Zion is coming. How exciting is that? In a world spiraling down in wickedness, in the grand irony of the Lord, He will “bring again Zion. (Isa. 52:8) With a voice together they shall sing the songs of redeeming love.
As we look at Jerusalem today, it is especially exciting to know that Jerusalem will become a ZION society—pure in heart and of one heart and one mind with no poor among them. The New Jerusalem spoken of in the scriptures will be built in Missouri and the City of Enoch will join it—with also a pure in heart people. And “with the voice together sing this new song.” (Rev. 3:12; Ether 13:1-12; D&C 84:98-100)
99 – The Lord hath brought again Zion;
The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,
According to the election of grace,
Which was brought to pass by the faith
And the covenant of their fathers.
100 -The Lord hath redeemed his people,
And Satan is bound and time is no longer.
The Lord hath gathered all things in one.
The Lord hath brought down Zion from above.
The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.
Gathering Israel in Preparation for ZION
President Russell M. Nelson has said that the most important thing we can do right now is to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only one doing that. We are the only church with temples to provide the ordinances by the living for those who have passed on. This is under the assumption that they have excepted the gospel in the spirit world. Peter so declared: “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit (1 Peter 4:6).”
On the 20th and 21st of September 2024, a hallmark conference was held in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The conference featured Chief Midegah, as an Ojibwa Outreach, to gather Israel from the indigenous Native Americans. He and other key Native American leaders have established a brotherhood bond with key rabbis in New York and in Jerusalem.
As part of the conference, Chief Midegah shared how this bond of brotherhood came about, and one of the rabbis spoke at the conference. These rabbis have connections with over 5,000 rabbis across the world. It is an amazing outreach beyond indigenous Native Americans and the Chief is right in the middle of it all.
Messianic Jews and Israel being gathered
The number of Messianic Jews is growing rapidly; there are now over 350,000. The converts per thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have increased from 7.6 to 14.6 in the last three years. This is over 200% in only three years. Before that the convert rate had been decreasing for more than four decades. Most of the converts are from outside of the United States– as Israel is being gathered from the four corners of the Earth, as prophesied.
Zion Media Podcast
I just viewed a fascinating YouTube podcast on Zion Media. The guest was Boyd Ricks, who was prompted by Heavenly Father to meet Chief Midegah at a “Land of Promise” conference in June held in Spanish Fork, Utah. He shared a picture of their meeting. On the YouTube podcast, Ricks indicated that Chief Midegah is a key player in helping gather Israel. Ricks is a devout follower of Jesus Christ and shared several relevant scriptures telling of the current gathering.
An Ideal ZION Society Is Coming
The ideal ZION society is coming, motivated by the first law of heaven. From chapter 19 in my book “It’s About Time”, I share below extracts from that chapter and some of my thoughts: We live in exciting times as Israel is being gathered. And we see the signs associated with the “Lord bringing about Zion.”
What do Ideal Zion Societies Like?
In 1909 the Jews began their kibbutzim projects. They are collective communities in Israel working together around a common goal. They were first based on agriculture but later branched into other economic opportunities — including some high-tech ideas. We visited two of them when we were there in 1987. It was impressive to see their communal spirit, as they ate together and worked together. The early Christians — both in the old world and in the new world — had “all things in common.” (Acts 2:44; 4:32; 4 Nephi 1:3) Enoch and Melchizedek established ideal societies–called Zion–and were taken up into heaven. As part of the restoration of all things, they are coming back (Eph. 1:10; Moses 7:67-69; JST- Genesis 14:25-40). Prophetically we know that Jerusalem will become such a Zion society as will the New Jerusalem, and those taken up will join those here on Earth in preparation for the Second Coming of our Lord. (Revelations 21:2; Doctrine and Covenants 84:96-102) Indeed, we anticipate a very exciting time in this regard — greater than anything we have ever seen. As described in the Book of Moses 7:
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and 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
63 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;
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years, the earth shall rest.
These societies learn how to internalize and live the first two great commandments in all that they do, and that makes all the difference; for it is on these two commandments that hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt. 22:36-40)
How Can Zion Come?
It is difficult for most to envision such a society as we grovel around in this fallen world, which often looks a lot like the survival of the fittest. Our lack of vision is because we have forgotten who we really are as literal spirit offspring of infinitely loving Heavenly Parents. Also, many don’t realize that our struggles here are a necessary part of our growth in reaching the goal our Savior gave to us. The Lord asked us to be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect and learning to love as they love. (Matt. 5:48) Many miss the point. We cannot perfect ourselves, but Christ can and will as we come unto Him (Moroni 10:32-33).
The world–drowning in atheism–has lost this vision. Those who choose to follow the world will perish when the Lord brings about the end of worldliness. It behooves us to repent and to encourage as many as we can to repent and come out of “Babylon the Great,” which shall fall, and to be pure in heart.
Despite Satan’s best efforts to take people away from God, the Lord will bring about Zion, and all who choose to obey the Law of Love can be part of it. Living this Law of Love brings us out of “Babylon.” As mentioned, the events associated therewith will be more spectacular than anything the world has ever seen.
To be Part of ZION, We need to Be One with the Lord
Jesus prayed for us to be one (John 17). Jesus’ prayer was realized in part with the Nephites (3 Nephi 19:) “25 And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him, and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof… 28 Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me. 29 Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.” And they became a ZION people. We read that “there could not be a happier people… they were in one the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God (4 Nephi 16-17).”
