It was with the affair reduced thus to utter hopelessness, that the Prophet decided finally to try to save the situation by taking himself away from the seat of trouble. It was the evening of Saturday, June twenty-second, 1844. The Prophet had met with several men in an upper room of his house. The subject of discussion was naturally the serious difficulties that had grown out of the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor—an act that had been twice justified by properly constituted courts of law.
"Brethren," said the Prophet, "here is a letter from the Governor which I wish to have read."
The letter was read.
Then the Prophet spoke again, sorrowfully, "There is no mercy—no mercy here."
"No," replied his brother Hyrum; "Just as sure as we fall into their hands we are dead men."
"Yes," said Joseph; "what shall we do, Brother Hyrum ?"
And Hyrum answered, "I don't know."
Then suddenly, with the light of inspiration brightening his countenance, the Prophet exclaimed, "The way is open. It is clear to my mind what to do. All they want is Hyrum and myself; then tell everybody to go about their business, and not to collect in groups, but to scatter about. There is no doubt they will come here and search for us. Let them search; they will not harm you in person or property, and not even a hair of your head. We will cross the river tonight, and go away to the West."
The plan seemed to be good. It was accepted by the men assembled. The Prophet gave several instructions for carrying the plan into effect. Then he recorded, as the last words in his own simple, direct narrative of his life these words: "I told Stephen Markham that if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was not a prophet of God. I want Hyrum to live to avenge my blood, but he is determined not to leave me."[B]
[Footnote B: "History of the Church," Vol. VI, pp. 545, 546.]