What is faith and how is it obtained

Chapter 1: Why a need for Zion?
Chapter 2: How do we Qualify
Chapter 3: The Obstacle to building Zion
Chapter 4: The Refiners Fire- The Trial of our Faith
Chapter 5: Be not deceived
Chapter 6: Destiny of America
Chapter 7: Adam-ondi-Ahman
Chapter 8: Building Zion

Destiny of America

“Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed,

and them who shall be numbered among thy seed,

forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a

choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands,

wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that

they shall worship me, saith God.” (2 Nephi 10:19)

            The American continent is a choice land, choice above all other lands of the entire earth, and the Lord has blessed it from the beginning. This is the land where the Garden of Eden was planted, the land where man was created out of the dust, and the land where God walked and talked with Adam before the fall. On this continent the human family had it’s beginning, here Cain killed Able, Enoch built the great city of Zion, and later Noah would build the ark to prepare for the flood.

The Book of Mormon records that Righteous groups of people have been led to this land from time to time under direction from the Lord. Lehi declared: “…we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom He shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve Him according to the commandments which He hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.” (2 Nephi 1:5-8.)

The Lord has placed one stipulation upon the inhabitants of this continent: “And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of Him that is just shall rest upon them.” (2 Nephi 1:9,10.)

There are many prophecies in the Book of Mormon pertaining to this continent, and warnings to the inhabitants past, present, and future are sobering, and the Lord clearly forewarns of the calamities to transpire.

The foretelling of the American Nation

            The Book of Mormon tells that the Gentiles were led to this land by the hand of the Lord: “And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters. And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten. And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.”

            Then Nephi observed it was because of humility that the Lord brought the Gentiles to this land and bestowed great blessings upon them: “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.”

As England came against America during the revolution, Nephi observed that the Lord protected America: “And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (1 Nephi 13:11-19.)

Nephi spoke of the great and powerful nation that would be established on this content “And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.” (1 Nephi 22:7.)

Jacob, the brother of Nephi foretold of this mighty nation; “the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for He hath spoken it, and who can dispute? …And the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land. And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles. And I will fortify this land against all other nations.” (2 Nephi 10:10-12.)

The United States of America has become the wealthiest and strongest nation in the history of the world and because the future of Zion rests here on this continent many prophets beheld in vision this nation. I am certain that Joel was speaking of America when he wrote: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;” Joel wanting us to be sure of whom he spoke, recorded: “…a great people and a

strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” (Joel 2:1,2) What Nation could match that description?

            An angel informed Nephi of the rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.” (1 Nephi 14:6-7.)

We have been blessed by the hand of the Lord upon this land and have enjoyed freedoms and wealth that no other nation has experienced since the creation of the earth, unfortunately many of the citizens of this nation do not recognize the source that brought so great a blessing. The main requirement to remain on the land is that this nation serves the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. “For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off. And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God-that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” (Ether 2:10-12)

            The Lord foretold that along with this great power and wealth would come pride. He revealed to the Nephites that the time would come when the Gentiles upon this continent “…shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms and of secret abominations…” (3 Nephi 16:10)

John in Revelation must be speaking about of United States for what country could be called “Babylon the great?” John speaks of a time when the people would be lifted up in pride above all other nations and says: “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Revelation 18:2,7.)

There would be only one thing that would prevent them at that point from being destroyed, it would be the acceptance of the Gospel, but “…if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of My gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of My gospel from among them... But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto Me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. And I will not suffer My people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father. But if they will not turn unto Me, and hearken unto My voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer My people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of My people, O house of Israel.”

The Lord then reveals that after the gentiles are swept off, that the descendants of Lehi would be given this land as an eternal inheritance: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father commanded Me—that I should give unto this people this land for their inheritance.” (3 Nephi 16:10-16.) We know that this was a covenant made with Lehi and perhaps others in his linage. (1 Nephi 13:30 see also Helaman 11:13-15)

The Lord’s chronology

            In third Nephi chapter twenty-one, the Lord delivered the sequence of events leading up to the building of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, on the American continent. The Lord declared to the Lehites: “…I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them My Zion;” (3 Nephi 21:1)

            The Lord told that after the Gentiles scattered the remnants upon the land that they would obtain the Book of Mormon, and then would they “…know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob.” (v. 2)

(3 Nephi 21:6.)

