We mourn President Taylor’s absence. We will lose his counsel. We can not well spare such men. We need such men in the Church to establish righteousness and preach the Gospel and build up Zion on the earth. – Franklin D. Richards, 7/29/1887
Central to The Gospel
As I scoured the Journal of Discourses for every quote mentioning “build Zion” or “establish Zion”, I was surprised to discover a huge amount of them showed that building Zion was a central element of the Gospel, right up there with “preach the gospel” and “redeem the dead”. I do not make the mistake of faulting our current church leaders for not pursuing Zion as vigorously as Brigham Young and John Taylor did. Having read the economic history of the early Saints, I realized that the Saints were literally conquered by the US Government, and, consequently, their efforts to build a Zion society were put to an end. We are left to languish in Babylon. The Good News is that Babylon will fall. And since it will, shouldn’t we be getting ready to build Zion when it does? I believe the Church is making preparations, although quietly. We should too.
195. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1870
I delight to hear a person give an intimation of their having faith in God; to hear it said, “I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in his crucifixion and atonement, and in his ordinances.” These ordinances we are trying to live, that we may glorify God, and prepare ourselves to build up His Zion […]
179. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1868
Christ lives and is the Savior of the world, and has commenced His work in the last days, to gather His people, redeem and build up Zion, gather the remnants of Israel, bring the Gentiles into His covenant who will receive the gospel, restore the Jews to their land, and establish the New and Everlasting […]
177. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1867
You and I have the privilege of serving God, of building up Zion, sending the gospel to the nations of the earth and preaching it at home, subduing every passion within us, and bringing all subject to the law of God. – Brigham Young, 12/8/1867
171. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1867
We have many duties to perform, and a great work is before us. We have Zion to build up, and upon this we are all agreed, but we differ more or less respecting the modus operandi for we wish, in the majority of instances to follow the dictates of our own inclinations. – Brigham Young, […]
169. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1867
In killing the Prophet Joseph Smith, they did not kill “Mormonism,” and they cannot kill it unless they kill all the “Mormons,” for if they leave a single Latter-day Saint living he will cry to the people to repent of their sins and return to the Lord, and the Lord will work with him to […]
161. Central to The Gospel, George A. Smith, 1867
I bear my testimony to the truth of the counsel and instruction that we have received this morning, and I trust they will be treasured up in good and honest hearts, and that men and women will consider these things and realize that we have one great interest, which is to build up Zion, sustain […]
159. Central to The Gospel, Wilford Woodruff, 1867
We have the right to do good, but not evil. The principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ which have been revealed in our day are the power of God unto salvation to all that believe, both Jew and Gentile, in this age of the world as well as any other; and inasmuch as we […]
154. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1865
There are persons who say they believe [1] in Joseph the Prophet, [2] in the Book of Mormon, [3] in the gathering of the house of Israel, [4] in the building up of Zion, and in all the blessings promised to the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth; but they do not like […]
151. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1865
It is the kingdom of God or nothing with us, and by the help of the Almighty we shall bear it off triumphantly to all nations, gather Israel, build up Zion, redeem Israel, and Jesus Christ will triumph, and we shall reign with him on the earth, and possess it and all its fulness with […]
143. Central to The Gospel, George Q. Cannon, 1865
While many are willing to admit that the servants of God understand everything connected with the work of God, and with the various departments of it on the earth, they think there are some kinds of knowledge which they possess in a superior degree to them who preside over us. They will admit that the […]
141. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1863
The Lord gives us possessions, and he requires of us one-tenth of the increase which we make by the putting to good use the means He has placed in our hands. I am sorry to see a disposition manifested in some to go to distant parts to trade and build up themselves and make money, […]
135. Central to The Gospel, Heber C. Kimball, 1863
May the Lord multiply his blessings upon you, brethren and sisters, and upon all the faithful ministers and Saints throughout the world, and may He bless all those who do good, who love righteousness and desire the welfare and building up of Zion; I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. – Heber […]
133. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1863
The purpose of our life should be to build up the Zion of our God, to gather the house of Israel, bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, restore and bless the earth with our ability and make it as the Garden of Eden, store up treasures of knowledge and wisdom in our own understandings, […]
125. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1862
Have we learned how to handle the things of this life in the name of Israel’s God to his glory, for the building up of his kingdom, for the bringing forth of his Zion, for the redemption of the earth, for the establishment of everlasting righteousness, and for the endless happiness of those who will […]
122. Central to The Gospel, Brigham Young, 1862
Our course is onward to build up Zion, and the nation that has slain the Prophet of God and cast out his people will have to pay the debt. – Brigham Young, 8/31/1862