Joseph Smith faced persecution from his days as a teenager, I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me…and though I was an obscure boy…and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me. (JS Hist 1:22) From their first meeting, Moroni made it clear to Joseph Smith that his life would not be a “cake walk.” He…said…that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations (JS Hist 1:33). Joseph’s life was only rarely punctuated by moments of peace and tranquility. His enemies sought after him like the scripture says, hell shall rage against thee (DC 122:1).
The fact that the enemies of Joseph Smith had no power over him unless granted them by the Lord is found in the D&C, Behold, thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon, and to my ministry; and I have lifted thee up out of thine afflictions, and have counseled thee, that thou hast been delivered from all thine enemies, and thou hast been delivered from the powers of Satan and from darkness! (DC 24:1) Joseph’s power over his enemies was also a common theme of his later sermons:
“This generation is as corrupt as the generation of the Jews that crucified Christ; and if He were here to-day, and should preach the same doctrine he did then, they would put Him to death. I defy all the world to destroy the work of God; and I prophesy they never will have power to kill me till my work is accomplished, and I am ready to die.” (1843, Teachings, p. 328)
“The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have. I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies, lest some of them should, peradventure, repent.” (1843, Teachings, p. 340)
“He that arms himself with a gun, sword, or pistol, except in the defense of truth, will sometime be sorry for it. I never carry any weapon with me bigger than my penknife. When I was dragged before the cannon and muskets in Missouri, I was unarmed. God will always protect me until my mission is fulfilled.” (1844, Teachings, p. 365-6)
"The Prophet’s Dreams on Conditions of Apostates at Nauvoo
"In the evening I attended meeting in the Seventies’ Hall. George J. Adams preached and I made some observations afterwards, and related a dream which I had a short time since. I thought I was riding out in my carriage, and my guardian angel was along with me. We went past the Temple and had not gone much further before we espied two large snakes so fast locked together that neither of them had any power. I inquired of my guide what I was to understand by that. He answered, ’Those snakes represent Dr. Foster and Chauncey L. Higbee. They are your enemies and desire to destroy you; but you see they are so fast locked together that they have no power of themselves to hurt you.’ I then thought I was riding up Mulholland street, but my guardian angel was not along with me. On arriving at the prairie, I was overtaken and seized by William and Wilson Law and others, saying, ’Ah, ah! we have got you at last! We will secure you and put you in a safe place!’ and, without any ceremony dragged me out of my carriage, tied my hands behind me, and threw me into a deep, dry pit, where I remained in a perfectly helpless condition, and they went away. While struggling to get out, I heard Wilson Law screaming for help hard by. I managed to unloose myself so as to make a spring, when I caught hold of some grass which grew at the edge of the pit.
“I looked out of the pit and saw Wilson Law at a little distance attacked by ferocious wild beasts, and heard him cry out, ’Oh Brother Joseph, come and save me!’ I replied, ’I cannot, for you have put me into this deep pit.’ On looking out another way, I saw William Law with outstretched tongue, blue in the face, and the green poison forced out of his mouth caused by the coiling of a large snake around his body. It had also grabbed him by the arm, a little above the elbow, ready to devour him. He cried out in the intensity of his agony, ’Oh, Brother Joseph, Brother Joseph, come and save me, or I die!’ I also replied to him, ’I cannot, William; I would willingly, but you have tied me and put me in this pit, and I am powerless to help you or liberate myself.’ In a short time after my guide came and said aloud, ’Joseph, Joseph, what are you doing there?’ I replied, ’My enemies fell upon me, bound me and threw me in.’ He then took me by the hand, and drew me out of the pit, set me free, and we went away rejoicing. (June 13, 1844.) DHC 6:461-462.” (Teachings, pp. 368-9)