            The Lord speaks of the Gospel going from the Gentiles to the world: “For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that He may show forth His power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto Me and be baptized in My name and know of the true points of My doctrine, that they may be numbered among My people, O house of Israel;” (v. 6)

The Lord foretold of the great mission of the Church in taking the message to the world, and how some would receive it: “…in that day, for My sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.” (v. 9)

In verses ten and eleven the Lord identified “My servant” spoken of by Isaiah as the prophet Joseph Smith and declared: “whosoever will not believe in My words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles they shall be cut off from among My people who are of the covenant.” (Compare Isaiah 52:13, 14 and 3 Nephi 20:43, 44)

Moroni, seeing our day, gave a view of this nation from the Lord’s prospective: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing. And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts. For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted. O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world? Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads? Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that He avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for He will not suffer their cries any longer.” (Mormon 8:35-41)

John, in Revelation is viewing the same scene as he is told: “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her… And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more… The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing… And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.” (Revelation 18:7,8,11,15,17-19)

The Lord then identifies the words of Micah in the Old Testament pertaining to the destruction of the unrepentant Gentiles upon this continent: “And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.”

The Lord disclosed that the descendants of Lehi would execute judgment upon the Gentiles for the “… remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.” The Lord then described how complete that destruction would be. (3 Nephi 21:12-21 see also Micah 5:8-15)

Who are the “remnant of Jacob” that the Lord spoke of? An angel declared to Nephi, “…this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father.” (1 Nephi 13:34)

In addition the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation.” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:5.)

Joseph Smith prophesied:

“And now I am prepared to say by authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country.” (DHC Vol. 1 p.315)

Who will be spared in this cleansing in preparation for the coming of the house of Israel? Nephi responded to this question: “…and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed. For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.” (2 Nephi 30:1,2)

The Lord informed us that the Gentiles who repent are numbered among the descendants of Lehi, (1 Nephi 14:2) and that the Father has given this land to the Lehites as an inheritance. (3 Nephi 15:13)

Before the destruction foretold on this continent, the Lord will gather out the righteous from among the wicked, this will be the fulfilling of the parable of the wheat and tares:(D&C 101: 65) “For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will He destroy; and He will spare His people, yea, even if it so be that He must destroy the wicked by fire.” (2 Nephi 30:10.) John saw and recorded this event: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4.)

“Come, My people,” declared Isaiah, “enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:20-21.)

In addition we see Joel speaking of this time: “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the Bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” (Joel 2:15-16.)

How will we know where and when the saints are to assemble? President Harold B. Lee said:

“Thus, clearly, the Lord has placed the responsibility for directing the work of gathering in the hands of the leaders of the Church to whom He will reveal His will, where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be well-before the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all God's promises and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of this Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to the proper authority.”(Harold B. Lee, Conf. Rep. April 1948, p.55)

            During this time of devastation, the saints are forbidden to take up arms in battle, but are given this warning concerning conflict: “And if by blood, as you are forbidden to shed blood, lo, your enemies are upon you, and ye shall be scourged from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue, and but few shall stand to receive an inheritance.” (Doctrine and Covenants 63:31.) Likewise John seems to give this advice to the saints: “If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:9,10) The Lord seems to have reserved the task of cleansing to the full-blooded direct descendants of Israel.

Our hearts can take courage knowing the promises of the Lord, that the righteous will be protected: “And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh—For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.” (1 Nephi 22:22-23.)

While Nephi is shown the destruction of the wicked on this continent he is also shown the protecting of the saints: “Wherefore, He will preserve the righteous by His power, even if it so be that the fulness of His wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire… For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.” (1 Nephi 22:17,19.)

Malachi also wrote of the destruction of the wicked: “And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:3)

Rich Treasures

            At this point in time it appears that the lost Ten Tribes of Israel come to the American continent: “And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. Their enemies shall become a prey unto them, and in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants. And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows.” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-34.)

What rich treasures will the Ten Tribes bring to the children of Ephraim? Nephi was told that the time would come that we would have all the records from the different branches of Israel: “And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.” (2 Nephi 29:13.)

The Lord spoke of visiting the lost tribes of Israel when among the Lehites: “And verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister. For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them. But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore I go to show myself unto them.” (3 Nephi 16:1-3.)

