Enduring Through Storms:
As a student of Church history, there are few periods as challenging and instructive as the early years of the Restoration. When I delve into the Doctrine and Covenants, I find myself drawn to sections that illuminate the struggles and triumphs of the early Latter-day Saints. One such section is Doctrine and Covenants 123. While its primary focus is often missed in broader discussions, it encapsulates a spirit of enduring faith amidst immense difficulty, a spirit that resonates with other trials, including the infamous Kirtland Safety Society experience.
Allow me to explain what I mean.
D&C 123: A Cry for Justice from Liberty Jail
First, let's understand Doctrine and Covenants 123 itself. This isn't a direct revelation in the typical sense, but rather an extract from a letter written by the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was unjustly imprisoned in Liberty Jail in March 1839. Imagine the conditions he faced: cold, isolation, and the looming threat of death, as the Saints he loved faced expulsion from their homes in Missouri.
In this letter, Joseph is not primarily addressing financial matters directly, but rather the overwhelming persecution and suffering of the Saints in Missouri. He's asking them to meticulously document every loss, every wrong, every act of violence they endured.
He writes:
My takeaway from this is the profound need for justice and accountability, even when it feels impossible. Joseph wanted to document their pain and injustice, not for revenge but to bear witness. It’s a powerful testament to the Saints' resilience and the Prophet's unwavering spirit, even in chains.
The Kirtland Echo: Financial Tumult and Hard-Won Lessons
While D&C 123 speaks of physical persecution, the trials of the early Church were multifaceted. This call to document suffering reminds me of another period of immense struggle that profoundly impacted the Latter-day Saints just a couple of years earlier: the financial crisis in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1837.
To put it in layman's terms, imagine a fledgling community growing rapidly, full of enthusiasm and a desire to build God's kingdom, or "Zion." They needed funds to buy land, build temples, and help new converts settle. Joseph Smith and other leaders, with noble intentions, established the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company. It was essentially an effort to create a community bank to help the Saints manage their finances and grow.
However, several factors contributed to its downfall:
- Lack of Experience: The leaders, including Joseph Smith, were prophets and spiritual guides, not seasoned bankers.
- Speculation: Many Saints, caught up in the excitement, engaged in land speculation, hoping for quick riches.
- The Panic of 1837: This was a nationwide financial crisis—a massive economic downturn across the United States. Banks failed everywhere, credit dried up, and unemployment soared. The Kirtland Safety Society, already on shaky ground, couldn't withstand the national collapse.
When the Kirtland Safety Society failed, it led to widespread financial ruin, immense debt, and deep disillusionment. People lost their savings, their homes, and their trust. This period sparked significant apostasy, with many blaming Joseph Smith for their financial woes. It was a time of intense criticism, betrayal, and profound hardship. Joseph Smith himself faced numerous lawsuits and was heavily in debt.
From this tumultuous period, I learn valuable lessons about economic principles, financial responsibility, and the delicate balance between faith and prudence. Even with prophetic guidance, human agency, external market forces, and sound practical wisdom are essential.
Enduring Lessons for Today
Connecting these two seemingly disparate events—the appeal from Liberty Jail and the Kirtland financial collapse—I see a unifying thread of enduring faith and learning through adversity.
- Resilience and Faith: Both periods tested the limits of faith. The Saints in Missouri had to endure unspeakable violence, and those in Kirtland faced financial ruin and shattered trust. Nevertheless, the core of the Church endured.
- Learning from Mistakes: The Kirtland experience was a painful, yet ultimately formative, lesson for the Church in managing temporal affairs. It highlighted the importance of wise financial stewardship, careful planning, and avoiding speculation. While the early Saints were commanded to build Zion and consecrate their properties, the implementation of complex financial systems required experience and adherence to sound economic principles. It taught the Church about the need for structured financial responsibility.
- The Broader Work of the Restoration: Despite these setbacks—from the trials of Zion's Camp (which preceded Kirtland) to the financial crisis and the Missouri persecutions—the work of the Restoration continued. Joseph Smith, despite his personal suffering and the immense pressure, never wavered in his testimony or his prophetic calling. He learned, he repented (where applicable to his human errors in judgment), and he pressed forward.
- The Power of Revelation: Throughout these periods, revelation and prophetic guidance were constant anchors. Even if specific ventures faced challenges, the overall direction and purpose of the Church were sustained through divine guidance.
As I reflect on Doctrine and Covenants 123 and the broader church history it evokes, I am reminded that life, even a life dedicated to the Lord, isn't free from trials—financial, physical, or spiritual. But within these challenges lie profound opportunities for growth, learning, and strengthening our faith. The courage of Joseph Smith and those early Saints, whether documenting injustices or navigating financial storms, inspires me to face my challenges with greater resolve and a deeper conviction in the ongoing work of the Lord. Their stories teach me that even in the darkest moments, hope, learning, and the promise of a brighter future endure.
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