Stakes of Zion

In the manual containing President Benson’s teachings, one of the chapter gives his teachings about stakes.  He said, “The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth.  That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion” (see here).  As I read this chapter and then looked up the scriptures that discuss the idea of stakes, I realized, as this quote shows, that the idea of a stake is only understood in the context of Zion.  We talk often in the Church about things related to the stake without using the word Zion, but the scriptures rarely do.

                It’s in the Doctrine and Covenants that we see the unmistakable connection between stakes and Zion.  Here are some of the references:

·         “The Lord shall locate a stake of Zion” (D&C 136:10)

·         “And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion” (D&C 119:7)

·         “For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized” (D&C 68:26).

·         “I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion” (D&C 101:21).

·         “We ask thee to appoint unto Zion other stakes besides this one which thou hast appointed” (D&C 109:59)

·         “And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm” (D&C 115:6)

·         “For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments” (D&C 82:14).

·         “For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge” (D&C 124:36)

·         “That they may gather out of that city the righteous, that they may come forth to Zion, or to her stakes, the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy” (D&C 109:39)

·         “Go ye forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about” (D&C 133:9).

The Book of Mormon uses the word stake in two places, both of which come from Isaiah 54:2, probably the most famous verse about stakes: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.”  While this does not refer to Zion directly, if we take President Benson’s description then the “tent” described in the verse is indeed Zion. 3 Nephi 22:2 quotes the passage directly, while in Moroni 10:31 he paraphrased the language of Isaiah and added his own description: “And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever.”  Here the wording from Moroni seems to imply that the original passage was meant to address to the “daughter of Zion”; that is to whom the command was given, “strengthen thy stakes”. 

                I think if we understand that stakes are meant to be a part of Zion, then it can change the way that we view the stakes of the Church.  Stakes are meant to fulfill the cause of Zion, which includes being “of one heart and one mind, and [dwelling] in righteousness; and [having] no poor among them” (Moses 7:18.  The stakes of the Church are not just a body of Saints that get together every six months to hear speakers; the stakes are meant to build up and establish Zion.  If we can do that, then they will indeed be to us “a defense” and “a refuge from the storm.”