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You Shall Not Go Alone

In those moments when we are alone and suffering on the road of life, thank the Lord for those mortal angels who come like Good Samaritans to love, lift, and carry us through. This is one of those moments.

The Prophet Joseph Smith had allowed Martin Harris to take the manuscript of the Book of Mormon thus far completed back to Palmyra to show to his family. It comprised the Book of Lehi. He had left June 14, 1828, promising to show it to only four people and to quickly return. On June 15, Emma delivered a baby boy who lived only a short time. Emma’s life was endangered as she “seemed to tremble upon the verge of the silent home of her infant. So uncertain seemed her fate for a season that in the space of two weeks her husband never slept one hour in undisturbed quiet.”

Joseph watched over Emma night and day to save her life. As the days passed, Joseph became increasingly anxious about the manuscript, having heard nothing from Martin. Finally, after three weeks, Emma asked him to go to Palmyra.

After much persuasion, he concluded to leave his wife in the care of her Mother for a few days and set out on the before mentioned journey. But the sensations which he experienced when he found himself well-seated in the stagecoach left to the solitude of his own imagination… cannot be imagined by anyone who reads this for they have not been in like circumstances.

As he traveled north on the stage, a terrible feeling descended upon him. Mother Smith said,

He awfully feared that he had ventured too far in vouching for the safety of the manuscript after it was out of his possession…. Perhaps he might never have the privilege of touching a finger to the work, which until now he had been the blessed instrument in the hands of God of bringing to the knowledge of mankind.

Had he gone too far and sinned too much? So agitated was Joseph that he neither ate nor slept through that night. There was only one other passenger on the stage who up to this point had said very little. When Joseph got off the stage and commented that he had yet 20 miles to walk, the stranger said,

I have watched you since you first entered the stage and I know that you have not slept nor eaten since you commenced your journey and you shall not go on foot 20 miles alone this night for if you must and will go, I will be your company.

The stranger got off with him and asked why he was in such a bad way. He listened as Joseph told him of the death of his first and only son and how he rightly feared he would return and not find his wife alive. Together they walked on through the night. Mother Smith records,

Four miles of distance the stranger was under the necessity of leading Joseph by his arm, for nature was too much exhausted to support him any longer and he would fall asleep as he stood upon his feet.

They arrived at the Smith Farm in Manchester just before daylight. The stranger said, “I have brought your son through the forest because he insisted on coming but he is sick and wants rest and refreshment.” He asked them to care for him and then said kindly, “I will thank you for a little breakfast as I am in haste to be on my journey again.”

Joseph was cared for. The stranger was given breakfast and Mother Smith said, “the stranger left, (whose name we never knew.)”

Thank the Lord for such strangers, but even greater, may we be that stranger on the road for someone else.

Source: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/81