The Building Up of Zion

 

One of the major themes of this most recent general conference was the building up of Zion. Several speakers focused on both the two great examples of the past as well as the future Zion society we must create. Of Enoch and his city, Elder Uchtdorf said, “Enoch and his people lived in a time of wickedness, wars, and bloodshed. ‘But the Lord came and dwelt with his people.’ He had something unimaginable in mind for them. He helped them establish Zion—a people ‘of one heart and one mind’ who ‘dwelt in righteousness.’” Elder Christofferson also spoke about Enoch’s experience: “Anciently, the great patriarch and prophet Enoch preached righteousness and ‘built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.’ It is reported that ‘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. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains, and upon the high places, and did flourish.’” President Eyring similarly emphasized Enoch’s experience and the righteousness of his city as he quoted Elder McConkie’s summary: “Enoch made covenants and assembled a congregation of true believers, all of whom became so faithful that ‘the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness,’ and were blessed from on high. ‘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.’… “After the Lord called his people Zion, the scripture says that Enoch ‘built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion;’ that Zion ‘was taken up into heaven’ where ‘God received it into his own bosom.”

                Several references were also made to the experience of 4 Nephi when the Nephites lived like the City of Enoch in complete unity and righteousness. Elder Cook summarized with these words: “The historical record we read in 4 Nephi describes a people where there were no envyings, strifes, tumults, lyings, murders, or any manner of lasciviousness. Because of this righteousness, the record states, ‘surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.’ With respect to unity, 4 Nephi reads, There was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.’” President Eyring also said, “The Book of Mormon gives an account of a Zion people. You remember that it was after they had been taught, loved, and blessed by the resurrected Savior that ‘there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.’” Elder Christofferson also highlighted the Nephite experience creating Zion: “The first- and second-century peoples in the Western Hemisphere known as Nephites and Lamanites provide another outstanding example of a flourishing society. Following the resurrected Savior’s remarkable ministry among them, ‘they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. … And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.’” Clearly the experience of these two groups who built up Zion is important for us in our efforts to become the Lord’s people today.

                With this repeated emphasis on highlighting these two Zion societies, the message for us was that we need to work for and look forward to a third unified and righteous society that we are to build in the future. Sister Eubank stated, “We are building Zion—a people ‘of one heart and one mind.’” Elder Cook invited us saying, “The clarion call to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to strive to be a Zion people who are of one heart and one mind and dwell in righteousness.” And President Eyring connected the experience of Enoch’s people with ours in building the future New Jerusalem: “Here is the Lord’s revealed description of what would happen to Enoch’s people and what will happen in this last dispensation of the fulness of times.” He quoted from Moses 7:61-64 including this prophecy: “Righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which 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. And the Lord said unto Enoch: 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.” In other words, we will build up the city of New Jerusalem—a Zion society—and someday the city of Enoch will literally come down from heaven to join it. President Erying then made this significant statement to the sisters: “You sisters, your daughters, your granddaughters, and the women you have nurtured will be at the heart of creating that society of people who will join in glorious association with the Savior. You will be an essential force in the gathering of Israel and in the creation of a Zion people who will dwell in peace in the New Jerusalem.” We don’t know when that actual city will be built, but President Eyring’s statement certainly suggests it may be in the lifetime of some of those alive now. Either way, as the world increases in contention and confusion, our mission now to build up a righteous and unified Zion in our homes and stakes has never been more important.