D&C 45 Quotes and Notes

The arrival of the Prophet in Kirtland, Ohio, marked the beginning of a period of rapid growth in the young Church. By June of 1831 its membership numbered more than two thousand. As was to be expected, this growth excited a great deal of opposition. Civic leaders, ministers, newspaper editors, and others labored to put a stop to the progress of the Church. Joseph Smith recorded that “many false reports, lies, and foolish stories, were published in the newspapers, and circulated in every direction, to prevent people from investigating the work, or embracing the faith.”^[1]History of the Church, 1:158.

During these times of slander and abuse the Lord rewarded the Saints with light and knowledge far beyond the understanding of the historical Christian world. Doctrine and Covenants 45 and Joseph Smith-Matthew are prime examples of this. These two revelations dealing with the signs of the times reach back to the instruction given by the Savior to his disciples on the Mount of Olives during the last week of his public ministry.^[2]McConkie and Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration: A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants and Other Modern Revelations, Deseret Book, 2000, p. 337.

Alpha and Omega – 45.7

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. In a sense, this designation sets aside Jesus in a unique position, as he is the total representative of the Father in all things, the source of all of the hope of mankind. This designation makes him the beginning and the end of our faith, indeed, it’s “author and finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12.2). There is some interesting stuff on how the letters Α and Ω correspond to ideas in the Greek world that are associated with rising (alpha) and coming forth, or going through a gate (omega)  that I find worth looking into.^[3]For instance, in the eyes of one author, many words in Greek that begin with alpha that are used in the New Testament have associations with rising, moving upward, fire, astral signs, leading or … Continue readingSome scholars have made the identification of the symbol for Omega Ω as a representation of Hathor, the Egyptian Goddess of the sky, women, fertility, and love. Symbolized as a cow, Hathor was associated with motherhood.^[4]See Cryer, Visual Testament, p. 57 where he writes, “The abbreviation of the circle gives a whole new meaning. For example, the eternal cycle of the circle can be interrupted by cutting … Continue reading In the New Testament Revelation to John, the term is used as the self-designation of God and of Christ. The reference in Revelation likely was connected to the Tanakh and had a Jewish origin, based on such Old Testament passages as Isaiah 44.6 (“I am the first and the last”), and Psalm 90.2 (“from everlasting to everlasting thou art God”). In rabbinic literature, the word emet  אמת (“truth”), composed of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with the “mem” in the middle of the word, is “the seal of God,” and in Judaic tradition it carries somewhat the same connotation as Alpha and Omega.^[5]See: Emet – truth. The authors write: Truth encompasses all: In Hebrew, the word for truth, אמת, contains the first, middle, and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, indicating that truth … Continue reading

I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not… power to become the sons of God – 45.8

This is very much akin to John 1.11:

εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον

εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν= he came into “his own”=ιδιος -a word associated with private, or one’s own thing… something separate. Jesus came into his own private people.^[6]The word “idiot” comes from the Greek noun ἰδιώτης idiōtēs ‘a private person, individual’, ‘a private citizen’ (as opposed to an official), ‘a common man’, ‘a person … Continue reading

John 1.12 says “But as many as received him ἔλαβον αὐτόν (took hold of him by the hand- think “iron rod”^[7]This is from the word λαμβάνω, a word that John uses in connection with “receiving Christ. The word is connected to taking hold of, grasping, seizing, or taking., to them gave he power (ἐξουσίαν= authority, power, license) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. All of D&C 45.7-8 to me is associated with the temple: taking hold/grasping the Savior, seeing the Alpha and Omega as letters associated with rising up and being born, “becoming sons of God”^[8]We see this in the text of Mosiah 5.7 as well as in Psalm 2 and 110. Both refer to a concept, but from different angles. The text in Mosiah 5 relates to the family of Israel becoming sons and … Continue reading[see Psalm 110 – The Most Quoted text from the Tanakh in the New Testament], and believing “on the name” and gaining eternal life. All of the words in verses 7-8 are drenched in temple ritual and symbolism, down to the core of the words as written in the Greek text of John 1.11-12.

