ZION (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

Blessings & Songs of Zion — Warren Parrish (January 7, 1836)

. . . before we parted we had some of the Songs of Zion sung, and our hearts were made glad while partaking of an antipast of those Joys that will be poured upon the head of the Saints wen they are gathered together on Mount Zion to enjoy each others society forever more even all the blessings of heaven and earth where there will be none to molest nor make us afraid—

Journal, 1835-1836, pp. 101-102, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Only Peace in Zion in Near Future — Willard Richards (Between circa June 26 and August 4, 1839)

The time is soon coming when no man will have any peace but in Zion & her Stakes.

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839, as reported by Willard Richards, p. 70, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Committee Appointed to Welcome & Assist Arriving Imigrants — Wilford Woodruff (June 18, 1842)

Also Joseph commmanded the Twelve to organize the Church more according to the Law of God that is to require of those that come in to be setteled according to their council & also to appoint a committee to wait upon all who arive & make them welcome & council them what to do B Young. H. C. Kimball G. A. Smith & Hyrum Smith was the committee appointed to wait upon emigrants & settle them.

Discourse given on June 18, 1842. Wilford Woodruff, Account of Meeting and Discourse, 18 June 1842, p. 154, The Joseph Smith Papers; underline in original.

Instructions for Building Zion — Willard Richards (April 13, 1843)

‘Tis not to be expected that all can locate in the city. — there are some who have money & will build— & hire. others, those who cannot purchase. lots can go out in the county.— the farmers wants your labors. — no industrious man need suffer in this land.—

the claims of the poor on us are such that we have claim of on your good feelings for your money. to help the poor. & the chuch debts also have their demnds to save the credit of the church. this credit has been obtained to help the poor. & keep them from starvation. &c. those who purchase church lands. & pay for it, this shall be their sacrifice.

Men of 50. & 100.000 dollars, who were robbed of every thing in the State of Mo. are laboring in this city for a morsel of bread. & there are those who must have starved but for the providence of God through me. If any man say here is land. or there is land. believe it —not.— we can beat all our competitors in lands, price. & every think, we have the highst pricees. best lands. & do the most good with. th money. we get. our system it is a real smut machine a bolting machine. — & all the shorts brann & smut. runs away & all the flour remains with us.— 

suppose I sell you land for $10. per acre & I gave 3.4.5.per acre… then you are speculating says one. yes, I will tell you how. I buy others lands & give them to the widow & the fatherless,—

Discourse, 13 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 127-129, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Saints Build Cities and Welcome New Members Despite Poverty — Willard Richards (April 13, 1843)

I cried Lord what will thou have me to do? “& the answr was build up a city & call my saints to this place:  & our hea[r]ts leaped with joy to see you coming here. We have been praying for you all winter, from the bottom of hearts, We are glad to see you — we are poor— & cannot do by you as we would. but will do all we can.—

Discourse, 13 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 126-127, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Oneness of Heart Required in Zion — Willard Richards (April 13, 1843)

You must have a oneness of heart in all things

Discourse, 13 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 126, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Zion Free from Oppression, Sectarian and National Bondage, with a Free Government — Willard Richards (April 13, 1843)

There are sev[er]al objects in your coming  here — one object has been to bring you from. Sectarian bondage another from National bondage. where you can be planted in a fertile soil, We have brought you into a free government. not that you are to consider yourselves outlaws. by free governmet, we do not mean that a man has a right to steal rob. &c but free from Bondage. taxation — oppression. free in every thing if he conduct himself honetly & circumspetly with his nighbor, free in a Spiritual capacity. — This is the place that is appointed for the oracles of God to be revealed.

Discourse, 13 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 124-125, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Thoughts on Temporal Welfare of Saints in Zion — Willard Richards (April 13, 1843)

we shall dwell on your temperal welware. on this occasion. In the 1st place. where a crowd is flocking from all parts of the world of diffrt minds; religion; &c, there will be some who do not live up to the Commandments. there will be— & designing characters, who would turn you aside & lead you astray.— specluators who would get away your property. therefore it is necessary we should have an order here, & when emigrants arrive to instruct. them concerning these things.

If the heads of the church have laid the foundations of this place, & have had the trouble of doing what has been done— are they not better qualifid to tell you how to lay out your money & than those who have had no interest— &c

Some start on the revelations to come here. & get turned away & loose all, & then come, and enter their complaints, to us when it is too late to do any thing for them

the object of this meeting is to tell you these things & then if you will pursue the same course you must bear the consequence.

Discourse, 13 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 122-124, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Zion Should Be a Place Where Men Have the Spirit & Comfort the Needy & Afflicted — Willard Richards (April 16, 1843)

If there is a place on earth. where men should cultivate this Spirit & pour in the oil & wine in the bosom of the afflicted it is this place. and this spirit is manifest here— and although he is a stranger & afflicted when he arrives, h[e] finds. a brother— & friend ready to administer to his necessities. — another remark . . .

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 139-140, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Mountain of the Lord’s House in the Center of North & South America — Wilford Woodruff (April 8, 1844)

. . . I have now a great proclamation for the Elders to teach the Church hereafter which is in relation to Zion, The whole of North and South America is Zion, the mountain of the Lords House is in the Centre of North & South Americ[a]

Discourse, 8 April 1844, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 241, The Joseph Smith Papers.

America is Zion — William Clayton (April 8, 1844)

has ben great discussin in rel to Zion— prophets— make a proc that will cover a broader gd— the whole Americ is  Zion itself— from North to South— that is the Zion where the Mountain of the Ld shd be

Discourse, 8 April 1844, as reported by William Clayton, p. 31, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Building of Zion Our Greatest Object — Willard Richards (Between circa June 26 and August 4, 1839)

We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object.— when wars come we shall have to flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste.

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839, as reported by Willard Richards, p. 70, The Joseph Smith Papers.

After Temple Is Built and Ordinances Are Completed, Elders Should Build Churches until Zion Is Established — Wilford Woodruff (April 8, 1844)

. . . when the [Lord’s] House is done, Baptisim font erectd and finished & the worthy are washed, anointed, endowed & ordained kings & priests, which must be done in this life, when the place is prepared you must go through all the ordinances of the house of the Lord so that you who have any dead friends must go through all the ordinances for them the same as for yourselves; then the Elders are to go through all America & build up Churches untill all zion is built up, but not to commence to do this untill the Temple is built up here and the Elders endowed then go forth & accomplish the work & build up stakes in all North and South America . . .

Discourse, 8 April 1844, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 241, The Joseph Smith Papers.