How Can We Improve Our Attitudes about Our Circumstances?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 121-123 in a lesson titled “O God, Where Art Thou?” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

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).

This scripture block contains several principles, including (1) With God, adversity can “be for [my] good” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-10, 23-33; 122), (2) True power and influence are based on “the principles of righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-46, (3) Jesus Christ has descended below all things so that He can lift me up (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8), and (4) “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power” (Doctrine and Covenants 123). This essay will discuss principle #4 about being cheerful in the work.

The sections covered in this lesson contain good counsel, and the principle “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power” is no exception. Joseph Smith knew that the Saints were suffering, and he was concerned about them even though his circumstances were not great. When he referred to false beliefs that led to suffering (Doctrine and Covenants 123:7-8), he wanted them to think about more than the persecution that the Saints were suffering. The Saints were being persecuted and living in terrible conditions, but they could change their attitudes about their sufferings by changing the way that they thought about their suffering.  

In his letters from Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith gave the Saints some suggestions as to what they could do about their situation: “[gather] up a knowledge of all the facts” and “stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:1, 17).

Consider the problems in our world today. What are some ways that you would address them that “lie in [your] power” (verses 12, 17).  We should not overlook the seemingly “small things” (verse 15). Consider how doing these things “cheerfully” could make the situation better.

Many of the accounts requested in the letter were “submitted to the government and published as an 11-part series in a Nauvoo newspaper, the Times and Seasons” (see “A History, of the Persecution, of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints in Missouri, December 1839-October 1840,” [josephsmithpapers.org]).