THE CAUSE OF EXPULSION--FUTURE REDEMPTION.
It must not be supposed that the Prophet Joseph was an uninterested
spectator of the stirring events that were being enacted. The
circumstances of The Church were such that his presence was necessary
in Kirtland, but all the sympathy of his nature went out to his
brethren in affliction; and his letters were filled with words of
encouragement and wise counsels: and, so far as his embarrassing
financial circumstances would permit, he rendered them material aid.
There were two things, however, that he could not understand; "and,"
said he, "they are these: Why God has suffered so great a calamity to
come upon Zion, and what the great moving cause of this persecution is.
And again, by what means he will return her back to her inheritance,
with everlasting joy upon her head."
He was not left long in doubt as to these matters. The words we have
quoted above are taken from a letter written by Joseph on the tenth of
December, 1833; and six days later the Lord in a revelation to him said:
Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been
afflicted, and persecuted and cast out from the land of their
inheritance, I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon
them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their
transgressions. * * * Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings,
and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous
desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their
inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord
their God, therefore the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their
prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 101:1-7.]
This explained to the uttermost why the saints were driven away from
Zion. Of the evils which were in their midst they had been made aware
by the reproofs of their brethren; they had been warned time and again
by the Prophet and the high council at Kirtland of impending judgments.
But all these warnings had only aroused them to a partial repentance;
and the Lord, true to his word at the time of giving the warning, was
now pleading with the strong ones in Zion, and chastening her mighty
ones, that they might overcome.[B]
[Footnote B: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 90:34-37.]
Seeing, then, that the saints were punished for neglecting to observe
the counsels of God, the question may arise, are the mob to be held
responsible for their acts of violence against them? Most assuredly,
for it is a case where "offenses must needs come, but woe unto them by
whom they come."
In relation to the other matter about which Joseph was perplexed,
namely, by what means the Lord would redeem Zion, this same revelation,
and one given subsequently--on the twenty-fourth of February,
1834--explained. From these two revelations we learn that Zion is to
be redeemed by power. "I will raise up unto my people," said the Lord,
"a man who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel,
for ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye
must needs be led out of bondage, with power, and with a stretched
out arm: and as your fathers were led at the first, _even so shall
the redemption of Zion be._ Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for
I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers, mine angel shall go
up before you, but not my presence; but I say unto you, mine angels
shall go before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess
the goodly land." [C] But this great blessing, they were given to
understand, was not to be granted _"until after much tribulation."_[D]
[Footnote C: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 103.]
[Footnote D: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 103:12, and Sec. 58:2-4.]
Joseph Smith was commanded to gather up the strength of the Lord's
house, the young men, and the middle-aged; and they were to gather to
Zion to possess the land that the Lord had appointed unto the saints,
much of which they had purchased and consecrated unto him. The work
of gathering was to go on. The churches of the east were to sent up
money in the hands of wise men to purchase inheritances; and inasmuch
as their enemies came upon them to drive them from their homes, they
were to defend themselves, and avenge themselves of their enemies.
They were to make every effort to obtain five hundred men to go up and
redeem Zion; but if they failed to get five hundred, then they were to
get three hundred; and if they failed to get three hundred, they were
to get one hundred; but they were not to go if unable to obtain one
hundred. The Lord told the saints, even previous to this, that "there
is even now already in store a sufficient, yea, even an abundance,
to redeem Zion, and establish her waste places, no more to be thrown
down, were the churches, who call themselves after my name, willing to
hearken to my voice." [E]
[Footnote E: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 101:75.]