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Liberty: A Historical Novel
When Caleb Baldwin is arrested alongside the Prophet Joseph Smith and four other men, he doesn’t know how long he’ll be stuck in the miserable jail in Liberty, Missouri. In the face of squalid conditions, fear for their safety, and worry about their families, how can Caleb and the others maintain their faith?
Meanwhile, back in Far West, Emma Smith and the other family members of the imprisoned find themselves facing persecution from anti-Mormon mobs, which seek to kill Joseph, destroy the Smith home, and force the other Saints out of Missouri.
As Caleb endures the hardships of prison and Emma struggles to uproot her life, the two become firsthand witnesses to the faith of the Prophet Joseph from within this “prison-temple.” From the depths of confinement, Joseph grapples with the difficult conditions and the weight of his prophetic mantle, his desperate yearning to hear God’s voice and receive divine revelation ultimately culminating in what is now known as sections 121–123 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
With Dean Hughes’s characteristic blend of historical accuracy and compelling characters, Liberty explores the lives and faith of Emma and Joseph Smith, Caleb Baldwin, and the other men imprisoned in Liberty Jail during this tumultuous period in Latter-day Saint history.
Meanwhile, back in Far West, Emma Smith and the other family members of the imprisoned find themselves facing persecution from anti-Mormon mobs, which seek to kill Joseph, destroy the Smith home, and force the other Saints out of Missouri.
As Caleb endures the hardships of prison and Emma struggles to uproot her life, the two become firsthand witnesses to the faith of the Prophet Joseph from within this “prison-temple.” From the depths of confinement, Joseph grapples with the difficult conditions and the weight of his prophetic mantle, his desperate yearning to hear God’s voice and receive divine revelation ultimately culminating in what is now known as sections 121–123 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
With Dean Hughes’s characteristic blend of historical accuracy and compelling characters, Liberty explores the lives and faith of Emma and Joseph Smith, Caleb Baldwin, and the other men imprisoned in Liberty Jail during this tumultuous period in Latter-day Saint history.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2024
25 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Dean Hughes
167 books348 followersDean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 28, 2025
This book was written about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his other church leader friends who were unjustifiably imprisoned in the Liberty Jail in 1838-1839 in Missouri. I love how the author used Caleb Baldwin to tell the story through his own perspective, and how he spiritually progressed from watching Joseph Smith changed positively through this great trial!! I come to appreciate them more as they grew out of being resentful in order to receive revelation, and strength through their ongoing trials. Also, this was the first revelation from Doctrine and Covenants sections 121-123. I highly recommend this book for all who want to understand more about this time in Church history!
May 31, 2024
Kirby Heyborne is a masterful voice actor performing Dean Hughes’s new LDS historical novel about the horrible winter of 1838-39 in Liberty jail. I appreciate Hughes’s careful scholarly study of the events and for correcting a few historical misunderstandings. The novel would be a good read for anyone but it was especially interesting to me because I’m a proud descendant of these imperfect, strong, resilient and faithful early Latter-day Saints. My only complaint is that the book ended too soon.
January 5, 2025
Mr. Hughes did an incredible job with this. I haven’t read one of his book since I was in elementary (Children of the Promise fans where you at?) and this did not disappoint. He is such a fantastic writer and the audiobook version of this story just enhances the experience. I loved how “real” he made Joseph Smith and how he was honest and open about the mistakes the Saints made and how it contributed to their issues in Missouri. I was slightly disappointed in the ending so I dropped it to 4 stars. (But honestly I’m not sure how he could’ve ended it differently without making it 800 pages. I’m hard to please.)
July 15, 2024
This is a historical fiction about Liberty Jail, where Joseph Smith and four other men spent the winter of 1838-1839 in difficult circumstances. It's told from the perspective of Caleb Baldwin. I appreciate a historical fiction that helps put us in the place of understanding what this was like for those there, but (and as the author says) this should be a springboard to more study. It's obvious this was a time of reflection and learning for Joseph Smith and others and even helps those of us reading and learning about it think about what we can take from these experiences. Here are some quotes I liked:
"Avard had directed the vigilante actions that some of the Saints had taken, and now he was leaving out his own involvement (p. 5)."
"Caleb's frustration kept mounting; only one side of the story was being told, and that side was distorted (p. 7)."
"Five men involved in the Battle at Crooked River were accused of murder and remanded without bail. They would remain in jail in Richmond. Probable cause for treason, also not a bailable offense, was found against another six, who would be confined in the Clay County jail in Liberty, Missouri. Those men were Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin (p. 7)."
"'We're going to be tested... We'll have to stay strong--stronger than we've ever been' (p. 8)."
"An entire winter in jail was almost too much for his mind to accept (p. 9)."
"'This is not where you're going to be staying. Your place is down below, in the lower room of the jail.' 'We call it the dungeon' (p. 18)."
"'This place ain't fit for hogs... How do you expect us to live down here?' (p. 14)"
"'We aren't going to murder anyone, and we aren't afraid to stand trail. We know we haven't committed any crimes' (p. 15)."
"'You will respect us, Mr. Tillery, or I promise... you will feel the wrath of God' (p. 17)."
"'The people have heard nothing but lies about us, Lyman. So it's not surprising that they want to take our lives. But it's not a man like Tillery I hold in contempt. It's our own members--men who considered brothers in the gospel--who offered up barefaced lies for evidence' (p. 18)."
"His own safety wasn't his biggest worry; he kept thinking of his wife, Nancy, and his nine children. They were in Far West trying to get by without him, and he wasn't sure they had food enough to last the winter... Hyrum spoke softly. 'Brethren... we have to trust in the Lord, no matter what's happened so far. We can't lose our faith that God is with us' (p. 18)."
"Hyrum prayed for Sidney, for more blankets, for justice to be done (p. 20)."
"Caleb loved Sidney for the good friend he had long been, and he pitied him for his increasing frailties. The two of them had known each other for years. Caleb had become part of the Campbellite religious movement, and he had moved to Warrensville, not far from Kirtland, partly to join the congregation led by Sidney (p. 20)."
"The beating Sidney had taken from a mob in Kirtland, and even more, his confinement in Richmond, had broken him (p. 22)."
"'That wasn't enough food to fill us... Is this what we have to face all winter?' (p. 25)"
"'We expected the Lord to fight with us' (p. 28)."
"'I'm a military man, and I wanted to fight as much as anyone. But burning Gallatin was more than a mistake. It was the excuse Boggs needed to unleash the mobs that were only too ready to come after us' (p. 29)."
"'Brethren, we can't give up on God. I promise you, he knows where we are and what we're suffering. We'll need him to get through this' (p. 29)."
