Book of Mormon Gospel Topics - Latter Day Saints

Zion

LDS Summary:

LDS states that Zion will be in Jackson County, MO

RLDS Summary:

TBD

April 6, 1855 Brigham Young stated that neither Jackson County nor Salt Lake City would be Zion unless Zion was in everyone's heart. He gave the physical location of Zion as all of North and South America.
LDS	RLDS / Restoration
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pages 252-253, April 6, 1855 A great many have embraced the Gospel, believing that their sorrows would come to an end, at a certain period in this Church and kingdom, on the earth, and that too, speedily. I am a witness to this in my own experience and feelings. When I yielded obedience to the commandments of the Lord, the brethren were preparing to gather to a place that was called Zion, in Jackson County, on the western borders of the State of Missouri. A great many people imbibed the same idea which I did in the beginning, and really believed that in Jackson County all the earthly sorrows, afflictions, disappointments, and weaknesses pertaining to the flesh would be at an end, and that everyone would be sanctified before the Lord, and all would be peace and joy from morning until evening, and from year to year, until the Savior should come. The brethren who went then found themselves mistaken, in a very short time. Those who went there, and those who were acquainted with their going and coming, found the world, the flesh, and the devil there, just as much as anywhere else, unless they had faith to turn every spirit of the world out of doors, that is, out of their hearts. They found the same tempter, the same covetous feelings, and the same allurements there, as in other places. When our Elders go out to preach the Gospel, they tell the people to gather to Zion. Where is it? It is at the City of the Great Salt Lake in the Valleys of the Mountains, in the settlements of Utah Territory—there is Zion now. But you perceive when you come here the same covetous feelings imbibed in the hearts of many, as in other places, the same tempter is here, and there are plenty of allurements; and unless the people live before the Lord in the obedience of His commandments, they cannot have Zion within them. They must carry it with them, if they expect to live in it, to enjoy it, and increase in it. If they do not do this, they are as much destitute of Zion here as they are in other places. If you will examine the map you will find that we are located in an isolated portion of what? Of Zion. And what is Zion? In one sense Zion is the pure in heart. But is there a land that ever will be called Zion? Yes, brethren. What land is it? It is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph, and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. That is Zion as to land, as to Territory, and location. The children of Zion have not yet much in their possession, but their territory is North and South America to begin with.

April 6, 1855

Brigham Young stated that neither Jackson County nor Salt Lake City would be Zion unless Zion was in everyone's heart. He gave the physical location of Zion as all of North and South America.

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pages 252-253, April 6, 1855
A great many have embraced the Gospel, believing that their sorrows would come to an end, at a certain period in this Church and kingdom, on the earth, and that too, speedily. I am a witness to this in my own experience and feelings. When I yielded obedience to the commandments of the Lord, the brethren were preparing to gather to a place that was called Zion, in Jackson County, on the western borders of the State of Missouri.

A great many people imbibed the same idea which I did in the beginning, and really believed that in Jackson County all the earthly sorrows, afflictions, disappointments, and weaknesses pertaining to the flesh would be at an end, and that everyone would be sanctified before the Lord, and all would be peace and joy from morning until evening, and from year to year, until the Savior should come.

The brethren who went then found themselves mistaken, in a very short time. Those who went there, and those who were acquainted with their going and coming, found the world, the flesh, and the devil there, just as much as anywhere else, unless they had faith to turn every spirit of the world out of doors, that is, out of their hearts. They found the same tempter, the same covetous feelings, and the same allurements there, as in other places.

When our Elders go out to preach the Gospel, they tell the people to gather to Zion. Where is it? It is at the City of the Great Salt Lake in the Valleys of the Mountains, in the settlements of Utah Territory—there is Zion now. But you perceive when you come here the same covetous feelings imbibed in the hearts of many, as in other places, the same tempter is here, and there are plenty of allurements; and unless the people live before the Lord in the obedience of His commandments, they cannot have Zion within them. They must carry it with them, if they expect to live in it, to enjoy it, and increase in it. If they do not do this, they are as much destitute of Zion here as they are in other places.

If you will examine the map you will find that we are located in an isolated portion of what? Of Zion. And what is Zion? In one sense Zion is the pure in heart. But is there a land that ever will be called Zion? Yes, brethren. What land is it? It is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph, and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. That is Zion as to land, as to Territory, and location. The children of Zion have not yet much in their possession, but their territory is North and South America to begin with.

August 30, 1857 Brigham Young stated that Zion was in Jackson County Missouri
LDS	RLDS / Restoration
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, page 170, August 30, 1857 The more I do, the more I shall be prepared to do. And I am determined to prepare to lay up the walls of Zion and to learn all I can, so that, if I should happen to be one of the men to engage in that work, I shall know how to commence and dictate the foundation of the walls of Zion and those of the Temple. A great many think that we have been extravagant in laying so broad and deep a foundation for this Temple; but I would rather have that foundation, though it should lay as it is till the Millennium, than to have the most splendid superstructure built upon a sandy foundation. What do you say, you men and women of judgment? [Voices, “You are correct.”] Is there not more honor in that foundation, though it lay there till we go back to Jackson County, than there would be in such a building as I have named? About two weeks ago, Elder Hyde began to say, “There is no knowing where;” and I took the words from his mouth and continued, “The Latter-day Saints will land in Jackson County, Missouri.”

August 30, 1857

Brigham Young stated that Zion was in Jackson County Missouri

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, page 170, August 30, 1857
The more I do, the more I shall be prepared to do. And I am determined to prepare to lay up the walls of Zion and to learn all I can, so that, if I should happen to be one of the men to engage in that work, I shall know how to commence and dictate the foundation of the walls of Zion and those of the Temple.

A great many think that we have been extravagant in laying so broad and deep a foundation for this Temple; but I would rather have that foundation, though it should lay as it is till the Millennium, than to have the most splendid superstructure built upon a sandy foundation. What do you say, you men and women of judgment? [Voices, “You are correct.”] Is there not more honor in that foundation, though it lay there till we go back to Jackson County, than there would be in such a building as I have named?

About two weeks ago, Elder Hyde began to say, “There is no knowing where;” and I took the words from his mouth and continued, “The Latter-day Saints will land in Jackson County, Missouri.”

April 21, 1878 Lorenzo Snow stated that Jackson County was the Center Stake of Zion
LDS	RLDS / Restoration
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pages 344-345, April 21, 1878 And would we not feel ourselves better prepared to go back and build up Jackson County, the Center Stake of Zion? Would we expect to go back unless we complied with the law in all things, and in consequence of disobedience to which, the people were expelled from that country? But the Lord will be successful; and he will prepare the Latter-day Saints that these principles will be in their hearts when they go back to Jackson County.

April 21, 1878

Lorenzo Snow stated that Jackson County was the Center Stake of Zion

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pages 344-345, April 21, 1878
And would we not feel ourselves better prepared to go back and build up Jackson County, the Center Stake of Zion? Would we expect to go back unless we complied with the law in all things, and in consequence of disobedience to which, the people were expelled from that country?

But the Lord will be successful; and he will prepare the Latter-day Saints that these principles will be in their hearts when they go back to Jackson County.

Latter Day Saints - What do they Truly Believe (about Zion)?

Zion

LDS Summary:

RLDS Summary:

April 6, 1855

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

August 30, 1857

LDS

RLDS / Restoration

April 21, 1878

LDS

RLDS / Restoration