This week in Church history
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
175 years ago
After mobs had driven members of the Church from their homes in Jackson County, Mo., Zion's Camp was organized in early May 1834, "for the restoration and redemption of Zion (Doctrine and Covenants 103:29)."
The revelation said the camp should be made up of at least 500 men, but was not to proceed with fewer than 100.
On May 1, 1834, "a part of these volunteers left Kirtland, and on the fifth Joseph Smith and the remainder took up their journey," according to Essentials in Church History by President Joseph Fielding Smith.
About 200 men marched to Missouri, arriving in June. Zion's Camp was disbanded in late June after a revelation was received "that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion (Doctrine and Covenants 105:9)."
Essentials in Church History states: "While the object for which Zion's Camp was organized and for which they made the journey, as understood by the members, was not attained, yet without question they did accomplish all that the Lord expected of them. … The faith was tried; experience had been gained by which men were to be chosen for responsible positions in the Church in days to come, and the work of the Lord advanced."