"'We do trust God... And we need to trust each other. I know we're all feeling beleaguered right now, but we can't let a spirit of anger prevail.' 'I haven't given up on the Lord,' Lyman said. 'I just don't understand why things turned out this way.' 'I suspect that's why we're here,' Joseph said. 'To find out' (p. 30)."
"'Why do they hate us so much, Emma?' Mary asked, still whispering. 'What possible reason do they have to kill our husbands?' 'What they really want is for us to leave Missouri, and they think threats will scare us away... What we must not do is let hatred seep into our own hearts... When we hate, our enemies have defeated us. They've turned us away from God' (p. 36)."
"'I don't understand such wickedness. How could a man say something like that to a little child? Do you really think the Lord expects me to forgive something like that?' (p. 37)"
"'I want to take him to the jail to receive a blessing from his father. Hyrum needs to see him, and my little son needs a name' (p. 39)."
"'Please, Lord, wilt thou bless our children, and help us as mothers to protect them? And please, we ask, guide us to know how we can support one another--and all our sisters' (p. 40)."
"The only relief came three times a day, when the prisoners were allowed to climb the ladder, eat their meals at the table, and take comfort in a few minutes by the stove (p. 45)."
"Caleb longed for the jovial man, the strong leader, that he had come to know, and he longed to hear words from Joseph that would lift him through these trying days (p. 46)."
"He had begun to realize that it would take more spiritual strength than he had ever found in himself to meet the demands he was now facing. No one could give him that, not even Joseph (p. 48)."
"'We miss you terribly, Joseph. But don't worry about us. We haven't gone hungry, and we try not to become too downcast. Julia is a little wonder. She's cheerful no matter what comes, and she helps me keep Joey under control. He needs to run and play, but I simply can't let him go outside' (p. 63)."
"'My trials have been easy compared to yours. You've experienced enough pain to break most people' (p. 54)."
"'We have met difficulties... but we always come out all right... You didn't ask for this life, Joseph. You were called to it by God. And that means that I was, too. I never regret that I married you, and I never doubt your calling' (p. 55)."
"Joseph had always been outgoing, could even seem arrogant at times, but here with Emma, Caleb was reminded of a child: questioning himself, uneasy about what lay ahead, and above all, needing to be loved by the person in the world who knew him best (p. 56)."
"'Joseph Smith the Third, I take you in my arms to give you a blessing... I bless you with comfort, but also with courage' (p. 63)."
"Maybe Zion was lost for the moment, but God would not let the mobs win the ultimate victory. Sometimes, he knew, the members had been a little too enamored with the pleasures of the world (p. 64)."
"Emma led everyone in a hymn...
'As children of Zion
Good tidings for us:
The tokens already appear;
Fear not and be just,
For the kingdom is ours,
And the hour of redemption is near.'
Everyone seemed to sense that the hymn was a benediction, a closing of their little worship service, but Caleb wanted just a fragment of a sermon to go along with it. 'Brother Joseph... Is the hour near? Will Christ soon remove us from all this suffering?'... 'Not quite, Brother Caleb. I don't believe the time is too far off, but I fear we must yet suffer hardships. All the prophecies speak of difficult times as the end draws near' (p. 65)."
"The visit of his wife and son had lifted him considerably (p. 67)."
"Though Caleb had felt his faith the night before--powerfully--a sense of abandonment returned to him now... He tried to think of miracles he had seen, of the joy he had felt in the ineffable realms of the Spirit that had sometimes visited their meetings (p. 68)."
"The guests often brought food and they always brought the best wishes of the members... Caleb felt the tender mercy of this comfort, and he scolded himself for thinking that God had abandoned him (p. 70)."
"One cold December day Joseph told Alexander, 'Brother Markham brought some writing paper yesterday. I want to send a letter to the Saints. Will you act as my scribe?' (p. 71)"
"'May grace, mercy, and peace be and abide with you, and notwithstanding all your sufferings, we assure you that you have our prayers and fervent desires for your welfare both day and night. We believe that God who sees us in this solitary place will hear our prayers and reward you openly. Know assuredly, dear brethren, that it is for the testimony of Jesus that we are in bonds and in prison' (p. 71)."
"'What do you think, brethren?... Is there anything you would add or change?'... 'Joseph, I don't disagree with anything you said. But it's a stern letter. It might not encourage our people who are suffering so much right now.'... 'I am angry, Hyrum. And I hope you are too. Why shouldn't we be? The Lord doesn't expect us to accept such behavior without indignation.'... 'All I'm saying is that you, as our prophet, need to offer the rest of us hope for better days. You need to call for the best in us, and I didn't hear much of that in your letter' (p. 73)."
"Caleb knew Joseph, knew his kindheartedness. The members needed that Joseph, that prophet, to help them through such trying, dangerous times (p. 75)."
"'I've been searching for the Lord in this revolting place, and I can't seem to find him here' (p. 82)."
"She had told Joseph she was strong, that she was holding up against all the troubles, and now she had to prove it (p. 85)."
"'We've all been called. And this jail has stolen away our chance to serve' (p. 97)."
"It was obvious that in Joseph's quiet hours, he was thinking about the future, trusting that the Church would go forward. And yet, another thought crossed Caleb's mind: Joseph might be strengthening the Quorum of the Twelve to prepare his apostles to lead the Church after he was gone (p. 100)."
"He told the Lord that he was ready to accept his will, even if death was coming, but he asked, above all, that his family might be looked after (p. 103)."
"Caleb wanted to believe the Lord had been with them, and that's why they were still alive, but he felt broken. It had taken the full three days before he had been able to hold down food, and the loss of nourishment had stolen his strength. However disheartened he had been by the sameness of his life, this new test had cast him down as never before. Caleb had hoped that he was growing spiritually, using his time in jail to good purpose, but now he only felt numb and debilitated (p. 103)."
"'When I made it through the first night, and then the second, and started to think that I would live, I turned to God as never before. God has not spoken to me here in this place, and I've felt alone, but I've now begun to commune with the Lord again. I can feel him with me' (p. 104)."
"Hyrum spoke softly. 'I'm well enough. But seeing you, seeing our son, all this is almost more joy than I know how to hold inside myself' (p. 110)."
"'Within the next two of three weeks we're going to start our trek--not as a single camp, but in small wagon trains. And each group will be led by someone who can help those who need assistance... We're getting everything organized. Joseph has asked me and Heber Kimball to lead out, and we've accepted that responsibility' (p. 117)."
"Caleb prayed. He asked for a miracle. And he tried to exercise his faith fully and purely (p. 118)."
