Divine Protection of Joseph Smith's Body after Martyrdom
Published October 13, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
Following the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail, an assailant attempted to mutilate the Prophet's body for a reward. A sudden shaft of light from heaven struck and paralyzed the nearest murderer, causing the surrounding mob and soldiers to flee in terror.
The account of a pillar of light appearing after the martyrdom originates from a 24-page booklet published by William M. Daniels, a witness who testified during the 1845 trial of the alleged conspirators. In his text, Daniels claims that after Joseph Smith fell from the window and was set against the well-curb, a ruffian attempted to decapitate him with a bowie knife. At that moment, a light 'so sudden and powerful' burst from the heavens, paralyzing the assailants and causing their weapons to fall, which prevented the mutilation. Mormon historians have noted that no other eyewitnesses, such as John Taylor or Willard Richards, reported this event, and it is widely considered an invention of Daniels's pamphlet.
In Their Own Words
“The ruffian...now secured a bowie knife for the purpose of severing his head from his body. He raised the knife and was in the attitude of striking, when a light, so sudden and powerful, burst from the heavens upon the bloody scene, (passing its vivid chain between Joseph and his murderers,) that they were struck with terrified awe and filled with consternation. This light, in its appearance and potency, baffles all powers of description. The arm of the ruffian, that held the knife, fell powerless; the muskets of the four, who fired, fell to the ground, and they all stood like marble statues, not having power to move a single limb of their bodies. — William M. Daniels, A Correct Account of the Murder of Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith (1845)”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 26 June 1902 (Vol. 64, No. 26). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1902-06-26_64_26 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): William M. Daniels, A Correct Account of the Murder of Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, at Carthage, Illinois, on the 27th Day of June, 1844 (Nauvoo, 1845), as cited in Famous Trials: The Carthage Conspiracy Trial, https://famous-trials.com/carthrage/1262-home; Joseph L. Lyon and David W. Lyon, 'Physical Evidence at Carthage Jail and What It Reveals about the Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith,' BYU Studies 47:4, https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/physical-evidence-at-carthage-jail-and-what-it-reveals-about-the-assassination-of-joseph-and-hyrum-smith
Related Miracles
More accounts involving Joseph Smith, Levi Williams, plus similar miracle types and stories from the 1840s.
Miracle of the Week
One remarkable, documented account in your inbox every Monday, drawn from the full archive.