The City of Enoch – 45.11-12

Joseph worked on the translation of the Moses 7 material in December 1830.^[9]Robert J. Matthews writes: The material constituting the eight chapters of the book of Moses is an extract from Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible. More precisely, chapter one of Moses is an … Continue reading This Moses material made many references to a city built by Enoch. In this account we read:

Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion (Moses 7.19).^[10]See also Moses 7.62-63. In this section of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells Joseph that this city is reserved until a day of righteousness will come, a “day which was sought for by all holy men…” The desire Joseph had to build this city must have been tremendous. All holy men and women have wanted to see the day when this will occur.

Joseph Fielding Smith said:

If we would carry out that which the Lord has revealed, as he has revealed it, then all things would be perfect; for the organization is a perfect organization the theory of it, the plan of it. is without flaw, and if we followed all the orders that have been given to us in the priesthood and otherwise, if we would put into practice the great doctrines which have been revealed in the revelations contained in the Holy Scriptures, it would only be a matter of a very short time until this great people would be in the same condition, absolutely, as were the people in the city of Enoch. We would be able to walk with God, we would be able to behold his face, because then faith would abound in the hearts of the people to the extent that it would be impossible for the Lord to withhold himself, and he would reveal himself unto us as he has done in times past.^[11]Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1921. See also Doctrines of Salvation, volume 1, p. 4, emphasis added.

Stangers and Pilgrims – 45.13-14

C.S. Lewis spoke on the subject of our mortal probation being a state where we are pilgrims on this earth. He said:

The book or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust in them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things—the beauty, the memory or our own past—are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.^[12]C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, 29.

Which ye call the house of God – 45.18

This phrase seems to indicate that, at least in this discourse, Jesus was perhaps making a subtle statement about the temple in Jerusalem: that it was not the house of God any longer. This may give some depth to the statement he made in John 2.16 when he said, “make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”^[13]The Greek word the KJV translators made into “merchandise” is the genitive singular of ἐμπόριον, emporion, a word sounding very much like emporium. This word can mean an … Continue reading

Not one stone upon another – 45.20

The desecrated house of God, Jesus declared, would not be allowed to stand in mocking hypocrisy. In literal fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy, Roman soldiers under the command of Titus dismantled the buildings associated with the temple, stone by stone, following the siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.^[14]For details regarding the siege, see: The Siege of Jerusalem. The temple was left a heap of rubble. During the late twentieth century archaeologists uncovered the ancient road that ran at the base of the retaining wall built by Herod when he extended the original platform of the temples built under the direction of Solomon and Zerubbabel. They discovered that the massive stones of the temple had been pushed over the precipice of the temple mount down onto the road below. Huge ashlars, or hand- dressed stones, were broken on the road and revealed in the excavations. Today an archaeological garden stands as a witness to the Savior’s words.

Symbolically, the announcement that not one stone would be left standing on another meant that the house of Israel would be scattered among those of every nation, kindred, and tongue, that no two families would be left side by side when the end of their nation came. Conversely, in the last days, the gathering of Israel—family by family—will token God’s favor resting upon them once again, the crowning event of that latter-day gathering being the restoration of their temple and their nation.^[15]McConkie and Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration, p. 342-343.

A remnant will be scattered… but shall be gathered again – 45.24-25

The gathering of the Jews to Jerusalem is one of the most easily identifiable signs of the times. It signals the fulfillment of the “times of the Gentiles,” the present era in which we live. The gathering to Jerusalem foreshadows the period in which the times of the Jews will begin. In that era the Jews will begin to accept the gospel and enjoy the blessings that flow therefrom.

The gospel has been given at various times to different peoples on a priority basis. The Savior’s mortal mission was not to the Gentiles “but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). He foretold that the time would come when the gospel covenant and knowledge of the true Messiah would be taken from the Jews and given to another people (Matthew 21:33-22:14). In fulfillment of the Lord’s words, Peter received a vision indicating that the times of the Gentiles had commenced (Acts 10:9-11:18).

