Establishing Zion

    In Church history, the Saints were called to establish Zion in Missouri, and as we know, they were unable to do so. In recent weeks, we were studying as a church several of the sections that are revelations about the Saints' struggles in Missouri, which ultimately culminated in Governor Boggs signing an extermination order, assigning a state militia leader to murder members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who wouldn't leave the state. 

    Whenever this is discussed in Church - or in seminary when I was younger - the Saints' failure to establish Missouri is usually explained by the fact that the Saints were too prideful and didn't do enough to ingratiate themselves to the people that lived in the surrounding areas, including assuaging their fears that the Saints - a sizeable and growing population - would vote as a block. (The Saints were generally abolitionists, and that played a central role in the Missourians feeling a major need to act against them becoming a political force in the state.) As far as I understand, these are all accurate reasons, but as we've been studying I've realized something that is often missing or under-emphasized in these discussions: establishing Zion is an incredibly demanding task, and it requires a large population to have a very high degree of personal righteousness.

    I want to share some of the counsel the Lord taught them this principle about establishing Zion: "Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself." That statement gives us some idea of the difficulty, and some of the counsel the Lord offered the Saints during their many trials highlight just how difficult it will be:

• In the face of violent mob attacks, the Lord said: "And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name’s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal. Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies..."
• Additionally, and in response to the same event, the Lord requires: "if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be ^erewarded; But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you." 
• Explaining the need for trials: He taught: "they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."
• Finally, I'll note that the Lord simply describes Zion as "the pure in heart."
  

Re-reading these sections of scripture recently, I've been impressed by how far we all have to go to prepare for the Lord's Second Coming, and really to be ready to be true disciples of Christ. This is a more recent time example of Peter's teaching: "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." If we are to truly follow Christ, we must regularly work to rely on Him and become like Him.