"'I'm going to release Mr. Rigdon on a bail of one hundred dollars. That may give him time to recover somewhat before a trial. As for you others, considering the serious nature of the crimes you are accused of, I do not find sufficient grounds to grant you release' (p. 125)."
"'The minute he walks out of the jail with no guard, there's some who will want to shoot him down' (p. 126)."
"'Sidney needed to be released... The Lord touched the hearts of those men in the courtroom... There's no other explanation for such a miracle. Let's concentrate on that and take joy in it' (p. 187)."
"'God is going to do what is best for each of us--and also for the Church. What we have to do is accept the Lord's will. I've accepted that lesson now' (p. 187)."
"After Sidney's release, a dismal quiet returned to the jail. Occasional visitors still came, and that broke the monotony, but as Church members began their migration from the state, fewer were left to make their way to Liberty (p. 129)."
"Joseph... spent many of his daylight hours studying his Bible (p. 129)."
"After the visits he would return to his contemplation. Caleb didn't mind; he felt that Joseph was deepening himself and seeking direction, and when he did share his thoughts. Caleb could see that his quiet times were well spent (p. 130)."
"'I'm sorry, brethren, but I don't know how long we have to wait. But I find myself thinking at times that we have to take our own action and rely on the Lord to help us succeed... maybe we have to step forward and assert ourselves, not just sit back and wait' (p. 130)."
"'We'd be sitting ducks outside. The men who want to gun us down would have a good excuse' (p. 133)."
"'If the Lord tells you this is what we should do, then I'm ready' (p. 134)."
"'Five trails are harder to follow than one. We can walk hard and keep going all night to stay warm. Anyone chasing after us might not be willing to keep up the pursuit in the dark and the snow. We don't have horses and they do, but we have surprise on our side. We'll have a head start on any posse that might get organized' (p. 135)."
"The members needed to get out before they were driven out by force, and families needed to find a place where they could begin to plant crops and reestablish themselves for the coming growing season (p. 136)."
"'I believe the Lord was in this. It was still light enough outside that people were out and about. Maybe we would have been caught--or shot down--before we got very far. Let's just trust that this was for the best' (p. 138)."
"'We have to accept what happened tonight as the will of the Lord. But we still face men outside who can't wait to kill us' (p. 139)."
"'Porter is going to bring us an auger. If he gets it past the guards, we can try to drill through the logs' (p. 141)."
"'Sam Tillery has treated us with respect, and we've come to think of him as a friend' (p. 145)."
"There are times when God grants us a power beyond our own (p. 149)."
"'Please... open the hearts of these people' (p. 152)."
"'When I told them we'd traveled almost a hundred miles in the cold, they guessed who we had to be, and the man said 'It's a shame what's been done to you people.' (p. 153)"
"Emma kept taking steps, kept asking the Lord for strength, kept saying to herself that no matter the pain, no matter the feat, she would go on as long as she possibly could (p. 158)."
"She praised the people of Illinois, who were very kind to the refugee Saints, and she expressed her hope for better days ahead (p. 165)."
"'O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of they servants, and thine eye, yea they pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?' (p. 168)"
"'He must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart' (p. 170)."
"Joseph's words--the Lord's words--struck with force, describing an attitude that Caleb knew he needed to rise towards: 'Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one less--That the rights of priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness' (p. 174)."
"'This is of God... I'm only sorry that I couldn't hear the Lord sooner' (p. 178)."
"It was April 6, the ninth birthday of the Church, and it seemed an appropriate day to be set free--at least for the moment--and finally travel to Daviess County for the promised pretrial hearing (p. 180)."
"'That's the trouble with the truth. It can be frightening' (p. 189)."
"'Lord, we thank thee for delivering us and acknowledge thy hand in all that has happened' (p. 197)."
"What Caleb wanted to do was teach these people the gospel, But he followed Joseph's lead, and Joseph was still being careful not to be identified (p. 206)."
"'We heard a few days ago that you had escaped and would be heading that direction. So Emma asked me to come and watch for you' (p. 209)."
"'We all helped each other, Brother Joseph.' 'But I despaired at times, Caleb. I fear that I wasn't the strength to you that I should have been.' 'That's not how I remember it, Joseph. You tried to lift us in the midst of your own despair. I'll consider it an honor all the days of my life that I spent these months with you, side by side' (p. 212)."
"He wanted to dwell on the future, not the past. Above all, he didn't want to talk about those nights in the dungeon, where even God had seemed walled off and out of reach (p. 219)."
"'Joseph, you belong to God--and to the Church--not to me. I've known that for a long time' (p. 221)."
"'How long can rolling waters remain impure?' I think of that when I look at this little stream. The gospel is going to reach the entire world. It's not my opinion; it's what I know. I also know we'll face more opposition--but resistance to the Restoration will be like rocks in a river. There's no power that can stay the heavens. That's what the Lord told us' (p. 225)."
"'There are doctrines we don't yet understand, and there is growth beyond anything we can imagine right now. What we need to do is keep our hearts pure, our minds focused on the things that matter' (p. 227)."
"The power of scholarly history is that it provides a higher level of objectivity and thoroughness than fiction ever can... I always hope that my works of fiction will stimulate readers toward further study, not serve as an end in themselves (p. 229)."
"Avard had directed the vigilante actions that some of the Saints had taken, and now he was leaving out his own involvement (p. 5)."
"Caleb's frustration kept mounting; only one side of the story was being told, and that side was distorted (p. 7)."
"Five men involved in the Battle at Crooked River were accused of murder and remanded without bail. They would remain in jail in Richmond. Probable cause for treason, also not a bailable offense, was found against another six, who would be confined in the Clay County jail in Liberty, Missouri. Those men were Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin (p. 7)."
"'We're going to be tested... We'll have to stay strong--stronger than we've ever been' (p. 8)."
"An entire winter in jail was almost too much for his mind to accept (p. 9)."
"'This is not where you're going to be staying. Your place is down below, in the lower room of the jail.' 'We call it the dungeon' (p. 18)."
"'This place ain't fit for hogs... How do you expect us to live down here?' (p. 14)"
"'We aren't going to murder anyone, and we aren't afraid to stand trail. We know we haven't committed any crimes' (p. 15)."
"'You will respect us, Mr. Tillery, or I promise... you will feel the wrath of God' (p. 17)."
"'The people have heard nothing but lies about us, Lyman. So it's not surprising that they want to take our lives. But it's not a man like Tillery I hold in contempt. It's our own members--men who considered brothers in the gospel--who offered up barefaced lies for evidence' (p. 18)."
"His own safety wasn't his biggest worry; he kept thinking of his wife, Nancy, and his nine children. They were in Far West trying to get by without him, and he wasn't sure they had food enough to last the winter... Hyrum spoke softly. 'Brethren... we have to trust in the Lord, no matter what's happened so far. We can't lose our faith that God is with us' (p. 18)."
