Zion's Camp facts for kids
Zion's Camp was a journey made by a group called the Latter Day Saints. Their leader, Joseph Smith, led them from Kirtland, Ohio, to Clay County, Missouri, in May and June of 1834. The group hoped to get back land they had lost.
People who were not Mormons had forced the Saints off their land. The Latter Day Saints believed this land was special. They thought it would become a holy city called Zion. Joseph Smith said God told him to lead his people there, like Moses in ancient times.
People in Missouri heard the Latter Day Saints were coming. They formed groups to stop them. These groups had more people than Smith's men. Joseph Smith then said God told him the group wasn't ready yet. He said they needed to wait a bit longer. The journey ended on July 25, 1834. Many people got sick with cholera, and most survivors went back to Ohio.
Even though they didn't get the land back, many camp members felt it was a good experience. Some even said they saw angels. Most people in the camp felt more loyal to Joseph Smith after the journey. Many future leaders of the church came from those who were part of Zion's Camp. Joseph Smith's belief in Zion grew even stronger after this event.
Why the Camp Was Formed
A main belief of the Latter Day Saints is that a new holy city, like the biblical New Jerusalem, would be built in America. By 1829, this idea was part of their beliefs. In 1831, Joseph Smith said this new city would be in Jackson County, Missouri. He started sending Latter Day Saint settlers there. They aimed to build a special place called the City of Zion.
By the summer of 1833, about 1,200 Latter Day Saints lived in Jackson County. Older settlers felt worried about their growing numbers. They also heard rumors that the Latter Day Saints supported ending slavery. This made the older settlers even more concerned.
Groups of "old settlers" attacked the Latter Day Saints in 1833. Joseph Smith told his followers not to fight back right away. But he said they could defend themselves after four attacks. The Saints first tried to get their land back using laws and courts. They hired lawyers to talk with the court and the Missouri government.
This decision to go to court likely caused more trouble in October 1833. When the Missourians attacked the Saints for the fourth time, the Saints fought back. By the end of 1833, many Latter Day Saint homes were destroyed. Their church's printing shop was also ruined. Almost all church members had to leave Jackson County. They found temporary homes in nearby areas, like Clay County. This county was across the Missouri River from Jackson County.
In December 1833, Joseph Smith shared another message about getting Zion back. It told the Missouri settlers to use courts or politics to solve the problem. But it also warned that a military solution might be needed if those efforts failed. The message said God would soon tell Smith to gather church members. They would go to God's land, break down walls, and scatter enemies. If the Missourians fought them, the Saints would get revenge for God. They would then take the land. The legal and political efforts didn't seem to work. A court hearing in February 1834 was even delayed because of protests.
Starting the Journey
At the main church location in Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith said he received a message from God. This message called for a group to be formed in Kirtland. This group would then march to Missouri. Their goal was to "redeem Zion," meaning to get the land back. About 200 men, along with some women and children, volunteered for this journey. This group became known as "Zion's Camp."
The Long March
Joseph Smith and his volunteers started their journey on May 4, 1834. By June 4, they had walked across Indiana and Illinois. They reached the Mississippi River and crossed it into Missouri. They traveled through most of Missouri by the end of June. News of their approach worried many non-Mormons in Jackson and Clay Counties.
Attempts to talk about the Latter Day Saints returning to Jackson County did not work. Joseph Smith decided to end Zion's Camp instead of fighting. Many members of the camp thought they should fight. They criticized Smith for his decision. Later, many people in the camp got sick with cholera. The journey was about 900 miles long. It failed to get the land back, and fourteen people died.
What Happened Next
When Joseph Smith returned to Kirtland, he faced more problems. However, many people who had been in Zion's Camp became very loyal to the church. After returning, Smith organized two important groups: the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of the Seventy. He mostly chose men who had served in Zion's Camp for these roles.
The Latter Day Saints did not achieve their goal of returning to Jackson County. In 1836, the Missouri government approved a plan. They set aside a new area called Caldwell County, Missouri just for the Saints. But two years later, Missourians again forced the Saints out. This time, they crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois.
Many years after Joseph Smith's death, members of a group now called the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) were the first Latter Day Saints to return to Jackson County. They hoped to finally get Zion back.
