Lesson 28 Zions Camp Marches to Missouri Lesson

• Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri “Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri, ” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997), 153 “Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri, ” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997), 153

PURPOSE • To help the children understand that trials and tests of faith can strengthen us if we are faithful and obedient.

I Will Follow God’s Plan My life is a gift; my life has a plan. My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began. My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth. I will follow God’s plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth And in my home above. • Words and music: Vanja Y. Watkins, b. 1938. © 1981 IRI

OUR OPENING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY (Enter Name Here)

• • It’s time to take a test. There are 7 questions, please number your papers 1 thru 7 down one side of the paper. • Decide if each statement that is read is true or false and write T for true or F for false by the appropriate number. • Here we go!!!

• 1. Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

• 2. The angel Moroni talked to Joseph.

• 3. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon from silver plates.

• 4. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other after receiving the Aaronic Priesthood.

• 5. The Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Joseph and Oliver by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

• 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on 6 April 1830.

• 7. Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet.

• Ok, Let’s see how you did. • Here are the answers • Please check your own papers

• 1. Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

• 1. Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. • (T)

• 2. The angel Moroni talked to Joseph.

• 2. The angel Moroni talked to Joseph. • (T)

• 3. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon from silver plates.

• 3. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon from silver plates. • (F; they were gold plates. )

• 4. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other after receiving the Aaronic Priesthood.

• 4. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery baptized each other after receiving the Aaronic Priesthood. • (T)

• 5. The Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Joseph and Oliver by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

• 5. The Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Joseph and Oliver by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. • (F; the Melchizedek Priesthood was given by Peter, James, and John. )

• 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on 6 April 1830.

• 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on 6 April 1830. • (T)

• 7. Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet.

• 7. Joseph Smith was called by God to be a prophet. • (T)

• Why do teachers give tests?

• Why do teachers give tests? • To see if we are learning. • What other tests do we have in life?

• One of the reasons we are sent to earth is to have our faith in Jesus Christ tested. • We are here to prove that we will live the way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to live (see Abraham 3: 24– 25), despite the trials and difficulties we face.

• Sometimes we do not live the way Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to, but we can repent and change to doing what is right. • Today’s lesson is about a group of men called “Zion’s Camp” and the experience that tested the faith of some of the early members of the Church.

Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri “Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri, ” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997), 153 “Lesson 28: Zion’s Camp Marches to Missouri, ” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997), 153

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• While people in Missouri were making the Saints leave their homes, Joseph Smith was nearly 1, 000 miles away in Kirtland, Ohio. • He prayed to know how to help the Saints in Missouri.

• The Saints in Missouri had peace and happiness for a time. • However, problems soon arose. • Some of the Saints were disobedient and unkind. • Some of them argued with their leaders.

• Joseph obeyed the Lord. He told the Saints that 500 men should go to the land of Zion in Missouri. • But after a few weeks, only 100 had said they would go.

• The 100 men left Kirtland began the long journey to Missouri. • The group was called Zion’s Camp.

• The men often walked 35 miles a day despite being very hungry, thirsty, and hot. • They camped together at night.

• On the way, 100 more men joined them. • But there still were not as many men as the Lord wanted.

• Members of the camp traveled 1, 000 miles. • Some of them said the trip was too hard. • They complained and argued.

• They blamed Joseph Smith when there wasn’t enough • good food. • They said he wasn’t a good leader.

• Joseph told these men that they must repent, or they would get sick and die.

• Many of the men in the camp were righteous. • They helped Joseph and obeyed God’s commandments.

• At last Zion’s Camp got near Jackson County, Missouri. • They camped by a river.

• Members of a mob had spied on the camp and knew where it was. • At night the mob came close to the camp and planned to attack it.

• God protected Zion’s Camp by sending a big storm. • The wind blew trees down. Large hailstones fell from the sky, and lightning hit trees.

• The river flooded the land. • One man in the mob was killed by lightning, and other men in the mob were hurt by the storm.

No one in Zion’s Camp was hurt.

• The men in the mob were afraid and ran away. • They did not hurt anyone in Zion’s Camp.

• Three days after the storm, the Lord gave Joseph Smith a revelation.

• He said the Saints would have to wait to build the city of Zion. • They needed to become more obedient, giving, and united.

• They also needed to learn more about the things the Lord required of them.

• The Lord also told the men of Zion’s Camp that they should not fight against the Missouri mobs • Some of the men were upset about this.

• They felt that the trip would not be worthwhile if they did not fight to help the Saints in Missouri.

• A few days later, many men in Zion’s Camp got very sick. • Fourteen of them died.

