The Cholera Scourge Upon Zion's Camp — Divine Judgment for Murmuring (June 1834)

During Zion's Camp in 1834, the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed that the Lord had not yet appointed the time to "take the sword in hand to redeem Zion." Many camp members murmured and complained against this counsel, wanting to fight the enemies of God contrary to the Lord's will. Some members were murmuring and wanted to fight at all hazards, which greatly displeased the Lord.

William Farrington Cahoon recorded: "Many in the camp murmured because we were not permitted at this time to restore our brethren at all hazards, which greatly displeased the Lord, who a few days afterwards sent a scourge amongst us; the cholera which took from us sixteen or more of our number. This caused great sorrow and mourning in our camp." Cahoon added solemnly: "It is a fearful thing to fall under the displeasure of the living God and to openly rebel against Him and murmur at the counsel of His servant, the Prophet."

Joseph prophesied that the Lord would send a scourge upon the camp because of their unrighteous murmuring. Cholera broke out just a few hours after this prophecy was made. Approximately eighteen of the brethren fell victim to the disease. Both Harrison Burgess and Milo Andrus witnessed this fulfillment firsthand.

Harrison Burgess was violently seized with cholera himself but was miraculously rescued from the grasp of death through his own faith in God and the faithful assistance of Brother Zerah Cole. Milo Andrus and his fellow elders who had offered fervent prayer before crossing the Mississippi were spared from the outbreak, and when Andrus later contracted cholera on the return journey, he was healed by the Lord's hand. These converging testimonies of divine prophecy, judgment, and mercy witnessed by multiple participants testify to God's willingness to correct His people and to those who maintain faith. This event demonstrated that while God protects the faithful, He brings judgment upon those who murmur against His word.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

Many in the camp murmured because we were not permitted at this time to restore our brethren at all hazards, which greatly displeased the Lord, who a few days afterwards sent a scourge amongst us; the cholera which took from us sixteen or more of our number. This caused great sorrow and mourning in our camp. It is a fearful thing to fall under the displeasure of the living God and to openly rebel against Him and murmur at the counsel of His servant, the Prophet.