A Dwelling-place of Mount Zion

Isaiah wrote, “And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence” (2 Nephi 14:5). As I thought about this verse I was led to ask, is my home a “dwelling-place of mount Zion”? As a people we are far from creating a Zion society, but we can start in our own homes trying to establish Zion within our families. This verse seems to me to be a promise from the Lord that He will help us to do that. I don’t know exactly what Isaiah meant by “a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night,” but perhaps one interpretation could be that our homes and assemblies in Zion would be safe from dangerous animals who will of course be scared off by fire. Anciently those out in the wild would use fire to protect themselves from wolves and other similar animals who would be scared off by the flames. This fits with the idea of a “defence” that He wants our dwellings to be. He will “create” upon us a figurative fire to shield us from the attacks of the adversary. Another interpretation could be that the smoke and fire represent food (being cooked) and heat to protect us from the cold. A true dwelling place in Zion will provide nourishment to sustain us and warmth to comfort us. The cloud could also represent protection from the heat of the day, providing shade and needed water when it is hot. Ultimately, as the next verse suggests, He wants our homes to be a “place of refuge” where we are protected from the storms of life and where we can find peace and protection and sustenance in Him.

                Perhaps our best definition of Zion comes from this description of the people of Enoch: “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). Normally we think of this verse as it applies to our society as a whole, but if we are to make our homes dwelling-places in mount Zion then perhaps we should ask ourselves if this verse describes our own families. Are we of “one heart and one mind?” Or do we let petty differences create contention and discord among us as a family? Do we “dwell in righteousness,” striving to keep the commandments together as we consistently study the scriptures and pray? Or do we let in too much of the world’s influence to take our focus away from the things of God? Are there any “poor among” us? Relating to our families, this question could refer not to material possessions but to emotional health, spiritual well-being and the fair treatment of all within our homes. Is everyone treated fairly and with love or are there some who suffer because others are not kind? Only as we can answer appropriately to these questions can our homes become the dwelling-places of mount Zion that we seek.       

                 Growing up in my home there was a sort of “smoke” and “flaming fire” that welcomed me and my friends to our home. My mom frequently had the oven going baking cookies, so much so that to my friends she became famous for them. They loved to come over to my house to eat her cookies. More than two decades after moving out, my high school friends still rave over those cookies she made. More than just a good dessert, that created indeed a place of safety and peace for us to come to and hang out, and I am very grateful for that. At the same time, my dad would welcome them with lots of questions about their lives and families and interests that helped them feel at home. With my mom’s food and my dad’s “twenty questions” it became indeed a “dwelling-place of mount Zion” where we could find a figurative “covert from storm and from rain” (2 Nephi 14:6). Thank you, Mom and Dad!