The following is from W. W. Phelps, “Joseph Smith’s Last Dream,” Almanac for the Year 1863: Being the Thirty Third Year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (From April 6, 1830) (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Office, 1862): 27-28, wherein Phelps recollects Joseph sharing with him the content of a dream, on June 25, 1844, two days before the prophet was killed at Carthage Jail:
JOSEPH SMITH’S LAST DREAM.
In
June, 1844, when Joseph Smith went to Carthage and delivered himself up to Gov.
Ford, I accompanied him, and while on the way tither, he related to me and his
brother Hyrum the following dream:
He
said: “While I was at Jordan’s in Iowa the other night, I dreamed that myself
and my brother Hyrum went on board of a large steamboat, lying in a small bay,
near the great ocean. Shortly after we went on board there was an “alarm of
fire,” and I discovered that the boat had been anchored some distance from the
shore, out in the bay, and that an escape from the fire, in the confusion,
appeared hazardous; but, as delay was folly, I and Hyrum jumped overboard, and
tried out faith at walking upon the water.
At
first we sank in the water nearly to our knees, but as we proceeded we increased
in faith, and were soon able to walk upon the water. On looking forwards the
burning boat in the east, we saw that it was drifting towards the wharf and the
town, with a great flame and clouds of smoke; and, as if by whirlwind, the town
was taking fire, too, so that the scene of destruction and horror of the
frightened inhabitants was terrible.
We
proceeded on the bosom of the mighty deep and were soon out of sight of land. The
ocean was still; the rays of the sun were bright, and we forgot all the
troubles of our Mother Earth. Just at that moment I heard the sound of a human
voice, and, turning round, saw my brother Samuel H. approaching towards us from
the east. We stopped and he came up. After a moment’s conversation he informed
me that he had been lonesome back, and had made up his mind to go with me
across the mighty deep.
We
all started again, and in a short time were blest with the first sight of a
city, whose gold and silver steeples and towers were more beautiful than any I
had ever seen or heard of on earth. It stood, as it were, upon the western
shorn of the mighty deep we were walking on, and its order and glory seemed far
beyond the wisdom of man. While we were gazing upon the perfection of the city,
a small boat launched off from the port, and, almost as quick as thought, came
to us. In an instant they took us on board and saluted us with a welcome, and
with music such as is not on earth. The next scene, on landing, was more than I
can describe: the greeting of old friends, the music from a thousand towers,
and the light of God himself at the return of three of his sons, soothed my
soul into a quiet and a joy that I felt as if I was truly in heaven. I gazed
upon the splendor; I greeted my friends. I awoke, and lo, it was a dream!
While
I meditated upon such a marvelous scene, I fell asleep again, and behold I
stood near the shore of the burning boat, and there was a great consternation
among the officers, crew and passengers of the flaming craft, as there seemed
to be much ammunition of powder on board. The alarm was given that the fire was
near the magazine, and in a moment, suddenly, it blew up with a great noise,
and sank in deep water with all on board. I then turned to the country east,
among the bushy openings, and saw William and Wilson Law endeavoring to escape
from the wild beasts of the forest, but two lions rushed out of a thicket and devoured
them. I awoke again.”
I
will say that Joseph never told this dream again, as he was martyred about two days
after. I related from recollection as nearly as I can.
PHELPS.
An example of a modern Latter-day Saint attempting to understand the symbolism behind this dream is that of Seth Adam Smith, "Symbolism and Meaning in Joseph Smith's Last Dreams"