"Hyrum prayed for Sidney, for more blankets, for justice to be done (p. 20)."
"Caleb loved Sidney for the good friend he had long been, and he pitied him for his increasing frailties. The two of them had known each other for years. Caleb had become part of the Campbellite religious movement, and he had moved to Warrensville, not far from Kirtland, partly to join the congregation led by Sidney (p. 20)."
"The beating Sidney had taken from a mob in Kirtland, and even more, his confinement in Richmond, had broken him (p. 22)."
"'That wasn't enough food to fill us... Is this what we have to face all winter?' (p. 25)"
"'We expected the Lord to fight with us' (p. 28)."
"'I'm a military man, and I wanted to fight as much as anyone. But burning Gallatin was more than a mistake. It was the excuse Boggs needed to unleash the mobs that were only too ready to come after us' (p. 29)."
"'Brethren, we can't give up on God. I promise you, he knows where we are and what we're suffering. We'll need him to get through this' (p. 29)."
"'We do trust God... And we need to trust each other. I know we're all feeling beleaguered right now, but we can't let a spirit of anger prevail.' 'I haven't given up on the Lord,' Lyman said. 'I just don't understand why things turned out this way.' 'I suspect that's why we're here,' Joseph said. 'To find out' (p. 30)."
"'Why do they hate us so much, Emma?' Mary asked, still whispering. 'What possible reason do they have to kill our husbands?' 'What they really want is for us to leave Missouri, and they think threats will scare us away... What we must not do is let hatred seep into our own hearts... When we hate, our enemies have defeated us. They've turned us away from God' (p. 36)."
"'I don't understand such wickedness. How could a man say something like that to a little child? Do you really think the Lord expects me to forgive something like that?' (p. 37)"
"'I want to take him to the jail to receive a blessing from his father. Hyrum needs to see him, and my little son needs a name' (p. 39)."
"'Please, Lord, wilt thou bless our children, and help us as mothers to protect them? And please, we ask, guide us to know how we can support one another--and all our sisters' (p. 40)."
"The only relief came three times a day, when the prisoners were allowed to climb the ladder, eat their meals at the table, and take comfort in a few minutes by the stove (p. 45)."
"Caleb longed for the jovial man, the strong leader, that he had come to know, and he longed to hear words from Joseph that would lift him through these trying days (p. 46)."
"He had begun to realize that it would take more spiritual strength than he had ever found in himself to meet the demands he was now facing. No one could give him that, not even Joseph (p. 48)."
"'We miss you terribly, Joseph. But don't worry about us. We haven't gone hungry, and we try not to become too downcast. Julia is a little wonder. She's cheerful no matter what comes, and she helps me keep Joey under control. He needs to run and play, but I simply can't let him go outside' (p. 63)."
"'My trials have been easy compared to yours. You've experienced enough pain to break most people' (p. 54)."
"'We have met difficulties... but we always come out all right... You didn't ask for this life, Joseph. You were called to it by God. And that means that I was, too. I never regret that I married you, and I never doubt your calling' (p. 55)."
"Joseph had always been outgoing, could even seem arrogant at times, but here with Emma, Caleb was reminded of a child: questioning himself, uneasy about what lay ahead, and above all, needing to be loved by the person in the world who knew him best (p. 56)."
"'Joseph Smith the Third, I take you in my arms to give you a blessing... I bless you with comfort, but also with courage' (p. 63)."
"Maybe Zion was lost for the moment, but God would not let the mobs win the ultimate victory. Sometimes, he knew, the members had been a little too enamored with the pleasures of the world (p. 64)."
"Emma led everyone in a hymn...
'As children of Zion
Good tidings for us:
The tokens already appear;
Fear not and be just,
For the kingdom is ours,
And the hour of redemption is near.'
Everyone seemed to sense that the hymn was a benediction, a closing of their little worship service, but Caleb wanted just a fragment of a sermon to go along with it. 'Brother Joseph... Is the hour near? Will Christ soon remove us from all this suffering?'... 'Not quite, Brother Caleb. I don't believe the time is too far off, but I fear we must yet suffer hardships. All the prophecies speak of difficult times as the end draws near' (p. 65)."
"The visit of his wife and son had lifted him considerably (p. 67)."
"Though Caleb had felt his faith the night before--powerfully--a sense of abandonment returned to him now... He tried to think of miracles he had seen, of the joy he had felt in the ineffable realms of the Spirit that had sometimes visited their meetings (p. 68)."
"The guests often brought food and they always brought the best wishes of the members... Caleb felt the tender mercy of this comfort, and he scolded himself for thinking that God had abandoned him (p. 70)."
"One cold December day Joseph told Alexander, 'Brother Markham brought some writing paper yesterday. I want to send a letter to the Saints. Will you act as my scribe?' (p. 71)"
"'May grace, mercy, and peace be and abide with you, and notwithstanding all your sufferings, we assure you that you have our prayers and fervent desires for your welfare both day and night. We believe that God who sees us in this solitary place will hear our prayers and reward you openly. Know assuredly, dear brethren, that it is for the testimony of Jesus that we are in bonds and in prison' (p. 71)."
"'What do you think, brethren?... Is there anything you would add or change?'... 'Joseph, I don't disagree with anything you said. But it's a stern letter. It might not encourage our people who are suffering so much right now.'... 'I am angry, Hyrum. And I hope you are too. Why shouldn't we be? The Lord doesn't expect us to accept such behavior without indignation.'... 'All I'm saying is that you, as our prophet, need to offer the rest of us hope for better days. You need to call for the best in us, and I didn't hear much of that in your letter' (p. 73)."
"Caleb knew Joseph, knew his kindheartedness. The members needed that Joseph, that prophet, to help them through such trying, dangerous times (p. 75)."
"'I've been searching for the Lord in this revolting place, and I can't seem to find him here' (p. 82)."
"She had told Joseph she was strong, that she was holding up against all the troubles, and now she had to prove it (p. 85)."
"'We've all been called. And this jail has stolen away our chance to serve' (p. 97)."
"It was obvious that in Joseph's quiet hours, he was thinking about the future, trusting that the Church would go forward. And yet, another thought crossed Caleb's mind: Joseph might be strengthening the Quorum of the Twelve to prepare his apostles to lead the Church after he was gone (p. 100)."
"He told the Lord that he was ready to accept his will, even if death was coming, but he asked, above all, that his family might be looked after (p. 103)."
