There has to be an equality; and we have to observe these principles that are designed to give everyone the privilege of gathering around him the comforts and conveniences of life. The Lord, in his economy in spiritual things, has fixed that every man, according to his perseverance and faithfulness, will receive exaltation and glory […]
Posts by John Taylor Wilford Woodruff:
347. What Building Zion Requires of Us – George Q. Cannon quote, 1882
Our position, as Latter-day Saints, is such that unless we have the guidance of the Lord our God, we are very likely to become involved in a series of difficulties and troubles. This work cannot be built up by man. Man’s power, man’s wisdom, man’s skill, are all insufficient to establish and to carry on […]
342. What Building Zion Requires of Us – Brigham Young quote, 1862
When we conclude to make a Zion we will make it, and this work commences in the heart of each person. When the father of a family wishes to make a Zion in his own house, he must take the lead in this good work, which it is impossible for him to do unless he […]
339. What Zion is and is not – John Taylor quote, 1884
We are here really to build up and purify the Church of the living God. We are here to build up and establish the kingdom of God. We are here also to build up a Zion unto our God…. – John Taylor, 11/30/1884 This quote, along with many others, suggests that the organization God desires […]
Reviving Lorenzo Snow’s Stepping Stone to Zion
Early LDS leaders taught that the New Jerusalem Zion would be built before Christ makes his triumphant return. Some of us (or our children) will be called upon to assist in building the New Jerusalem Zion society. Will we be ready? What can we do to better prepare ourselves and our posterity for that honor? […]
335. Zion Prophesied – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1868
All the Saints of God among the nations, who have been faithful, have been inspired by the same spirit to gather home to Zion. Why have we gathered to Zion? To fulfill the revelations of God. Isaiah and Jeremiah and nearly all the prophets since the world began have foretold the gathering of the people […]
333. Economic Unity – Erastus Snow quote, 1874
The United Order of Zion, proposed for our consideration, as will be seen from the remarks that have been made by former speakers, and from the articles which were read yesterday afternoon, is a grand, comprehensive, cooperative system, designed to improve us who enter into it, financially, socially, morally and religiously; it will aid us, […]
330. What Building Zion Requires of Us – Wilford Woodruff quote, 1874
From the commencement of this work to the present day, the labor has been harder with the servants of God to get the people prepared in their hearts to let the Lord govern and control them in their temporal labor and means than in regard to matters pertaining to their eternal salvation…. This Gospel has […]
ToZ #63 – The Forgotten Secret How Co-ops Help Build Zion
Some may be unaware that early-Utah’s LDS leaders taught that co-operatives were a means of uniting the Saints economically. And they taught that it was preparing them for their eventual return to build the New Jerusalem Zion. One Example Quote A great quote showing this was given by Elder George A. Smith in the October […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
317. Babylon – Zion’s Antithesis – Brigham Young quote, 1874
Are we going to enter into the kingdom? Are we going to be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man? Are we going to be prepared to enter into the fullness of the glory of the Father and the Son? Not so long as we live according to the principles of Babylon. Now […]
313. What Zion is and is not – George Q. Cannon quote, 1883
…when Zion is organized properly, it will be found to be as admirably adapted to the wants of the children of men as the organization of the Church is today to the wants of the people. There will be nothing lacking. In every particular it will be found adequate to the wants of humanity. The […]
311. Babylon – Zion’s Antithesis – Brigham Young quote, 1874
We have gone just as far as we can be permitted to go in the road on which we are now traveling. One man has his eye on a gold mine, another is for a silver mine, another is for marketing his flour or his wheat, another for selling his cattle, another to raise cattle, […]
Thoughts on Zion #61 – Crossing From Babylon to Zion
Over the last eight columns, we’ve reviewed teachings of the early LDS leaders regarding Babylon, Zion’s “antithesis and antagonist”. They taught: We live in Babylon, both spiritually and economically. Though the Saints left Babylon to build a Zion in Utah, they unfortunately brought Babylonian values, practices, and traditions with them. Babylon is “the false organization […]