#46 "Zion-The Pure in Heart"

D&C 57:1-3; 64:33-43; 82:14-15; 97:8-28; 105:1-12;
Our Heritage pp. 37-38 & 145-146
Let’s talk for a minute about the Christmas Season; I want all the optimists to comment about all the positive feelings, deeds and things that happened at Christmas time. What are all the good things you noticed this season?

Now as we are going through this lesson I want you to keep those things in mind and times them by 10 or more in time and feeling. What would we have? Article of Faith 1:10 We would have Zion in all it’s paradisiacal glory. All people would love each other, all would be serving each other, taking care of each other, loving unconditionally in all aspects. If that were to happen 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year, how would the land that we live in change?

Enoch saw what it would look like, so did Joseph Smith and they gave us a glimpse of what it would look like. We are going to go through some of their words and categorize them into 3 categories what will the people (us) look like in Zion? What would the land look like? And what will the church look like?

We will look in these scriptures then label our findings and where they fit. See page 2

When we get to moses 7:18 ask for 2 volunteers to come up sit at the table and give them each questions to answer. We are going to define what one heart and one mind will look like.

?’s
1-What kind of people would you love for you and your children to associate and live with?
2-What do you want for your family to have the most?
3-What kind of place do you want your family to live in?
4-What would you like for your children to do with their lives?

Even if your answers are a little bit different you basically want the same things-happiness, joy and peace in their lives right?

After the list is finished we can look back on our list and see that 1st off what the church will look like isn’t going to be much different than it is now. What does that indicate about the other 2 categories? Can we get ourselves now to be the kind of people that will live in Zion right now? Can we live in a beautiful land? What must we do to get our lands or our piece of lands to look like Zion?

Do you know people who live the way of a Zion people today? We have seen a little bit this season-too bad it isn’t that way all year round!

Joseph Smith gave a quote in the Our Heritage book that is pretty lengthy but is worth reading because he tells us how we can achieve the Zion effect today and everyday in our lives.

Each of us has a place in Church history. Some members are born into families who for generations have embraced the gospel and nurtured their children in the ways of the Lord. Others are hearing the gospel for the first time and entering the waters of baptism, thereby making sacred covenants to do their part in building the kingdom of God. Many members live in areas where they are just beginning their era of Church history and are creating a heritage of faith for their children. Whatever our circumstances, we are each a vital part of the cause of building Zion and preparing for the second coming of the Savior. We are “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
Whether we are new members or old, we inherit a legacy of faith and sacrifice from those who have gone before us. We are also modern-day pioneers to our children and to those millions of our Heavenly Father’s children who have yet to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. We make our contributions in different ways throughout the world by faithfully carrying out the work of the Lord.
Fathers and mothers prayerfully train their children in principles of righteousness. Home and visiting teachers care for those in need. Families bid good-bye to missionaries who have chosen to devote years of their lives to carrying the gospel message to others. Selfless priesthood and auxiliary leaders answer calls to serve. Through countless hours of quiet service given in searching out the names of ancestors and performing sacred ordinances in the temple, blessings are extended to the living and the dead.
We are each helping to fulfill the destiny of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. In 1842 he prophesied:
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” 1
Although the Church remained very small during the Prophet Joseph Smith’s lifetime, he knew that it was the kingdom of God on earth with a destiny to fill the whole earth with the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have seen the dramatic growth of the Church in recent years. We are privileged to live at a time when we can offer our faith and sacrifices in helping to establish the kingdom of God, a kingdom that will stand forever. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
What will the people (we) look like in
Zion?

64:34 Willing mind, willing and obedient
V35 No rebelliousness
V40 Faithful
82:14 beautiful garments (113:8) priesthood holders
82:15 covenant abiding people (by sacrifice)
97:8 honest hearts/broken (humble) contrite spirits
97:9 bring forth goodness; precious fruit
97:14 perfected people, understanding their ministry, in theory, principle and doctrine
97:21 pure in heart
97:27 sinless
Moses 7:18 one heart and one mind
Moses 7:69 walked with God, dwelt with them








What will the land of Zion look like?
64:34 land is good
64:41 Flourishing
64:41 Glory of Lord on land
64:42 Ensign (standard to live by)
64:42 all kinds of people from all lands live here together in peace
64:43 nations shall fear and tremble Zion (feared)
82:14 beauty, holiness, enlarged borders
82:14 ruled by priesthood
82:15 laws of lord
97:9 goodly land, pure stream
97:9 prosperous, glorious, great
97:19 cannot by moved
97:28 blessings multiplied
105:5 laws of Celestial Kingdom rule



What will the Church look like in Zion?
64:37 Judges on hills
64:38 inhabitants judge all things
64:40 Faithful leaders
82:14 enlarged stakes (strong)
82:14 ruled by priesthood
97:10-11 houses of Lord built by tithing
97:15-16 Glory of God in temple