Divine deliverance of Elders Bills and Densley from a mob

“We arrived in Lawrence County, Kentucky, on the 15th of November, and commenced our labors. We were received kindly by some, but others were very bitter against us. On the 22nd of November, we were at the house of a friend, when a band of men, known as 'Regulators,' came to the house and demanded us to come out. We did so, and they told us they had come to give us a whipping and then hang us. They had a rope with them, and they were very boisterous and threatening. At last they called us out and told us what they had to say. At this a man by the name of James N., who was stopping at the same house, said that we were gentlemen and told him to leave. He knew them, and would inflict no harm of any kind. They shot at him while he was going away he had no light, they were coming with a light. Seeing the light they began to shoot. We were in favor of leaving but one man said they were not doing their duty unless they gave us thirty-five lashes each. Some wanted to give us fifteen lashes each. They, however, took a vote between those who were in favor of the whipping and those who were not. With those who were in favor of letting us free, and we escaped unhurt. Some of the very worst of the set got hold of me by the arm, and stood with a big club over my head, and stood in front making threats and telling what they intended to do. He struck at me; but as I was watching him and raised my head, I saved a blow in the face, but received it under the chin. We were then told to leave the country, which we did, and we felt to thank the Lord for our deliverance from the hands of those wicked men.”

— Elder Bills, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star