But while, from a human standpoint, it seemed absolutely impossible for Joseph and his brethren to escape from their enemies alive, Joseph rose up in the spirit of his prophetic calling, and prophesied that they ALL should be delivered alive. Parley P. Pratt, one of the prisoners with Joseph, writes the following:
"As we arose and commenced our march on the morning of the 3rd of November, Joseph Smith spoke to me and the other prisoners in a low but cheerful and confidential tone. Said he: 'Be of good cheer, brethren; the word of the Lord came to me last night that our lives should be given us, and that whatever we may suffer during this captivity, not one of our lives should be taken.'
"Of this prophecy I testify in the name of the Lord, and though spoken in secret, its public fulfilment and the miraculous escape of each one of us is too notorious to need my testimony."—Parley P. Pratt's Aut., page 210.
Notwithstanding the fact that they were sentenced on two or three different occasions to be shot, that several attempts were made to poison them while incarcerated in filthy dungeons; that forty men at a certain time and place entered into a conspiracy that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed the "Mormon Prophet," all the brethren in due course of time, escaped from their persecutors and would-be murderers, and, although they suffered as only few men have suffered, they arrived safely, and all alive, among their friends in Illinois. This surely is another proof of Joseph Smith's prophetic gift, while General Clark at the same time is proven to be a false prophet.
PREDICTIONS ABOUT COMING TO THE MOUNTAINS.
Under date of Saturday, August 6, 1842, Joseph wrote:
"I passed over the river to Montrose, Iowa, in company with General Adams, Col. Brewer and others and witnessed the installation of the officers of the Rising Sun Lodge of Ancient York Masons at Montrose, by General James Adams, deputy grand master of Illinois. While the deputy grand master was engaged in giving the requisite instructions to the master elect, I had a conversation with a number of brethren in the shade of the building on the subject of our persecution in Missouri and the constant annoyance which had followed us since we were driven from that State. I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains; many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the Rocky Mountains." (Historical Record, page 487.)
I need spend no time to prove the fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy. All of you who are present in this hall tonight can testify to its literal fulfilment. The Latter-day Saints have indeed become a mighty people in these mountains, numbering as they do now about two hundred thousand souls, organized into thirty-two Stakes of Zion, or nearly five hundred wards and branches; and this does not include the Saints in Mexico and Canada. It is also a matter of history that the Saints, for years after the prediction was uttered, continued to suffer persecution and affliction from their enemies; that many apostatized, while others, who proved faithful and true to their covenants, were put to death for conscience sake, and the remainder were driven by a ruthless mob from the beautiful city of Nauvoo into the western wilderness in the year 1846.
ESCAPE FROM ENEMIES PREDICTED.
Early in the year 1844, while the spirit of renewed persecution was brooding in Hancock County, Illinois, Joseph was inspired to make preparations for sending an expedition to the Rocky Mountains, to seek out a new location for the Saints, as it had been revealed to him that they would not be permitted to remain much longer in their Illinois homes. On Sunday, Feb. 25, 1844, while the Prophet was engaged in selecting brethren to go on this expedition, he gave them some important instructions, and prophesied, "that within five years the Saints should be out of the power of their old enemies, whether they were apostates or of the world;" and the Prophet also told the brethren to record it, that when it came to pass, they need not say they had forgotten the saying. (Historical Record, page 542.)
Five years after this prediction was uttered the Saints had been driven from Nauvoo; the noble band of Pioneers had, under the guidance of Jehovah, been led to these valleys in 1847, about three years after the prediction was made; and in 1849 (five years after) the bulk of the exiles from Nauvoo had gathered here, thirteen hundred miles from their Illinois persecutors.