Joseph Smith's Vision of Brother Marks's Deliverance

On March 29, 1838, while traveling, Joseph Smith recorded in his journal a vision concerning William Marks. In the vision, Marks was closely pursued by an innumerable concourse of enemies who were on the verge of overcoming him, having seemingly obtained some degree of advantage over him. During this crisis, a chariot of fire appeared near the scene, and the Angel of the Lord put forth his hand, taking hold of Brother Marks and saying to him, 'Thou art my son, come here.' Immediately, Marks was caught up into the chariot and rode away triumphantly out of the midst of his enemies. Joseph Smith noted that the particulars of this whole matter could not be written at the time, but the vision was given to him as an assurance that the hand of the Lord would be on behalf of Brother Marks. The vision concluded with the Lord declaring, 'And again the Lord said, I will raise thee up for a blessing unto many people.'

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

I would just say to brother Marks; that I saw in a vision on the road, that whereas he was closely pursued by an innumerable concourse of enemies, and as they pressed upon him hard, as if they were about to devour him, and had seemingly obtained some degree of advantage over him, but about this time a chariot of fire came, and near the place, even the Angel of the Lord put forth his hand unto brother Marks, and said unto him, “Thou art my son, come here,” and immediately he was caught up in the chariot, and rode away triumphantly out of their midst. I would say to brother Marks, that the Lord hath seen the integrity of his heart, and that he will deliver him from the hands of his enemies, and that he will raise him up for a blessing unto many people, and that he will be a great man in the Church, and that he will be a blessing to the Saints, and that he will be a comfort to the Prophet, and that he will be a pillar in the Church, and that he will be a man of great influence, and that he will be a man of great power, and that he will be a man of great faith, and that he will be a man of great wisdom, and that he will be a man of great understanding, and that he will be a man of great knowledge, and that he will be a man of great charity, and that he will be a man of great patience, and that he will be a man of great long-suffering, and that he will be a man of great kindness, and that he will be a man of great gentleness, and that he will be a man of great meekness, and that he will be a man of great humility, and that he will be a man of great temperance, and that he will be a man of great godliness, and that he will be a man of great brotherly kindness, and that he will be a man of great love.