As the Jews who were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire increasingly rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ, greater emphasis was placed on taking the gospel to the Gentiles. The apostle Paul was in the forefront of this marvelous work. He and Barnabas explained to a congregation of Jews gathered to hear them in a synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).

The Lord indicated that in the latter days the restored gospel would “go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews” (D&C 90:9). The Second Coming ushers in the time when the Jewish nation will once again receive opportunity to hear the gospel and enter into the covenant of God on a priority basis. When the emphasis changes, and the fulness of the gospel is brought to the Jews instead of to the Gentile nations, it may be said that the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled. Before that change in emphasis occurs, the Savior prophesied, the Jews will again gather in preparation to receive their King.^[16]McConkie and Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration, p. 345-346.

The gathering of the Jews to their nation and religion is one of the signs of the times. Essentially there will be two gatherings: the physical gathering to their homeland, and a spiritual gathering to their one true king Jesus of Nazareth, king of kings.

Joseph Smith said:

“Judah must return,” explained the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &c.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance.”^[17]Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 286.

Be not troubled – 45.35

32  But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die.  33 And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another.  34 And now, when I the Lord had spoken these words unto my disciples, they were troubled.  35 And I said unto them: Be not troubled, for, when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.  (Doctrine and Covenants 45:32-35 emphasis added.)

The signs surrounding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will appear to many as if the world is spinning out of control, but to the saints who read of the signs in the scriptures, it will show that the Lord is in control.  We can move forward with faith and have hope, rather than run around like Chicken Little, crying that the sky is falling. The request that we not be troubled, that we understand that God is in charge, is one that the righteous have always been given.

We cannot control others, indeed, we can only control our own thoughts and behavior. God himself will not compel others to choose righteously. We even see hints of this in other sections of this revelation. For example, we are told that “the heathen nations” will be redeemed when Jesus comes again (D&C 45.54) and that it “will be tolerable for them.” From my reading of this, I see this as the Lord not forcing these nations to live his commands, rather, he will show forth his power and then invite men to come unto him. But it will not be by force. It will be by invitation.^[18]Wilford Woodruff wrote the following in his journal: 8 April 1871 [General] Conference Met at 10 oclock.  . . . President [Young] spoke 45 Minuts & it was one of the Most powerful & … Continue reading

Do not take counsel from your fears

Elder Boyd K. Packer once said:

Elder Packer said: “My counsel can be said in seven words: Do not take counsel from your fears.” He cited scriptures in which the Lord said: “Fear not, little flock” (D&C 6:34; see also D&C 35:27 and Luke 12:32), and “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30.) Elder Packer related an experience he had when he asked one of his senior brethren to help him with a problem. “To my surprise, he said, `Do you know what’s wrong with you?’” Elder Packer recalled. “Then he continued, `You want to see the end from the beginning.’ And then he quoted from the Book of Mormon: `Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.’ (Ether 12:6.) Then he added, `You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness, and the light will appear.’”

Elder Packer then advised the graduates that as they go forward from BYU and move into a world of uncertainty, to “dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” He told the graduates, “If you walk to the edge of the light, and a few steps into the darkness, the light will appear before you. If you have studied the plan of redemption, you need not fear. Do not take counsel from your fears.”^[19] President Boyd K. Packer instructs BYU graduates: Don’t take counsel from your fears, LDS Church News, 1994, 04/30/94.

The End of the World

Teenagers also sometimes think, “What’s the use? The world will soon be blown all apart and come to an end.” That feeling comes from fear, not from faith. No one knows the hour or the day (see D&C 49:7), but the end cannot come until all of the purposes of the Lord are fulfilled. Everything that I have learned from the revelations and from life convinces me that there is time and to spare for you to carefully prepare for a long life.

One day you will cope with teenage children of your own. That will serve you right. Later, you will spoil your grandchildren, and they in turn spoil theirs. If an earlier end should happen to come to one, that is more reason to do things right.^[20]President Boyd K. Packer, To Young Women and Men, Ensign, April 1989.

