Zion's Return
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Zion

"When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in His glory."
Psalms 102:16
Zion made its first appearance in the days of Enoch. He preached repentance and baptized, and thereby established a City of Holiness and peace upon the mountains and high places; and the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart and one mind, dwelt in righteousness; and there were no poor among them.[1] Their hearts were pure.[2]
 
These were the hallmarks of Enoch’s Zion, and later of Melchizedek’s. These are the same characteristics of the Zion prophesied to again be found on earth in the last days, before the Lord returns in His glory. Whereas the previous two Zions were removed from the earth and taken up to heaven,[3] the coming Zion of the last days, will remain on earth and be the instrument through which the earth and a people are prepared to meet the Lord at His return.[4] 
 
Adam and Enoch saw our day and were promised by God through covenant, that even though the world would again ripen in iniquity like in the days of Noah, that Zion would again be found on the earth, providing a way whereby the righteous would be spared.[5] These prophets were shown that Enoch and Melchizedek’s Zions would again return to the earth from heaven, as the hosts accompanying Christ at His coming. These are the “ten thousands of his saints” spoken of in Jude.[6] The Zions from above and the Zion on earth will unite.[7] The power of the glory associated with the return of Christ accompanied by these hosts will consume all those unprepared to abide the day of the Lord’s return by fire,[8] while it will be a day of rejoicing for those who dwell in Zion.

Genesis 9:21-23
​(Joseph Smith Translation)

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come."
     
Joseph Smith, Letter from
​     Liberty Jail, March 1839
The establishment of Zion again on the earth in the last days (Zion’s Return), was promised through covenant to these Patriarchs because its existence serves several critical purposes:
  • ​Zion will be a place of peace, refuge, and safety and include the only people not at war in the coming days of tribulation.[9] Any who will not take up arms against their neighbor must flee to Zion. It will have the Lord’s protection and will not require that its citizens defend themselves through arms and force. The fear of the Lord will be with them, and the earth will protect those who rightfully belong upon her because of their righteousness. So great will be the works of God manifest in the coming of Zion, that it will become the reference point in future generations to which people will point as evidence of God’s power.[10]
  • It will be a place where the Lord, through His angels, will gather His elect from the four quarters of the earth;[11] fulfilling the required gathering beginning first with the repentant Gentiles, then His remnant lost sheep, and eventually extending to all Israel.[12]  
  • The elect, or His sheep, will enter into required covenants[13] to live God’s laws[14] and be numbered among His family; willing to dwell in peace, equality, deal justly with one another, and have no poor among them.
  • Zion existence necessitates the return of the same priesthood and order to govern the family of God upon the earth, as was found in the days of Adam and the first patriarchs.[15] A servant/steward will be found on earth whose right it is to help prepare God’s family and the earth for the Lord’s return.[16]  
  • God’s family dwelling in Zion will be qualified to invite Christ to return as the rightful King and heir of the Kingdom of God.[17]
  • Zion will be the place where the prophesied second Adam-Ondi-Ahman will occur (Adam in the presence of Son-Ahman) and the right of government over the Kingdom of God be returned to Christ.[18] This is a prophesied event that must yet occur in Zion, wherever that is, and is not confined to a piece of property that marks the place of the first event.
  • Zion will be a place where a temple will be built according to patterns that reflect heaven and stand as a required ensign on earth.[19] This temple and its rites will provide the legal, cultural, and covenantal foundation for a new society, no longer tainted by Babylon. No such temple and full rites are currently found among any religion on earth.
  • All who dwell in Zion will know the Lord. They will receive the Second Comforter, “and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know [Him], from the least to the greatest.”[20]
  • Zion is part of what is required for Elijah to complete his mission to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers.[21] His prophesied work will not be complete until Zion returns in full and Zion from above descends to greet her.
  • Zion is the beginning point from which the earth will eventually be renewed to receive her Paradisiacal glory; or return to the condition found in Eden during the Millennium.[22]
 
Zion begins as a literal place, known also as the New Jerusalem.[23]  It is also a condition of a people living by covenant according to God’s laws,[24] with purity of heart.[25] As in Enoch’s day, in the last days it is prophesied to be established high in the mountains,[26] and initially, this final Zion will be found in the everlasting hills of the Rocky Mountains.[27] Zion is destined to overthrow the kingdoms of the world.[28] The Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem and Zion are all inter-related. Daniel prophesied of the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which would bring an end to all nations and fill the entire earth.[29] The Lord Himself is the one who intends to establish Zion, which is indeed, a stone cut without hands---meaning God will lead the work to bring it about. It will not return due to man’s eagerness to force it, but it will require absolutely everything of any who desire to be part of it. It is not a half-measure endeavor. Nor is it to be, nor can it be, brought about without His authorization and instruction.
 
At this time, we proclaim Zion’s Return, not to say it currently exists on earth, but to declare that the work of the Lord to bring its return has commenced. The Lord has sent His word to be declared again to the world, just as with Enoch, through an authorized servant/steward who has stood in God’s presence, to prepare the way for Zion’s Return and the gathering of God’s family from their scattered condition. The initial required covenant has been offered again. We invite you to search the contents of this website and prayerfully consider if they contain a message sent by the Lord to soon gather His sheep to Zion.

Further reading on the topic of Zion:
Essays by Denver Snuffer, jr.

Zion Will Come
All or Nothing
Mission of Elijah

​References
[1] Moses 7:17-19
[2] Doctrine & Covenants 97:21
[3] Moses 7:23, 31, 47, 69
[4] Moses 7:62
[5] Moses 7:59-65; D&C 107:53-57
[6] Jude 1:14
[7] Moses 7:63
[8] Malachi 4:1; D&C 63:34
[9] D&C 45:66-70
[10] Jeremiah 23:7-8
[11] Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27; Moses 7:62; Isaiah 11:12
[12] Ether 13:11-12; 1 Nephi 13:42
[13] Ezekiel 37:26; Jeremiah 50:4-5; Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:31-33
[14] Micah 4:2,5; Isaiah 2:3
[15] Moses 6:7-8; D&C 107:40-42
[16] Isaiah 11:10; D&C 113:5-6; D&C 85:7
[17] Moses 7:53; Micah 4:7
[18] Daniel 7:9-14; 21-23
[19] D&C 97:10-17; 113:6; Isaiah 5:26
[20] Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:34
[21] Malachi 4:5-6; Joseph Smith History 1:38-39
[22] Article of Faith 10
[23] D&C 84:2; 133:56; Moses 7:62; Article of Faith 10
[24] See footnote #13
[25] D&C 97:21
[26] Isaiah 2:2-3
[27] D&C 133:31
[28] Daniel 2:31-45
[29] Daniel 2:45; D&C 87:6
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