Joseph Hadfield's prophetic visitations from an angel

“During the fall of 1841, the boy Joseph had a great measure of the Spirit of the Lord resting upon him. He was an amiable and remarkable little fellow, and during the winter he startled everybody by telling his mother that during one night an angel of the Lord came to him and told him that he and all the family should shortly be delivered, and go to Nauvoo and be gathered with the Saints. The mother, poor woman, was in a state of great destitution, and had no means to go, and she thought it was a dream or a fancy of the boy, and told him so. But he persisted in it, and said the angel told him that the way should be opened. The boy continued to have these manifestations, and he would tell his mother that the time was near. Finally, the mother, having a little money, some two shillings and sixpence, and being moved by the faith of the boy, concluded to start for Liverpool, the port of embarkation. They arrived in Liverpool, and the mother, with her three children, went to the office of the Millennial Star. I sat in my office in Liverpool; when an old grey-headed man, the father of a poor widow lady who, with the old gentleman and three children, came in. They were in a state of great poverty, and the mother told me that her little boy had been visited by an angel, who had told him that they should be delivered and go to Nauvoo. I saw and felt in a moment that God had sent them, and it placed me in an awkward position. I had no means to help them, and yet I knew they must go. I then went and engaged passage for them on another vessel, and paid their fare out of my own funds and felt I was complying with the requirements of God. I felt that the Lord had sent them to me, and I could not turn them away. Your correspondent was afterward informed that the family arrived safe at Nauvoo, and on their arrival Joseph Smith, the Prophet, sent for the boy, Joseph, and had him relate the angel’s visits to him, and said the message was from God.”

— Parley P. Pratt, Millennial Star 45:43