As I was casually reading along in the Book of Mormon, minding my own business, I ran across a sentence I had not noticed before about Zion. It’s in 2 Nephi, chapter 1 where Lehi is admonishing his sons just before his passing. The last third of verse 21 jumped out at me for the […]
Zion in the Past
Was Fourth Nephi Truly a Zion Society?
We are safe in taking the word of modern prophets that the society described in Fourth Nephi was actually a Zion society. However, if we examine the question for ourselves, we can discover in greater detail what it was that actually made their society a Zion, and, better understand how to build our own today. […]
Building Zion Was Central to Gospel During Territorial Utah
Here are four of twenty-two quotes by President Brigham Young I’ve found (so far) in the Journal of Discourses spanning 18 years that reflect the fact that building Zion was central to the mission and operations of the LDS Church in early Utah. Emphases are mine. 4/27/1852 “When you had obeyed the first ordinances of […]
Apostle Woodruff Said Saints to be “Removed” if they Don’t Build Zion.
One hundred forty-two years ago tomorrow, Apostle Wilford Woodruff gave a talk in Salt Lake City outlining our duty as Latter-Day Saints to build Zion and the consequences for us if we don’t. Below are five quotes from that talk along with a summary of the points made in each. 1. “The Lord has put […]
The Early Utah Saints Were Literally Building Zion
As I have been reviewing quotes from talks given by LDS Church leaders in the 1850s & 1860s, I have run across two dozen statements that make is blatantly clear that the early Saints were in fact in the process of building a real live, brick and mortar Zion society. Here’s quote #24 found just […]
“We have to labor with our hands”
One hundred and fifty nine years ago today, at a conference held at “Provo City, Utah Territory”, President Brigham Young opened his remarks by saying: …if we are to build up the kingdom of God, or establish Zion upon the earth, we have to labor with our hands, plan with our minds, and devise ways […]
The BIG Picture
For my personal scripture study, I have been reading every mention of building Zion in all the talks given by the Apostles and Prophets from the 1850s forward in an attempt to truly understand what their vision was for building Zion. While doing so, I’m seeing commonalities and patterns. I’m also running into quotes I […]