BODYGUARDS TO THE PROPHETS

Porter Rockwell once spotted Chauncy’s brother and fellow apostate, Francis Higbee, on the street in Nauvoo and accused him of scheming to kill the Prophet. Higbee made the mistake of cursing Rockwell and was sent sprawling. In the brief scuffle Higbee's hat fell on the dirt and a letter sailed from its lining. When Higbee scrambled for the paper, a second punch flattened him. Rockwell, deciding the letter might be important and unable to read it himself, took the document before the High Council where it was found to be a message telling Higbee that seventy men waited on the Iowa side of the river for a signal to attack Nauvoo. That night the mob was met by the entire Nauvoo Legion and quickly retreated. During the trek west, Wilford Woodruff recorded, " President Young, with the Quorum of the Twelve went into a valley of the hills and prayed according to the order of the priesthood. Porter Rockwell and Brother Carrington watched to see that no Indians or other guests came upon us.”

Seymour Brunson suffered much during the trials of Missouri, but after a couple more years as colonel in the Hancock County militia, lieutenant-colonel in the Nauvoo Legion and personal bodyguard to the Prophet. He lived for only two years following the persecution he experienced in Missouri, dying at the Prophet's home at the age of 40. Heber C. Kimball descriptively wrote of his death: "The room was full of angels that came after him to waft him home."

Allen Joseph Stout was traveling by foot with the Prophet in the open country when they saw a man approaching from the side road. When the man was within a hundred yards, the Prophet turned to Allen and asked him to: “Wait here while I speak with this man.” Allen waited while Joseph talked to the stranger, for what seemed like hours to him. Finally, the Prophet returned to where Allen was standing. Allen was deeply disturbed and apologized for being so negligent. Joseph waved his defense aside saying, “That man wouldn’t hurt me, he is John the Revelator.”

Oliver Huntington, at a time when Joseph Smith was guarded day and night by his brethren from mob violence, were making arrangements as to who should stand guard that night. Joseph was listening to the prayer of a little boy in the room adjoining. The boy prayed for the Prophet, that he might be secure and safe from his enemies. When the boy had done praying, Joseph turned to his brethren and told them all to go to bed and all sleep and rest themselves that night, for God had heard and would answer that boy's prayer. They all went to bed and slept safely until morning undisturbed.

The Prophet’s own brother Hyrum Smith, who was ever on guard lest some danger threaten Joseph. It was quite natural for Joseph Smith to have his brother, Hyrum, in charge of his bodyguard. Not only would it be possible for Joseph to have full confidence of maximum security, but he would have the companionship of his older brother, whose counsel and advice would be available at any time. Once during drills of the Nauvoo Legion, in the which Joseph was head, was stationed at a point of vantage to witness the army maneuvers. Hyrum became alarmed as he saw the Prophet, without a bodyguard. John C. Bennett, mayor of Nauvoo, who was secretly planning the death of Joseph, had men in position to attack him during the drills. A. P. Rockwood, Captain and a bodyguard of Joseph, countermanded the order of General Bennett and took up a position close by the Prophet, foiling another plot to assassinate the Prophet. Afterward Joseph commented that the Spirit had whispered that there was "mischief concealed in that sham battle" and that Bennett would have to answer for it on the Day of Judgment. Bennett was soon after removed from his positions in the Church, the City, the Legion and left Nauvoo.

Shadrach Roundy served as a policeman in Nauvoo, as an officer in the Nauvoo Legion, and as a bodyguard for Joseph. On one occasion when Joseph's life had been threatened, he personally asked Roundy to help him. Brother Roundy single-handedly kept a group of some forty men from entering the prophet's gate one night. He also had the sad task of guarding Joseph and Hyrum's martyred bodies on the melancholy march returning them to Nauvoo from Carthage.

Stephen Markham escorted the Prophet on the way to Carthage, forcing themselves through the drunken mob into the jail. He was then charged to take supplies and letters to and from Carthage Jail, but as tensions escalated it became more difficult. On his last visit allowed by the Carthage Grays, as he tried to make his way out through the mob they took their bayonets and jabbed Stephen in his legs so badly that his boots filled with blood, scars which he took to his grave.

Reynolds Cahoon, unfortunately, was one of those who pleaded along with Emma for the Prophet Joseph return to Nauvoo before his arrest to Carthage, no one could comprehend the Prophet’s life being taken. Cahoon served as a member of the bodyguard that accompanied Joseph and Hyrum’s bodies back to Nauvoo, a particularly painful journey for him. Cahoon remained faithful to the Church the remainder of his life.

Thomas Grover was instrumental in releasing Joseph when he had been kidnapped by a couple of renegade sheriffs from Missouri. Grover was serving a mission in June 1844 when he was warned in a dream to return to Nauvoo. He arrived in time to join the procession carrying the slain prophets back to Nauvoo and helped in preparing the bodies for burial.