John Pack Preserved from Mob Execution

When John Pack and his wife Julia Pack were traveling near Missouri to visit John's sister Phoebe, who was very sick and dying, they were intercepted by a company of about thirty armed men who suspected them of being Mormon. The leader of the gang ordered John to take his valise and follow them, announcing they were taking him for a spy and that Julia 'would never see him again.' Julia, in her own words, refused to be separated: 'I put my foot on the wheel of the wagon to jump to the ground when my husband took hold of my hand and whispered to me: "You stay with the wagon and take care of the horses, I am not afraid of them and will be back soon."' The mobbers took John through a patch of hazel brush to an open space covered with grass where a Methodist minister named Sachel Woods told him: 'Here will be your grave, we are going to kill you unless you will deny Joe Smith.' John responded with courage and testimony: 'Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. You profess to be a preacher of righteousness and so do I. I'll meet you at the day of judgment.' While there were 'five or six of them,' the account states: 'They talked around inquiring who would shoot him, but none seemed really willing to do the deed.' Finally, 'a man standing by our wagon called out--"Let that damned Mormon go."' Soon after, they took John back to the wagon and let him go with Julia. Through divine providence, none of the mob members could bring themselves to execute him, and the couple was allowed to continue their journey.