I have been remiss with posting on this lesson, but I did finally teach it today and am feeling like I should round out the year, even if no one reads it. :) I think it is a nice wrap-up of the Doctrine and Covenants and nicely turns us to the Old Testament. I don't have any particular historical articles to give addition context here, but I think careful reading of the scriptural text is essential.
In my class we started with Hebrews 11, particularly the examples of Abraham and Sarah in verses 8-16. Abraham and Sarah were both made promises by the Lord. Sarah had to wait a very long time for the promise of a child to be fulfilled--she was possibly past 90, so a really long time by our standards. Abraham saw his two sons being born, but was not around for his posterity to number as the sands of the sea. The chapter focuses on those who "saw the promises" of God "afar off" and believed and waited for the heavenly city--Zion.
Zion is mentioned frequently in the biblical text, but generally Latter-day Saints rely on Joseph's revelation recorded in the book of Moses for the requirements of this heavenly city. Scripture offers three examples of physical locations of Zion.
The first example is in Genesis 5:24 "Enoch walked with God; and then he was not; for God took him." The biblical text doesn't offer much more, but Joseph took a scant 6 verses in the biblical text that mentioned Enoch and revealed an additional 116 verses about Enoch in November and December of 1830. Enoch's city--the City of Holiness in scripture--became Zion and then was translated because they were of one heart and one mind, they dwelt in righteousness, and there were no poor (Moses 7:18). These are the requirements for the physical location of Zion.
The JST of Genesis 14:32-36 teaches that Melchesidek also established Zion with his people. From the Book of Mormon we have the example of the Nephites after the coming of Christ to the New World recorded in 4th Nephi.
The first mention of Zion in the Doctrine and Covenants is section 6 in April 1829 giving Oliver Cowdery the task of bringing forth the cause of Zion. (Sections 11, 12, and 14 verse 6 likewise offer similar injunctions--divine form letters.)
The idea of Zion is initially very vague, the Lord tells Joseph and the Saints initially that it will be on the borders by the Lamanites--so somewhere to the western frontier. That gets more specific over time until it is revealed in Section 57 that Independence, Missouri would be the center place of Zion. We discussed a smattering of scriptures as the Lord begins to outline what is required of the Saints in Zion: 38:27; 64:22-24, 33-34; 82:14-20; and some parts of 97:8-28 particularly 8, 19, and 21. This list outlines the second definition of Zion--a spiritual state. The idea od Zion is always closely related to the Law of Consecration and the temple. Despite the more obvious atrocities of the Jackson county citizens in 1833, the failure of the Saints there as outlined by the Lord also gives us some things to think about: 101:1-9 and 105:1-12.
Verse 10 of Section 105 notes that part of the reason to put off the redemption of Zion (remember this is when Zion's camp is about to enter Jackson County) is that the Saints be taught more perfectly. Part of the fault of the Saints in Jackson County was that they thought that the Lord would just give them Zion, they did not understand their responsibility in becoming a people of one mind and one heart--a people who might create Zion. The process takes polishing and refining.
If we feel overwhelmed by this responsibility to build Zion, to be Zion, I think the example of Enoch is a lovely example. He thought himself unequal to the task before him--he was "but a lad" he thought "al the people" hated him for he was "slow of speech." The Lord responded to Enoch, "Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good." (Moses 6:31-32)
Additionally, I like Elder Bednar's use of these verses in his October 2004 talk (as he was called to be a member of the Twelve): "For all of us who feel unprepared and
overwhelmed and unequal to a new calling or responsibility, the promise of the
Lord to Enoch is equally applicable. The promise
was true in Enoch’s day, and it is true today." (The whole talk is here.) I also really like this tidbit from Elder Maxwell republished in the New Era in February 2002: "Enoch knew that in responding to God the test is not
our capability but our availability. As did Enoch,
you must trust the Lord; if you are righteous, His purposes will be served." Elder Maxwell also wrote a book, initially titled Of One Heart and then later republished under the title Enoch's Letters. Mimicking the style that C.S. Lewis used in the Screwtape Letters, Elder Maxwell imagines letters between Majiah, a resident of the City of Enoch, and his friend Omner living outside the city. The letters are one-sided as presumably Omner's letters were translated with Majiah and the rest of the City. I think the exercise offers much for thought. The discussion of Zion can be academic, but I think it is only really effective when it becomes about who we are and how we might become one.
Had I seen this before I taught this lesson, I might have used this new Church History video.
Dutch po-ta-toes and becoming one.
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