The podcast delves into the tumultuous settling of Latter-day Saints in 19th-century Missouri. It highlights the immediate tensions and escalating violence they faced from local residents beginning in 1831. Eyewitness accounts of the violent expulsion in 1833 capture the fear and chaos experienced by families. The discussion also touches on theological dilemmas around self-defense versus non-retaliation, and the community's resilience while striving for peace amidst persecution. Revelations received by church leaders in response to this turmoil are also examined.
The designation of Jackson County by Joseph Smith as the Land of Promise sparked immediate tensions with the local non-Latter-day Saints.
Escalating hostilities led to physical violence and vandalism against Latter-day Saints, culminating in their forcible expulsion from the area in 1833.
Joseph Smith’s revelations during this period emphasized peace and legal rights, highlighting the church’s efforts to respond to adversities and seek protection.
Deep dives
Founding of the Gathering to Zion
In 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation designating Jackson County, Missouri, as the Land of Promise and the location for the City of Zion. Following this revelation, Latter-day Saints began settling in the area, leading to the establishment of a substantial community. This sudden influx of over a thousand church members clashed significantly with the existing non-Latter-day Saint population, who viewed these newcomers with suspicion. The tensions escalated swiftly as locals began to express violent hostility towards the Latter-day Saints, setting the stage for a tumultuous conflict.
Initial Conflicts and Threats
Tensions between the Latter-day Saints and Jackson County residents escalated almost immediately as locals began making verbal threats and vandalizing church members' properties. By 1832, intimidation tactics, including physical assaults, led to an environment of fear among the Saints. Events such as shootings at church members' homes exemplified the growing animosity, culminating in a documented atmosphere rife with hostility. This period of unrest heralded a dramatic change in the dynamic between the two groups, creating clear lines of division fueled by conflicting beliefs and values.
The Mob Manifesto and Escalation of Violence
In July 1833, locals officially declared their intent to expel the Latter-day Saints from Jackson County, outlining grievances that showcased deep-seated fears and prejudice against the Saints. The declaration labeled church members as poor, lazy, and a potential threat to their social order, specifically citing concerns over the integration of African Americans. This formalization of hostility led to increased violence against the Saints, with mobs engaging in acts such as property destruction and public beatings. The response from church leaders was one of refusal to comply, resulting in an even stronger backlash from these violent civilian mobs.
Government Inaction and Forced Eviction
As persecution intensified and escalated to the point of forcible expulsion, the Saints sought assistance from the Missouri governor, Daniel Dunklin. Initially supportive, Dunklin advised the church members to pursue legal recourse, which ultimately backfired and incited further violence from the mobs. Despite attempts to negotiate and maintain peace, such as signing agreements to vacate, the situation deteriorated over the following months leading to the outright ejection of Saints from Jackson County. This series of events forced Latter-day Saints into neighboring counties, where they would seek refuge amidst widespread devastation and loss.
Revelations and Response from Church Leadership
In response to the escalating violence, Joseph Smith received a number of revelations guiding church members on how to confront their adversities. These revelations emphasized the importance of non-violence and maintaining peace, while also addressing the need for church members to hold onto their rights and properties legally. As the conflict evolved, church leaders began to organize efforts to petition the government for redress and protection, culminating in a march known as Zion's Camp. However, despite their intentions, the disbandment of Zion's Camp exemplified the complexities and challenges the Saints faced in their pursuit of safety and belonging amidst an atmosphere of hostility.
In the late summer of 1831, select groups of Church members began settling on the far western frontier of the United States in Jackson County, Missouri. Earlier that year the prophet Joseph Smith had received a revelation identifying the area as “the land of promise” and “the place for the city of Zion,” and shortly afterward the gathering to Zion had begun. Tensions between Church members and the non-Latter-day Saint locals in Jackson County existed almost immediately. By the spring of 1832 Missouri locals began verbally threatening the saints and occasionally vandalizing their homes to intimidate them and get them to leave. By the summer of 1833 the hatred and fear of the locals erupted into full-blown violence against Church members culminating in their forcible expulsion from Jackson County.
On this episode of Church History Matters, we take a close look at the various factors that led to this violent eviction of the Saints from Jackson County, the response of the Missouri governor to this illegal action in his state, and the revelations received by Joseph Smith responding to this severe treatment.
