Mormon Church History - LDS Zion's Camp - 3/3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Zsvml57PE is a video describing how to learn more about the Mormon Church.

On May 5, 1834 Joseph Smith, prophet and leader of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormon Church), led 85 men out of Kirtland, Ohio, towards Missouri. Their purpose was to help the Mormons in Missouri whose land, homes and possessions had been taken from them by mobs. As they marched, recruits joined them. When the last group of recruits arrived, there were a little over 200 men, 12 women and 9 children. The oldest volunteer was Samuel Baker who was 79, and the youngest was George A. Smith, Joseph Smith's cousin, he was only 16. The Lord had commanded Joseph Smith to gather 500 men to the cause, or as many as would volunteer. Thus, the group was smaller than the Lord had requested.

The men of Zion's Camp walked the 900 mile one-way trip. They usually walked between 20 and 40 miles per day. Brigham Young, second Mormon president, who went on the trek said, "it was seldom that I ever laid down to rest before eleven or twelve o'clock at night, and we always rose very early in the morning [usually around 3 or 4 in the morning]." The group always camped on Sundays, held Church meetings, and partook of the sacrament, obeying the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.

On June 18th, the Prophet felt the presence of danger and woke the camp early. As they marched through the city of Richmond, a woman warned them "there is a company of men lying in wait here, who are calculating to kill you this morning as you pass through." The company was only able to march nine miles because of broken wagon wheels but they were never attacked. They had intended to reach Liberty but instead set up camp between two forks of the Fishing River. This event is depicted in the video.

Meanwhile, Joseph received a revelation informing him that Zion was not yet worthy to be redeemed, and that the only option was to wait.

On July 3, in a general meeting for the Missouri Saints and Zion's Camp, the camp was disbanded, divided into smaller groups, and sent home. Joseph Smith stayed in Missouri until July 12, uplifting and helping the Mormons in Missouri.

The trek was a time of trial and tribulation, including an attack of cholera which proved to be a chastisement from the Lord. Although Zion's Camp was not able to complete its purpose or stop the hostilities and persecutions the Saints were experiencing in Missouri, Zion's Camp was not a failure. While many of the men complained about the poor conditions, those who pressed forward and continued in their faith were strengthened. The trials were for their benefit and learning, nine of the Twelve Apostles called in those days were a part of Zion's Camp, and all of the members of the Quorum of the Seventy had marched with it.

Information from http://www.mormonwiki.com

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[LDSseminaryStudent]

But the miracles of God still poor out upon us. We still receive revelation. You can deny the Book or Mormon and Joseph Smith but you cannot deny the signs and the miracles.

[ldsaint13]

i love the zion's camp accounts. joseph smith - "stand still, and see the salvation of god"

[tamasandy]

"wait for a little season"? how long is a little season? i guess it still hasn't ended because they're all dead and zion has not been redeemed.

[Gethsemaneful]

@LDSseminaryStudent "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt 25:45,KJV)

God grants miracles to all, regardless, for his own glory.

[LuCEEhBBy]

.poor jesse. :(

.well i lovee the storyy of Zion's Camp && thee sacrifices they had to makee for the lord. :)

[jivenet]

Mormonism has a different Jesus, a different God, and a different Holy Spirit, and a different Gospel. II Corinthians 11:4.

[jenlinc2006]

But JS's death is... innocent looking. No shots...

[AcademicTheologian]

I am impressed with this movie. I have been studying the biography of Joseph Smith and this is very historically accurate. I think Richard Bushman might have been a technical adviser because he talks a lot about George A. who is the narrator in this film.

[omiolo]

"He would not save us from a more deadly enemy, CONTENTION"