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Zion's Camp Marches West
On February 24, 1834, the same day members of the Church in Kirtland decided to send an army west to assist the Saints in Missouri, Joseph Smith received a revelation concerning the recruitment and size of this army. Eight men were called by revelation to gather young and middle-aged male members and also to raise money to help the oppressed members in Missouri. One of these elders, Joseph Smith, was compared in the revelation to the servant who had been instructed by the lord of the vineyard to gather the strength of his house for the recovery of his lands. Another missionary, Sidney Rigdon, was specifically commanded to inform members in the east to keep the commandments relating to the restoration and redemption of Zion. Two other missionaries, Parley P. Pratt and Lyman Wight, were told not to return to Missouri until an acceptable army had been organized.
By revelation, members of the Church also learned what the Lord considered a satisfactory force. The army ideally was to consist of five hundred volunteers; if five hundred men could not be recruited, an army of three hundred was to be organized; and if three hundred could not be found, then an army of at least one hundred was to be formed. The revelation further instructed the Saints to organize into companies of tens, twenties, fifties, and one hundreds.
While the Saints were receiving specific instructions by revelation concerning the organization of Zion's Camp, they were also warned that the "redemption of Zion" would be delayed if the Saints continued to "pollute their inheritance." Though members in the East were to be granted an opportunity to assist the exiles in the West, the successful completion of this mission was predicated upon their living in harmony with the commandments of the Lord. The revelation further specified that Zion would not be redeemed until after much tribulation, at which time the Lord would manifest his power. "I say unto you," the revelation read, "Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land."
Organizing the Army of Israel
For two and a half months, leaders of the Church recruited men in the East to march in Zion's Camp and concurrently gathered contributions of money and goods to help destitute members in Missouri. In the latter part of February the eight missionaries called by revelation left Kirtland and headed east. Traveling two by two, they followed different routes, "visiting the churches and instructing the people." On March 13 Orson Pratt and Orson Hyde held a meeting in New York with members of the China branch and informed them of the "necessity of obeying the parable in the revelations." According to Elder Pratt, three or four young to middle-aged men agreed that if they could arrange their business affairs, they would join this army.