Key Points from the Article:

• Missouri Saints Seek Counsel: Facing persecution in Missouri, the Saints sent Parley Pratt and Lyman Wight to Kirtland to seek Joseph Smith’s advice. They likely brought news that Missouri’s governor, Daniel Dunklin, was willing to help them reclaim their lands but could not maintain militia support indefinitely. Joseph counseled with his brethren, decided to travel to Missouri, and asked for volunteers. In this context, section 103 was revealed, affirming the Saints’ right to reclaim Zion and outlining conditions for their success.

• Conditional Promises for Zion: The Lord clarified that Zion’s redemption depended on the Saints’ adherence to commandments and unity. He emphasized that they had been driven from their lands partially due to disobedience. Section 103 promises Zion’s eventual establishment but warns that if the Saints “pollute their inheritances,” they will lose them again. The revelation echoes earlier counsel in section 58, assuring that Zion will come “after much tribulation” if they remain faithful.

• The Call to Assemble an Army: In section 103, the Lord instructed Joseph to gather an “army of Israel” to redeem Zion, even suggesting that the march might test their willingness to “lay down [their] life” for the cause. Joseph and seven appointed recruiters were to gather five hundred men, though the Lord acknowledged that fewer might answer the call due to free agency. He set a minimum of one hundred dedicated men as a requirement for moving forward, emphasizing that the outcome relied on the Saints’ faith and diligence.

• Preparation and Resolve: Heber Kimball recounted how Joseph organized the gathering of supplies, clothing, and provisions for the journey to aid the exiled Saints in Missouri. Equipped with minimal resources and a readiness to sacrifice, the group embarked on what would become the “Camp of Israel.” Local newspapers reported on the revelation, noting that three hundred young men were to “go well armed” to defend Zion, though it remained unclear whether redemption would come through physical force or divine intervention.

• March as a Test of Faith: The Camp of Israel’s march tested the participants’ faith and dedication. With ambiguous guidance on whether redemption would involve physical confrontation, the Saints walked forward in faith, willing to follow the Lord’s instructions. They ultimately reached Missouri, only to learn that Zion’s redemption would come through spiritual endowment at the House of the Lord in Kirtland rather than through armed conflict. The experience highlighted the importance of sacrifice and reliance on divine timing in the pursuit of Zion.

  Read full article here:

  https://byustudies.byu.edu/online-book/doctrine-and-covenants-contexts/section-103