The Rocky Mountain Saints/Chapter 9
CHAPTER IX.
There is no event in the history of Mormonism of such importance as that which is portrayed in the preceding chapter it was the "call of the Lord" for "the strength of His house to go against His enemies." The Church so understood it and the brethren answered to "the Lord's call." The Company was organized in Kirtland on the 7th of May, and as "Zion's Camp" took up their march westward. They numbered 130 men, among whom were Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, Orson Hyde, Orson and Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, and many other leading elders. This little army was divided into companies of twelve men, each company choosing its own officer. The Prophet's cousin, Geo. A. Smith, was elected to be his armour-bearer.[1] Camp discipline was rigid, everything throughout the day had its appointed time, and at the sound of the evening trumpet the little "host" were called to their devotions, returning thanks for the past and invoking the protection of "the God of battles."
By the time the camp reached Missouri its numbers had increased to 205. Orson Hyde and Parley P. Pratt had been despatched in advance as delegates to the Governor of 
On the 19th of June "Zion's Camp" reached the vicinity of Clay county, where the exiled Saints had located, and tried to effect a junction with them, but were unsuccessful. That night Joseph's, or "the Lord's," army encamped between the Little and the Big Fishing rivers, and the "mobbers," or anti-Mormons, who had learned of their coming were not far from them and ready for attack. At this important moment the elements interfered, the camp of the anti-Mormons scattered to the winds, their horses stampeded and one was killed by lightning.
On the second day (June 21st) the cholera broke out with terrible fierceness in "Zion's Camp." So sudden and overpowering was the attack that the strongest men fell to the ground with their guns in their hands. In four days, sixty-eight were attacked and fourteen of them died. Joseph went about laying on hands and "rebuking the destroyer," until he was himself prostrated. This visitation he ascribed to the disobedience of some, showed the necessity of submission, and promised that if they would "humble themselves and covenant to obey him as the Prophet of the Lord," the plague should be stayed. The Mormon historians assert that "not another was stricken with the cholera from that hour."
The previous "revelations" of Joseph Smith admitted of no verification beyond that of individual faith and experience; but this concerning "the redemption of Zion" revealed the revelator himself. While giving to it all the scope that the utmost devotion could claim, it must be allowed that it carries upon its surface anything but the evidence of a divine origin. The overthrow of "Zion's Camp" was a palpable failure and disappointing in every particular. There was a native honesty in Mohammed going to the mountain when the mountain would not come to him, which commands admiration, but the American Prophet lost his opportunity when, in the midst of "Zion's Camp" on the banks of the Big Fishing river, he failed to contribute to posterity a companion picture to that of his Arabian brother. Instead of that, he received another revelation:
"Behold I have commanded my servant Baurak Ale [Joseph Smith] to say unto the strength of my house, even my warriors, my young men and my middle-aged, to gather together for the redemption of my people, and throw down the towers of mine enemies, and scatter their watchmen; but the strength of mine house have not hearkened unto my words. I have prepared a blessing and an endowment for them if they continue faithful. I have heard their prayers and will accept their offering; and it is expedient in me that they should be brought thus far for a trial of their faith."
The Mormons would be very critical over such revelations if found in the history of any other religious people. The very revelation itself instructed Joseph to ask for 500 men of the Lord's house, but should he find difficulty in raising that number he was to be contented with 300; and even with 100 he was not to hesitate, but to hasten to the assistance of his brethren in Missouri, for "the Lord had decreed" the restoration of the exiles. Full of faith and hope, Joseph and "the strength of the Lord's house" reached the place of action, preaching, praying, and exhorting each other to courage, for had not a Hebrew Prophet said that one of the chosen of the Lord should chase a thousand, and two should put ten thousand to flight? Ancient bravery and ancient miracles were thought of and descanted upon during the journey, and the "warriors" were ready for the fray; but when the moment for action arrived, "the Lord" had changed his mind. The hard-working outcasts from Jackson county, it was now said, had not learned to be obedient, they were full of all manner of evil, were not united, and did not deserve to be restored until they had been chastised and learned obedience. How different was the revelation of February in Ohio from that of June in Missouri! At the former date "the Lord" was determined to have a fight and restore the exiles "to their inheritances." At the latter date "the Lord" concluded that the Jackson county Saints deserved all the affliction they had got, and needed a little more of the same chastisement!
