God taught that Zion can only be built by the principles of the celestial law. Some of these principles are: obedience to His instructions, purity, sharing with the poor and needy, and unity. We will not achieve obedience to this law all at once, only incrementally and only with His grace.
The Lord Hath Founded Zion
Nephi quotes thirteen chapters in a row from the book of Isaiah (chapters 2-14). At the end of this extended quotation, there is a verse which reads like the moral of the story: What shall then answer the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall... Continue Reading →
The Earth Shall Rest
Contention is exhausting. Any parent will tell you: When your children aren't getting along with each other, it saps your energy. As Enoch saw a vision of the tumultuous future of the world, he heard a complaint from an unlikely source: the earth itself: "Wo, wo is me, the mother of men," she said; "I... Continue Reading →
“Thy Kingdom Come”
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior gave us an example of an effective prayer. Today, we refer to it as the Lord's Prayer. It was recorded by Matthew (Matthew 6:9–13) and by Luke (Luke 11:1–4), with some differences between the two versions. Jesus also delivered this sermon on the American continent, and so... Continue Reading →
“Bring Forth My Zion” – 1 Nephi 13:37
The prophet Nephi experienced an expansive vision in which he saw many future events. After witnessing a period of spiritual darkness, he saw the publication of the Book of Mormon. The angel narrating the vision, quoting the Savior, said this: Blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall... Continue Reading →
The New Jerusalem
The Savior prophesied that He would establish a group of people on the American continent, that they would build a city called the New Jerusalem, and that He would gather His people to this new city: And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel.And behold, this people will I establish... Continue Reading →
What Is Zion?
Six generations after Adam, there was a man named Enoch. The Bible tells us that "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). In 1830, Joseph Smith learned additional information about Enoch. He had preached the gospel courageously, performed miracles, and led the people of God. Those people organized... Continue Reading →
The Lord Hath Founded Zion – 2 Nephi 24:32
32 What shall then answer the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (2 Nephi 24:32, Isaiah 14:32) Zion is the name of an ancient city established by Enoch which was taken up to heaven (Genesis 5:24, Moses 7:69). An important characteristic... Continue Reading →
They Shall See Eye to Eye – 3 Nephi 16:18-20
18 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 19 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 20 The Lord... Continue Reading →
A New Jerusalem – Ether 13:4-6
4 Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land. 5 And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come--after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could... Continue Reading →