Julia Pack's Husband Spared from Mob Execution by Divine Intervention

In 1838, when John Pack and his wife Julia were traveling through Missouri to visit Phoebe Pack who was ill, they were stopped by approximately 30 armed mob members. The head of the mob told John that he was suspected of being a spy and ordered him to be taken away, telling Julia, 'You can bid your husband goodbye. You will never see him again. You can go to that house.' Julia declared she would not leave, saying, 'If my husband dies, I will die with him.' John whispered to her to stay and care for the horses, assuring her he was not afraid. The mob took John to an open space and threatened to shoot him, with Sachel Woods, a Methodist minister, saying, 'Here will be your grave, we are going to kill you unless you will deny Joe Smith.' John responded, '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.' There were five or six would-be executioners who debated among themselves about who would shoot him, but none seemed really willing to do the deed. Finally, a man standing by their wagon called out, 'Let that damned Mormon go.' The mob returned John unharmed, though they warned the Packs never to return to that country on pain of death. This miraculous deliverance saved John's life and testified to the power of conviction and the Lord's protection.

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

Shortly after, a company of immigrants came, bringing word that Levi Wood, husband of Phoebe Pack, my husband's sister, had died at Huntsville, Missouri, and that she was very sick, unto death. My husband and I started next day to go and look after them. Our first day's journey took us within five miles of Grand River Ferry. We were stopped by about thirty men, armed with guns, clubs, and knives. The leader of the mob said to my husband, 'You are a spy, and we are going to take you and kill you.' He then turned to me and said, 'You can bid your husband goodbye. You will never see him again. You can go to that house.' I said, 'I will not leave my husband. If he dies, I will die with him.' My husband whispered to me, 'Stay and take care of the horses; I am not afraid.' They took him through a patch of hazel brush to an open space covered with grass. Sachel Woods, a Methodist minister said: 'Here will be your grave, we are going to kill you unless you will deny Joe Smith.' My husband said: '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.' There were five or six of them who wanted to kill him, but they could not agree who should do it. One would say, 'You shoot him,' and another would say, 'No, you shoot him.' They stood there and talked for some time. Finally, a man standing by our wagon called out, 'Let that damned Mormon go.' They brought my husband back to me, but they told us if we ever came back to that country again, they would kill us.