In 1831 a group of Mormons began settling in Jackson County, Missouri with hopes of building a utopian community known to them as 'Zion' or the 'New Jerusalem'. However, the social, economic, political, and religious differences between them and their Missourian neighbors soon proved too great for them to peaceably coexist. By October of 1838 a small scale civil war had been fought, dozens of lives were

lost, and an official 'extermination

order' had been declared against the Mormons by the Governor of Missouri. The events that transpired during the 1838 Mormon / Missouri War raise some very poignant questions regarding the freedom of religion, religious fanaticism, and the history of extralegal violence in America.

In Trouble in Zion, this tragic piece of American history is retold through spoken word, folk music, and the vibrant pages of a comic book. The film offers a unique look at the 1838 Mormon / Missouri War from both the Mormon and Missourian prospectives. It also features intriguing interviews with notable scholars from the realms of history, religion, and sociology, as well as fascinating encounters with some contemporary Missourians who still carry strong feelings about what transpired 170 years ago.