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 in the last days to establish Zion, from which the law of the Lord should go forth to rule the nations of the earth, […]
Posts by John Taylor Wilford Woodruff:
278. Economic Unity – Joseph F. Smith quote, 1884
God will bless us in our labors and efforts; and if we will cooperate together in our temporal affairs and conduct our business on correct principles, the world will be better for us, and we will be better off in the world. We will have more means to build up the kingdom of God; we […]
276. What Building Zion Requires of Us – Brigham Young quote, 1868
In building up the Zion of God on this land we must become very different from what we are now, in many respects and particularly in financial matters…. There are many men who are so anxious for wealth, that if they cannot make a fortune in a few months, they feel they are not succeeding […]
Thoughts on Zion #58 – Clinging to Babylon Prevents Zion
LDS leaders during the 1870s were teaching the Saints that they could never reach their goal of establishing Zion in the Utah Territory if they kept “clinging to Babylon”. One leader hinted that God himself may yank us away from Babylon. In 1877, Elder Erastus Snow said, “One thing is certain, that if God accomplishes […]
275. Economic Unity – Brigham Young quote, 1868
What does the Lord want of us up here in the tops of these mountains? He wishes us to build up Zion. What are the people doing? They are merchandising, trafficking and trading. – Brigham Young, 1/12/1868
“We shall work for each other’s good” – George Q. Cannon
The intention is to use the skill of the businessman in elevating those who are not businessmen, to bring up the poor from their level to the broad upper level, not to pull down the upper level to the plane of the lower. That is not the design, but it is that we shall work […]
Merchandising, Trafficking, and Trading
From all his other statements, what Brigham meant here was that the Saints were “merchandising, trafficking and trading” for their own personal benefit, which is Babylon’s way – focusing on one’s own self. Zion’s way is to do so for the good of the whole — working together for mutual benefit, aka. cooperation.
269. What Building Zion Requires of Us – Brigham Young quote, 1872
When shall we establish the principles of Zion? You can say, “I do not know.” If we had power to do it, we should do it; but we are just in the position and condition, and upon precisely the same ground that God our Father is—He cannot force his children to do this, that or […]
268. Zion Prophesied – John Taylor Quote, 1883
And then the Lord understood another principle, namely, that the time would come when the power of Satan, and the power of the wicked would be overthrown; when the Zion of God would be established; when a reign of righteousness would be introduced; when there would be a communion between the Priesthood on the earth […]
Thoughts on Zion #57 – And Great Must Be the Fall Thereof
Last time we saw from quotes given by early LDS leaders that Babylon is the false organization of society. Let’s look now at those same Brethren’s teachings about Babylon’s fateful future. For the three decades of the 1850s through the 1870s, the Mormon Church leaders taught what John the Revelator saw happening in vision as […]
267. Economic Unity – George Q. Cannon Quote, 1882
[God] does not design that there shall be classes among us, one class lifted up above another, one class separated from the rest of the people, with diverse interests; interests that are not strictly in accord with those of the masses of the people. Because when this is the case, there is a lack of […]
We are not going to wait for angels or for Enoch
Another favorite Zion-building quote: “We are not going to wait for angels, or for Enoch and his company to come and build up Zion, but we are going to build it. We will raise our wheat, build our houses, fence our farms, plant our vineyards and orchards, and produce everything that will make our bodies […]
Many Things of Our Own Free Will
Definitely one of my Top 10 favorite Zion-building quotes: We ought to desire to build up the material Zion; and while we may not be commanded in these things, we should, as the revelation which I have read says, be willing to do many things of our own free will and choice. Some might rightfully […]
Zion will come only as they happen
“Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, ‘the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them’ (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we […]
There is not one thing wanting
“There is not one thing wanting in all the works of God’s hands to make a Zion upon the earth when the people conclude to make it. We can make a Zion of God on earth at our pleasure, upon the same principle that we can raise a field of wheat, or build and inhabit. […]
Zion comes not as a gift
The establishment of Zion should be the aim of every member of this Church…. “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” Take special note of the word because in this scripture. Zion is established and […]