This may be something everyone else but me knows, but let me get this on the web before I need it again and can't remember.

When you install a shared library as a user (for example, to $HOME/usr/lib), and expect to be able to use that library when running a program linked to that library, you need to set LD_LIBRARY_PATH prior to running the program.

For example, if you install toky­ocab­i­net with PREFIX set to $HOME/usr, then compile and install mutt using that toky­ocab­i­net, then you must set LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$HOME/usr/lib" and make it accessible to mutt, otherwise mutt won't run.

The connection between the error message and solution was obvious... once I knew what the solution was... sigh. There goes another 8-12 hours of my time.