"Caleb wanted to believe the Lord had been with them, and that's why they were still alive, but he felt broken. It had taken the full three days before he had been able to hold down food, and the loss of nourishment had stolen his strength. However disheartened he had been by the sameness of his life, this new test had cast him down as never before. Caleb had hoped that he was growing spiritually, using his time in jail to good purpose, but now he only felt numb and debilitated (p. 103)."
"'When I made it through the first night, and then the second, and started to think that I would live, I turned to God as never before. God has not spoken to me here in this place, and I've felt alone, but I've now begun to commune with the Lord again. I can feel him with me' (p. 104)."
"Hyrum spoke softly. 'I'm well enough. But seeing you, seeing our son, all this is almost more joy than I know how to hold inside myself' (p. 110)."
"'Within the next two of three weeks we're going to start our trek--not as a single camp, but in small wagon trains. And each group will be led by someone who can help those who need assistance... We're getting everything organized. Joseph has asked me and Heber Kimball to lead out, and we've accepted that responsibility' (p. 117)."
"Caleb prayed. He asked for a miracle. And he tried to exercise his faith fully and purely (p. 118)."
"'I'm going to release Mr. Rigdon on a bail of one hundred dollars. That may give him time to recover somewhat before a trial. As for you others, considering the serious nature of the crimes you are accused of, I do not find sufficient grounds to grant you release' (p. 125)."
"'The minute he walks out of the jail with no guard, there's some who will want to shoot him down' (p. 126)."
"'Sidney needed to be released... The Lord touched the hearts of those men in the courtroom... There's no other explanation for such a miracle. Let's concentrate on that and take joy in it' (p. 187)."
"'God is going to do what is best for each of us--and also for the Church. What we have to do is accept the Lord's will. I've accepted that lesson now' (p. 187)."
"After Sidney's release, a dismal quiet returned to the jail. Occasional visitors still came, and that broke the monotony, but as Church members began their migration from the state, fewer were left to make their way to Liberty (p. 129)."
"Joseph... spent many of his daylight hours studying his Bible (p. 129)."
"After the visits he would return to his contemplation. Caleb didn't mind; he felt that Joseph was deepening himself and seeking direction, and when he did share his thoughts. Caleb could see that his quiet times were well spent (p. 130)."
"'I'm sorry, brethren, but I don't know how long we have to wait. But I find myself thinking at times that we have to take our own action and rely on the Lord to help us succeed... maybe we have to step forward and assert ourselves, not just sit back and wait' (p. 130)."
"'We'd be sitting ducks outside. The men who want to gun us down would have a good excuse' (p. 133)."
"'If the Lord tells you this is what we should do, then I'm ready' (p. 134)."
"'Five trails are harder to follow than one. We can walk hard and keep going all night to stay warm. Anyone chasing after us might not be willing to keep up the pursuit in the dark and the snow. We don't have horses and they do, but we have surprise on our side. We'll have a head start on any posse that might get organized' (p. 135)."
"The members needed to get out before they were driven out by force, and families needed to find a place where they could begin to plant crops and reestablish themselves for the coming growing season (p. 136)."
"'I believe the Lord was in this. It was still light enough outside that people were out and about. Maybe we would have been caught--or shot down--before we got very far. Let's just trust that this was for the best' (p. 138)."
"'We have to accept what happened tonight as the will of the Lord. But we still face men outside who can't wait to kill us' (p. 139)."
"'Porter is going to bring us an auger. If he gets it past the guards, we can try to drill through the logs' (p. 141)."
"'Sam Tillery has treated us with respect, and we've come to think of him as a friend' (p. 145)."
"There are times when God grants us a power beyond our own (p. 149)."
"'Please... open the hearts of these people' (p. 152)."
"'When I told them we'd traveled almost a hundred miles in the cold, they guessed who we had to be, and the man said 'It's a shame what's been done to you people.' (p. 153)"
"Emma kept taking steps, kept asking the Lord for strength, kept saying to herself that no matter the pain, no matter the feat, she would go on as long as she possibly could (p. 158)."
"She praised the people of Illinois, who were very kind to the refugee Saints, and she expressed her hope for better days ahead (p. 165)."
"'O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of they servants, and thine eye, yea they pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?' (p. 168)"
"'He must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart' (p. 170)."
"Joseph's words--the Lord's words--struck with force, describing an attitude that Caleb knew he needed to rise towards: 'Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one less--That the rights of priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness' (p. 174)."
"'This is of God... I'm only sorry that I couldn't hear the Lord sooner' (p. 178)."
"It was April 6, the ninth birthday of the Church, and it seemed an appropriate day to be set free--at least for the moment--and finally travel to Daviess County for the promised pretrial hearing (p. 180)."
"'That's the trouble with the truth. It can be frightening' (p. 189)."
"'Lord, we thank thee for delivering us and acknowledge thy hand in all that has happened' (p. 197)."
"What Caleb wanted to do was teach these people the gospel, But he followed Joseph's lead, and Joseph was still being careful not to be identified (p. 206)."
"'We heard a few days ago that you had escaped and would be heading that direction. So Emma asked me to come and watch for you' (p. 209)."
"'We all helped each other, Brother Joseph.' 'But I despaired at times, Caleb. I fear that I wasn't the strength to you that I should have been.' 'That's not how I remember it, Joseph. You tried to lift us in the midst of your own despair. I'll consider it an honor all the days of my life that I spent these months with you, side by side' (p. 212)."
"He wanted to dwell on the future, not the past. Above all, he didn't want to talk about those nights in the dungeon, where even God had seemed walled off and out of reach (p. 219)."
"'Joseph, you belong to God--and to the Church--not to me. I've known that for a long time' (p. 221)."
"'How long can rolling waters remain impure?' I think of that when I look at this little stream. The gospel is going to reach the entire world. It's not my opinion; it's what I know. I also know we'll face more opposition--but resistance to the Restoration will be like rocks in a river. There's no power that can stay the heavens. That's what the Lord told us' (p. 225)."
"'There are doctrines we don't yet understand, and there is growth beyond anything we can imagine right now. What we need to do is keep our hearts pure, our minds focused on the things that matter' (p. 227)."
"The power of scholarly history is that it provides a higher level of objectivity and thoroughness than fiction ever can... I always hope that my works of fiction will stimulate readers toward further study, not serve as an end in themselves (p. 229)."
July 22, 2024
It is not often I give a book 5 stars.
