Zion's Camp: Expedition to Missouri, 1834

by Roger D. Launius

Based upon the author's Master's thesis at Louisiana State University completed in 1982.

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

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Reviews

[James T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the Zion's Camp expedition. In this book, Launius is fairly light on interpretation and sticks closely to documented facts and quotes, which I appreciate. He discusses Smith's revelations in a more or less historically neutral way: he talks about the role these revelations may have had in contemporary events but does not paint them in an overtly faith-affirming or faith-denying light. (Not overtly faith-affirming in the sense that the revelations are attributed to "Smith" for purposes of the historical record, but not faith-denying in the sense that Launius doesn't go overboard trying to psychoanalyze Joseph or explain away the revelations as a non-Mormon author might.) In my opinion he also fairly represents the variety of factors and personalities involved in Zion's Camp, acknowledging problems associated with the expedition while not unilaterally dismissing it or its goals.