1844 - Illinois Governor Thomas Ford meets with Elder John Taylor and John M. Bernhisel to discuss the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor and the threats made towards the Saints in Nauvoo. Almon W. Babbitt arrived from Carthage with a message from the Governor stating that it wasn’t wise to have members of the City Council go to Carthage. The Mayor, Joseph Smith, writes a letter to the Governor requesting him to come to Nauvoo to meet with him concerning the current crises. . . He writes a letter back to the Governor answering his charges and defending the actions of the City Council. He informs the Governor that they intend to lay their case before the Federal Government. At sundown he asks O. P. Rockwell if he would go with him on a short journey. He calls several of the leaders together and has the letter from the Governor read to them. He then states, “‘There is no mercy—no mercy here.’ Hyrum said, ‘No; just as sure as we fall into their hands we are dead men.’ Joseph replied, ‘yes; what shall we do, Brother Hyrum?’ He replied, ‘I don’t know.’ All at once Joseph’s countenance brightened up and he said, ‘The way is open. It is clear to my mind what to do. All they want is Hyrum and myself; then tell everybody to go about their business . . . We will cross the river tonight, and go away to the West.’” (History of the Church, 6:545-546).
. . .At midnight, the Prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, and Willard Richards, with O. P. Rockwell rowing the boat, cross the Mississippi River into Iowa with the intention of traveling to the Rocky Mountains, to find a place of refuge for the Saints. The last direct narrative recorded of the Prophet is, “I told Stephen Markham that if I and Hyrum were ever taken again we should be massacred, or I was not a prophet of God. I want Hyrum to live to avenge my blood, but he is determined not to leave me.” (History of the Church, 6:546).
