Believing in Zion as a concept is much easier than believing in Zion as a reality that will actually come to pass on this earth. The Zion concept is beautiful and resonates in our hearts. It's the ideal, utopia, paradise on earth. It's a city set on a hill that is a light unto the world. But how do you get there? Bringing that reality to pass requires the coming together of heaven and earth and anything that involves things here on earth is necessarily messy, confusing, and incredibly challenging.
This morning I read T&C section 26 (LDS D&C 42) and was surprised at the practical counsel that was offered to the saints in their attempt to establish a New Jerusalem here on earth. I'd like to highlight a few things that stood out to me in my study.
In verse 2, several missionaries were commanded to go forth "in the power of my spirit, preaching my gospel two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the voice of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." It's interesting that these early missionaries were compared unto angels of God. We tend to think of angels only as those of the heavenly variety, but angels can be mortal. (The word 'angel' is derived from a Greek word that means 'messenger.') Was King Benjamin an angel when he gave his message? He said, "And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me" (Mosiah 1:18). Since it was not his message, but the Lord's message, wasn't he a messenger of God, essentially an angel? The Lord wanted these missionaries to act as angels as well. And maybe there are times when we are to act as angels. If that is to happen, it would necessitate us receiving a message from God, that is purely His, and then delivering it to others.
In verse 5, we learn what elders, priests and teachers were to teach, and it is simple - "the scriptures which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of the gospel." And they were instructed how to teach: "And you shall be directed by the spirit, which shall be given you by the prayer of faith, and if you receive not the spirit, you shall not teach."
In verse 6, the Lord references several of the 10 commandments, then instructs the saints to keep them and to cast out those who disobey and refuse to repent. I struggle with this verse, not because I disagree with any of it, but because I don't have a good example of what this looks like. Who determines a man's sin? Who determines if someone is repentant? What does it look like to cast out? I think if you are trying to prepare for Zion, you are dealing with mortals who will sin. So humble, repentant souls would be essential, otherwise things could become corrupted very quickly. But what are you casting them out of? Your worship meetings? Your communities? Or is it just that they cannot come to Zion. They cannot dwell there with a proud and unrepentant attitude. I'm not sure how this works, so in the meantime I can use this verse to examine my own heart and remember Christ's words at the end of the verse: "If you love me, you shall serve me and keep all my commandments."
When I read about the law of consecration in the past, I felt superior to those who failed to live the law according to the Lord's expectations. How selfish they were! How disobedient and petty! Now I read verse 7 and put myself in their shoes and feel very differently. Imagine receiving the command yourself:
"And behold, you shall consecrate all your properties, that which you have, unto me, with a covenant and deed which cannot be broken, and they shall be laid before the bishop of my church and two of the elders, such as he shall appoint and set apart for that purpose. And it shall come to pass that the bishop of my church, after that he has received the properties of my church that it cannot be taken from the church, he shall appoint every man a steward over his own property, or that which he has received, inasmuch as it shall be sufficient for himself and family."
As long as this is hypothetical, it's easy. Of course, we would give it all away. Of course, we don't prize our worldly possessions over Zion. Of course, we would be quick to obey and not even think about it twice. That's what we think, but I have to ask... Really? Would you really?
And what about this verse: "And again, you shall not be proud in your heart. Let all your garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of your own hands, and let all things be done in cleanliness before me" (vs 10). How do you feel about wearing "plain" clothing? And making your own clothing? That's weird, right? Or is it? Are they on to something? Does God care about what we wear?
Also in verse 10, this important sentence: "You shall not be idle, for he that is idle shall not eat the bread, nor wear the garment of the laborer." The more I think about Zion, the more I realize how absolutely essential this principle is. I grew up with the idea that 'being nice' is very important. Imagine living in a self-contained community where some able-bodied individuals did very little to contribute to the health and well-being of the community. What would that idleness do to a community where you were relying on one another? Would it be 'nice' to feed everyone regardless of what they do? What would that inspire others to do? How would that affect motivation?
Here's another interesting, practical verse: "You shall stand in the place of your stewardship. You shall not take your brother's garment, you shall pay for that which you shall receive of your brother." So, even though we have this consecration principle, you don't just take things. If your brother has something you want, you pay for it.
And how were they to govern themselves: "You shall take the things which you have received [the scriptures], which you know to have been my law, to be my law to govern my church. And he that does according to these thing shall be saved, and he that does them not shall be damned, if he continue."
I love this verse too! "If you shall ask, you shall receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that you may know the mysteries and the peacable things of the Kingdom, that which brings joy, that which brings life eternal." Isn't that what we all want? Knowledge from God, the peaceable things of the kingdom, joy, and eternal life.
In verse 20, we learn more practical matters: "You shall contract no debts with [the world]."
Last one: "And every family shall have places that they may live by themselves, and every church shall be organized in as close bodies as they can be, in consequence of the enemy." (vs. 21)