This is great counsel to all of us.  Many today have fears about a great many things. These fears can be overcome through faith in Christ and pressing forward, doing what we are to be doing and being where we are to be.  As we move forward, the path ahead will be illuminated just enough for us to continue forward. The counsel to “stand in holy places”, “be not moved” and to not be troubled seems to be as relevant today as it was in 1831.

His foot upon this mount – 45.48

This has reference to the Mount of Olives, a mountain just east of Jerusalem where Jesus went to pray before his arrest long ago. This is a direct reference to Zechariah 14 which says:

Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal^[21]Azal, an unknown location in this area. See The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1265. Some scholars assume that the original text read “’etzel,” i.e., “side” and, accordingly, that the text … Continue reading: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee (Zechariah 14.1-5). The text of the Jewish Study Bible and their translation of the next 3 verses (Zechariah 14.6-9) is intriguing:

In that day, there shall be neither sunlight nor cold moonlight, but there shall be a continuous day- only the Lord knows when- of neither day nor night, and there shall be light at eventide. In that day, fresh water shall flow from Jerusalem, part of it to the Eastern Sea and part to the Western Sea, throughout summer and winter.^[22]The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 1266.

To me, this is all associated with the prayer for fertility offered up by the king in the New Year rites annually in the First Israelite Temple period. All of creation will rejoice as this new living water comes from Jerusalem and gives life to all creation!

The Jews (will) look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine hands? – 45.51

This is the great day when the Savior will reclaim the outcasts of Judah and accomplish his glorious plan for their redemption. It is his Spirit that now prompts many to gather to their ancient homeland. And it is the spirit of the devil that inspires the wicked to assemble against Jerusalem to destroy the gathered Jewish remnant. The spirit of messianic anticipation will once again fill the hearts of the persecuted and hopeful nation. In glory and great power the Lord will descend to save them from destruction at the hands of their enemies. And, undoubtedly, they will see the unexpected wounds in the Messiah’s hands, feet, and side, and ask, in fulfillment of Zechariah’s words, “What are these wounds in thy hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). “Then the Jews who have only partly believed in Christ and who have not been willing to accept him as their Redeemer, will be converted and forgiven on their repentance and a nation will be born in a day.”^[23]Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:197.

Isaiah gloried in the day of Jewish redemption,^[24]Wilford Woodruff said They (the Jews) do not believe in Jesus Christ; there is an unbelief resting upon them, and will until they go home and rebuild Jerusalem and their temple more glorious than at … Continue reading when finally the scales of tradition will fall from their eyes allowing them to be enlightened. “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:5-8).^[25]McConkie and Ostler, p. 353-354.

After they see the Savior, what then?

What then? Then they begin to believe, then the Jews are convinced, I mean that portion of them who formerly despised Jesus of Nazareth, and being convinced they begin to mourn, and they mourn every family apart, and their wives apart. The family of the house of Levi apart and their wives apart; the family of the house of David and their wives apart, and all their families that remain will mourn, they and their wives apart, and there will be such mourning in Jerusalem as that city never experienced before [see Zech 12:11-14]. What is the matter? What are they mourning about? They have looked upon him whom their fathers pierced, they behold the wounds, they are now convinced that they and their fathers have been in error some eighteen hundred years, and they repent in dust and ashes.

The next step for them will be baptism for the remission of their sins. They look upon him whom their fathers pierced and they mourn for him as one who mourns for his only son, and, as Zechariah says, they are in bitterness for him. But repentance alone would not be sufficient, they must obey the ordinances of the Gospel; hence there will be a fountain opened at that time on purpose for baptism.^[26]Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 18: 66.

The heathen nations (will) be redeemed – 45.54

“These heathen nations, who know nothing of Christ or of his commandments, are also referred to as they who ‘have sinned without law’ (Romans 2:12), ‘they who died without law’ (D&C 76:72), or ‘the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited…who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it’ (D&C 76:73-74).

