Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail

Joseph Smith taught: “The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God.” While imprisoned at Liberty Jail, I think that Joseph got this very opportunity: to think about all the works of God, who God really is, who he (Joseph) really is, how dark and deep are the works of the adversary, and many other things I am not aware of.
Now, I am not sure exactly what happened to Joseph Smith while he spent those awful months locked up in prison on false charges while his family and friends were being kicked out of their homes, some being killed, and all kinds of false charges were going around. We live in a very different world than back then, and so today it is common to lash out and make our voices heard with phone calls, internet blogs, newspapers, facebook, twitter, or any other source. For Joseph, he could write letters or try to contact the papers, but it was very difficult to make your voice heard. There was no justice, no retribution, and hardly any hope. He had to suffer, sit there, and think.
What a wonderful blessing indeed. I almost cry to call it a blessing, but that’s the way God’s plan works out. Whatever happens to us that is unfair or painful, whatever harm we cause to ourselves and others, can somehow turn out to become a blessing in our lives. While Joseph was incarcerated, he learned that God is mindful of His children, that these horrible ordeals would end, that Justice and Mercy would have their work, and that God will bless those who love Him and endure well. Joseph also learned how the priesthood works, how to better guide the church, and that many wonderful outpourings would come as a result of his trials (D&C 123:17).
I would not want to live in a dark hole for months in the cold, where it was not possible to stand erect, where there is only old filthy straw for comfort, where your guards wish you dead, where your bathroom is just a bucket (which I imagine the guards didn’t really want to clean); but that being the case, I suppose it is a very small price indeed to come to know the Son of Man, and “commune with God.” Joseph got the chance to gain pure knowledge from God, and he was humble enough to learn in this trial.