Discover the tumultuous journey of Zion's Camp and the forced exodus of church members from Missouri. Delve into the complex dynamics of violence and faith within the Latter-day Saints community. Unravel the trials faced by members, including internal conflicts and divine revelations during their march. Explore how 19th-century church members interpreted the Civil War as a prophetic fulfillment and the moral implications of their actions. Ultimately, reflect on the sacrifices and spiritual lessons from this pivotal period, emphasizing peace amidst chaos.
Zion's Camp was initiated as a military escort to support displaced Latter-day Saints returning to their homes in Jackson County, reflecting their plight against organized violence.
The podcast discusses the types of violence experienced by the saints, emphasizing their role as victims rather than aggressors during the hostilities of the 1830s.
Despite the initial goal of military action, the journey of Zion's Camp led to revelations promoting peace and non-violence, shaping church leadership and governance principles.
Deep dives
The Expulsion from Jackson County
In November 1833, local settlers violently expelled over a thousand church members from Jackson County, Missouri. The mobs destroyed property and homes, forcing the saints into nearby counties during the harsh winter. Church leaders sought help by reaching out to Joseph Smith in Ohio, who received divine counsel to petition government officials for assistance. This led them to Governor Daniel Dunklin, who sympathized but could not provide long-term military protection for the displaced saints.
The Formation of Zion's Camp
Following Governor Dunklin's conditional offer of military escort, Joseph Smith organized a march known as Zion's Camp to assist the displaced saints in returning to Jackson County. Over 200 volunteers made the nearly thousand-mile journey in hopes of resettling and protecting their fellow church members. The initiative was framed as a quasi-military effort to establish a standing defense for the saints after Dunklin’s troops withdrew. This mobilization raised questions about the nature of peace and violence among Latter-day Saints during a time of persecution.
Understanding Violence in Latter-day Saint History
The podcast explores the history of violence within the early Latter-day Saints, categorizing violence into three types: when saints were victims, engaged in back-and-forth conflict, or were the aggressors. The early days saw the saints largely as victims of organized violence against their community, reflected in the 1833 expulsion from Jackson County. Although there were instances of self-defense, the narrative emphasizes that the saints largely did not initiate violence. This discussion serves to dispel notions that Latter-day Saints are inherently violent despite their difficult history.
The Challenges Faced by Zion's Camp
The journey of Zion's Camp was arduous, marked by external and internal conflicts among its members. Complaints arose regarding poor conditions, lack of food and water, and hard travel, which tested the resolve of those involved. Joseph Smith emphasized the need for unity and adherence to God's commandments, warning that disobedience could result in significant challenges. These struggles, alongside the harsh realities of the journey, helped shape the character and leadership of those who would play pivotal roles in the church’s history.
The Lessons from Zion's Camp
Ultimately, Zion's Camp did not fulfill its original aim of reclaiming land through force, leading to revelations that emphasized non-violence and the importance of being good neighbors. The Lord instructed the saints to seek peace and avoid violence, suggesting that the collective readiness to fight was intended as a demonstration of commitment rather than an invitation to violence. Church leaders came to recognize the experience as a leadership training ground rather than a military campaign. The experience reinforced a spiritual understanding of peace and set the stage for future church governance, highlighting a commitment to peaceful principles.
In November 1833, ruthless mobs of local settlers drove over a thousand Church members out of Jackson County, Missouri, plundering their property and burning their homes to dissuade them from ever returning. These battered and scattered saints took refuge that winter in various nearby counties while local Church leaders sent desperate letters to Ohio to seek the counsel of the prophet Joseph Smith. As the prophet petitioned the Lord’s guidance on the matter he was told, among other things, to have those scattered saints petition government leaders for help, which they did. In fact Missouri Governor Daniel Dunklin was quite sympathetic to the saints’ plight and expressed his willingness to provide a military guard to escort the saints back to their lands and property in Jackson County. The only problem, he said, was that he could not authorize a standing army to be stationed there for the ongoing protection of the saints.
This essential piece of news would soon factor heavily into the decision of Joseph Smith and over 200 saints from the East to march nearly a thousand miles to Missouri in what became known as Zion’s camp. Their aim was to join with the governor’s military escort of the saints into Jackson County and then become that standing army who would ensure the resettlement and safety of their scattered friends once Governor Dunklin’s troops withdrew.
In this episode of Church History Matters, we dig in to some of the ins and outs of Zion’s Camp and discuss what the march of a quasi-military group of Latter-day Saints led by a prophet of God might teach us about peace and violence among Latter-day Saints.