“The common denominator for all these descriptions is the idea that as a general rule and because of their ignorance, these peoples may be judged more leniently for their transgressions than either Israel or the so-called Christian nations. Because they didn’t have the Lord’s commandments, the heathen will be less likely to be judged ‘wicked’ than will members of the Church or other Christians who knew and rejected the commandments. Thus Doctrine and Covenants 45:54 holds out much greater hope for the unbaptized heathen than did the majority of Christian churches in 1831, most of whom taught that the unconverted ‘heathen’ burned in hell forever and ever.

“…Though many heathens will inherit celestial glory, they will be the exception rather than the rule. On the other hand, the heathen nations will be redeemed from the devil through Christ and will be resurrected in the first resurrection, their glory being greater than that of those who are assigned to the telestial kingdom. Their terrestrial glory, neither the highest nor lowest degree, will thus be ‘tolerable’ for them.”^[27]Stephen E. Robinson, H. Dean Garrett, A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, Deseret Book, 2001, 2:65-66.

The Ten Virgins – 45.56-57

The wise virgins have taken the oil, the Holy Spirit for their guide, oil which cannot be purchased. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: “Salvation is a personal matter. It comes only to those who keep the commandments and whose souls are filled with the Holy Spirit of God. No man can keep the commandments for and on behalf of another; no one can gain the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit in his life and give or sell that holy oil to another. Every man must light his own lamp with the oil of righteousness which he buys at the market of obedience.”^[28]Mortal Messiah, 3:468.

Ye hear of wars… gather ye out from the eastern lands – 45.64-64

Throughout the Doctrine and Covenants there seems to be the warning to the Saints to leave the east and head west.^[29]Wilford Woodruff said: “War will overtake our nation. The civil war, the war between the North and the South, which laid in the dust nearly a million of men and cost the nation many hundred … Continue reading See also:

D&C 42.64 those converted to the message of the Restoration are to “flee to the west”

D&C 38.29 “ye hear of wars in far countries… ye know not the hearts of men in your own land”

D&C 87.1-3 “wars will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina…”

A city of refuge… safety – 45.66

Joseph Smith said, “We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object.”^[30]Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 160.

The Saints of God will work to care for one another in the midst of upheavals. One way to package D&C 45.66 is to think of Zion as a place where the Saints will be doing saintly things. They will be caring for their fellow man. They will be doing the ordinary things that families do. C.S. Lewis put it this way:

“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night…’ In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented…It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty…“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things- praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends…not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (any microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”^[31]C.S. Lewis, The Quotable Lewis, p. 606.

John Taylor had this to say about the establishment of Zion:

We believe that God is going to revolutionize the earth, to purge it from iniquity of every kind and to introduce righteousness of every kind, until the great millennium is fully introduced. We believe, moreover, that God, having commenced his Work, will continue to reveal and make manifest his will to his Priesthood, to his Church and kingdom on the earth, and that among this people there will be an embodiment of virtue, of truth, of holiness, of integrity, of fidelity, of wisdom and of the knowledge of God…

We believe that we shall rear splendid edifices, magnificent temples and beautiful cities that shall become the pride, praise and glory of the whole earth. We believe that this people will excel in literature, in science and the arts and in manufactures…In fact, if there is anything great, noble, dignified, exalted, anything pure, or holy, or virtuous, or lovely, anything that is calculated to exalt or ennoble the human mind, to dignify and elevate the people, it will be found among the people of the Saints of the Most High God. This is only a faint outline of some of our views in relation to these things, and hence we talk of returning to Jackson county to build the most magnificent temple that ever was formed on the earth and the most splendid city that was ever erected; yea, cities, if you please…

And the people, from the President down, will all be under the guidance and direction of the Lord in all the pursuits of human life, until eventually they will be enabled to erect cities that will be fit to be caught up–that when Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath, and be prepared to associate with those from above. The people will be so perfected and purified, ennobled, exalted, and dignified in their feelings and so truly humble and most worthy, virtuous and intelligent that they will be fit, when caught up, to associate with that Zion that shall come down from God out of heaven…

