Protection & Deliverance

Divinely Protected

Published August 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM

1830s

Joseph Smith

Contributed by

Todd Morgan

Beaumont, CA, 92223

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The greatest miracle in our favor was when we had got between the two branches of Fishing River, on a high ridge by a log meetinghouse. We had been told that morning by a colored woman who came to the fence where we were walking, that there were three hundred men who were armed and equipped to fall on us that night and cut us off. Men came riding by who cussed and swore that before morning we would all be in hell, for there was an army before and behind, and death was our portion.

Jenkins Salsbury wanted Joseph to let him fight. "No," said he, "the Lord will give us a bramble to keep off the dogs this night." In a short time it commenced thundering and the clouds arose. I went into the tent and lay down and knew no more till I found myself one third buried in water. The tent had blown down and all hands were gone. I soon found they had gone to the old church for shelter, where I also went. The lightning flashed and thunder roared one continual sound. The flashes were so connected that one could hardly hear any interval between the flash and the peal of thunder, as if the marshal bands of the whole earth had assembled and were beating the sounds of war. We lay on the benches dripping with water until daylight, when we were called to go and discharge our pieces and load anew, which we did. To our astonishment, two thirds, if not more, went off.

It was a pleasant morning. We got our breakfast and soon learned that the two branches of Fishing River were so high we could not cross over. The branch west had raised upwards of forty feet and all boats were gone. We turned our course northward about three miles and camped near an old acquaintance of some in our camp. Next day we were visited by a committee from the mob. Lyman Wight explained to them the cause of our coming, and others spoke, which appeared to give satisfaction.

After the meeting, those of the community went away, and Joseph said, "Let us help this man right up his corn." We all went into our friend's field and straightened up the corn that the storm had laid low.16

In Their Own Words

“The greatest miracle in our favor was when we had got between the two branches of Fishing River, on a high ridge by a log meetinghouse. We had been told that morning by a colored woman who came to the fence where we were walking, that there were three hundred men who were armed and equipped to fall on us that night and cut us off. Men came riding by who cussed and swore that before morning we would all be in hell, for there was an army before and behind, and death was our portion. Jenkins Salsbury wanted Joseph to let him fight. "No," said he, "the Lord will give us a bramble to keep off the dogs this night." In a short time it commenced thundering and the clouds arose. I went into the tent and lay down and knew no more till I found myself one third buried in water. The tent had blown down and all hands were gone. I soon found they had gone to the old church for shelter, where I also went. The lightning flashed and thunder roared one continual sound. The flashes were so connected that one could hardly hear any interval between the flash and the peal of thunder, as if the marshal bands of the whole earth had assembled and were beating the sounds of war. We lay on the benches dripping with water until daylight, when we were called to go and discharge our pieces and load anew, which we did. To our astonishment, two thirds, if not more, went off. It was a pleasant morning. We got our breakfast and soon learned that the two branches of Fishing River were so high we could not cross over. The branch west had raised upwards of forty feet and all boats were gone. We turned our course northward about three miles and camped near an old acquaintance of some in our camp. Next day we were visited by a committee from the mob. Lyman Wight explained to them the cause of our coming, and others spoke, which appeared to give satisfaction. After the meeting, those of the community went away, and Joseph said, "Let us help this man right up his corn." We all went into our friend's field and straightened up the corn that the storm had laid low.”

— Levi W. Hancock, autobiography

Sources & References

Levi W. Hancock, “Life Story of Levi W. Hancock,” typescript, Brigham Young University Library, pp. 47–49; quoted verbatim in Hyrum L. Andrus and Helen Mae Andrus, comps., “They Knew the Prophet” (Bookcraft, 1974), 21–22; the passage is reproduced publicly at Joseph Smith Foundation, “Joseph Smith's Miracles”: https://josephsmithfoundation.org/joseph-smith-miracles/ — research note: nineteen-year-old Levi Hancock's journal preserves the Fishing River deliverance in full: the warning from a colored woman that three hundred armed men waited to destroy the camp, the Prophet's reply that “the Lord will give us a bramble to keep off the dogs this night,” the torrential overnight storm, and the morning discovery that the western branch of Fishing River had risen upwards of forty feet, stranding the mobs who had sworn to annihilate the camp; Hancock adds that after a committee from the mob met peacefully with the camp, Joseph said, “Let us help this man right up his corn,” and the marchers straightened the storm-flattened corn in their friend's field. Full first-person account: Levi W. Hancock, “Life Story of Levi W. Hancock,” typescript, Brigham Young University Library, pp. 47–49; quoted in Hyrum L. and Helen Mae Andrus, comps., “They Knew the Prophet” (1974), 21–22 https://josephsmithfoundation.org/joseph-smith-miracles/

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