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Zion's Camp was an expedition of Latter Day Saints, led by Joseph Smith, from Kirtland, Ohio to Clay County, Missouri during May and June 1834 in an unsuccessful attempt to regain land from which the Saints had been expelled by non-Mormon settlers. In Latter Day Saint belief, this land had been destined to become a city of Zion, the center of the Millennial kingdom; and Smith dictated a command from God ordering him to lead his church like a modern Moses to redeem Zion "by power, and with a stretched-out arm."〔D&C 103:15-18.〕 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, a form of religious communism〔LDS D&C 105:2-5.〕 more closely related to capitalism.〔American Economic Development and Industrialization by American Foundations – Brigham Young University - Idaho © 2009〕 They were told they must "wait a little season" until its elders could receive their promised endowment of heavenly power.〔D&C 105:9-13.〕 The expedition was disbanded on July 25, 1834, during a cholera epidemic, and a majority of survivors returned to Ohio. Nevertheless, the failed expedition permitted Smith to determine the most faithful Latter-Day Saints among the group, and most Latter Day Saint leaders of the following years were selected from among these men. ==Background== A fundamental tenet of Latter Day Saint theology is that the biblical New Jerusalem will be built in the Americas,〔LDS Articles of Faith 10.〕 a belief established by 1829 and included in the Book of Mormon, a scripture of the religion.〔Book of Ether chapter 13.〕 On July 20, 1831, Joseph Smith identified the location of this New Jerusalem as Jackson County, Missouri〔LDS D&C 57:1-3.〕 and began sending Latter Day Saint settlers there to establish a City of Zion, which was to be a Latter Day Saint millennial kingdom. By the summer of 1833, there were about 1200 Latter Day Saints in Jackson County,〔.〕 and older settlers felt threatened by their political and economic power, a fear exacerbated by rumors that Latter Day Saints favored abolitionism. Forming militia groups, the "old settlers" as they were called, organized attacks against the Latter Day Saints during the summer of 1833. A revelation dictated by Joseph Smith in August 1833 discouraged immediate retaliation〔Bushman at 235; LDS D&C 98〕 but permitted Latter Day Saints to retaliate after the fourth act of aggression and "unto the third and fourth generation."〔; LDS D&C 98〕 The Saints initially attempted to regain their lands through political and legal means, enlisting four Missouri attorneys to communicate with the court and the Missouri government.〔.〕 This decision to engage lawyers and fight the issue in court likely sparked further violence in late October 1833.〔.〕 When the Missourians attacked the Saints the fourth time, they fought back as allowed by Smith's revelation.〔.〕 By the end of 1833, Latter Day Saint homes, as well as the church print shop, had been destroyed, and nearly all church members had fled the county. Mormon refugees settled temporarily in neighboring counties, including Clay County to the north, across the Missouri River from Jackson County. In December 1833, Smith dictated another revelation about the "redemption of Zion."〔LDS D&C 101:43.〕 It commanded Missouri settlers to seek redress through the courts or the political process〔LDS D&C 101:76-88; .〕 but warned that a military solution would become necessary should those efforts fail.〔 (letter by Joseph Smith stating that if the government fails to restore the Missouri Saints to their land, then God "will come with ten thousand of His Saints, and all his adversaries shall be destroyed with the breath of His lips").〕 The revelation predicted that God would soon command Smith〔The revelation refers to "the servant," whose identity as Smith was revealed in a later revelation dated February 24, 1834. See D&C 103:21.〕 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."〔LDS D&C 101:55-57.〕 Further, should the Missourians oppose the Saints, the latter would "avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land."〔LDS D&C 101:58.〕 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.〔.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Zion's Camp」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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