• The Prophet told the men that the sickness would go away if they would humble themselves and repent. • This promise was fulfilled.

• At the end of Zion’s Camp, Joseph Smith met with the Saints in Missouri and chose men for a high council.

• A few days later, he and many of the men in Zion’s Camp started back to Kirtland.

• Although the men of Zion’s Camp did not help the Saints in Missouri, the camp was still valuable. • It helped prepare Brigham Young and others for leadership in the Church.

• They were able to prove whether they would be obedient and make sacrifices for the Lord’s work. • A few months later, many of those who were faithful were called as leaders in the Church.

• Why did Joseph Smith organize Zion’s Camp? (D&C 103: 1. ) • What was this group originally organized to do? • How many men did the Lord want in Zion’s Camp? (D&C 103: 30. )

• Why was he willing to accept only one hundred?

• Why was he willing to accept only one hundred? • He knew that not all of the men asked would be willing to help (D&C 103: 31– 34. )

s s e n ll I • • Unsafe water s r e p m e t d Ba • • What were some of the tests the members of Zion’s Camp faced? od fo d ile po • S t e • Quarreling e f e r o S • • Persecution by enemies

• What did they do to bring some of these problems upon themselves? • How do we sometimes cause problems for ourselves? • Why did trials come to those who remained obedient as well as those who quarreled and complained?

• Why do we sometimes experience trials and problems even when we have been obedient? • Help us learn and grow • To test us • Because of accidents • Because other people have agency and may make wrong choices that affect us

• How did the members of Zion’s Camp know the Lord was watching over them • How can we know the Lord is watching over us? • What can we do to seek the Lord’s help in our lives?

• Why didn’t Zion’s Camp accomplish what it set out to do, namely recover the homes and lands of the Missouri Saints? (D&C 105: 1– 6. ) • What do the Saints need to do before Zion can be established in Missouri? (D&C 105: 9– 11. ).

• The establishment of Zion in Missouri is still in the future. • It will happen shortly before the Savior’s second coming.

• Why did the Lord have these men go through the experience of Zion’s Camp, since he later commanded them not to fight the mobs as they had planned? (D&C 105: 19)

• What does “trial of their faith” mean? • Many of the men in Zion’s Camp proved they could remain faithful.

• They did not complain, quarrel, or lose their tempers.

• Their faith became stronger and they learned much about leadership as they listened to and watched the Prophet.

• How is our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ tested? • What trials of your faith have you experienced? • How have these trials made you a stronger person?

• Let’s read D & C 105: 23. • 23 And let all my people who dwell in the regions round about be very faithful, and prayerful, and humble before me, and reveal not the things which I have revealed unto them, until it is wisdom in me that they should be revealed.

• What qualities did the Lord ask the Saints to have? • How can being faithful, prayerful, and humble strengthen us and help us during trials of our faith?

• being faithful • Prayerful • Humble • not boasting or bragging about what we believe and do.

• Following these principles can help us in times of trial. • What can you do this week to live these principles better.

TESTIMONY • I’m grateful to have the opportunity to come to earth. • It is my desire to be worthy of one day returning to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. • If you are faithful and obedient, even during trials and tests, you will prove yourselves worthy of this great blessing.

OUR CLOSING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY (ENTER NAME HERE)

THE END

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Abraham 3: 24– 25 • 24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; • 25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

D&C 103: 1 • 1 Verily I say unto you, my friends, behold, I will give unto you a revelation and commandment, that you may know how to act in the discharge of your duties concerning the salvation and redemption of your brethren, who have been scattered on the land of Zion;

D&C 103: 30 • 30 It is my will that my servant Parley P. Pratt and my servant Lyman Wight should not return to the land of their brethren, until they have obtained companies to go up unto the land of Zion, by tens, or by twenties, or by fifties, or by an hundred, until they have obtained to the number of five hundred of the strength of my house.

D&C 103: 31– 34 • 31 Behold this is my will; ask and ye shall receive; but men do not always do my will. • 32 Therefore, if you cannot obtain five hundred, seek diligently that peradventure you may obtain three hundred. • 33 And if ye cannot obtain three hundred, seek diligently that peradventure ye may obtain one hundred. • 34 But verily I say unto you, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall not go up unto the land of Zion until you have obtained a hundred of the strength of my house, to go up with you unto the land of Zion.

D&C 105: 1– 6 • 1 Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people— • 2 Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now. • 3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; • 4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; • 5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself. • 6 And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.

D&C 105: 9– 11 • 9 Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion— • 10 That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands. • 11 And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.

D&C 105: 19 • 19 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.