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In February 1834 the Prophet
Joseph Smith received a revelation telling him to send help to the
Church members in Missouri who were suffering from mob persecution.
Later that same spring, a group of about two hundred men accepted the
call to march a thousand miles from Kirtland, Ohio, to Independence,
Missouri, to help. Eleven women and seven children went with them.
This group of faithful Saints was known as Zion's Camp.
The Prophet organized the camp into groups of ten and
fifty and appointed a leader for each group. As they traveled, the men
practiced military skills in order to defend themselves when they
faced the mob in Missouri.
Many members of the camp frequently complained because
of the difficulty of the march. They unfairly blamed the Prophet for
the blisters, bad weather, poor food, and other problems they faced.
Their frequent arguing and complaining prompted Joseph to tell them
they would suffer if they did not repent.
When Zion's Camp reached the Fishing River in Missouri,
members of a mob rode into camp and threatened the Saints. That night
the Lord caused a great hailstorm to force the mob to retreat.
At Fishing River the Lord gave Joseph Smith another
revelation. The Lord told Joseph that he did not want the Saints to
fight a battle with their enemies. But the Lord was pleased that they
had made the journey. It was a test of their faith and would help the
people of Zion's Camp learn important lessons. Those who had
demonstrated great faith during the difficult march - men such as
Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and Wilford Woodruff - were among
those who would later lead the Church. Following the revelation, a
sickness struck the camp to humble those who had argued and
complained. Then the Lord instructed the members of the camp to return
home, sharing the gospel with those they met along the way. Even
though it was a very difficult experience, those who participated in
Zion's Camp were grateful they had accepted the Prophet's call.
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