God Has Not Designed All This For Nothing

C. C. A. Christensen, Zion's Camp

This past week I had the pleasure of preparing my lectures on Zion's Camp.  I must confess that I have pondered over this little episode quite a bit during the past few months.  It is a story that is rich with fruitful lessons for our lives, so I wanted to share a couple of the things that I learned.

Zion's Camp began to be established on February 24, 1834.  A mob had evicted the Saints from their comfortable homes and farms in Jackson County during late October and early November 1833, leaving many of the Saints stranded in makeshift camps along the banks of the Missouri river, without sufficient food, shelter, or clothing.  The governor, Daniel Dunklin, although willing to restore the Saints to their homes, was absolutely unwilling to commit any troops to their protection, such that the mob had promised to merely repeat the process if the Saints returned to Independence.  A weak little man, Dunklin had written to a friend that he had "no regard for the Mormons as a separate people" and an "utter contempt for them as a religious sect," while at the same time considering the people of Jackson County to be among his "personal friends" due to their loyalty to his party as "very staunch Democrats" (Daniel Dunklin to Joel Haden, August 14, 1834, Missouri Historical Society).  In other words, the Saints would have to provide their own protection because votes and elections were far too important to the governor.  In light of this, Joseph "arose and said that he was going to Zion to assist in redeeming it" (Minutes, February 24, 1834) and he desired others to volunteer to go with him.

That same day, the Lord spoke to the Prophet and declared that "the redemption of Zion must needs come by power" and then He promised that both His angels and His own presence would go before the camp, "and in time ye shall possess the goodly land" (D&C 103:15, 20).  He told the brethren that "All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith" (D&C 103:36).  As a side note, what a powerful single sentence sermon for each of us who are striving for victory and glory in this world and in the world to come!

Throughout February, March, and April, Joseph and other leaders went throughout the Church calling upon brethren to join them in going to Zion.  Having assembled 207 men, 11 women, and 11 children, the Camp set off for Missouri, a trip of 1000 miles.  By June 22, they were camped just outside of Independence, on the banks of the Fishing River.  And then came the revelation known as D&C 105. The Lord told the Saints that they were not yet united according to His will, and "Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom" (D&C 105:5).  He then instructed the elders to "wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion" so that they could "be prepared, and . . . taught more perfectly, and have experience, and no more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands" (D&C 105:10).  In other words, He told them to disband and return home to Kirtland; it was not time.

How many of us, having walked a thousand miles in less than two months would be excited by this revelation?  Couldn't the Lord have maybe said that in Kirtland, or at least Indianapolis?  Surely He could have let them know before they crossed the Mississippi river into Missouri, where their lives had been in constant danger.  Did He have to wait until they were just outside of Independence to let them know that it wasn't time?  All of these thoughts and more flooded the minds and hearts of many in the camp.  According to Joseph Young, many of the brethren were angry with Joseph because they had wanted to fight (Joseph Young, History and Organization of the Seventies, 14).  Further, when the group began returning to Kirtland in August 1834, questions from their fellow saints abounded as they always do.  One brother approached Brigham Young and smugly asked, "Brother Brigham, what have you gained by this journey?" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 2:10).  Another brother boldly proclaimed to Brigham, "I am glad I didn't go" and another asked "Where will any good result from this?" (Brigham Young, October 23, 1869, Salt Lake Stake High Council Record, LDS Church History Library)  The tone and tenor from their friends and brethren was clear:  Zion's Camp had been a dreadful waste of time, money, and energy.

But neither Brigham nor Wilford felt this way.  When asked what he had gained by the journey, Brigham responded, "Just what we went for" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 2:10).  And later, he declared that it was "the starting point of my knowing how to lead Israel," as the journey had afforded him an opportunity to watch Joseph lead the Church (Brigham Young, October 23, 1869, Salt Lake Stake High Council Record).  Wilford Woodruff stated that those who went had "gained an experience that they never could have gained in any other way" and then declared, "Had I not gone up with Zion's Camp I should not have been here today" (Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, 13:158).

While most did not understand what the Lord had done, those for whom the experience had been designed understood it and understood why they had been asked to travel 2000 miles in less than four months.  At the organization of the Quorum of the Twelve in February 1835, the Prophet arose and declared, "God had not designed all this for nothing," and He had remembered the sacrifices and efforts of those who had made the journey.  Because of their willingness to take a journey "with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary," they were to be "ordained to the ministry and go forth and prune the vineyard for the last time," accomplishing "powerful and mighty and great things" being "endowed with power from on high" (Minutes, February 14, 1835).  There was a purpose in the journey that had far exceeded the thoughts and ideas of those who had been unwilling to discomfort themselves in the work of the Lord, and even the ideas of some who had gone, but desired to fight.  The Lord had tried these men and brethren to "qualify them for future duties" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 3:54).  Hence, out of their ranks came 9 of the first twelve Apostles called in this dispensation; all 7 presidents of the Seventy; and 63 of the first 70 members of the Seventy.  New converts like Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith soon found their ways into the presiding councils of the Church.  And a seedbed of faith was laid from which this Church and Kingdom have harvested ever since.

And so it is with us.  There will be times when we are called to undertake our own Zion's Camp march, only to get close to Independence and then be asked to return home again.  But it is ok.  The Lord has a purpose in these things.  He has His reasons for asking us to "wait for a little season."  As the Prophet Joseph declared, "God [has] not designed all this for nothing."  The harvest of faith may not be immediately forthcoming, but as sure as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning, that harvest will come to the faithful.  For "God [has] not designed all this for nothing."

Brett