New Jerusalem: Built Up and Come Down

In Ether 13 Moroni told us about the New Jerusalem that would be in the last days in the Americas, and he made the prophesy that “it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord” (Ether 13:3).  Only a few verses later, though, he wrote that “a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type” (Ether 13:6).  So in one verse Moroni told us that the New Jerusalem would come down from heaven, but in another we learn that this city would be “built up” by those on the earth.  How do we understand these seemingly two different descriptions of this holy city to come forth in the last days?   

                Several scriptures confirm that the mortals will be required to physically build the city of New Jerusalem in the last days.  The Savior prophesied in these words when He was among the Nephites: “And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem” (3 Nephi 21:23).  Joseph Smith taught that “we believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent” (Articles of Faith 1:10).  Again this is clearly referring to a New Jerusalem that is built up by mortals, and this was a major cause the Joseph Smith sought for during his life.  In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord spoke often of the New Jerusalem and revealed that the place would be in Missouri: “Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place” (D&C 84:4).  Though they were hindered eventually by their enemies and their own disobedience, the early Saints did seek earnestly to “build up” the physical place of the New Jerusalem.  And we believe that one day the time will come when that work to build up the city must be recommenced and finished. 

                Despite these references, though, there are a few other verses that speak of the New Jerusalem as a city that would come down from heaven in addition to Ether 13:6.  John wrote of this in the book of Revelation: “I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God” (Revelation 3:12).  Later he saw this in vision: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).  It seems to me that the description of the Lord to Enoch contains the key of how to understand this event. Speaking about the spread of the gospel in the last days, the Lord told Enoch: “I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.”  The Lord then continued with this description of New Jerusalem: “ Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other” (Moses 7:62-63).   So putting this all together it seems that the Saints in the last days will physically build a city called New Jerusalem that will ultimately be joined by the city of Enoch that will descend from heaven.  The New Jerusalem in its final form will both be “built up” by the Saints and it will “come down” from heaven.  And the mortal Saints and the people of the city of Enoch will rejoice at their reunion that will herald the “space of a thousand years” in which “the earth shall rest” (Moses 7:64).