Saints Without Halos: A Mormon History Website

Mormon History 1830-1844

Zion's Camp Chronology (1834)

February 17	D&C 102 (Kirtland): First high council is organized to settle "important difficulties" that cannot be settled by the church or bishop's council.	¶ Minutes of February 17, 1834 ¶ Heber's Histories of Zion's Camp
February 22	Parley P. Pratt (h) and Lyman Wight (h) (swh) arrive in Kirtland <.	J. Whitmer, 72n4.
February 24	D&C 103 (Kirtland): Jackson county saints to be restored to their lands. They were driven from Jackson because they were not entirely obedient. Now Zion to be redeemed to power; one will be raised up like Moses to lead the people back; Parley P. Pratt (h) and Lyman to gather a hundred men, also Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Frederick G. Williams, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt.
February 26	Those designated to raise men for Zion's camp on February 24 leave on their assignments.
March 31	Orson Hyde writes Joseph that he has failed to raise money quickly in the eastern branches of the church.
April 21	Conference of elders in Norton, Medina county, Ohio. Joseph, Sidney, Oliver, and Zebedee Coltrin raise $66.37 and a few volunteers.	¶ Minutes of April 20–21, 1834
May 1	Orson Pratt's company of 20, including Wilford Woodruff, leaves Kirtland for Zion. Joseph remains in Kirtland to organize a larger body of men.	Orson Pratt journals, 40. WWJ 1:9 // Wilford Woodruff (h1)
May 4	Sunday services in Kirtland. Sidney urges men to "deeds of valor" and promises "the glory of Christian martyrs."	Sidney Rigdon, 149.
	Joseph calls volunteers in Kirtland together, speaks for a short time, and seals them up to eternal life:
	we ware all Sealed up to Eternal Life by Joseph and said they should come forth in the day of the Lord if they comited sins they would be delivereth over to the bufetings of Satan for the destruction of the flesh but they should come forth in of the day of the Lord Jesus.	Reuben McBride diary
	In New Portage, Orson Pratt (h) addresses his camp on the second coming and millennium, and "the Saints inheriting the earth forever."	Orson Pratt journals, 40.
May 5	Joseph and volunteers later known as Zion's Camp leave Kirtland.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 6	Joseph arrives at New Portage with a hundred volunteers.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1); Orson Pratt journals, 40.
May 7	The brethren put their money into a general fund.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 8	Camp is divided into companies of twelve. (Orson Pratt says "about 13 each" and adds, "… behold the presence of the Lord was with us by day and by night and his Angel went before us to prepare the way."	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1); Orson Pratt journals, 40.
May 11	Sunday. Sylvester Smith preaches and the sacrament is administered.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 12	Camp passes through Indian settlements, Sylvester Smith's "refractory feelings" observed, cross Miami river at Dayton.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 16	Joseph expresses low feelings shortly before encountering an ancient burial mound.	¶ Ezra Thayer
May 17	Camp crosses into Indiana. Guard prevents spy from entering camp. Settling an argument in the camp, Joseph declares Sylvester Smith has a rebellious spirit and warns the brethren to humble themselves or be scourged.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 18	During the night, the horses foundered in the river. Joseph promises they will be all right if the brethren repent. All are better by noon, except Sylvester's, which soon dies. Sunday services are held as usual, and the sacrament administered.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 19	a caravan of about two hundred Mormonites, with a long train of wagons, passed through this place, on their way to the "far west." There were but few women among them, and the men were generally, if not all, supplied with fire-arms. A stout, hardy set of looking fellows they were too, and many of them quite intelligent. From their equipments, it has been suspected that they intend joining and defending their brethren in Jackson county, Missouri. They professed to be in search of new lands, whereon to form a settlement, either in Illinois or farther west.	“Mormonites,” Daily National Intelligencer, May 31, 1834 (reprint from Richmond Palladin (Richmond, Indiana). Link to source at UDR.
May 21	Pass through Indianopolis without incident, despite hostile threats.	, 480; ¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1) ¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1) mistakenly has the 19th.
May 25	Arrive at Illinois border. Rest, but no Sunday services.	¶ Heber's Zion's Camp (1)