"The Lord's" reasons for refusing to restore the people to Jackson county were probably very satisfactory, for such a bad and undeserving people as they were now represented to be, could not be expected to command so great a manifestation of divine power as would have been necessary to restore them to their homes and farms. But it certainly looks a little singular, if what Joseph asserted was true, that "the Lord" had not discovered this condition of things before.
The second excuse is still worse than the first—"the strength of mine house have not hearkened unto my words." Thus because of the dilatoriness of the Saints in the East, the Saints in the West were to remain outcasts from Jackson county, and "the Lord's" decree of the restoration of the people was to become a dead letter! What a contrast was this to the ancient story of "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" To cap the climax, the warriors in "Zion's Camp" were informed that in due time they should be properly rewarded, but would have to regard the present disappointment as "a trial of their faith!"
This Jackson county trouble has been a sad affair for the Mormon Church in many ways. It was, to say the least, very questionable instruction to declare "ye shall avenge me of mine enemies." There is enough of natural vindictiveness in men without elevating vengeance into a religious obligation. No people as zealous and devoted as the Mormons could receive such a commandment without partaking of its spirit and reducing it to practice. It makes it a duty for every fanatic to curse and avenge in the Lord's stead. How well it has been performed in spirit if not always in practice let the anathemas of the Tabernacle and the persecution of apostates tell.
Up to this period the Saints had no conception that they were the instruments of "the Lord's" vengeance, and it is to be regretted that they were ever enlightened upon the subject. They had already been informed that it was better to obtain Zion by purchase than by force, and they were now instructed to buy up—
———"all the lands in Jackson county that can be purchased, and in the adjoining counties. . . . and after these lands are purchased, I will hold the armies of Israel guiltless in taking possession of their own lands, which they have previously purchased with their own monies, and of throwing down the towers of mine enemies that may be upon them, and scattering their watchmen, and avenging me of mine enemies, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."
To this excellent advice of purchasing all the lands and keeping their enemies far from them, "the Lord," when enjoining vengeance, diplomatically adds "but first let my army become very great." In the meantime the Mormons are to sue for peace. This is a very practical endorsement of the First Napoleon's opinion that Providence was always on the side of the best generalship and the strongest battalions.
Such very wholesome counsel was of course properly appreciated. The "warriors" were instructed to disperse among the settlements or to return to their homes, and Joseph as directed, was also to conclude some arrangement by which the Saints who were still able to stay in Jackson county could enjoy peace; but the throwing down of towers, scattering the watchmen, and restoring the people to their inheritances, were apparently no more to be thought of. A "High Council" was organized in Clay county, and Joseph left for Kirtland on the 9th of July.
Thus ended this extraordinary but brief campaign of two months and two days—a period fraught with good instruction to those who could take it.
Brigham Young annually invites the remnant of "Zion's Camp" to meet him in Salt Lake City—generally at the close of the October Conference—and they have a pleasant reunion in the Social Hall, where they with their families enjoy themselves in the dance together. The chief bishop of the Church entertains them at dinner and supper. Usually during the evening they are "addressed;" they sing their songs of days gone by, and one or two of the very aged brethren will try a "jig" or "hornpipe," to show the others "how well they hold out." It is a very harmless kind of mutual admiration. They all feel honoured in having been members of Zion's Camp, and probably would think it very daring for any one even to suggest a failure of that memorable campaign. Brigham never omits at this gathering to tell how much he was compensated for his marching experience by the teachings he listened to from the Prophet's lips. He seems to feel that something is needed just there, and he furnishes the supply. The leader says that he was "compensated"; the "remnant" then must feel that they also were compensated; and in two or three generations from this time their descendants will doubtless read with great satisfaction of the trial of their ancestors' faith, and it is not at all unlikely that, in the course of time, their posterity will be fully satisfied that the Saints in Jackson county were not restored to their inheritances and were not "led out of bondage by power and with a stretched-out arm, as 'the Lord' had decreed!"
- ↑ All through Mormonism there is a constant effort to imitate something Hebraic. Nothing can be done without some allusion to Biblical history. The above, of course, was in allusion to Saul and his faithful armour-bearer. The same may be said of the "Armies of the Lord," "the Host," and "the God of battles."