“I would recommend to brother Phelps (If he is yet there) to write a petition such as will be approved of by the high council and let there be every signer obtained that can be in the State of Missouri and while they are on their Journey to this country that peradventure we may learn whether we have friends or not in these United States.” — Joseph Smith¹

Amidst the persecutions in Jackson County, Missouri, Joseph Smith advised the Saints to petition Missouri Governor Daniel Dunklin for government protection.² Accounts of their persecution were collected by Bishop Edward Partridge and sent to Governor Dunklin, who told them to take the matter to the courts, and that he would intervene if the courts failed to uphold the law. Encouraged by this, the Saints planned to stay in the area.³ In Ohio, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders organized the Camp of Israel, a group of 230 people who would travel to Missouri to protect the Saints and their property in Jackson County.⁴ Governor Dunklin had said that the militia would aid the Saints in getting back to their land in Jackson County, but later refused to do so.⁵ After Zion’s Camp disbanded, Joseph again urged the Missouri Saints to petition Governor Dunklin, and even President Andrew Jackson, but once more, Dunklin refused to take action and again suggested that the Saints go to the courts.⁶

1. Letter to Lyman Wight and Others, 16 August 1834, josephsmithpapers.org

2. “Missouri Governor Petitioned to Protect Saints,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 17, 186

4. “Introduction to the Camp of Israel,” josephsmithpapers.org; Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 18, 199

5. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 18, 199, 202-203; “Zion’s Camp (Camp of Israel),” churchofjesuschrist.org

6. Historical Introduction, Letter to Lyman Wight and Others, 16 August 1834, josephsmithpapers.org; Daniel Dunklin letter, Jefferson City, to W. W. Phelps and others, Kirtland, Ohio, 22 January 1836, Church History Library