Porter Rockwell and Christmas 1847

December 25th,1843, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had celebrated Christmas to the fullest.
After being awakened about 1 o'clock in the morning by a large group of harmonizing carolers, they had returned to rest until shortly after daybreak. An hour or so was devoted to necessary Church business. Then the day was spent celebrating Christmas by feasting and dancing "in a most cheerful and friendly manner."The evening was capped off by a large party at the Prophet's home. A long haired interloper barged into the room. Joseph and the chief of police tried to throw the invader out and a scuffle ensued. In that effort the party crasher's face was exposed in full to Joseph, who later noted, "to my great surprise and joy untold, I discovered it was my long tried, warm, but cruelly persecuted friend, Orrin Porter Rockwell." Rockwell had escaped from the Missouri jails after spending more than a year threin (without conviction), and had made his way to Nauvoo. It was, for Joseph, the end of a perfect day in which the Lord's birth was celebrated and an old friend restored to the fold. (See History of the Church 6:134135.)
After hearing Rockwell’s story, Joseph Smith made a Samson-like prophecy: as long as Rockwell did not cut his hair and remained faithful to the Gospel, his enemies could never touch him. Rockwell lived by the prophet’s promise, cutting his hair only once to make a wig for Joseph’s widowed sister-in-law recovering from typhoid fever. And until his dying day, the prophecy held true for Rockwell who escaped dozens of showdowns with notable marksmen without a scratch. On one such occasion, sharp-shooter Loren Dibble unloaded both his guns at Rockwell on Lehi Main Street in broad daylight without even ruffling Rockwell’’s composure.
Porter always professed his innocence in the Governor Boggs’ assassination attempt, using as his evidence, “I’ve never shot at anybody. If I shoot, they get shot. He’s still alive, isn’t he?”
I hope you can remember the prophets friend and protector and his life sustaining and defending the Church. In a small way this return of Porter’s on Christmas, the Prophet’s and Hyrum’s last Christmas, was a special time for the old body guard. His tactical know-how could not save Joseph Smith but he saved and protected many in the Church throughout his long life. Porter did give his life for the gospel.

At this Christmas season 2017 I hope you will remember the real reason for this season. We celebrate the birth, mission, atonement, and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the light and truth of this world and the only way for us to return to our Father in Heaven.

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