Zion's Camp

"[1] Receiving word of the approaching Latter Day Saints, the Missourians formed militias, which outnumbered Smith's men.

Smith then dictated another revelation stating that the church was presently unworthy to "redeem Zion" because of its lack of commitment to the United Order, or law of consecration.

"[7] A fundamental tenet of Latter Day Saint theology is that the biblical New Jerusalem will be built in the Americas,[8] a belief established by 1829 and included in the Book of Mormon.

The address argued "it requires no gift of prophecy to tell that the day is not far distant when the civil government of the country will be in their hands".

It ended with an ominous threat of violence, calling for "those to fail to comply with these requisitions [to] be referred to those of their brethern who have the gifts of divination... to inform them of the lot that await them".

"[19] It commanded Missouri settlers to seek redress through the courts or the political process[20] but warned that a military solution would become necessary should those efforts fail.

[21] The revelation predicted that God would soon command Smith[22] to gather warriors of the church to "get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.

"[24] The legal and political efforts appeared futile, although after the security of a February 24, 1834 court hearing was threatened by Missourian protesters, it was postponed until late 1834.

They crossed most of the state by the end of June, and news of their approach caused some alarm among non-Mormons in Jackson and Clay Counties.