A mob in Jackson County, Missouri destroys…

A mob in Jackson County, Missouri destroys the printing office of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, containing what is now known as The Doctrine and Covenants.

Joseph Smith, his new religion spreading from its roots on the New York Panhandle, has established a Latter Day Saints community in Jackson County, the westernmost yet.

A fundamental tenet of Latter Day Saint theology is that the biblical New Jerusalem will be built in the Americas, a belief established by 1829 and included in the Book of Mormon, a scripture of the religion.

On July 20, 1831, Joseph Smith had identified the location of this New Jerusalem as Jackson County, Missouri and began sending Latter Day Saint settlers there to establish a City of Zion, which is to be a Latter Day Saint millennial kingdom.

By the summer of 1833, there are about twelve hundred Latter Day Saints in Jackson County, and older settlers feel threatened by their political and economic power, a fear exacerbated by rumors that Latter Day Saints favor abolitionism.

Forming militia groups, the "old settlers" as they are called, organize attacks against the Latter Day Saints during the summer of 1833.

A revelation dictated by Joseph Smith in August 1833 discourages immediate retaliation but permits Latter Day Saints to retaliate after the fourth act of aggression and "unto the third and fourth generation."

The Saints initially attempt to regain their lands through political and legal means, enlisting four Missouri attorneys to communicate with the court and the Missouri government.

This decision to engage lawyers and fight the issue in court likely sparks further violence in late October 1833.

When the Missourians attack the Saints the fourth time, they fight back as allowed by Smith's revelation.

By the end of 1833, Latter Day Saint homes, as well as the church print shop, have been destroyed, and nearly all church members have fled the county.

Mormon refugees settle temporarily in neighboring counties, including Clay County to the north, across the Missouri River from Jackson County.

In December 1833, Smith dictates another revelation about the "redemption of Zion."

It commands Missouri settlers to seek redress through the courts or the political process but warns that a military solution will become necessary should those efforts fail.

The revelation predicts that God will soon command Smith to gather warriors of the church to "get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen."

Further, should the Missourians oppose the Saints, the latter will "avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land."