Protection from Mob Attack at Far West

When Governor Boggs' army was approaching Far West, Joseph Smith stood behind breastworks. He claimed to see one of the three Nephites with a drawn sword before the army. When the army approached near the spot, they suddenly turned and fled, claiming they saw thousands of soldiers, though the army was not actually attacked.

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

I was at Far West at the time the mob army surrounded the city. I was standing near the Prophet Joseph Smith when he was looking through his glass, or rather, he was looking at the army. He said that he saw, before he made the remark about opening fire upon them, between them and the army, one of the three Nephites with a drawn sword; and when the army turned and ran back he saw the three Nephites near the same place armed for battle. The mob army, as they were called, were very much frightened, and they said that they saw thousands of soldiers, and that they were afraid to attack the city, although there were but a few of us there to defend it.