Zion can be considered to ways: Zion as a place (physical gathering), and Zion as a people (spiritual gathering).
Zion is the state of perfection that we should all be trying to obtain, both as a stake and as a person.
The opposite of Zion is Babylon, the ancient city that worshipped the false idol Bael or Bel, which translated means "the Shame", due to the sexual perversions practiced by those worshipping Bael.
D & C 133:5-9
We are living in a chosen day, which Nephi saw: 1 Nephi 14:12-14. Being a Zion people protects us from the travails of the world.
Bruce R. McConkie tells us that we are no longer called to congregate in the same location, that stage of Pioneering is past, but that we are to create stakes of Zion where we live now. These stakes will give us refuge from the world, D & C 115:5-6.
Elder Christopherson tells us that there are 3 ways to "Come Unto Zion"
Unity
Holiness
Caring for the poor
WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL ZION COMES FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN--ZION WILL COME ONLY AS THEY HAPPEN.
Unity--we must overcome jarrings, contentions, envyings, and strife. We also must forgive. Those estranged from the church need to come back. We need to not hold grudges.
Holiness--The Saviour was critical of some of the early Saints for their "lustful...desires" D & C 101:6. These were people we lived in a non-television, non-film, non-Internet, non-iPod world. We must leave immodesty and vulgarity aside and seek for a celestial life.
Caring for the poor--Throughout history, the Lord has measure societies and individuals by how well they cared for the poor. We are admonished to be generous in our fast offerings and giving to the poor. One comment made in Relief Society was that in a Ward affected by poverty, job-losses and other serious financial troubles, the leadership of the ward noticed that the Tithing amounts were significantly smaller (due to loss of income), but that Fast Offerings were greatly increased! Let us strive to be a holier people!
Zion is the state of perfection that we should all be trying to obtain, both as a stake and as a person.
The opposite of Zion is Babylon, the ancient city that worshipped the false idol Bael or Bel, which translated means "the Shame", due to the sexual perversions practiced by those worshipping Bael.
D & C 133:5-9
We are living in a chosen day, which Nephi saw: 1 Nephi 14:12-14. Being a Zion people protects us from the travails of the world.
Bruce R. McConkie tells us that we are no longer called to congregate in the same location, that stage of Pioneering is past, but that we are to create stakes of Zion where we live now. These stakes will give us refuge from the world, D & C 115:5-6.
Elder Christopherson tells us that there are 3 ways to "Come Unto Zion"
Unity
Holiness
Caring for the poor
WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL ZION COMES FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN--ZION WILL COME ONLY AS THEY HAPPEN.
Unity--we must overcome jarrings, contentions, envyings, and strife. We also must forgive. Those estranged from the church need to come back. We need to not hold grudges.
Holiness--The Saviour was critical of some of the early Saints for their "lustful...desires" D & C 101:6. These were people we lived in a non-television, non-film, non-Internet, non-iPod world. We must leave immodesty and vulgarity aside and seek for a celestial life.
Caring for the poor--Throughout history, the Lord has measure societies and individuals by how well they cared for the poor. We are admonished to be generous in our fast offerings and giving to the poor. One comment made in Relief Society was that in a Ward affected by poverty, job-losses and other serious financial troubles, the leadership of the ward noticed that the Tithing amounts were significantly smaller (due to loss of income), but that Fast Offerings were greatly increased! Let us strive to be a holier people!
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