Lucy Walker was an early member of the Latter-day Saint movement and one of the plural wives of founder Joseph Smith.

"[2] Shortly after, Smith revealed the secret doctrine of polygamy to Lucy and proposed, saying that the marriage was a "command from God" and if she refused, "the gate will be closed forever against you".

Lucy wrote, "One of this little band prophecied that before we reached our destination we would be surrounded by armed mobs with blackened faces, and would need much faith in God to endure the many persecutions and trials before us, and that some of our number would lay down their lives; others would see their brethren shot down before their very eyes.

[2]: 43  Lucy's father agreed to the mission and sought to comfort his children by saying "two years would soon pass away, then with renewed health he hoped to return and make [them] a home where [they] might be together again".

He said: That evening, after a second sleepless night praying and asking God for this confirmation, as the sun rose, Lucy recorded, Based on this experience, she agreed to marry him in secret.

Many years later she recalled that her marriage to Joseph was "not a love matter ... at least on my part it was not,-but simply the giving up of myself as a sacrifice to establish that grand and glorious principle that God had revealed to the world.

[2] The early Latter-day Saints had experienced intense backlash and persecution because of the controversial teachings of Founder Joseph Smith.

[2]: 38 The next morning, October 30, Lucy's father and other men in the community, including Joseph Young gathered at Hawn's Mill to discuss what to do.

Lucy wrote that her father and the others were standing in the blacksmiths shop when a mob of men appeared, formed a line, and opened fire on them.

Lucy wrote, "We went to bed feeling that we were safe, and God was our friend; but when the morning dawned and I looked into my mother's pale face, I was positive she had not closed her eyes.