Zion's Camp expedition (1834) — Reuben McBride reminiscence and cholera outbreak

In 1834 Reuben McBride (June 16, 1803 – February 26, 1891) was among the roughly 205 men and families who volunteered to march with Zion's Camp, the expedition led by the Prophet Joseph Smith (with assistance from his brother Hyrum) from Kirtland, Ohio, to Missouri to assist persecuted Saints. McBride later wrote a reminiscence of his experiences with Zion's Camp (MS 8197) and kept a journal; his accounts have been cited in studies of divine intervention during the expedition. His writings describe the march of more than a thousand miles, personal experiences with Joseph Smith, the trials of the camp, and memories of divine providences that helped the company reach Clay County safely and encamp just east of Liberty near Brother Burget's residence.

The company included many who later became leaders of the Church — among them Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Wilford Woodruff. Despite the providences that had guided them across the journey, shortly after their arrival a cholera outbreak swept the camp. Contemporary reminiscences report that some eighteen or nineteen of the brethren died of the disease; those who died were buried at night by torchlight in an effort to conceal the fact of the outbreak. McBride's reminiscence and journal, as well as later recollections of camp members, record both the spiritual experiences and the severe physical trials (including the cholera deaths) experienced during the 1834 Zion's Camp expedition.

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

Soon after arriving at the point of destination, the cholera broke out among us, and the brethren were so violently attacked that it seemed impossible to render them any assistance. They immediately sent for us to lay hands on them, but we soon discovered that this also was the judgment of the Almighty, for when we laid our hands upon them in the name of the Lord in order that they might be healed, the disease instantly fastened itself upon us. And in a few minutes we were in awful distress. We made mute signals to each other and left the house for the purpose of going into some secluded place to join in prayer that God would deliver us from this awful influence; but before we could get a sufficient distance to be secure from interruption, we were scarcely able to stand upon our feet and we were greatly alarmed, fearing that we should