Previously, we mentioned that the 1868 General Conference focused on preparing the Saints to support a church-wide roll-out of the Brigham City system of cooperatives with ZCMI as its centerpiece. Let’s look at relevant ideas the prophet discusses in one of his talks at that conference. It shows that his motivation was to lead the […]
Posts by John Taylor Wilford Woodruff:
51. What Building Zion Requires of Us, Brigham Young, 1861
We must be pure to be prepared to build up Zion. To all appearance, the Lord is preparing that end of the route faster than we are preparing ourselves to go there. – Brigham Young, 7/28/1861
Dang! Guess I Need to Repent of Shopping at Walmart!
Apostle George Q. Cannon, on 26 August 1883: “There is a class of people among us who have thought more of money than they have about Zion. They have gone where they could get the best bargains regardless of the effect it would have on the public weal. They only looked to their individual benefit […]
49. Babylon and it’s Traditions, Brigham Young, 1860
I will gather the poor and build up Zion, while the course of others wastes and destroys. – Brigham Young, 9/16/1860
41. What Building Zion Requires of Us, Heber C. Kimball, 1860
Every man that has received the Priesthood, whether an Apostle, Prophet, High Priest, Elder, Bishop, Priest, or Teacher—all should live as one man—be of one heart and one mind. – Heber C. Kimball, 7/1/1860
How Books About Zion Discourage us From Building It
In a Facebook group discussing Zion, a participant posted this comment which illustrates the problem pointed out in the title of this blog post: “I am all for increased spirituality. I keep thinking of John Pontius’ book regarding Zion. I feel I still have so much to learn and so far to go. I too […]
History Shows We Can Prepare for Zion Now by Building Cooperatives
My guess is that it will take us a whole generation, or two, functioning on the cooperative enterprise level before our children, or grandchildren, would be ready for the United Order level. Better get started, eh? If you’ve had any doubts to this point that “building Zion” is an economic activity, this should clinch it. […]
Thoughts on Zion 32 – LDS Church Launches Cooperative System!
In 1868, while manufacturing and retailing cooperatives were thriving in Brigham City, the LDS Church leadership wanted to expand that model throughout the Utah Territory to protect, strengthen, and unite the Saints economically, and prepare them to eventually live in United Orders. General Conference that October focused on preparing the Saints to support a church-wide […]
32. Babylon and it’s Traditions, George A.Smith, 1856
Incorrect traditions, though long followed, have to be surrendered, and we have to build up Zion. The plan of Zion contemplates that the earth, the gardens, and fields of Zion, be beautiful and cultivated in the best possible manner. Our traditions have got to yield to that plan, circumstances will bring us to that point, […]
Last Topic of Brigham Young’s Last Sermon
In my search through the sermons given in Territorial Utah mentioning “building Zion”, I ran across Brigham Young’s last address. Thinking that it might be interesting to see what he had to say just before he passed, I skimmed through the talk and discovered the last paragraph was not a “keep the commandments” message, as […]
Thoughts on Zion 31: The Genesis of Mormon Cooperatives
Many Saints today may be unaware that many of their Utah ancestors worked in cooperatives. The Utah Territory, at one time, was considered the premier place to observe Cooperative Free Enterprise in action. There were as many as 200 manufacturing and retail cooperatives in operation producing and selling everything from wagons, nails, and furniture, to […]
24. What Building Zion Requires of Us, Brigham Young, 1859
Let your whole soul—affections, actions, wishes, desires, every effort and motive, and every hour’s labor you perform be with a single eye to the building up the Zion of God on the earth. If you will pursue this course, you will learn every day and make advancements every hour. But when you so love your […]
21. What Building Zion Requires of Us, Orson Pratt, 1855
Much patience and forbearance will need to be exercised before the Saints will get completely rid of their old traditions, Gentile notions, and whims about property, so as to come to that perfect law required of them in the revelations of Jesus Christ. But the day will come when there will be no poor in […]
Thoughts on Zion 30: The Relief Society Battles The Railroad
The Relief Society played a starring role during the Saints’ 3rd decade in the Utah Territory in the Church’s efforts to protect their economic unity from the anticipated negative effects of the completion of the transcontinental railroad. In 1865, Brigham Young had suggested women organize around the goal of promoting in-home manufacturing and self-sufficiency, and […]
17. Economic Unity, Brigham Young, 1860
But do not set your hearts on your buildings; for I would rather have you remain in your wagons and dugouts than do that. We have to learn how to build up Zion, and to realize, when it is built, that it is not ours, until it is given to us by our Father as […]
16. What Building Zion Requires of Us, Brigham Young, 1857
When the law is revealed to us and the ordinances committed to our charge, if we exercise ourselves therein according to the best knowledge and wisdom that we have, and continue so to do, God will add to us, until we shall know how to establish Zion in perfection, and have the kingdom of God, […]