Today s Take-aways Establishing Zion Scott Woodward Rel. 225 Summer 2017 What are the two phases of gathering to Zion introduced by? How did the geographical meaning of Zion shift in Joseph Smith s lifetime? Why is this important? What most likely precipitated this shift in his understanding and teaching? What does it mean to build Zion today? What story is told by the Doctrine and Covenants and? September 1830 no man knoweth where the city Zion shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. [I]t shall be on the borders by the Lamanites (D&C 28:9). February 1831 ye shall build up my church in every region until the time shall come when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in one (D&C 42:8-9). Consecrated funds are to be used to build up the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed (D&C 42:35). March 1831 an inheritance shall hereafter be appointed unto you. And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God (D&C 45:65-66). The Lord counseled the Kirtland saints to save all the money that ye can that in time ye may be enabled to purchase land for an inheritance, even the city. The place is not yet to be revealed; but after your brethren come from the east [New York] there are to be certain men appointed, and to them it shall be given to know the place. And to purchase the lands, and to make a commencement to lay the foundation of the city; and then shall ye begin to be gathered with your families as is appointed to him by the presidency and the bishop of the church (D&C 48:4-6). June 1831 After the New York saints arrived a conference was held, after which the Lord revealed that the next conference should be held in Missouri. Joseph and Sidney are told to go to Missouri as well and are promised that inasmuch as they are faithful, it would be made known unto them the land of your inheritance (D&C 52:5). 1
6/8/17 Journeys to Missouri July 1831 After journeying to Independence, Missouri the Lord revealed to Joseph that that very place is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints. Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion (D&C 57:1-2). It is the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand (D&C 58:7). The saints from Colesville, New York settle in Independence, MO. The Old Settlers Perspective July 1833 Mob violence breaks out against the saints in Jackson County, MO. Church leaders sign agreement to leave Jackson County. ½ by 1st Jan, ½ by Apr. 1. Political Jealousy. The Saints are a political threat. They will soon have the majority vote in Jackson County. October-November 1833 Mob violence renewed with satanic vigor. All the saints are driven from Jackson County under great duress. 3. Business Concerns. Fear of Mormon business domination. 2. Religious Jealousy. Protestant ministers are jealous of Mormon missionary success. 4. Indian Alliances? Fear of Mormons forming alliances with the Indians to drive the old settlers out of their Zion. 5. Slave Revolt? Because Mormons were against slavery they fear Mormons might turn their slaves against their masters to help them drive the old settlers out. Text The Saints find refuge in Clay County 2
(Letter to Missouri, 10 December 1833; josephsmithpapers.org) Now there are two things of which I am ignorant and the Lord will not show me perhaps for a wise purpose in himself. [A]nd they are these: Why God hath suffered so great calamity to come upon Zion. And again by what means he will return her back to her inheritance with songs of everlasting Joy upon her head. These two things brethren, are in part kept back that they are not plainly shewn unto me. March 1838 Joseph and Sidney flee Kirtland, Ohio to Clay County, Missouri. October-November 1838 Mob violence commences again! Joseph is imprisoned into liberty Jail for 5 months and the saints are driven from the state of Missouri under executive order from Governor Boggs. 1840 The saints move to Commerce, Illinois (later named Nauvoo). The Shifting Meaning of Zion Terms From 1831-1841 Zion meant Independence, Missouri. Building Zion meant consecrating one s money and efforts to help the saints gather there and establish a city of holiness, peace, and refuge like the Zion of Enoch (D&C 38:4). 19 January 1841 D&C 124:49-54 To redeem Zion meant to regain the lands from which the Missouri saints had been expelled (D&C 100:13). This in fact was the stated purpose of Zion s camp. In 1841, this all changed. 21 January 1841 (Two days after D&C 124 is recorded) Orson Pratt (Orson Pratt to George A. Smith, 21 January 1841, Orson Pratt Papers, LDS Church Archives) He (J.S.) says Zion is all North & South America!!!!!!!... J. Co. Mo. is the centre. The government [of the US] is fallen & needs redeeming. And this is the redemption of Zion When the saints shall have redeemed that government & reinstated it in all its purity & glory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That America may be an asylum for the remnant of all nations. 3
Howard Coray Secretary to p.415-416; spelling and punctuation modernized) [Joseph] said, speaking of the Land of Zion, that it consists of all North & South America, but that any place where the saints gather is Zion which every righteous man will build up for a place of safety for his children. The redemption of Zion is the redemption of all North & South America. 8 April 1844 (Two months+ before his martyrdom) 363-364; grammar & spelling modernized; Wilford Woodruff account) I have now a great proclamation for the Elders to teach the Church hereafter which is in relation to Zion. The whole of North and South America is Zion, the mountain of the Lords House is in the Center of North & South America. The Elders are to go through all America and build up Churches until all Zion is built up, but not to commence to do this until the temple is built up here and the Elders endowed; then go forth and build up stakes in all North and South America. 365; grammar & spelling modernized; Willard Richards account) From henceforth the elders shall build churches where ever the people receive the gospel sufficient. Then build stakes to this place. From henceforth, I have received instruction from the Lord, that Elders shall build churches where ever they raise branches through the States, then build stakes. Smith remarked that his proclamation just made was the greatest [he] ever made. 362; grammar & spelling modernized; William Clayton account) Wilford Woodruff 363-364) 4
It appears from the accounts of this sermon that Joseph maintained the belief that there would be one central temple to which all could come. There will be some place ordained for the redeeming of the dead I think this place [the Nauvoo temple] will be the one, so there will be gathering fast enough here. 363-364; grammar & spelling modernized; Wilford Woodruff s account) 362; grammar & spelling modernized; William Clayton s account) God has provided for a house to be built where we can get a House. This [is] the central place and where we can be baptized for the dead. 365; grammar & spelling modernized; Willard Richards account) [W]hen we can get a house built first, there is the place. I verily believe that God will establish this place [the Nauvoo temple] for the salvation of the dead. Those who do not wish to come hither to live can bring their families, and attend the ordinances, and return. 365; grammar & spelling modernized; Thomas Bullock s account) Here [is] the place that the Lord has established for the salvation of the dead. I verily believe this to be the place, and men who wish to save their dead must come here to be baptized for their dead, and then [they] may go back again. Brigham Young (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.395) (Speaking of the Salt Lake Temple) This is not the only temple we shall build; there will be hundreds of them built and dedicated to the Lord. This temple will be known as the first temple built in the mountains by the Latter-day Saints. 5
Jeffrey R. Holland ( Israel, Israel, God is Calling, CES Devotional, 9 September 2012) Zion. The promised land. The New Jerusalem. Where is it? In these last days, in this our dispensation, we would become mature enough to plant our feet and our families and our foundations in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people permanently. Zion would be everywhere wherever the Church is. And with that change one of the mighty changes of the last days we no longer think of Zion as where we are going to live; we think of it as how we are going to live. Ezra Taft Benson (BYU devotional, 12 April 1977) The law of consecration... is that one s time, talents, strength, property, and money are given up to the Lord for the express purpose of building up the kingdom of God and establishing Zion on the earth. End 6