Lesson 117: Doctrine and Covenants 102–105

The Camp of Israel

“Mine Angels Shall Go Up before You”

The Camp of Israel left Kirtland, Ohio, in May 1834 to begin a journey of over 800 miles (1,280 kilometers) on foot. Although members of the camp faced many difficulties and hardships along the way, they also experienced many blessings. This lesson can help students understand that God will be with and help them when they choose to follow Him.

Possible Learning Activities

This is the second of three lessons about the experiences of the Camp of Israel, taught in the Doctrine and Covenants 102–105 week. If you did not teach the previous lesson, consider how you might incorporate portions from it into this one.

Following Jesus Christ

Consider beginning the lesson by studying the statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and discussing the questions that follow.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the path that can be required of followers of Jesus Christ:

My beloved brothers and sisters, Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But, of course, the reward for doing so is monumental. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Waiting on the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 116–117)

• What thoughts or feelings do you have about this statement?

  Invite the students to think about what can make it hard for them personally to follow the Savior, as well as what makes it or could make it worth the effort it takes. After students have thought about their own situations, consider discussing the following questions together.

• What can make it hard to be a follower of Jesus Christ today?

  Students might share ideas like these: following the Savior can take a lot of time and effort, followers of Jesus Christ are often required to be different from the world, or the Savior’s followers are sometimes persecuted by others.

• Why do you think it is ultimately worth the effort it takes to follow the Savior?

In this lesson, you will study the journey the Camp of Israel made from Ohio to Missouri. Their journey was long, difficult, and required a lot of effort. But the members of the camp also received great blessings along the way. As you study, look for truths that can help you when you find it hard to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Camp of Israel begins its journey

Consider inviting students to share what they remember about the purpose of the Camp of Israel. If needed, display the following map and share or summarize the paragraph below. You could also show “Zion’s Camp” (21:29), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 1:49 to 2:38.

In May 1834, members of the Camp of Israel began their journey of over 800 miles (1,280 kilometers) toward Missouri. Two contingents of the camp left at the same time from Kirtland, Ohio, and from Pontiac, Michigan Territory. The two groups eventually joined in Missouri. The Camp of Israel, later known as Zion’s Camp, consisted of approximately 200 men, 12 women, and 10 children. Their purpose was to help restore the Saints in Missouri to their lands that had been unfairly taken from them.

This portion of the lesson is intended to help students learn about some of the experiences members of the Camp of Israel had during their journey.

Consider distributing the handout titled “Experiences from the Camp of Israel.” Give students time to study the contents and to discuss the questions from the handout.

To add variety, you could assign three willing students to each teach one segment of the handout. They could teach in front of the class or in different areas of the room while small groups of students rotate around the room.

Another option could be to show portions of the video “Zion’s Camp.” Consider pausing the video after each of the following time codes and having a student read the corresponding experience from the handout.

• Experience #1: 2:39 to 6:25

• Experience #2: 6:26 to 9:40

• Experience #3: 9:40 to 14:47

Experiences from the Camp of Israel

Experience #1

Elder George A. Smith (1817–75) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recalled some of the conditions the Camp of Israel faced during their journey:

The Prophet Joseph took a full share of the fatigues of the entire journey. In addition to the care of providing for the Camp and presiding over it, he walked most of the time and had a full proportion of blistered, bloody, and sore feet, which was the natural result of walking from 25 to 40 miles a day in a hot season of the year. But during the entire trip he never uttered a murmur or complaint, while most of the men in the Camp complained to him of sore toes, blistered feet, long drives, scanty supply of provisions, poor quality of bread, bad [corn bread], [spoiled] butter, strong honey, maggoty bacon and cheese, etc. … Yet we were the Camp of Zion, and many of us were prayerless, thoughtless, careless, heedless, foolish, or devilish, and yet we did not know it. Joseph had to bear with us and tutor us like children. There were many, however, in the Camp who never murmured and who were always ready and willing to do as our leader desired. (George A. Smith, in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 287–88)

• Why do you think members of the camp responded so differently to the same circumstances?

• What can help us keep a positive attitude when we experience difficulties in our attempts to follow the Savior?