May 26	Resume journey, "and at night were aroused by the continual threats of our enemies," but "Notwithstanding our enemies were continually breathing threats of violence, we did not fear … neither did we hesitate … for God was with us, and His angels went before us, and the faith of our little band was unwavering. We know that angels were our companions, for we saw them."	History JS, MS 15 no. 5, (Jan. 29, 1853): 69. Note: "resume our journey, {which we did on monday the 26th and at night were aroused by the constinued threats of our enemies.}" Pencil lines indicate the text beginning "Notwithstanding" and ending "we saw them." place the passage after "Tuesday {the} 27th". , 481.
May 27
June 1	Camp services in Jacksonville, Indiana (near Decater). Five Elders—former Baptist, Campbellite, Reformed Methodist, and Restorationist preachers—speak throughout the day. Local citizens ask questions, "but no one could learn our names, profession, business, or destinatin; and, although they suspected we were 'Mormons,' they were very civil."	History JS, MS 15 no. 5, (Jan. 29, 1853): 69. Not in .
June 2	Camp crosses Illinois river. "The ferryman counted, and declared there were five hundred of us; yet our true number was only about one hundred and fifty."	History JS, MS 15 no. 5, (Jan. 29, 1853): 69.
June 4	Joseph writes Emma that the Camp has reached the Mississippi in good condition, but needs more men. He enjoys the journey, especially "wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionaly the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity …"	Joseph to Emma, June 4, 1834
June 4-5	Camp crosses the Mississippi into Missouri.
June 5	A. S. Gilbert, W. W. Phelps, and "Edward Partridge, &c." write the governor, "We think the time is just at hand, when our Society will be glad to avail themselves of the protection of a military guard, that they may return to Jackson county." They request "an order on the commanding officer, to be sent by return of mail, that we might have it in our hands to present when our people are ready to start."	History JS, MS 15 no. 5, (Jan. 29, 1853): 69–70.
June 6	Governor still looking for a compromise without getting involved personally.	Daniel Dunklin to Col. Thornton, June 6, 1834
June 9	Governor Dunklin writes W. W. Phelps and others:	HC 2:89.
	… you have a second order for the delivery of your arms now in the possession of the militia of Jackson county. Colonel Lucas has resigned his command, he informs me. If Lieut.-Colonel Pitcher should be arrested before you receive this, you will please hold up the order until I am informed who may be appointed to the command of the regiment.
June 15	Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt (h) return from Jefferson City: Governor Dunklin says it is impractical to restore the Saints in Jackson county.	HC 2:89, 94.
June 16	Cross Grand river in a ferry. Martin Harris handles a black snake with his bare feet and is bitten. Joseph reproves him and admonishes the brethren "never to trifle with the promises of God … when a man designedly prokes a serpent to bite him, [96] the principle is the same as when a man drinks deadly poison knowing it to be such. In that case no man has any claim on the promises of God to be healed."	HC 2:95–96.
	800–1000 residents of Clay county, including Mormons, meet at Liberty court house at request of Judge Ryland. Non-Mormons argue Mormons should leave the county. General Doniphan argues on their behalf. Battle averted when one Missourian stabbs another. Mormons write Samuel C. Owens that they do not intend violence and will discourage other Mormons from entering Jackson county.	HC 2:97–100.
	Owens and James Campbell start for Independence to raise army to oppose Zion's Camp, but boat sinks in Missouri. Campbell drowns, Owens floats downstream and survives.
June 17	Zion's Camp ferry across the Wakenda.	HC 2:100.
June 22	Zion's Camp is disbanded.	J. Whitmer, 72n4.
June 23	Clay county. 15 are selected for Kirtland endowment.	Minutes of June 23, 1834
June 25	Joseph writes Col. Thornton, and attorneys Doniphan and Atchison, "to quiet the prejudices and fears of some part of the citizens of this county, we have concluded that our company shall be immediately dispersed, and continue so. till every effort for an adjustment of differences between us and the people of Jackson has been made [506] on our part, that would in any wise be required of us by disinterested men of republican principle."	, 505–506 // HC 2:114–115.
June 26	Cholera strikes early in the morning and continues four days. Sixty-eight are stricken, of which thirteen or fourteen die.	¶ Heber's Accounts of Zion's Camp (2)
July	Early in the month, on the Prophet's orders, Lyman Wight (h) (swh) disbands Zion's Camp.
	The high council in Zion issues a public appeal for assistance, warning if this violation of the constitutions prevails, no one will be safe from religious persecution.	July 1834 Appeal
August 16	Joseph writes Lyman Wight (h) (swh) that September 11, 1836 "is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion."	Joseph to Lyman Wight and others, August 16, 1834 in JS personal, 2nd ed., 347–350; HC 2:144–146. " I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some." D&C 64:21
	Expulsion from Jackson County Zion's Camp Jackson County Chronologies