Dean Hughes says in his Preface to this novel that he wrote "Liberty" as a historical fiction novel and did lots of research to dispel some of the myths and folklore as to exactly what Joseph Smith's experience during those four months (Dec 1838-April 1839) he spent in this dungeon were like. He did an excellent job. The story is told through a practically unknown character in church history, a real man named Caleb Baldwin-one of the ignored six OTHER men who shared that jail sentence with the prophet. Hyrum Smith, (the prophet's brother) Sidney Rigdon, Alexander McRae and Lyman Wight were the other four. Point of view also switches to Emma Smith, the prophet's wife, during the novel, a welcome refreshing perspective from outside the jail reflecting what regular church members were thinking and feeling as they endured one of the darkest periods of church history.
I'm afraid we have Gerald Lund's "Work and the Glory" Volume 4 p. 468 to blame for the commonly held folklore and tall tale stories that have been passed down through the generations about Liberty Jail. We follow the prisoners' subsequent release/escape from their captivity in W&G volume 5. Caleb Baldwin actually gets a line of dialogue on p. 41 Volume 5 of Lund's now classic work. The "A Banner is Unfurled" series by Gallacher and Robinson volume 5 starting on p. 23 also includes the Liberty Jail experience as these great friends of the prophet, the Johnson family, witnessed the trials of Joseph's imprisonment and did all they could to help and comfort the Smith family while the head of the house was serving time.
I highly recommend reading these two historical fiction series if you haven't already. Emma Smith crossing the frozen Mississippi river with her children carrying important papers is also in this book as it is in Work and the Glory volume 4 p. 542. I'm very happy Dean Hughes can now be added to this list of historical fiction novels if you're looking for something from church history to read.
Also Elder Jeffery R. Holland gave an excellent talk at BYU in 2008 "Lessons from Liberty Jail" accessible on YouTube which includes some of these historical inaccuracies-the men being unable to stand up straight, eating poisoned food and the famous Greg Olsen painting showing Joseph huddled in the straw penning a revelation by candlelight.
Remember, "The Joseph Smith Papers" and "Saints" were not available yet. This is one of the reasons for these stories running wild in LDS folklore until further information became available. Myths now dispelled by Hughes in this novel include: the dungeon ceiling being less than six feet high, the prisoners being served human flesh and that they spent the entire four months stooped over down there without any reprieve such as portrayed in the Olsen painting. This was all wrong. The prisoners actually spent the majority of their daytime hours upstairs in the common room which had a stove for warmth and took their meals there. Joseph probably dictated what is now D&C 121 (and 122 and 123) at a table upstairs to one of the other men who acted as scribe, not scribbled on a box surrounded by filthy straw as the Olsen painting illustrates-but it sure makes for good storytelling!
In his Author's Note in the very back of the book, Hughes says, and this is the true litmus test of any historical fiction book worth reading, that what makes books like this one so powerful as opposed to reading a dry, scholarly, fact-based nonfiction book, is it gives readers the sense of "being there" with the characters. Time and place are critical to making the story believable. The emotional connection that reading good fiction brings and why it is one of my own personal favorite genres to read. Dean Hughes has not published anything this well-written since "Muddy" (2019) which is why it gets 5 stars. Everyone needs to read this book, or as other reviewers have recommended-find the audio version and listen to it.
Finally, here is a very quick summary of this 21 chapter, 227 page novel sans spoilers. Skipping the previous incarceration in a small structure in Richmond, Missouri where Joseph's most famous and most powerful rebuke to his tormentors: "Silence ye fiends of the infernal pit!" was given, (you'll have to go read Work and the Glory Volume 4 p. 443 for that fun little story!) we open with Caleb and the other men, in chains, jolted in the back of a wagon, arriving at their final destination, Liberty Jail in the obscure town of the same name. Seeing what is to be their home for an indeterminate amount of time (four months) they demanded blankets, at the very least, more decent food and candles. Their wishes were finally granted. As the months pass, Caleb witnesses Joseph's change from understandable anger, resentment and depression to humble and even repentant. Two separate visits from family members will make you cheer for our protagonists. The part where Joseph finally begins receiving revelation from the Lord is especially moving as he had felt heaven's doors closed to him during those early weeks and months in such inhumane conditions.
Joseph emerged from this experience a different prophet than the "greenie" from the Kirtland years. All of us can relate to this book when we have experienced dark and trying times in our own life and have had to search long and hard for any little miracles that might bring relief. As Elder Holland emphasizes in his BYU talk, we all must endure our own "Liberty Jail" experiences from time to time but we also come away from them better, with our "rough edges rubbed off" paraphrasing what Joseph says to Caleb in the book (162).
I absolutely loved reading this book and have been recommending it to everyone of all ages or at least old enough to understand the story. Go pick up your copy today and prepare to have your life changed for the better and your testimony of God strengthened!
Dean Hughes says in his Preface to this novel that he wrote "Liberty" as a historical fiction novel and did lots of research to dispel some of the myths and folklore as to exactly what Joseph Smith's experience during those four months (Dec 1838-April 1839) he spent in this dungeon were like. He did an excellent job. The story is told through a practically unknown character in church history, a real man named Caleb Baldwin-one of the ignored six OTHER men who shared that jail sentence with the prophet. Hyrum Smith, (the prophet's brother) Sidney Rigdon, Alexander McRae and Lyman Wight were the other four. Point of view also switches to Emma Smith, the prophet's wife, during the novel, a welcome refreshing perspective from outside the jail reflecting what regular church members were thinking and feeling as they endured one of the darkest periods of church history.
I'm afraid we have Gerald Lund's "Work and the Glory" Volume 4 p. 468 to blame for the commonly held folklore and tall tale stories that have been passed down through the generations about Liberty Jail. We follow the prisoners' subsequent release/escape from their captivity in W&G volume 5. Caleb Baldwin actually gets a line of dialogue on p. 41 Volume 5 of Lund's now classic work. The "A Banner is Unfurled" series by Gallacher and Robinson volume 5 starting on p. 23 also includes the Liberty Jail experience as these great friends of the prophet, the Johnson family, witnessed the trials of Joseph's imprisonment and did all they could to help and comfort the Smith family while the head of the house was serving time.
I highly recommend reading these two historical fiction series if you haven't already. Emma Smith crossing the frozen Mississippi river with her children carrying important papers is also in this book as it is in Work and the Glory volume 4 p. 542. I'm very happy Dean Hughes can now be added to this list of historical fiction novels if you're looking for something from church history to read.
Also Elder Jeffery R. Holland gave an excellent talk at BYU in 2008 "Lessons from Liberty Jail" accessible on YouTube which includes some of these historical inaccuracies-the men being unable to stand up straight, eating poisoned food and the famous Greg Olsen painting showing Joseph huddled in the straw penning a revelation by candlelight.
