JOEL - There are documented reports about this happening but whether they are true or not is anyone's guess. Here are a few references about this event:

Mary Lightner, a Mormon who lived near Carthage wrote: “A number of men came and called us to the door and said ‘The Smiths are dead, and they do say a great light appeared when they were killed.’ I said, ‘That should prove to you that Joseph was a true Prophet and a man of God.’ One answered, ‘It proves that the Lord was well pleased with what was done.’” (Biographical Sketch of Mary Lightner, p.11)

The official Church Sunday School Catechism for 1882 reads:

“Q.--What was done by the mob after he had fallen from the window?
A.--Joseph was lifted up and placed against the curb of a well.
Q.--What did Williams, the commander of the mob order?
A.--He ordered four men to shoot him.
Q.--Did they do so?
A.--Yes; they stood about eight feet from the well and all fired at once.
Q.--What was done next?
A.--A man with a bowie knife raised his hand to cut off Joseph’s head.
Q.--What prevented him committing this brutal act?
A.--A vivid flash of lightning caused his arm to fall powerless.”
(Deseret Sunday School Catchism No.1, p.51)

And from the Millennial Star:
"...he fell outward into the hands of his murderers, exclaiming, 'O Lord my God!' He fell partly on his right shoulder and back, his neck and head reaching the ground a little before his feet, and he rolled instantly on his face. "From this position he was taken by a man who was barefoot and bareheaded, and having on no coat, his pants rolled up above his knees, and his shirt sleeves above his elbows. He set Joseph against the south side of the well curb, which was situated a few feet from the jail, when Col. Levi Williams ordered four men to shoot him. They stood about eight feet from the curb, and fired simultaneously a slight cringe of the body was all the indication of pain visible when the balls struck him, and he fell on his face. "The ruffian who set him against the well curb now gathered a bowie-knife for the purpose of severing his head from his body. He raised the knife, and was in the attitude of striking, when a light, so sudden and powerful, burst from the heavens upon the bloody scene (passing its vivid chain between Joseph and his murders), that they were struck with terror. This light, in its appearance potency, baffles all powers of description. The arm of the ruffian that held the knife fell powerless, the muskets of the four who fired fell to the ground, and they all stood like marble statues, not having the power to move a single limb of their bodies. "The retreat of the mob was as hurried and disorderly as it possibly could have been Col. Williams Hallooed to some who had just commenced their retreat to come back and help to carry off the four men who fired, and who were still paralyzed. They came and carried them away by main strength to the baggage wagons, when they fled towards Warsaw. (Millennial Star, Vol. 24, page 487)

From Parley P. Pratt:
"William T. Head, an officer in Captain Lawn's company, and tarrying in Carthage, testified that he saw a certain man raise a large knife to strike off the head of Joseph, when, all at once, and in the midst of a clear day, with no cloud in sight, 'a terrible clap of thunder rolled heavily, and forked lightnings flashed in the face of the murderers, and perfectly paralyzed a number of them.
'The ruffian, who had raised his knife and had sworn with a dreadful oath to take the head off Joseph, stood perfectly paralyzed, his arm uplifted with the knife suspended in air, and could not move a limb. His comrades carried him off, and all fled in terror from the scene.'
These particulars, and many others, were related to me by brother Beckwith previous to his death, and afterwards by his widow and father-in-law, and others who were conversant with them, and are believed to be correct. (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt Deseret Book Company, 1938; pages 425,426)

2. I have also read a somewhat bizzare article about the saints leaving their homes and living in tent cities far from the urban centers. And furthermore that the church already had land for such purpose in the mountains East of SLC. Any truth to this one too?

JOEL - Never heard of this one, but I suppose if some earthquake were to hit the Wasatch front, the saints should be able to do just that if they have prepared like they have been told by the prophets.