Israel Barlow: The Holy Ghost Kept Him Safe

Israel Barlow was born in 1806 in Massachusetts. He was baptized in 1832, and was part of Zion's Camp. He was ordained a seventy in 1835 by Sidney Rigdon, and was later listed as being the president of the 6th Quorum of Seventies. He is also noted as the first Church member to consider settling the Saints in Nauvoo, when he chanced upon the land in 1838 as he was fleeing Missouri from the extermination order of Governor Boggs.

Israel also became a trusted bodyguard of the Prophet Joseph Smith. His grandson described an event that took place shortly before the martyrdom, when persecution of the Saints around Nauvoo was severe. On one occasion, Joseph requested Israel to go on horseback and deliver a message to a brother who lived in one of the more hostile areas, and to observe conditions during his journey.
The Prophet gave very specific instructions to Brother Barlow: which day to leave, what time, what route to follow, etc. He was further told to accept the hospitality when he arrived at the destination, but not to spend the night in spite of their urgings - to leave in the evening, and then to "listen to the direction of the Spirit." Otherwise, his life would be in jeopardy.

Brother Barlow arrived safely and delivered the message. His grandson recorded what transpired as he started on his return:

"He left promptly at sundown and rode along the country road until it became dark. Just before he came to the river bridge, a voice said to grandfather, "Ride faster." He sped up his horse and the voice repeated again, with more emphasis, "Ride faster." Again he increased the speed of the animal when the voice said to him: "Ride for your life." He then sped for all the animal's strength. As the horse's feet clattered across the bridge he could hear the mob, which had gathered in the brush to intercept him, cursing at the top of their voices.

"He had crossed the bridge but a short distance when the voice said to him: "Turn to the right," and he turned his horse off the road into the brush toward the river. There he stood in silence as the mob, who had mounted their horses, came racing over the bridge at break-neck speed, and down the road they went, supposedly after him. After they had gone by he wound his way from the river's edge to the bed of the stream, and on through the willows. In the darkness he made his way along the river in the opposite direction from which the mob had expected him to go. Finally when he thought it was safe, several miles away, he emerged from the river and made his way over the country back into Nauvoo, just as the day was breaking.

Returning to Nauvoo, Israel found Joseph Smith pacing the street in front of his home. He started to share his adventure with the Prophet, but Joseph stopped him and said he already knew everything that had transpired:
The Prophet told him that he had been up all night, waiting for his return, and stated "I saw it all, you have no need to tell me." Thereupon the Prophet laid his hand upon grandfather's shoulder and gave him a blessing and said: "Thee and thine shall never want."

(See _Our Pioneer Heritage_, 19:324; _Faith Like the Ancients_ 1:196-7)   

Compiled and written by David Kenison