Remember, "The Joseph Smith Papers" and "Saints" were not available yet. This is one of the reasons for these stories running wild in LDS folklore until further information became available. Myths now dispelled by Hughes in this novel include: the dungeon ceiling being less than six feet high, the prisoners being served human flesh and that they spent the entire four months stooped over down there without any reprieve such as portrayed in the Olsen painting. This was all wrong. The prisoners actually spent the majority of their daytime hours upstairs in the common room which had a stove for warmth and took their meals there. Joseph probably dictated what is now D&C 121 (and 122 and 123) at a table upstairs to one of the other men who acted as scribe, not scribbled on a box surrounded by filthy straw as the Olsen painting illustrates-but it sure makes for good storytelling!
In his Author's Note in the very back of the book, Hughes says, and this is the true litmus test of any historical fiction book worth reading, that what makes books like this one so powerful as opposed to reading a dry, scholarly, fact-based nonfiction book, is it gives readers the sense of "being there" with the characters. Time and place are critical to making the story believable. The emotional connection that reading good fiction brings and why it is one of my own personal favorite genres to read. Dean Hughes has not published anything this well-written since "Muddy" (2019) which is why it gets 5 stars. Everyone needs to read this book, or as other reviewers have recommended-find the audio version and listen to it.
Finally, here is a very quick summary of this 21 chapter, 227 page novel sans spoilers. Skipping the previous incarceration in a small structure in Richmond, Missouri where Joseph's most famous and most powerful rebuke to his tormentors: "Silence ye fiends of the infernal pit!" was given, (you'll have to go read Work and the Glory Volume 4 p. 443 for that fun little story!) we open with Caleb and the other men, in chains, jolted in the back of a wagon, arriving at their final destination, Liberty Jail in the obscure town of the same name. Seeing what is to be their home for an indeterminate amount of time (four months) they demanded blankets, at the very least, more decent food and candles. Their wishes were finally granted. As the months pass, Caleb witnesses Joseph's change from understandable anger, resentment and depression to humble and even repentant. Two separate visits from family members will make you cheer for our protagonists. The part where Joseph finally begins receiving revelation from the Lord is especially moving as he had felt heaven's doors closed to him during those early weeks and months in such inhumane conditions.
Joseph emerged from this experience a different prophet than the "greenie" from the Kirtland years. All of us can relate to this book when we have experienced dark and trying times in our own life and have had to search long and hard for any little miracles that might bring relief. As Elder Holland emphasizes in his BYU talk, we all must endure our own "Liberty Jail" experiences from time to time but we also come away from them better, with our "rough edges rubbed off" paraphrasing what Joseph says to Caleb in the book (162).
I absolutely loved reading this book and have been recommending it to everyone of all ages or at least old enough to understand the story. Go pick up your copy today and prepare to have your life changed for the better and your testimony of God strengthened!
June 27, 2024
Dean Hughes is a master of characterization. Here, in Liberty, historical accuracy brings the characters of Joseph & Emma Smith, Caleb Baldwin, and the others who are imprisoned in Liberty Jail to life in this incredible telling of a most tumultuous period in Latter-day Saint history.
As the first-hand witness of the development of Joseph Smith, the prophet, Caleb Baldwin is the narrator in much of the novel. In squalid conditions, winter cold, spoiled food, and nearly constant sickness, Joseph lives the Lord's admonishment: "...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"
The insights I gained into the life of the Prophet, Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, as well as the other Liberty Jail prisoners confirmed my own testimony and deepened my love and respect for the early prophet of the restoration.
This is truly a must-read for modern-day covenant keepers.
As the first-hand witness of the development of Joseph Smith, the prophet, Caleb Baldwin is the narrator in much of the novel. In squalid conditions, winter cold, spoiled food, and nearly constant sickness, Joseph lives the Lord's admonishment: "...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"
The insights I gained into the life of the Prophet, Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma, as well as the other Liberty Jail prisoners confirmed my own testimony and deepened my love and respect for the early prophet of the restoration.
This is truly a must-read for modern-day covenant keepers.
March 27, 2025
This was an interesting historical fiction novel based on actual events in LDS Church history. The preface and author’s note detail what was true and what was not. I thought it was well done and enjoyed reading it. The author not only gave credit where credit is due in his research but encouraged everyone to read the resources he used. He even explained in the author's note where to find those resources.
It was a captivating read and there were a few points that I had to remind myself that it was a fictional novel and not the absolute true account of what had happened at Liberty Jail.
Four starts because I felt there could have been more information included but I also understand that he had various resources of accounts to choose from and had to figure out which one was the most correct so that he could include the details that did happen accurately.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
It was a captivating read and there were a few points that I had to remind myself that it was a fictional novel and not the absolute true account of what had happened at Liberty Jail.
Four starts because I felt there could have been more information included but I also understand that he had various resources of accounts to choose from and had to figure out which one was the most correct so that he could include the details that did happen accurately.
Overall, I enjoyed it.
May 1, 2025
What a wonderful historical novel Dean Hughes has written. He tried to make it as authentic as he could. He did a great job. This novel is about what 6 men of the church endured while in Liberty Jail in Missouri. It tells of Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin experienced while there, as told through Caleb's eyes. Such atrocities the whole time they were there. The treatment they endured. Horrifying. At the end of the book Joseph Smith told Emma of what he learned during those many dark months of winter in the dungeon of Liberty Jail. I could not have endured what the Missourians put them and the Saints through. Such strength these Saints had. My testimony of Joseph Smith is strengthened. Joseph Smith is the Lord's prophet at this time. He restored the true church on the earth. Read his history if you have any doubt.
June 28, 2025
A thoughtful view into what Liberty prison might have been like
Needless to say Joseph’s name has been used for good and I’ll, but this is a kind book well written. An attempt to bring us into this dark time in Joseph’s life, as well as several others who went through it with him.
The feeling you will get from this book is that they were trying to do what is write by following the Lord, but ultimately they struggled with their own fears, experiences and “rough edges” as they tried. Likely it will lead you to look at yourself and see that they were engaged in figuring out life just like us, in their times and associated challenges. A book like this helps us see ourselves in their situations and wonder how well we would have done, and ultimately maybe see ourselves a little more kindly.
Needless to say Joseph’s name has been used for good and I’ll, but this is a kind book well written. An attempt to bring us into this dark time in Joseph’s life, as well as several others who went through it with him.
The feeling you will get from this book is that they were trying to do what is write by following the Lord, but ultimately they struggled with their own fears, experiences and “rough edges” as they tried. Likely it will lead you to look at yourself and see that they were engaged in figuring out life just like us, in their times and associated challenges. A book like this helps us see ourselves in their situations and wonder how well we would have done, and ultimately maybe see ourselves a little more kindly.
