Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Sixteen

Establishing Zion and Being At One

Zion is defined as “oneness” with the Lord and with His people. “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18, emphasis added). Zion can also mean a geographical location, but being at one with the Lord and His people is the most important definition of Zion.

Prophets seek to establish Zion with a righteous people who are one with each other and one with the Lord:

King Benjamin – We have been studying the life the ministry of king Benjamin. In this study we see that, like other previous prophets who will be discussed next, he was able to establish Zion among his people. During Benjamin’s reign there were major wars, and there were false Christs, false prophets, and false preachers and teachers. There were great contentions and many dissensions unto the Lamanites. The record continues: “King Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness…and [he] did speak the word of God with power and with authority. …. Wherefore… king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul… did once more establish peace in the land” (Words of Mormon 1:12-18). The result of his inspired sermon (Mosiah 3 – 5) was that “they all cried aloud with one voice saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men” (Mosiah 4:2, emphasis added).

Adam – Joseph Smith said: “I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them…. This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. They looked for a city ‘whose builder and maker is God’ (Hebrews 11:10)” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 159). The city Adam looked for was Zion where the people were of one heart and one mind, and they dwelt in righteousness.

Enoch – Great wickedness prevailed, and the Lord commanded Enoch to call the people to repent. (Moses 6:26-39) There were wars and bloodshed among the people who fought against God, “but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness” (Moses 7:15-16). The oneness of Enoch and his people became so complete that they “walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom” (Moses 7:69).

Melchizedek – “Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness; But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days” (Alma 13:17-18). Like Enoch, Melchizedek and his people were also translated. (See JST, Genesis 14:32-34)

Moses “sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts…. Therefore [the Lord] took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy priesthood also; And the lesser priesthood continued…” (D&C 84:23-26). Even though they experienced many mighty miracles the children of Israel did not repent like the people of Enoch, Melchizedek, or Benjamin did, but they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years until they were prepared to enter the promised land.

Joseph Smith and his successors have strived to establish Zion. Joseph Smith said: “We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion…The time is soon coming, when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her stakes” (History of the Church 3:390-91). Joseph Smith’s successors have had the same objective to prepare and purify the members of the Restored Church and establish Zion.

President Russell M. Nelson emphasizes the importance of the gathering of Israel. He quotes the Lord who taught that Israel is gathered so Zion can be established: “I give unto you a sign…that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion” (3 Nephi 21:1). He refers to the commandment of the Lord to several early leaders of the Church to “seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion” (D&C 6:6; 11:6; 12:6; 14:6). (Conference Report, October 2006)

Local Church leaders strive to build up Zion and establish oneness with the Lord in their wards and stakes – For example a few years ago a stake presidency of our home stake adopted the theme of “Establishing Zion One Heart at a Time.” Many relief society sisters are naturally gifted with desire and ability to establish Zion and have oneness with the Lord.

Fathers and mothers seek to establish Zion in their marriage and in their family – Zion is the way of life of a family who is living the gospel of Jesus Christ. The family is the basic unit of the Church, and if Zion is to be established it will be through righteous families who are one with each other and with the Lord. As it was with Adam it is the father’s priesthood responsibility to bring his family into the presence of God. Fathers and mothers can establish Zion in their family by being of one heart and one mind in their marriage, and especially while raising their children, they must work together in love so that righteousness will prevail in their family.

The following are some additional thoughts on the importance of establishing Zion:

- We must be careful not to fight against Zion. The Lord warns those who, in any way, work against the cause of Zion: “Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Nephi 10:16).

- In Zion there are no poor, meaning that every person in Zion has sufficient to meet their economic needs. This is in stark contrast to the ways of the world where there are and continue to be vast multitudes of poor people. The Restored Church of Jesus Christ, as it works toward being a Zion people, has an inspired welfare program that blesses those who have as well as those who have not. Furthermore, the poor who can work are taught and given opportunities to be self-reliant. It is an enormous blessing to be part of this inspired program.

- Those who have received the blessings of the temple are under covenant to help to establish Zion. The establishment of Zion will be accomplished one heart and one family at a time. Every individual and family who are on the covenant path are establishing Zion.

Released on June 2nd. 2024.