Zion's Camp

Zion's Camp was organized on May 6, 1834 near New Portage, Ohio in response to Mormon persecution in Jackson County, Missouri. Earlier that year, on February 24, 1834, the Lord had commanded the Prophet Joseph Smith to organize a group to aid the "brethren, who have been scattered on the land of Zion." Many of the Saints had been forced out of their homes and fled into Clay County to escape mob violence in late 1833. Zion's Camp was formed to bring aid and relief to the suffering Saints and to reclaim their lands in Jackson County, Missouri which Church members viewed as the core of Zion.

The camp began with just over 100 men, but by the time they reached Missouri, additional men met up with them bringing their number to over 200. In total, the members of Zion's Camp travel more than 900 miles on foot between Kirtland and Missouri. They were organized into companies of tens and fifties with a captain at the head of each company.

The march of Zion's Camp was a refining period for many early leaders of the Church. George A. Smith, future apostle and 16 year-old cousin of the Prophet Joseph Smith described that he was "so weary, hungry and sleepy that I dreamed while walking along the road of seeing a beautiful stream of water by a pleasant shade and a nice loaf of bread and a bottle of milk laid out on a cloth by the side of the spring."

Members of Zion's Camp endured a limited food and water supply, unsanitary conditions, traveling through humidity, rain, and mud for sometimes as many as 40 miles a day. The difficulties lead to some members of Zion's Camp becoming greatly discouraged and Joseph exhorted them "to humble themselves before the Lord and become united, that they might not be scourged."

On June 19, the group had reached Daviess County and began to set up camp between the Little and Big Fishing Rivers. Five armed men rode into camp and told them that a group of Missourians were amassing with the intent of killing "Joe Smith and his army." A tremendous storm soon arose in which rain, hail, thunder and lighting came down upon the mob and prevented them from attacking the members of the camp. Joseph and the others took refuge for the night in a small Church not far away.

When Colonel Sconce met Joseph Smith on June 21, he acknowledged "there is an Almighty power that protects this people, for I started from Richmond, Ray county, with a company of armed men, having a fixed determination to destroy you, but was kept back by the storm, and was not able to reach you."

However, due to the camp's continuing murmurings against the Prophet and disobedience to the Lord's commandments, cholera broke out among them and 13 members of Zion's Camp died including Sidney A. Gilbert, part-owner of the Gilbert Whitney Store in Independence.

While at Fishing River, Joseph received Doctrine & Covenants 105 stating that "it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion."6 Subsequently, Zion's camp was officially disbanded on July 3, 1834. Nevertheless, the instruction and experience many of the early leaders of the Church received during Zion's Camp became invaluable to further establish the Church. All save three members of the original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the original First Quorum of the Seventy participated in Zion's Camp.

In speaking about his experience in Zion's Camp, Brigham Young expressed that watching Joseph's leadership during Zion's Camp was "the starting point of my knowing how to lead Israel."7 President Young would later lead the Saints out of Missouri to Illinois while Joseph was incarcerated in Liberty Jail and eventually out of Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley.

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The Living Christ

We believe absolutely that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten in the flesh that He is the Son of God just as much as you and I are the sons of our father.
(Heber J. Grant, Analysis of the Articles of Faith)

Both the Father and the Son, being omnipotent Gods, are designated by the Name -titles,

Almighty (Genesis 49:25; Revelation 1:8; 2 Nephi 23:6; Helaman 10:11; D&C 84:96; 121:33),
Almighty God (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 1 Nephi 17:48; D&C 20:21; 87:6; 88:106),
Lord Almighty (D&C 84:118; 2 Corinthians 6:18), and
Lord God Almighty (Revelation 4:8; 11:17; 21:22; D&C 109:77; 121:4; 1 Nephi 1:14; 2 Nephi 9:46).

These designations signify that these holy beings have all power and unlimited might. A deep sense of reverence is implicit in the use of each name-title"
(Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)

"Whether descriptively designed as Creator, Only Begotten Son, Price of Peace, Advocate, Mediator, Son of God, Savior, Messiah, Author and Finisher of Salvation, King of Kings - I witness that Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby one can be saved! (D&C 18:23)

I testify that He is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what He has experienced. Yet, movingly, He calls us His friends. (John 15:15)

We can trust, worship, and even adore Him without any reservation! As the only Perfect Person to sojourn on this planet, there is none like Him! (Isaiah 46:9)

In intelligence and performance, He far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live! (Abraham 3:19)

He rejoices in our genuine goodness and achievement, but any assessment of where we stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not stand at all! We knell!"
(Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign November 1981)

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The Living Christ

The Testimony of the Apostles

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He went about doing good (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world. He rose from the grave to become the firstfruits of them that slept (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His other sheep (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised dispensation of the fulness of times (Ephesians 1:10). Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father (D&C 110:3-4). Of Him the Prophet also declared: And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father. That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. (D&C 76:22-24). We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth built upon the foundation of  apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). We testify that He will someday return to earth. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts. We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son. The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ensign, Apr 2000, 2