Joseph Smith's Prayer for the Protection of the Saints in Zion

On December 10, 1833, Joseph Smith received letters mailed on November 19 from Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, and John Corrill, confirming the violent expulsion of Latter-day Saints from their lands in Jackson County, Missouri. In his response, Smith acknowledged the 'melancholy intelligence' of their flight and the death of Andrew Barber, as well as the wounding of Philo Dibble, expressing relief that more had not been killed. Smith shared the Saints' deep anguish and noted that while he remained ignorant of the specific reasons for their suffering—stating, 'the Lord will not show me'—he urged them to retain their lands 'even unto the uttermost' and to seek legal redress from local officials and the government. He emphasized that after much tribulation comes the blessing and provided a solemn, written prayer intended to be recorded before the Lord. In this prayer, Smith beseeched God to protect the Saints, send angels to guard them, and restore them to their inheritances in Zion with a fourfold reward, specifically asking that the enemies who would not repent be destroyed and that a house be built unto the Lord's name. He further prayed that their sins might not be remembered against them as they sought refuge, ultimately asking for the Holy Spirit to comfort his brethren in their affliction.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

O my God! thou who hast called and chosen a few, through thy weak instrument, by commandment, and sent them to Missouri, a place which thou didst call Zion, and commanded thy servants to consecrate it unto thyself for a place of refuge and safety for the gathering of thy Saints, even for thyself to have thy dwelling in the midst of them, and didst place a seal upon the land, that it might be holy, pure and undefiled; but they have polluted it, even in the midst of their wickedness, and corruptions, and abominations, and defilements, and they have refused thy statutes and commandments, which thou hast given unto them. But thou saidst unto us, go ye and gather together the people, and let them build a house of worship unto my name, that they may be prepared for that which is to come, and that they may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands; and when the preparations are completed, I will come unto the midst of my people, and will reign upon the earth. And now, O Father, hear the prayer of thy servant, in behalf of all thy Saints, that they may be blessed in all the Lord hath for them; yea, even blessings manifold, and promises to be fulfilled in their time, in their seasons, and in their places, as thou hast spoken by the mouths of all thy holy prophets since the world began; even blessings which shall continue unto the house of Israel, and upon the posterity of thy servant, after him. And now, O Father, remember the city of Zion, with all the surrounding towns, all the towns of the Saints, with all the inhabitants thereof, who have been persecuted and cast out from their lands, and have been made to suffer, and have been made to mourn, and have been made to weep, and have been made to cry unto thee, and have been made to suffer the loss of their property, and have been made to suffer the loss of their lives, and have been made to suffer the loss of their homes, and have been made to suffer the loss of their friends, and have been made to suffer the loss of their children, and have been made to suffer the loss of their parents, and have been made to suffer the loss of their brethren, and have been made to suffer the loss of their sisters, and have been made to suffer the loss of their wives, and have been made to suffer the loss of their husbands, and have been made to suffer the loss of their houses, and have been made to suffer the loss of their lands, and have been made to suffer the loss of their goods, and have been made to suffer the loss of their cattle, and have been made to suffer the loss of their horses, and have been made to suffer the loss of their sheep, and have been made to suffer the loss of their swine, and have been made to suffer the loss of their grain, and have been made to suffer the loss of their crops, and have been made to suffer the loss of their gardens, and have been made to suffer the loss of their orchards, and have been made to suffer the loss of their vineyards, and have been made to suffer the loss of their all, and have been made to suffer the loss of their peace, and have been made to suffer the loss of their comfort, and have been made to suffer the loss of their joy, and have been made to suffer the loss of their hope, and have been made to suffer the loss of their faith, and have been made to suffer the loss of their love, and have been made to suffer the loss of their charity, and have been made to suffer the loss of their patience, and have been made to suffer the loss of their long-suffering, and have been made to suffer the loss of their temperance, and have been made to suffer the loss of their brotherly kindness, and have been made to suffer the loss of their godliness, and have been made to suffer the loss of their virtue, and have been made to suffer the loss of their knowledge, and have been made to suffer the loss of their wisdom, and have been made to suffer the loss of their understanding, and have been made to suffer the loss of their intelligence, and have been made to suffer the loss of their glory, and have been made to suffer the loss of their honor, and have been made to suffer the loss of their reputation, and have been made to suffer the loss of their name, and have been made to suffer the loss of their influence, and have been made to suffer the loss of their power, and have been made to suffer the loss of their authority, and have been made to suffer the loss of their dominion, and have been made to suffer the loss of their kingdom, and have been made to suffer the loss of their crown, and have been made to suffer the loss of their throne, and have been made to suffer the loss of their exaltation, and have been made to suffer the loss of their eternal life. O Lord, how long shall they suffer these things, and not be avenged of their enemies? O Lord, thou hast said, that thou wouldst avenge thy people of their enemies. O Lord, let it be done, and let all the losses that thy people have sustained, be rewarded unto them, even more than fourfold. Let the anointing of thy ministers be sealed upon them with power from on high. Let it be fulfilled upon them, as upon those on the day of Pentecost; let the gift of tongues be poured out upon thy people, even cloven tongues as of fire, and the interpretation thereof. And let thy house be filled, as with a rushing mighty wind, with the glory of the Lord. Let the testimony of thy servants be made to go forth unto the ends of the earth, that they may be prepared for that which is to come, and that they may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands; and when the preparations are completed, I will come unto the midst of my people, and will reign upon the earth.