Ezekiel identifies Ephraim as the Church, for the Book of Mormon or the Stick of Joseph “is in the hand of Ephraim.” (Ezekiel 37:19) It is apparent that the house of Israel comes to the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receives their blessings, for there the hands of Ephraim bless them, for there are the Keys of the Kingdom, and particularly the Keys of the gathering of Israel. (D&C 110:11)

Isaiah also refers to this arrival of the house of Israel, that they come quickly and in the attitude of war: “And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.” (Isaiah 5:26-30.)

Zion Built

The Lord then indicates that Zion would be built and that though the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the Priesthood Keys for the gathering of Israel, it appears that the descendants of Lehi are given the main responsibility of building Zion, for “…they” the repentant Gentiles, the members if the Church, “shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob…that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.” The Lord spoke also of the Ten Tribes would be here to assist for He also states, “and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come.” (3 Nephi 21:23)

The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded:

"By it [Book of Mormon] we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph which was sold into Egypt, and that the land of America is a promised land unto them, and unto it all the tribes of Israel will come, with as many of the Gentiles as shall comply with the requisitions of the new covenant. But the tribe of Judah will return to old Jerusalem." (DHC 1:315.)

            As before mentioned, there have been many great prophets in the linage of Lehi, both before and after, that obtained many promises. We know that they obtained this land as an inheritance; we know that they obtained promise of their record and the gospel being taught to their descendants. (Enos 1:15-18) Upon viewing in vision the building of the New Jerusalem on this continent, they may have requested the privilege of their descendants to build Zion, for they saw clearly the future of the Lamanites who were actually a mixture of all the seed of Lehi. (see 1 Nephi 13:30, Helaman 15:11)

            Ether, the last prophet among the Jaredites, prophesied of this occurrence, indicating that it may have been a promise given to Joseph the son of Jacob, he recorded: “And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type. For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that He might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as He was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not. Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away.” (Ether 13:6-8)

Righteous to come out of all other nations

            Let us return to chapter twenty-one of Third Nephi; the Lord explains further that the Church will then “…assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst. And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.” The conditions will then be right for the bringing together of the righteous from all nations and to bring them to Zion: “And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward.” (3 Nephi 21:25-29.) The assembled saints will then be protected from the devastation to be poured out on the rest of the world as the Lord cleanses the earth in preparation for His coming.

Return of the City of Enoch

The Lord speaks of the “power of heaven” to come down as well as His promise “I also will be in the midst.” Enoch was shown our time and was promised that he and the his people would then be restored to earth, and joined to the New Jerusalem: “…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. 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; 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.” (Moses 7:62-64.)

The Lord revealed further: “And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion. And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand. And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:66-71.) Thus fulfilling the promise that the Lord would make bare His arm in the eyes of all nations. (1 Nephi 22:11)

            The Lord then identifies Isaiah chapter fifty-four as referring to the time after the establishing of Zion on this continent: “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited... and all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee.” (3 Nephi 22:3,13,14)

            It is plain that Zion will spread over all of North and South America as proclaimed by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“You know there has been great discussion in relation to Zion—where it is, and where the gathering of the dispensation is, and which I am now going to tell you. The prophets have spoken and written upon it; but I will make a proclamation that will cover a broader ground. The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south, and is described by the Prophets, who declare that it is the Zion where the mountain of the Lord should be, and that it should be in the center of the land. When Elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it.” (Teachings 362)

            Following the devastation on this continent, the Lord promises that the destructive forces of nature will be tamed: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.” (Joel 2:21-27.)

The Lord will remain in Zion until the events of Old Jerusalem bring the culmination of the appearance of Jesus to the Jews: “And they also of the tribe of Judah, after their pain, shall be sanctified in holiness before the Lord, to dwell in his presence day and night, forever and ever.” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:35.)

The political and social instructions of how society will operate will then go forth from Zion, while the Lord will speak out of Jerusalem, fulfilling the scripture: “…out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3.)

Mormon then records these words of the Savior as advice to us: “And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” Then He adds; “Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.” (3 Nephi 23:1,5)

Again as Mormon is finishing his record he gives a final warning to this American nation: "And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways? Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that He hath all power, and at His great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before Him, lest He shall come out in justice against you-lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver." (Mormon 5:22-24)