“The Prison We Rarely Name”

Richard Horrell | 12/14/2025

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

John the Baptist was imprisoned for speaking truth to power.
But there is another imprisonment we rarely name.

Christ can be imprisoned within us —
present, yet restrained.

When we cling to sin, fear, or control,
we do not banish Jesus…
we chain Him.

And in doing so,
we discover the terrible irony of sin:
we become the ones imprisoned.

Advent is not only about waiting for Christ to come.
It is about daring to let Him be free.

Free in our daily lives.
Free in our relationships.
Free in our single lives and in our marriages.
Free — unchained — within our hearts.

We dare to loosen the chains we cling to.
We choose to follow Him.
And in following Him,
we are finally free.

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About the Author

Richard Horrell

website

Richard W. Horrell – Utah Mission

I'm a Catholic convert with a heart for the forgotten and the searching—especially in Utah. Baptized in 1999, I spent over 14 years helping with the RCIA in Logan, Utah, after a life-changing encounter with Christ in a quiet, candlelit church. I know firsthand the silent suffering many endure, especially in areas where the true Gospel remains hidden beneath cultural or religious expectations.

Through www.UtahMission.com, I aim to reach those wrestling with doubt, despair, and identity—especially former or questioning Latter-day Saints—by offering love, truth, and the fullness of Christ’s mercy through the Catholic Church. This mission is not about condemnation. It’s about compassion, clarity, and invitation.

God didn’t leave us alone. He gave us the Cross, the Church, and the sacraments—especially for the broken. That’s what I live to share.

www.utahmission.com

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