into our lives. Most often a little bit every day, distilling quietly upon your soul, almost imperceptible, but over a period of time. Great power and the Holy ghost, there's a promise 46 will be your constant companion. And I scepter, an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth that will flow unto you forever and ever. I feel like every person in this mortal life often will find ourselves in prison places that we either got ourselves into or we. Or we just unfairly found ourselves in. And Joseph learns in this place, it can be heaven. You can have sacred companionship with the Savior as you learn more about his heart and character in here. And the powers of heaven, the right to the priesthood that were your privileges can flow unto you without compulsion, just like, you know, every single day. And I think that's like, those are such beautiful lessons. It just teaches me what to do if I find myself in those places.

[B]

And at least we should say that one line. I think it's from his journal, but I'm not even really 100% sure that is the best line ever. That is, I think my heart will be more tender now than it ever was before.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And we Learned that in 1:22, right? Where he just says, essentially at the end of verse seven, after that list of. Even if hell itself, the very jaws of hell gape, open their mouth wide after thee. He says, know this, my son. There it is again. All these experiences will give. All these things will give you experience and shift shall be for thy good. It reminds me of Romans 8, right? Nothing can separate us from the love of God. That all things shall work together for the good of those who love God. And he just says, whatever ever happens in here, I can turn these experiences. I didn't send the wolves. Other wolves, for some reason. Oh, yeah. Like, end of six, I was like, all of a sudden.

[B]

That was quick, though.

[A]

I didn't send that. I didn't send the guards with swords. I didn't tear you away. God is not the one to blame. There are bad guys in verse six who are tearing him away, right? God didn't do it. God is not the problem. He's actually the solution. What's happening in this prison place is evidence that the world is broken and humanity is broken and needs a fix. And what he's trying to teach him is, don't be tempted to turn your back on me because of what's happening, because I'm actually the solution. I can bring the healing, I can bring the forgiveness, I can bring the change into this. And he just says to him, I'm going to turn this for your good. It's what I'm best at, making beauty from ashes. And that seems to be his lesson right here in 1:22. I'm gonna turn this for good. I promise you I will.

[B]

I was talking to someone the other night, and we were talking about one of their little prison moments and a situation that felt very undeserved, one that they didn't get themselves into, but really was the consequence of other people's agency. And they were devastated and just like, so, so sad and crying so hard you could barely hear them talking. And finally I just heard them whisper. I was just trying my best. And instantly I just thought in my head, oh, and that is enough. That is. That is enough in those moments. And that doesn't stop the tears, and that doesn't make the situation okay. But that is enough. And you see that same whisper at the end of 123, verse 17. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power. Let us do our very best.

[A]

Yeah. And I would add that to our list of, like, the principles of righteousness. How do I get the power of heaven to flow into my life? Here's all these things, but the one common thing of all of them is.

[B]

Just do your best.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Just do your very best. And then may we stand still with the utmost assurance, with full confidence to see the salvation of God and for his arm to be revealed. If that is you, and you are saying to yourself in that little whisper in the middle of tears, I am just doing your best. You stand in confidence knowing that the ar. The arm of the Lord will be revealed. He is on his way that he will reach out to save.

[A]

Yeah. And that confidence, that's a promise. That's a promise. And the rights of the priesthood, our covenant relationship turns possibilities into promises. They aren't just things that we hope might happen. They become reassurances from it. We get to live in that reassurance of this is but a small moment and in the mean. And you will have all of these things again. But in the meantime, I will be here. I will strengthen, I will heal, I will encourage, I will protect. I will do all of these things in. In your life. And it's. It's so awesome. So verse 9 of 122. Can we end with this? Therefore, hold on thy way. Don't give up. Right? Don't give up. And the promises of the priesthood, God himself shall remain with thee. Their bounds are set that they can't pass. Your days are known. Your years will not be less. Therefore, fear not what man can do, for God will be with you forever and ever.

[B]

Oh, Amen.

[A]

It's a lesson he learned in a prison, y'. All In a prison. That's just what God does. He turned a stable into heaven. He turned a cross into heaven, and he'll turn our into heaven also. That's his promise. Oh, so good, right? We told you. Okay.

[B]

Love it.

[A]

See you next week. If you want to follow along in everything we're doing, you can find us on Instagram at Don't miss this study, at this Week's Grace and at MrDave Butler.

[B]

And if you want to subscribe to the app or get our weekly newsletter, all of the information can be found@don'tmissthisstudy.com.

[A]

See you next week.