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.
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Expulsion from Jackson County
In 1833, mobs expelled over 1,000 Latter-day Saints from Jackson County, Missouri, stealing property and burning homes.
Governor Dunklin offered a temporary military escort back, but couldn't provide a permanent standing army for protection.
insights INSIGHT
Zion's Camp Purpose
Zion's Camp, a group of 200+ saints, marched to Missouri to become a standing army, protecting returning members.
Their goal was to ensure resettlement and safety after the governor's temporary escort withdrew.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Moroni's Example
Captain Moroni's example from the Book of Mormon sparks discussion about emulating warriors versus reluctant protectors.
Moroni only justified violence when defending home and family.
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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.