Patronage and Punishment Summary and Analysis

The years after Zion's Camp were relatively peaceful for Joseph Smith. Upon his return to Kirtland, he faced a "catalogue of charges" (p. 160) coming from the men who had not been faithful, particularly Sylvester Smith, who had been a cause of contention during most of the trek. Joseph stood and answered these charges before the High Council of Kirtland for over six hours, speaking in a soft voice until it was nearly gone. He was found innocent of all charges, and Sylvester Smith left the church as an apostate who sought to destroy Joseph Smith and the church.

The next few years were dedicated to the building of the Kirtland Temple, where they would begin to receive the endowment, a special blessing, promised to them by the Lord. In order to complete the temple, they were required...