Doctrine and Covenants 98-101

  THE SIMMERING POT OF JACKSON COUNTY

"The Prophet Joseph and those who accompanied him to Missouri in the summer of 1831 were joyful to learn that Jackson County was the location of the latter-day Zion.  They did not realize that within two years the Saints would be driven from their homes in western Missouri...

"The year 1833 was one of tribulation for the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.  Irreconcilable conflicts developed with their neighbors over several issues...

"By the end of 1832 there were 800 Saints gathered into five branches in Jackson County.  New people were arriving almost every week..."

There was a clear organization of Church leadership set up in Jackson County by the Prophet. "Some members, however, tried to circumvent the Church leaders in Missouri by ignoring their authority to preside...

"Other difficulties arose in Zion.  Petty jealousies, covetousness, light-mindedness, unbelief, and general neglect in keeping the commandments of God came to the attention of the Prophet.  Some people in Zion even charged Joseph Smith with 'seeking after monarchical power and authority' and said that he was purposely putting off settling in Zion...

"The Prophet wrote back in the spirit of peace and sent a copy of the 'Olive Leaf' (D&C 88)...

"Following receipt of the Olive Leaf revelation, a council of high priests met on 26 February 1833 and called for solemn assemblies to be held in each of the branches (see D&C 88:70).  David Pettigrew wrote in his journal that Bishop Partridge appointed them 'as a day of confession and repentance.'"

The Lord was pleased with this new spirit...(D&C 90:34) Peace began to prevail.  A "school of elders," like the Kirtland "school of prophets" was organized.  Prophecies were being publicized in the Church newspapers and The Book of Commandments was being printed.  The plan for the City of Zion was drawn up, which included dwellings for 15,000-20,000 people in 1 square mile with a complex of 24 temples (probably more like the Kirtland Temple--meetinghouses/temples--as the fulness of temple worship wasn't instituted until the Nauvoo Temple).  Farmers and merchants alike would live "in town," the farmers commuting to work outside town each day.

"The happy and favorable circumstances of the Saints in Jackson County ended suddenly in July of 1833.  The original inhabitants of the area became increasingly suspicious as the number of Church members in Jackson County grew rapidly...

"Jackson County's residents were a rough-and-ready group who had come from the mountainous regions of several southern states to the western edge of the United States to find freedom from societal restraints...Many of them indulged in profanity, Sabbath-breaking, horse-racing, cock-fighting, idleness, drunkenness, gambling, and violence...

"By July 1833 the Mormon population in the county was almost 1,200 with more arriving each month.  Some members boasted that thousands more were coming to live in the county...

"Protestant ministers...resented the Mormon intrusion" into their territory.  "In addition, Mormon merchants and tradesmen successfully took over a portion of the lucrative Santa Fe Trail trade previously dominated by the Missourians...

"The Missouri frontiersmen feared and hated the [Native Americans]" who were being settled nearby by the government.  "The first Mormon missionaries came into this tense atmosphere declaring the prophetic destiny of the native Americans.  The old settlers were afraid the Saints would use the [Native Americans] to help them conquer the area for their New Jerusalem...

"The conflict between the Saints and the old settlers came to a head over the slavery issue.  Missouri had come into the Union as a slave state...Some of the Saints brought abolitionist sentiments from the North and East...Missourians were highly aroused early in 1832 by rumors that the Saints were trying to persuade slaves to disobey their masters or run away."  (Quotes are all from the Institute manual, Church History in the Fulness of Times, p. 127-132)

SUMMARY OF THE LORD'S WORDS TO SAINTS IN TROUBLE

The chapter summaries in the scriptures can often give us great clarity on the words of the Lord. In the case of Sections 98 and 101, written to the Saints in Jackson County in the time of their worst affliction, we can look at them as a list. Each point is also relevant to us in our various situations throughout the world. In the United States, I think it is instructive in regards to the current polarization of political idiologies and the criticism towards or disregard for the Constitution.

• The afflictions of the Saints will be for their good.
• The Saints are to befriend the constitutional law of the land.
• Honest, wise, and good men should be supported for secular government.
• Those who lay down their lives in the Lord’s cause will have eternal life.
• Renounce war and proclaim peace.
• The Saints in Kirtland are reproved and commanded to repent.
• The Lord reveals His laws governing the persecutions and afflictions imposed on His people:
• War is justified only when the Lord commands it.
• The Saints are to forgive their enemies, who, if they repent, will also escape the Lord’s vengeance.
• The Saints are chastened and afflicted because of their transgressions.
• The Lord’s indignation will fall upon the nations, but His people will be gathered and comforted.
• Zion and her stakes will be established.
• The nature of life during the Millennium is set forth.
• The Saints will be blessed and rewarded then.
• The parable of the nobleman and the olive trees signifies the troubles and eventual redemption of Zion.
• The Saints are to continue gathering together.
• The Lord established the Constitution of the United States.
• The Saints are to importune for the redress of grievances, according to the parable of the woman and the unjust judge.

In the end, although they had to endure severe trials and many lost their lives or their faith, those who remained with the Church ended up completely escaping the most devastating war in the history of the United States, the Civil War. Jackson County, Missouri was one of the hottest points of the Civil War, and when the war was over, General Order #11 was issued by Union General Thomas Ewing on August 25, 1863, forcing the Jackson County residents to move or be burned out. (See also History of Jackson County.) Although the Saints endured terrible trials, those very trials--their expulsion from Missouri and later Illinois--caused them to completely escape the horror of the Civil War. By the time of the conflict, they had settled in present-day Utah, which was outside of the United States.

Civil War Image from Getty Images via History.com 

Main Street Salt Lake City, around Civil War time. Source: https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/training/library/photograph-collections/early-salt-lake-city?lang=eng

THE LORD'S WORDS TO US IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE

The beginning of the revelation in Section 98 is one of the most comforting in all scripture. It has been not only a comfort to the Saints in the time it was originally received, but to many individuals since in their own personal trials. It is one of those scriptures through which Heavenly Father can clearly speak to us:

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, ^afear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give ^bthanks;

2 ^aWaiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been ^aafflicted shall work together for your ^bgood, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

Today there are groups of Saints who feel marginalized, oppressed, misunderstood, or underappreciated within the cultures in which they live and sometimes within the Church. There are doctrines we do not understand or which have not yet been fully revealed, because the Restoration is ongoing. We are still learning where faithful Saints who have gender issues, such as same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, fit in the present-day Kingdom of God on earth, as well as in the eternal doctrine of the family. We are still learning more about the role of women in the priesthood. We still don't fully understand why early Church leaders could be inspired of God and still have views that were racist.

There are also individual Saints who are going through other severe trials that are hard to understand. Every one of us will fall into this category at some time in our life because developing trust in God is a key component of our progression toward Godhood. Our trials also teach us very important lessons about each other and ourselves, and they reveal to us our total dependence upon our Savior.

If either of these categories describes you at this present time, I encourage you to read, re-read, and possibly even memorize these three verses of comfort and promise from the Lord of Sabaoth (the Lord of Heavenly Armies) and know that He is on your side if you are on His. If your prayers are inspired and ratified by the Holy Ghost, they will be answered.