Stephen M. Farnsworth — Open Vision on Parley Street: The Nauvoo Exodus Foreseen Without Joseph or Hyrum (Spring 1844)
Published September 28, 2026 at 8:26 AM
In the spring of 1844 — months before the martyrdom — Stephen M. Farnsworth, a Latter-day Saint working on the Nauvoo Temple, experienced an open vision while walking down Parley Street to his labor. The sun was shining when suddenly the sky became overcast and a drizzling rain set in. He saw a tumult among the people about the Temple, and was told in the vision that the Saints had to leave Nauvoo and take a great journey to the west. He saw numerous trains of covered wagons crossing the Mississippi River and bending their course westward as far as the eye could reach — and, remarkably, he saw the Twelve Apostles leading the company but 'saw neither Joseph nor Hyrum,' an ominous detail months before their deaths. He joined the trains and the journey proved less arduous than he first feared. He then saw a cloud burst over the Saints with light beaming upon them, while the cloud rolled off upon the enemy and those who had fled to them for protection — scenes of desolation following throughout the United States. The faithful band then followed Brigham Young into a large open cave filled with everything good to eat and drink, where shouts of hosanna and songs of praise to God rent the air. The vision was retold by Orson Hyde in a discourse on the persecution of the Saints.
In Their Own Words
“In the spring of 1844, brother Farnsworth started out after dinner, to go to work on the Temple as usual. The sun shone brightly as he walked down Parley Street towards the place of his labor, when suddenly the sky became overcast, and a drizzling rain set in. He stood amazed, and saw a tumult and excitement among the people about the Temple, and a great excitement in the lower part of the town. He wondered what it could mean. Presently he was told that the Saints had to leave Nauvoo and take a great journey to the west. So great was the journey that it seemed almost impossible for him to perform it. Now he could see numerous trains of covered wagons and teams crossing the Mississippi River, and bending their course westward as far as the eye could reach. He also hitched up and joined the trains, and the journey did not seem so arduous as he first anticipated. He saw the Twelve Apostles in the crowd; but saw neither Joseph nor Hyrum... Presently the cloud over the Saints burst, and light beamed upon them. This cloud rolled off upon the enemy and those who had fled to them for protection: and oh! the scenes of death, lamentation, and mourning that occurred in the enemies' camp beggar all description. The burning wrath of earth, heaven, and hell, in fiery streams of molten lava seemed to leave not one alive to tell the tale. It did not stop here, but rolled throughout the United States, carrying the same desolation in its track. The faithful band of brethren left, then followed Brother Brigham up into a large open cave, where there was everything good to eat and drink that heart could desire. The shouts of hosannahs!—the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for the deliverance wrought for them rent the air and made the mountains echo the praises of our God. From this cave they journeyed, I need not say where; but, suffice it to say, no opposition had any effect upon them. The power of God was with them, and His voice was in their camp. — Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 5:138-144”
Sources & References
Journal of Discourses, Volume 5 (pages 138-144), discourse 26. https://journalofdiscourses.com/5/26 (extracted verbatim from source text; research confidence: high)
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