William F. Cahoon: Joseph Smith's Pledge — 'Not a Hair of Your Head Shall Be Hurt'

William Farrington Cahoon (1813–1893), one of the earliest members of the Church, baptized by Parley P. Pratt in October 1830, marched with Zion's Camp in 1834. He left a vivid autobiographical testimony of the supernatural protection that accompanied the march.

Before departure, Joseph Smith made a solemn pledge to the volunteers: 'If you will go with me to Missouri and keep my counsel, I pledge that I will lead you there and back and not a hair of your head shall be hurt.'

Cahoon recorded the fulfillment of that promise: 'This [Zion's] camp marched through a population of tens of thousands of people like lambs among wolves, but no man among them opened his mouth to say, "Why do you do so?" On we marched singing our favorite song, "Hark listen to the Trumpeters."

We journeyed, pitching our tents by the way, and arrived in Missouri in the latter part of June. We then numbered two hundred and five. A council was held to determine what steps to take when the word of the Lord came to the Prophet Joseph saying the time had not come to "take the sword in hand to redeem Zion."

Many in the camp murmured because we were not permitted at this time to restore our brethren, which greatly displeased the Lord, who a few days afterwards sent a scourge amongst us — the cholera, which took from us sixteen or more of our number. This caused great sorrow and mourning in our camp. It is a fearful thing to fall under the displeasure of the living God and to openly rebel against Him.'

Cahoon also independently confirmed the miracle of the well that Joseph dug in the prairie, which provided water to the entire camp of men and animals. (See separate account.)