Letter to Emma Smith, 4 June 1834

considerable fever in consequence of taking cold— and bro Foster who came from Genseeo

Agricultural area twenty-five miles west of Canandaigua. Incorporated as village, 1832. Population in 1840 about 900. While recruiting for Camp of Israel, JS and Sidney Rigdon preached to large congregation at general conference in village, 16 Mar. 1834. ...

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 who was taken last evening with the Typhus Fever, but are both better to day, and we  are in hopes will be able to proceed on their journey to morrow, I have been able to endur[e]  the fatigue of the journey far beyond my most sanguine expectations, except have  been troubled some with lameness, have had my feet blistered, but are now well, and  have also had a little touch of my side complaint, Bro Harper [Harpin] Riggs is now able to  travel all day & his health is improving very fast, as is the case with all the weakly  ones, Addison Wren has been an exceeding good boy and has been very obedient to  me in all things, as much so as tho I was his own father, and is healthy and able  to travel all day. William [Smith]

13 Mar. 1811–13 Nov. 1893. Farmer, newspaper editor. Born at Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816...

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has been some unwell, but is now enjoying good health  George [A. Smith]

26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into LDS church by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Labored on Kirtland temple...

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has been afflicted with his eyes, but they are getting better, and in fine, all the  Camp

The name of the spring 1834 military expedition from Kirtland, Ohio, to Clay County, Missouri. It later came to be known as “Zion’s Camp.” This relief expedition, appointed by revelation and led by JS, consisted of about two hundred armed but largely untrained...

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is in as good a situation as could be expected; but our numbers and means are  altogether too small for the accomplishment of such a great enterprise, but they are  falling daily and our only hope is that whilst we deter the enemy, and terrify them  for a little season (for we learn by the means of some spies we send out for that pur pose that they are greatly terrified) notwithstanding they are endeavoring to make a  formidable stand, and their numbers amount to several hundred, and the Lord  shows us to good advantage in the eyes of their spies, for in counting us the[y] make of our  170 men from five to seven hundred and the reports of the people are not a little  calculated [to] frighten and strike terror through their ranks for the general report  is that four or five hundred Mormons are traveling through the Country well  armed, and disciplined; and that five hundred more has gone a south west and  expect to meet us, and also another company are on a rout[e] North of us, all these things  serve to help us, and we believe the hand of the Lord is in it, Now is the time for the  Church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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abroad to come to Zion. It is our prayer day and night that God will  open the heart of the Churches to pour in men and means to assist us, for the redemption  of Zion and upbuilding of Zion

In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the work JS was called to do. However, the term Zion was soon used more specifically to describe a community of believers who live in harmony and equality. The Book of Mormon explained...

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. We want the Elders

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.” The articles and covenants of the church directed...

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in Kirtland

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

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to use every  exertion to influence the Church to come speedily to our relief. Let them come pitching  their tents by the way, remembering to keep the sabbath day according to the articles  and covenants

A foundational document presented at the first conference of the church for the approval of church members. The articles and covenants included a brief historical prologue, a declaration of beliefs, and a description of the offices, ordinances, and procedures...

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the same as at home, buying flour and cooking their own provision  which they can do, with little trouble, and the expence will be trifling. We have our  company divided into messes of 12 or 13— each having a cook and cooking utensils, all that  is necessary; so that we are not obliged to trouble any mans house, and we buy necessaries  such as butter, sugar and honey, so that we live as well as heart can wish. After  we left the eastern part of the State of Ohio

French explored area, 1669. British took possession following French and Indian War, 1763. Ceded to U.S., 1783. First permanent white settlement established, 1788. Partitioned from Northwest Territory and admitted as state, 1803. Bordered by Lake Erie on ...

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we could get provision on an average as  follows; flour by the hundred $1.50, bacon from 4 ½ to 6 dollar per Hundred butter  from 6 to 8 cents pr pound, honey from 3 to 4 shilling the gallon, new milk from 3 4 to 6 ct  per gallon. The whole of our journey, in the midst of so large a company of  social honest men and sincere men, wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting [p. 57]