Mother and father were close friends of the Prophet Joseph Smith. One evening they were at the Prophet's home at a party, a man, tired, looking dirty, hungry, unshaven, and with hair hanging about his shoulders, came in. Some of the guests seeing him in the Prophet's house, seized him and were about to throw him out when the Prophet saw his face. It was Porter Rockwell. He had been in prison in Missouri. The Prophet immediately went to him, put his arms about his shoulders, and inquired how he had escaped and how he had been treated. Rockwell told him he made his escape by climbing out of a hole in the ceiling where the stove pipe went through. The Prophet told Porter not to cut his hair but to wear it long, and to live faithful and that his enemies would have no power over him.