The Restoration of the GospelWidtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Religion
The Restoration of the Gospel
Widtsoe, Osborne J. P.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
[Footnote F: Zion's Camp was the name given to a company of volunteers
who set out from the Eastern States to carry assistance to the Saints
in Missouri. In the fall of the year 1833, the Saints who lived in
Jackson county, Missouri, were driven from that county by a lawless
mob, and all their lands were confiscated. The exiles found refuge in
Clay county. From there, Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight were sent
to Kirtland to report to the Prophet the condition of the Saints in
the West. The Prophet was distracted by the news. He enquired of the
Lord to learn how Zion might be redeemed, and received a revelation
in which he was instructed to call for volunteers from the strength
of the Church--young men and middle-aged--to march to Zion to redeem
it. This band of volunteers was not to exceed five hundred, nor was it
to consist of fewer than one hundred (Doc. and Cov. 103). Immediately
the brethren in Kirtland began to prepare for the work of redemption.
Recruiting officers and solicitors were sent to all the branches of
the Church. By the latter part of April, 1834, volunteers began to
assemble in Kirtland. On May first, the first advance was made in the
eventful thousand-miles march. A little more than twenty men, with four
baggage wagons, proceeded from Kirtland to New Portage. Not many days
later, the Prophet with the rest of the recruits at Kirtland, joined
the camp at New Portage. There the now famous Zion's Camp was organized
into companies of twelve, with a suitable division of responsibility
for a long march. From there the march proceeded through the states
of Indiana and Illinois, picking up recruits on the way, until there
were in the company two hundred five strong and faithful men, with
twenty-five baggage wagons. Naturally, such a march of a thousand miles
was full of trial and hardship. It was a march well designed to test
the faith and the characters of those who made it. Some were found
wanting in the sterling qualities necessary for the leaders of a Chosen
People. Others never lost sight of the noble purpose of their mission,
and therefore retained their spirits unruffled till the last. It was
fitting that such men as theses should be chosen later to lead Zion.
Zion's Camp was disbanded June twenty-fifth, 1834, at Rush Creek, Clay
county, Missouri.]
[Footnote G: At a grand council held May second, 1835, the newly
chosen apostles were arranged according to seniority. The official
organization of the first quorum of apostles was then as follows: 1
Thomas B. Marsh 7 Parley P. Pratt 2 David w. Patten 8 Luke S. Johnson 3
Brigham Young 9 William Smith 4 Heber C. Kimball 10 Orson Pratt 5 Orson
Hyde 11 John F. Boynton 6 William E. McLellin 12 Lyman E. Johnson]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account