In our day the Savior profoundly states: “Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” (D&C 38:27) In so doing we become pure in heart and of one mind and one heart with the Lord and learn to love like He loves. We have a ZION mentality. I am privileged to be a friend of Chief Midegah, and his goal is the same: to be ONE across the globe with all of God’s children. This is in preparation for ZION.
All things in Common
How will the Lord build up a Society with “all things in common” and of the Pure in Heart?
So much of life is about competition and not about loving cooperation–sharing and caring. The people of the world tend to worship things and sports and not the Lord. This is contrary to being one and of having all things in common. Well did the Apostle Paul say:
We must not be conceited, challenging one another to rivalry, jealous of one another. If a man should do something wrong, my brothers, on a sudden impulse, you who are endowed with the Spirit must set him right again very gently. Look to yourself, each one of you: you may be tempted too. Help one another to carry these heavy loads, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man imagines himself to be somebody, when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. Each man should examine his own conduct for himself; then he can measure his achievement by comparing himself with himself and not with anyone else. For everyone has his own proper burden to bear. (Galatians 6:1-5 New English Bible)
Of ourselves, we are nothing. But with God, we are of infinite worth for He has designed His perfect plan of happiness so that — if we so choose — we can “be like Him.” (1 John 3:1-3; Philippians 3:21)
Let us pray “with all the energy of heart” to be filled with His love. (Moroni 7:48) That will make all the difference! The society of heaven and ZION are so designed. Let us anticipate having “all things in common” and work to be pure in heart and of one mind and one heart with the Lord.
For those desiring to be part of this great society and to help in its preparation, the Lord promises:
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. (1 Nephi 13:37)
Where Will Zion Be?
The spirit of Zion can be in your heart and in your home. As one reads all the scriptures about Zion, one gets this wonderful feeling that the Lord’s primary goal is to bring about this ideal ZION society. And the joy that comes to Him and those who have truly inculcated His glorious gospel message is a celestial reward. (Moses 1:39) So, Zion is much more than a place; it is a celestial feeling of love.
In due process, the Lord will bring about the City of Zion in Jerusalem. Ironically, Jerusalem in Hebrew means city of peace. Yet, it has been the most fought-over city in the world, but it will become as its name implies when He comes. There will be a world purging before known as the Battle of Armageddon. When He comes to the Jews, the Lord will declare (Zechariah 12:10; D&C 45:51-53):
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
And then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet? Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus who was crucified. I am the Son of God. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king.
Their sorrow will be turned into the greatest joy as they become a ZION people, as prophesied.
The scriptures also tell us of a New Jerusalem here in America. A major purging will occur here as well before the one in Israel. This one will be highly unique, where “highly” is a pun, as Enoch’s Zion City from on high joins the one here in America. That will be, literally an astronomical event! The Lord has revealed the center of this transcendent earth-changing event as Independence, Missouri – the “place of the City of Zion.” (D&C 57:2) As shared above, those gathering there will sing a new song of Zion (D&C 84:96-102).
Moroni, in vision, describes both of these Jerusalem’s coming forth in our day (the new and the old; Ether 13: 1-12). It is exciting to know that we are in the midst of these glorious events that are about to unfold. The world purging will be worse than anything the world has ever seen because the wickedness now is greater than the world has ever been. We may not know in detail what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. Our greatest opportunity is to be in step with Him.
Most don’t know of or speak of the infinite love of God, but I do. The third verse of the Christian hymn “The Love of God,” by F. H. Lehman deeply touched my soul in this regard. That verse is from a poem written in Germany in A.D. 1050 by a Jewish Rabbi poet, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai. I share here the inspired translation:
Could we with ink the ocean fill—
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were ev-‘ry talk on earth a quill—
And ev-‘ry man a scribe by trade.
To write the love of God above—
Would drain the oceans dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole—
Though stretched from sky to sky.
There is an excellent movie by the same title that shares the story of how Leyman came to write the song with his eight-year-old son’s help and the Lord’s orchestration of it coming forth.
God’s love is the motivation behind all of creation and for the birthing of His spirit children—providing spirit bodies for all of the children of Adam and Eve. The above lyrics come the closest to any I know of capturing God’s infinite love for each of us. I feel the Lord gave me the following poem:
There is no limit to the good we can do,
If we but look to heaven to guide us through.
From our heavenly home, we learned of its creeds,
To bless God’s offspring with our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Consider the example of William Wilburforce (1759-1833). As a devout converted Christian, he was focused over several years on abolishing the slave trade in the UK and succeeded in 1807. Then three days before he died, slavery was abolished. This is 32 years before the US Thirteenth Amendment.
Let us fully come to Christ and live the two first great commandments and be pure in heart and be one with Him. In so doing, we can help the Lord bring about ZION! (Matt. 5:8) It will be the most exciting and joyful event the world has ever seen, and we can be part of it. I pray that we all will.
David W. Allan
P.S. September 22, 2024, is the first day of FALL, and we are all redeemed from the FALL of Adam and Eve, as all will be resurrected. THANK YOU, LORD! And we rejoice in Christ, who totally overcame all of our sins. We have that most important assurance of eternal life, as we come unto Him; 2 Nephi 31:20-21; John 3:16.)
Photo: Elisha Vision