The Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 4: April 1834-September 1835

Between April 1834 and September 1835, Joseph Smith and the church he led faced tumultuous times. The documents in this volume of The Joseph Smith Papers highlight Joseph Smith's struggle for Zion's redemption during this period, whether through the calling of the Camp of Israel (later known as Zion's Camp) or through the continued construction of the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, where the Saints would be endowed with power. Other documents highlight the development of new leadership positions in the church, such as those of Apostle and Seventy. Still other documents show the great efforts that Joseph Smith and other church leaders made to publish a compilation of Smith's revelations, called the Doctrine and Covenants, in 1835. Together, the documents provide insights into the development of the church and characteristics of Joseph Smith as a husband, father, and leader of a growing religious movement.