Description

A Traveler’s Protection

Cyrus Wheelock joined the Church in 1839 and was faithful all his days. He was in Carthage in June 1844 and warned Governor Thomas Ford of the plot to assassinate Joseph Smith. When his warnings were unheeded, Cyrus slipped a pistol to Joseph in the cell. On the morning of the martyrdom, it was Cyrus that Joseph asked to carry a letter to Emma in Nauvoo.

After serving as a missionary from 1846-1853, Cyrus was appointed to lead a company of saints across the plains to Salt Lake in 1853. In 1854, he was immediately called out once more to serve. It was while returning from that service in England, that Cyrus volunteered and went back out onto the plains to rescue the stranded handcart saints of 1856.

Cyrus lived in Lehi and in Springville, but eventually settled with his large family in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. It was while living there that his family tells of this experience.

Cyrus was one day traveling from Mt. Pleasant to Fairview, Utah—a distance of 5-6 miles. Outside of town, he happened upon a stranger who asked for a ride into Fairview. Cyrus agreed and the man climbed up into the back of the buggy. As they went along, they noticed Indians lying in wait along the road, hiding in the tall grass. Cyrus was about to turn back when the stranger urged him to keep going since they were halfway there. Cyrus agreed and they continued on. Just then, very strange things began to happen in the heavens. “All kinds of cloud formations began to take place. It held the Indians attention until they had arrived safely at Fairview.”

Once past the danger, Cyrus turned back to talk to the stranger but “He had disappeared without a sound. Cyrus firmly believed the stranger was one of the Three Nephites sent to protect him.”

Source:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWJ4-D4R