Escaping Liberty Jail w/ Joseph Smith - John Turner Pt. 24 | Ep. 2090

Dec 5, 2025

Historian John G. Turner joins to discuss an intense chapter in Latter-day Saint history—Joseph Smith's incarceration in Liberty Jail. They examine the tumultuous events leading to Smith's arrest and the harsh conditions he faced while imprisoned. Turner highlights the betrayal by former allies, the brutal realities of the Missouri expulsion, and the profound impact of Smith's letters from jail. The conversation also dives into his eventual escape and emotional reunion in Illinois, revealing the enduring trauma and resilience of the Saints during this defining period.

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INSIGHT

Treason Was A Political Tool

The treason charges against Joseph Smith were state charges tied to Missouri, not federal charges.
John G. Turner argues the treason indictment functioned as a political tool to expel the Saints rather than to secure execution.

ANECDOTE

Squalid Conditions In Liberty Jail

Joseph and fellow prisoners were confined in a cramped, dark Liberty Jail with straw bedding and scant food.
Turner describes cold, damp conditions and prisoners drinking the dregs of coffee and tea while suffering illness.

ANECDOTE

Repeated Jailbreak Attempts

Prisoners attempted escapes including a failed run and boring through four-foot jail walls with tools passed by visitors.
The plan was exposed and repairs made, preventing a successful breakout.

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In this episode (Part 24), we dive into one of the most dramatic and painful chapters in early Letter-day Saint history: Liberty Jail.

Joseph Smith was arrested on December 1, 1838 and eventually taken to Liberty Jail. Today we will cover his imprisonment, the chaotic legal proceedings that followed, and the eventual “escape” that allowed him to reunite with his family as the Saints resettled in Quincy, Illinois.

We explore how internal conflicts, political pressures, treason charges, and widespread anti-Mormon hostility shaped Joseph’s experience –and how his letters from Liberty Jail become some of the most cherished passages in Latter-day Saint scripture. We discuss betrayal, leadership crises, the brutality of Missouri’s expulsion, and the Saints’ struggle to survive amidst violence, sickness, and dislocation.

This chapter also raises hard questions:

Was Joseph Smith’s trial fair?

What role did dissenting church leaders play?

How much of the Liberty Jail narrative has been “whitewashed”?

What does Joseph Smith’s behavior tell us about his character?

We conclude by following Joseph’s escape, his emotionally charged reunion with the Saints in Illinois, and the lasting trauma and financial strain the Missouri experience left behind. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.

To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.

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