Revelation Confirms Escape Plan from Liberty Jail — Then Providentially Prevented

“Accordingly, on the 7th day of February, 1839, after counseling together on the subject, we concluded to try to go that evening when the jailor came with our supper. But before deciding fully, and to make it more sure, Brother Hyrum asked Brother Joseph to inquire of the Lord as to the propriety of the move. He did so, and received answer to this effect—that if we were all agreed, we could go clear that evening; and if we would ask, we should have a testimony for ourselves. I immediately asked, and had no more than asked until I received as clear a testimony as ever I did of anything in my life that it was true. Brother Hyrum Smith and Caleb Baldwin bore testimony to the same. But Lyman Wight said we might go if we chose, but he would not. After talking with him for some time, he said if we would wait until the next day, he would go with us. Without thinking we had no promise of success on any other day than the one above stated, we agreed to wait. When night came, the jailor came alone with our supper, threw the door wide open, put our supper on the table, and went to the back part of the room where a pile of books lay, took up a book and went to reading, leaving us between him and the door, thereby giving us every chance to go if we had been ready. As the next day was agreed upon, we made no attempt to go that evening. When the next evening came, the case was very different. The jailor brought a double guard with him, and six of our brethren, fully armed with muskets, escorted us to the jail door, and commanded us to walk out, and they would blow our brains out. We told them there were but four of us, and we were unarmed, and they need not fear us; but it was all of no use, there was no other way for us but to die, or go into the jail and be killed by the mob. We went in, and the jailor locked us up, and went off and left us to our fate.”

— Alexander McRae, letter to the editor of the Deseret News, October 1854