They strive to practice what they preach, and the Saints in the South are no exception to this rule. They are seeking to live their religion, to serve God, to perfect themselves in the knowledge of the truth, and to build up a Zion here in this Territory. – Brigham Young, Jr., 6/22/1884
Monthly Archives: May 2018
325. What Zion is and is not – George Q. Cannon quote, 1873
Why are men tempted, to be thieves? Why do they steal—take property that does not belong to them? Would they do this if society was properly constituted? No, they would not be tempted to do it. The temptations that we are exposed to are the result, in a great degree, of the false organization of […]
324. Building Zion is Gods Will – John Taylor quote, 1880
We are told to build up Zion, shall we do it? I tell you in the name of Israel’s God we will do it with the help of the Almighty; we cannot do it without, but with his help we will do it. We will build up the Zion of our God, and help to […]
323. Central to The Gospel – Brigham Young quote, 1868
I testify that this work of God in which we are engaged has been commenced to gather the house of Israel and establish Zion in the last days… – Brigham Young, 5/10/1868
322. Early Utahns Were Building Zion – Brigham Young quote, 1867
…we can build up Zion and be of one heart and of one mind… – Brigham Young, 4/6/1867
321. Early Missionaries Taught About Zion – Brigham Young quote, 1852
When you had obeyed the first ordinances of the Gospel, then you discovered that the Lord and set his hand to gather Israel, that Zion might be built up and Israel gathered from the four winds. These doctrines have been taught and re-taught again and again. I think there is not a man here who […]
320. Economic Unity – John Taylor quote, 1879
We have, for instance, Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution; it is called the Parent Institution, and it ought to be the parent of all these institutions and act as a father and protector and benefactor, doing all it can to promote the welfare and prosperity of the people. And then the people, on the other hand, […]
319. Building Zion is Gods Will – Erastus Snow quote, 1883
And we testify of these things, that God has reserved to Himself this right to command His people when it seemeth to Him good and to accomplish the object He has in view—that is, to raise up a righteous seed, a seed that will pay respect to His law and will build up Zion in […]
318. Central to The Gospel – Brigham Young quote, 1873
The Lord has blessed me; he has always blessed me; from the time I commenced to build up Zion, I have been extremely blessed. I could relate circumstances of so extraordinary a character in regard to the providences of God to me, that my brethren and sisters would say in their hearts, “I can hardly […]
318. Central to The Gospel – Brigham Young quote, 1873
The Lord has blessed me; he has always blessed me; from the time I commenced to build up Zion, I have been extremely blessed. I could relate circumstances of so extraordinary a character in regard to the providences of God to me, that my brethren and sisters would say in their hearts, “I can hardly […]
Thoughts on Zion #62 – Five Myths About Establishing Zion

In my decades as a member of the LDS Church, I have heard and read several myths about establishing Zion. Two through five are easily refuted by a casual reading of “Great Basin Kingdom” by Church Historian Leonard J. Arrington. Myth #1 – Building Zion is a spiritual task. This myth is half true. Building […]
Jesse 'Thoughts on Zion' newspaper column 0 Establishing Zion