February 7, 2025
This book is an in-depth, fair account of Joseph Smith's experience while he was incarcerated in the Liberty, Missouri jail during the winter of 1838-1839. He along with 5 other church leaders were held captive supposedly awaiting trial in a state that wanted the "Mormons" removed. It was an incredibly difficult time not only for the men, but also their families and church members.
One of my favorite quotes (which is not in this book, but stated by Jeffrey Holland):
"You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life - in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced."
One of my favorite quotes (which is not in this book, but stated by Jeffrey Holland):
"You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life - in the worst settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced."
December 8, 2024
Wow! I can’t say enough about this book. First off, I appreciate the author’s hard work in his research. He was very forthcoming about the myths that have been told that he has found, in his research, to be untrue. He told a story using dialogue, that he created to the best of his ability, that best fit what he has found in true history records.
That being said, anyone who needs to gain more of a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, should read this book. It’s amazing how he was transformed in the darkest of places into an even better man of God. It’s insightful, inspiring, and an added testament of the truth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
That being said, anyone who needs to gain more of a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, should read this book. It’s amazing how he was transformed in the darkest of places into an even better man of God. It’s insightful, inspiring, and an added testament of the truth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
August 24, 2024
I have read several accounts of The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Incarceration in Liberty Jail and have visited the site several times. Even so, Dean’s historical novel extended my ability to imagine and relate to the experience of the imprisoned men as well as the struggles and pain experienced by their loved ones and church members in Missouri. I appreciated Dean’s narrative about his research and writing of this book. Historical novels must be the most difficult works to write with any degree of accuracy, and only a few authors, in my opinion, perform this task well.
January 31, 2025
I love Dean Hughes as an author, and I was excited to read this book, but unfortunately it fell short for me. I appreciate Hughes being careful with the history and his sources, and I know I can always count on getting accurate facts from his books. I just couldn’t quite get immersed in this book the way I could with his others. It didn’t have quite the same emotional impact for me, and I felt the writing was a bit lackluster. Still, Hughes’ ability to tell a good story while remaining true to the facts is impressive and appreciated.
September 8, 2025
Ana amazing historical fiction from Dean Hughes as always. I appreciate so much the time spent researching and delving into history to keep his fiction as historical as possible. It’s why I’ve loved his books so much through the years.
What I also love about Dean Hughes books is that he doesn’t just take one side. He pushes into the side of the mobsters just a little, too. He explains why they might have felt the way they did.
Again, great book and I learned a lot, too. Thank you Dean Hughes!
What I also love about Dean Hughes books is that he doesn’t just take one side. He pushes into the side of the mobsters just a little, too. He explains why they might have felt the way they did.
Again, great book and I learned a lot, too. Thank you Dean Hughes!
April 29, 2025
I really appreciated this historical fiction. I liked how the author pointed out some common misconceptions before the book began. I'm reading this helped me think about, even though I have heard the accounts before, the people. yes I have imagined that it would be hard to be in jail but I never thought of the families left at home who were wondering and making sacrifices. it also painted a picture of the persecution that the Saints received. All in all it made me think more and feel more.
May 1, 2025
The ideals of this fledgling society were lofty and that worried people who were happy with things staying the same. People got riled up on both sides and that led to incarceration for church leaders.
This is the story of the transformative experience of Liberty Jail. I listened to the book, but the recording skipped parts of the book and I felt some disconnect as a result.
Takeaways: suffering isn't a teacher, it is a catalyst. One who suffers learns through patience, not resistance.
This is the story of the transformative experience of Liberty Jail. I listened to the book, but the recording skipped parts of the book and I felt some disconnect as a result.
Takeaways: suffering isn't a teacher, it is a catalyst. One who suffers learns through patience, not resistance.
July 24, 2024
This was a fantastic story on the experiences of Joseph Smith and others in the Liberty Jail. It was a wonderful, testimony building story showing how Joseph Smith went through a refiners fire and made he even stronger as the Prophet of the Lord. What a great example that was and how much I learned about adversity and trusting and waiting on the Lord.
February 7, 2025
I wanted to know about this experience. I will never be able to comprehend what all of these people went through. My only disappointment is not knowing what happened to them all. I know what happened to Joseph and Hyrum but what about the others. I postscript would have been nice. Did they make it to Salt Lake? Did they stay true to the church?
March 8, 2025
This book had a bit of a difficult start to get into but at some point along the way I was completely transported into the story. Because of how captivating it became, I'm still giving it 5 stars. I love how the story switched between what was happening in Liberty Jail and back home with Emma. I learned so much, felt so much, and am in complete awe of their strength.
March 12, 2025
This was a great book 3.5 stars rounded up. Enjoyed the perspective of being with the prophet at that time. What an amazing transformation. It is humbling and powerful to remember that prophets are just people called by God and doing the best they can. It is also a harsh reminder of what they went through and seeing God's hand in it all.
April 22, 2025
I don't normally read this type of book because the author has to add some to make the History seem not so dry. This is like that and tells what it might have been like in Liberty jail. It has a lot of detail in their treatment and conditions they were held under.It took me a while to read because of the content. the author used a fictional character to tell the story.
June 20, 2024
This is a great book that gives you a good impression of what really happened to Joseph Smith. I like how he states what parts he made a storyline for bc we don't have as much information about liberty jail as we would like.
June 24, 2024
I learned many things that I didn't know about Joseph Smith's time in Liberty Jail. How the prisoners endured the cold and stench, and lack of food. I listened to this book, Kirby Heybourne does a great job.
August 5, 2024
Kirby Heyborne does a good job of doing the audio for the book. I appreciate the effort Hughes makes to give a truthful account. I love learning more about Joseph Smith and have a personal interest in this book because I am a descendant of Alexander McRae.
January 21, 2025
I have liked his other books better. I didn't learn about some truths about ur Liberty jail that I didn't know. I appreciates his clarification of "traditional knowledge" like the fact that the e men could stand up and were not poisoned.
February 7, 2025
Honestly I loved it. Yes, it’s historical FICTION, so many details/dialogue/etc from the book are not actual, but I did feel that the author held true to the nature of each historical character and scripted very realistic additions to the story.
February 11, 2025
This book puts you in the times of past days, when life was most unfair and very hard to live in for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints especially the prophet Joseph Smith.
June 12, 2025
Interesting perspective with historical fiction fully about real people, sometimes it's hard to place the context between what is fictionalized and what is not, but brings to life the emotion and hardships.
July 5, 2025
My rating for this book is not a true 4 star rating, but more a 4 star rating as an LDS historical fiction book, compared with other LDS fiction. The research was great and I enjoyed reading his account without the folklore.
June 3, 2024
Another winner! So much we can still to learn, and should learn. This was a very heartfelt journey.
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