Brigham Young's Deliverance from a U.S. Marshal through William Miller's Disguise

On December 23, 1845, while the Nauvoo Temple was under construction, Brigham Young learned that a U.S. Marshal and a posse were seeking to arrest him. Young prayed for protection to continue serving the Saints. He devised a plan to have William Miller wear his hat and a cloak (which happened to be Heber C. Kimball’s) and depart in a carriage driven by George D. Grant. The Marshal, mistaking Miller for Young, arrested him. Miller invited the Marshal to the Mansion House, where Young’s family and friends performed a convincing, tearful farewell to “President Young.” Lawyer Edmonds accompanied Miller to Carthage, where Miller remained under guard until an apostate named Thatcher exposed the ruse at dinner. When the Marshal confronted Miller, asking why he hadn't revealed his identity, Miller replied, “You have not asked me my name.” Miller was then safely escorted away by Lawyer Edmonds and Sheriff Backenstos.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I was in my room in the Temple; it was in the southeast corner of the upper story. I learned that a posse was lurking around the Temple, and that the United States Marshal was waiting for me to come down, whereupon I knelt down and asked my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, to guide and protect me that I might live to prove advantageous to the Saints. Just as I arose from my knees and sat down in my chair, there came a rap at my door. I said, 'Come in.' Brother George D. Grant, who was then acting as my coachman, entered. He was very much excited. I said to him, 'Keep cool, George, what is the matter?' 'Why,' said he, 'the Marshal is after you, and has a posse with him, and is determined to take you.' I told him to go and tell Brother William Miller to come to me. He did so. Brother Miller came in. I said to him, 'Brother William, the Marshal is here to arrest me, and I want you to personate me.' He said, 'I will do it.' I put my cloak and hat on him, and he went out. The Marshal, who was waiting at the door, immediately stepped up to him, and said, 'You are my prisoner.' Brother Miller said, 'I am, am I? What have I done?' 'I have a writ for you,' said the Marshal. 'Well,' said Brother Miller, 'I am ready to go with you.' He got into the carriage, and the Marshal and his posse took him to Carthage, supposing they had got me. When they arrived at Carthage, they put him in the hotel, and kept a guard over him. At supper time, they took him into the dining room, and he sat at the head of the table. The Marshal sat at one side, and the lawyers and others were there. Brother Miller was pointed out to them. So it continued, until an apostate Mormon, by the name of Thatcher, who had lived in Nauvoo, came in, sat down and asked the landlord where Brigham Young was. The landlord, pointing across the table to brother Miller, said, 'That is Mr. Young.' Thatcher replied, 'Where? That is not Brigham Young.' 'Oh, hell!' exclaimed Thatcher, 'that's not Brigham; that is William Miller, one of my old neighbors.' Upon hearing this the landlord went, and, tapping the Sheriff on the shoulder, took him a few steps to one side, and said, 'You have made a mistake, that is not Brigham Young; it is William Miller, of Nauvoo.' The Marshal, very much astonished, went to brother Miller and said, 'Is your name Brigham Young?' Brother Miller replied, 'My name is William Miller.' 'Why,' said the Marshal, 'I thought your name was Brigham Young. Do you say this for a fact?' 'Certainly I do,' said brother Miller. 'Then,' said the Marshal, 'what did you let me arrest you for?' Brother Miller replied, 'You have not asked me my name.'