Safety in Zion

As we consider recent events and the trends of society over the past decade, it’s easy to understand the truth of the words of Elder Hales from two years ago: “In recent decades the Church has largely been spared the terrible misunderstandings and persecutions experienced by the early Saints. It will not always be so. The world is moving away from the Lord faster and farther than ever before. The adversary has been loosed upon the earth” (Oct. 2013, Strengthening Faith and Testimony).  We often tell the story of the early pioneers and are deeply shocked and saddened by the persecutions they faced because of their faith in Christ and the Restoration.  Names such as Haun’s Mill and Carthage and Liberty Jail and Extermination Order bring to mind the terrible atrocities that were brought upon innocent men, women, and children. To me I think subconsciously I’ve always supposed that those were only stories for the past and that something like that could not happen again in our day.  We don’t know what the future holds in store for us, but it is not at all unreasonable to suppose that persecutions as terrible as those suffered in the early decades of the Church may come again. 

                But that said, ultimately safety and protection will reside in holding fast to the covenants of the gospel of Christ and staying true to the Lord’s anointed.  We know that in these last days with all of the terrible wickedness that is around us, the wrath of God will be “poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (D&C 115:6).  And how do we protect ourselves from that?  The Lord gave His answer in the same verse: “The gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm.”  The way to protect ourselves and our families is to be in the stakes of Zion.  And that means that we must be “pure in heart” (D&C 97:21).  As the world asserts its right to sin, the Lord’s standards remain the same and the warnings from the Lord in Biblical, Book of Mormon, and modern times echo through the ages to warn us: “there is no peace unto the wicked”, “I will punish the world for their evil”, “the judgments of God will overtake the wicked”, “all the wicked shall mourn” (Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 13:11, Mormon 4:5, D&C 97:21).  Our only safety is in righteousness. 

                Perhaps one of the differences in what members of the Church will face up ahead when compared to the trials of the early Saints is that in due time great tribulations will be upon all people.  Yes, the Church will likely face great persecution for holding fast to the standards and doctrines of the Lord.  But without repentance the world at large will be facing dire circumstances as prophesied by the Lord in words such as “overflowing scourge” and “desolating sickness” and “war will be poured out upon all nations” (D&C 45:31, 87:2).  And as that day comes, Zion will be the only real protection.  “And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.  And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another” (D&C 45:68-69).  Who knows how far away some of these events are for the world, but the message for today is clear: true protection lies in standing in holy places and living the principles of Zion.