This week was very special. One of the most amazing things that happened this week was our zone conference. My companion and I had been praying for a long time to know what to teach our missionaries about and how we could help them. Many have expressed to us that as Zone Leaders, we are able to help and recieve revelation for our zone. We started a couple weeks before and decided to start thinking about what we could teach them. We came to the conclusion to teach them about Zions Camp. "From May to June 1834, approximately 230 men, women, and children marched to Missouri to help the Saints who had been expelled from Jackson County, Missouri, the previous year. This expedition, known today as Zion’s Camp, was initially called the Camp of Israel. It was formed after Joseph Smith received a revelation in February 1834 commanding him to call up the strength of the Lord’s house to redeem Zion from its enemies. The revelation instructed Church leaders to recruit at least 100, and preferably 500, men to travel to Missouri. In March, Joseph Smith and others traveled through New York to obtain volunteers and funding for the expedition." Zions Camp turned out not being a success (according to many but others disagreeded). Many arrived back in Kirtland and many made fun of them and asked them why they went and that they wasted time. A brother in Kirtland—one who lacked the faith to volunteer to go with the camp—met Brigham Young on his return from Missouri and asked, “‘Well, what did you gain on this useless journey to Missouri with Joseph Smith?’ ‘All we went for,’ promptly replied Brigham Young. ‘I would not exchange the experience I gained in that expedition for all the wealth of Geauga County,’” the county in which Kirtland was then located. We explained tot he missionaries that the mission is like that. The Lord sees who is obedient in his work and blesses me for their effort. The people that went on Zions Camp became great leaders in the church. We told them that many may tell them "Why did you go on a mission? That was a waste of time" The truth is like Brigham Young said "We wouldnt change it for anything." Many commented after that it was what everyone hoped for and many recieved revelation. We were so grateful to be instruments in the Lords hands.