If we could keep our eyes upon this a little while, and then look back to where we came from, examine our present position and see the depravity, ignorance and corruption that exists where we have come from and that yet exists among us, it is evident that some great revolution, some mighty change has got to transpire to revolutionize our minds, our feelings and judgment, our pursuits and action, and, in fact, to control and influence us throughout, before anything of this kind can take place…No wonder that Joseph Smith should say that he felt himself shut up in a nutshell, there was no power of expansion, it was difficult for him to reveal and communicate the things of God, because there was no place to receive them. What he had to communicate was so much more comprehensive, enlightened and dignified than that which the people generally knew and comprehended, it was difficult for him to speak…Yet this being a fact and these being part of the things we expect to accomplish, there must be a beginning somewhere… and if we do squirm once in a while it is not strange, because it is so difficult for the people to comprehend the things which are for their benefit. We have been brought up so ignorantly and our ideas and views are so contracted it is scarcely possible to receive the things of God as they exist in His bosom. It is easy for us to talk about heaven, and about going to Jackson county, and about building up the kingdom of God, &c.; it is easy to sing about it and pray about it, but it is another thing to do it.^[32]John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 10:146-148.

Hugh Nibley stated:

The Bible contains a fairly complete description of Zion, but there is one aspect of it that only the Latter-day Saints have taken to heart (or did formerly), and it is that doctrine that sets them off most sharply from all of the other religions, namely, the belief that Zion is possible on the earth, that men possess the capacity to receive it right here and are therefore under obligation to waste no time moving in the direction of Zion.^[33]Nibley quotes Brigham Young in this chapter. He writes, “When we conclude to make a Zion,” said Brigham Young, “we will make it, and this work commences in the heart of each person.” … Continue reading The instant one realizes that Zion is a possibility, one has no choice but to identify himself with the program that will bring about the quickest possible realization of its perfection. The call is to awake and arise, to “push many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads” (D&C 66:11). If undue haste is not desirable, delay is inexcusable; a sense of urgent gravity has ever marked the latter-day work: “I am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not” (D&C 51:20). “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly” (D&C 87:8).^[34]Approaching Zion, edited by Don E. Norton [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1989,p. 28-29.

The Wicked will not come unto it – 45.67

From Hugh Nibley again:

Throughout the scriptures, Zion is brought into the clearest focus by placing it against a dark background; and like Zion, that background world is given a code name: Babylon. Babylon, like Zion, is a real society—a type, place, and environment of human existence, described in the scriptures with great clarity and precision. (The word Babylon is not just a general term to indicate anything that is not Zion; it is the designation of a very particular and specific type of society.) Though Babylon is vividly described by the prophets, the best way to define her is as the exact opposite of Zion in all things. Babylon is just as pure in its way as is Zion; it is pure evil—for even good, when it becomes contaminated and perverted, becomes an evil. The main thing is that Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree; a Zion that makes concessions is no longer Zion.

One may well ask if it is necessary to choose between such absolute extremes, and wonder if there is not some more moderate approach to the problems. By the very nature of things, there is no third way—as the early Jewish and Christian writers remind us repeatedly in their doctrine of the Two Ways. According to this oldest and best-established of teachings (though quite unpopular with the conventional Christianity and Judaism of our time), there are Two Ways lying before every person in this life, the Way of Light and the Way of Darkness, the Way of Life and the Way of Death; and every mortal every day of his life is required to make a choice between them. Unfortunately for our peace of mind, any compromise between the Two Ways is out of the question, since they lead in opposite directions. As the wise Heraclitus pointed out long ago, “The up-road and the down-road are one and the same.” Which one you are on depends entirely on the way you are facing. To go off at an angle is to get nowhere; if you find the road to Zion, the Heavenly City, too steep, you may mitigate the climb by striking off on a more level course—but in that case you will never, never reach Zion. The only road to Zion is the shortest road, for to take any other shows a lack of faith and zeal, which will exclude you from the city.^[35]Approaching Zion, 29.

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