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Experience #2

Read Doctrine and Covenants 103:20 and the following statement by President Heber C. Kimball (1801–68) of the First Presidency:

Notwithstanding our enemies were continually breathing threats of violence, we did not fear, neither did we hesitate to prosecute our journey, for God was with us, and His angels went before us, and the faith of our little band was unwavering. We know that angels were our companions, for we saw them. (Heber C. Kimball, in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 288–89)

• How do you think this blessing would have impacted you if you had been part of the Camp of Israel?

• What are some ways the Lord helps His followers do difficult things today?

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Experience #3

When the Camp of Israel was only a day’s journey from Jackson County, five men with weapons approached them. The men boasted that more than three hundred others were on their way to attack the camp. As camp members discussed what to do, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Stand still and see the salvation of God.”

Twenty minutes later, a heavy rainstorm ripped through the camp. The storm caused the waters of a nearby river to rise significantly, preventing their enemies from crossing and attacking. Many members of the Camp of Israel found shelter in a small church nearby. After a moment, a rain-soaked Joseph Smith entered the church and exclaimed, “God is in this storm!”

The morning after the storm, members of the camp found their tents and supplies soaked and scattered, but no men had attacked (quoted and summarized from Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 203–04).

• If you had been part of the Camp of Israel, how might this experience have impacted your feelings about the Prophet Joseph Smith?

• What can this experience teach you about God during the difficult moments in your life?

Invite students to discuss what they learned from this study activity by asking questions like the following.

• What stood out to you as you studied some of the experiences of the Camp of Israel?

• What truths can you learn about the Lord from these experiences?

As students share, they could identify a truth similar to the following: God will be with us and help us as we make efforts to follow Him.

Deepen understanding

Take some time to find and study one or more scriptures that teach about God’s desires to be with us and help us in our lives. You could select your own scriptures or choose some from the following list:

• Deuteronomy 1:30

• Deuteronomy 31:6

• Proverbs 3:5–6

• Isaiah 41:10

• Doctrine and Covenants 24:8

• Doctrine and Covenants 108:8

• What stood out to you from the scriptures you studied? Why?

• What did you discover that could help someone who finds it difficult to follow Jesus Christ?

Consider testifying of the truths you have discussed and encouraging the students to act on spiritual promptings they may have received.

Additional Resources

What blessings await those who choose to follow the Lord?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

It is a strait path, and it is a narrow path without a great deal of latitude at some points, but it can be thrillingly and successfully traveled, “with … steadfastness in Christ, … a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” [2 Nephi 31:20]. In courageously pursuing such a course, you will forge unshakable faith, you will find safety against ill winds that blow, even shafts in the whirlwind, and you will feel the rock-like strength of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fall. (Jeffery R. Holland, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 9)

What should I remember when difficult times come?

Sister Michelle D. Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, taught:

Christ’s disciples have always encountered hard times. …

When hard times come, I try to remember that I chose to follow Christ before I came to earth and that challenges to my faith, my health, and my endurance are all part of the reason I’m here. (Michelle D. Craig, “Wholehearted,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 60, 61–62)

What other conditions did the Camp of Israel face on their journey?

Nathan Baldwin and George A. Smith recounted:

In crossing these large fields of the woods, we sometimes suffered for want of water; not being accustomed to such a country, we had not prepared for it. Sometimes we drank dew gathered from the grass by scooping a dish suddenly through the grass, which was laden with drops that would fall into the dish and, on being strained, was ready for use. (Nathan Bennett Baldwin, Account of Zion’s Camp, 1882, 11–12, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling and punctuation modernized)

We suffered much from thirst and were compelled to drink water from Sloughs [swamps] which were filled with living creatures—here I learned to strain Wigglers [possibly mosquito larvae] with my teeth. (Memoirs of George A. Smith, circa 1860–1882, 19–20, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling modernized)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The costs and blessings of discipleship

As part of a discussion about what can make it hard to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you could show “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship” (14:40), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 0:24 to 2:31. You could then lead a discussion about what some of the costs and blessings of discipleship are.

Letter home

To help students explain what they learn from the experiences of the Camp of Israel, you could do the following. Invite students to imagine that they have just experienced the miraculous storm that prevented enemies of the Camp of Israel from crossing the river. They could write a letter home to their loved ones sharing lessons they’ve learned thus far on their journey. They could include what their experience is teaching them about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.