Samuel Bent and the Miraculous Protection at Fishing River

Samuel Bent was a documented participant in the Pontiac branch division of Zion's Camp. On June 19, 1834, while the camp was situated on a ridge between the forks of the Fishing River, they were threatened by a mob of approximately five hundred armed men. A sudden and violent storm of rain and hail occurred, causing the Fishing River to rise nearly forty feet in a single night. This 'Act of God' prevented the mob from crossing the river to attack the Saints. Bent was present as a member of the camp during this intervention, which was later described by Colonel Sconce to Joseph Smith as evidence of an 'Almighty power' protecting the group.

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

During this day, the Jackson county mob, to the number of about two hundred, made arrangements to cross the Missouri river, above the mouth of Fishing river, at Williams' ferry, into Clay county, and be ready to meet the Richmond mob near Fishing river ford for our utter destruction. But, instead of crossing the river, they found that the Lord had prepared a way for our safety; for, on the 19th, such a storm of rain and hail fell, accompanied by thunder and lightning, as has been rarely known in this country. The Fishing river rose in less than one hour, about forty feet; and, in consequence of the storm and consequent rise of waters, we were prevented from being attacked by the mob, as they could not cross the river. The storm was tremendous; wind and rain, hail and thunder met them in great wrath, and soon softened their direful courage, and frustrated all their designs to “kill Joe Smith and his army.” ... It seemed as if the mandate of vengeance had gone forth from the God of battles, to protect His servants from the destruction of their enemies, for the hail fell on them and not on us, and we suffered no harm. We encamped on the bank of the Fishing river, and in the morning the water in Big Fishing river was about forty feet deep, where, the previous evening, it was no more than to our ankles.