THE LAND OF ZION.
The Book of Mormon (13th chapter of Ether) tells us that this land of
America is a "choice land above all other lands;" and the Lord has said
that the people who lived here must serve him or in time be destroyed. This
you will remember was proved so often in the history of the Nephites.
Strictly speaking, the whole of America is the land of Zion, but the Lord
revealed to Joseph that there should be a "center place," where a great
city should be build which should be called the city of Zion, or the New
Jerusalem. This city will be the capital or in the center of a large
district of country full of people who serve the Lord. A grand temple will
be built in the central city, and the glory of the Lord will rest upon it
by day and by night. Then shall there be peace in the earth for a thousand
years, and the Saints will be busy working to save all the people who live
or have ever lived on the earth. Jesus with his angels will no doubt visit
the earth from time to time to look after his work at this glorious period.
Now all this was to have a beginning, one of these small beginnings we have
spoken about.
June 7th, 1831, the Prophet Joseph received a revelation instructing him
and twenty-eight other elders to go on missions. They were to travel two
and two by different routes through the Western states, preaching the
gospel and building up the Church on the way. They were to meet in the
state of Missouri about a thousand miles from Kirtland and there hold a
conference. At this time, if they were faithful, the Lord would reveal to
them the location of the central place and the spot where the temple should
sometime stand.
The brethren went on their missions as they had been instructed, and Joseph
and his party arrived at Independence, Missouri, about the middle of July,
1831. Oliver Cowdery and the other brethren who had been sent on the
mission to the Indians, you will recollect, stopped at Independence. They
were very glad to meet Joseph and his companions again.
Shortly after the prophet's arrival, the Lord made known the exact spot for
the city of Zion. It is where the town of Independence is located, in
Jackson County, Missouri, and the site for the temple was pointed out as
lying westward on a lot not far from the court house.
Some of the Saints now moved to Jackson county, the first to arrive being
what was called the Colesville Branch of the Church. These Saints had come
from Colesville, State of New York, having stopped but a short time near
Kirtland.
The first step towards the founding of Zion was taken on the 2nd day of
August, 1831. On that day twelve men, of which Joseph was one, carried and
placed the first log for the first house. This was in Kaw township, twelve
miles west of Independence, where the Colesville branch was locating.
Sidney Rigdon then dedicated the land. The next day eight of the brethren
went to the temple lot, and Joseph dedicated that sacred spot.
Shortly after, Joseph with some of the other brethren went to Kirtland.
The Saints were now instructed to buy land in the region around that they
might possess it for an inheritance. At that time Missouri was not thickly
settled. There was much government land which could be bought for one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Sidney Gilbert was appointed an
agent to receive money and purchase land, and Bishop Edward Partridge was
chosen to divide the land among the Saints. The rich were told to divide
with the poor that all might have land.
The Saints were especially warned that they must keep all the commandments
which the Lord gave to them or they would not be allowed to remain and
build up Zion at that time, but they first would have to go through much
tribulation, and be "scourged from city to city." You will see presently
how this prediction was fulfilled.
The first winter the Saints were not very comfortably housed, as they had
arrived too late to raise crops or build good houses. The next spring,
however, many Saints arrived, and they soon had growing fields and gardens.
The Prophet visited them again early in the spring, held meetings, and
greatly encouraged the Saints. In June, 1832, the first paper published by
the Latter-day Saints was begun at Independence. It was called _The Evening
and Morning Star_, and was the only paper in that part of the country.
Thus the Saints prospered; but a time of persecution, long and fierce, was
before them.
Topics.--1. The center place of Zion. 2. Gathering to Missouri.
Questions and Review.--1. Where is the land of Zion? 2. What is said in
the Book of Mormon about this land? 3. Where is Jackson county? 4. What
place is now nearly the center of the United States? 5. What river flows by
Jackson county? 6. Where will the New Jerusalem be built? 7. What kind of
city will it be? 8. When, where, and how was the foundation of Zion laid?
9. Where is the temple lot? 10. Who dedicated it? 11. What was the
Colesville Branch? 12. How were the Saints to obtain the land of Zion? 13.
What were the duties of Sidney Gilbert and Edward Partridge? 14. When did
Joseph visit Jackson county the second time?