“We left Kirtland, on horseback, to escape Mob violence which was about to burst upon us under the color of Legal process to cover their hellish designs.” — Joseph Smith¹

“Thus saith the Lord Let the presidency of my Church take their families as soon as it is pra[c]ticable and a door is open for them and move on to the west as fast as the way is made plain before their faces and let their hearts be comforted for I will be with them.” — Revelation, 12 January 1838²

In January 1838, facing false legal charges and increasing threats of violence from dissenters in Kirtland, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon decided to flee to Far West, Missouri. On January 12, Joseph received a revelation instructing the church presidency and their families to move westward. Joseph and Sidney left Kirtland on horseback under the cover of night. Traveling south, they met their families along the way and continued the journey by wagon.³ The families, traveling in the cold, were pursued by dissenters “who continued their race more than 200 miles from Kirtland, armed with pistols [and] seeking our lives.”⁴ After a journey of nearly two months, they arrived in Far West on March 14, 1838, where they were warmly welcomed by the Saints.⁵

1. History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, 780, josephsmithpapers.org

2. Revelation, 12 January 1838, josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 25, 299; History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, 780, josephsmithpapers.org

4. History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, 780, josephsmithpapers.org

5. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 26, 304; History, 1838–1856, volume B-1, 784, josephsmithpapers.org