PROVO, UTAH
Though Zion is often regarded as a place, one that the Prophet Joseph Smith dreamed of, "throughout the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord seems to have extended the Prophet's vision beyond a destination to include Zion as a process," said Scott C. Esplin at a Sperry Symposium session Oct. 26.
An assistant professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU, Brother Esplin addressed the topic "Building Zion by Becoming Zion,"
"In particular," he said, "the revelations associated with Joseph's first trip to Zion [Independence, Mo.] highlight not just Zion as a place but the process whereby we establish the city. Tonight, I want to look at some of those revelations — Sections 57 through 64 — and what they teach about the process for becoming Zion-like as we endeavor to establish the city."
On July 20, 1831, the Prophet inquired of the Lord with the questions: "When will the wilderness blossom as the rose?" "When will Zion be built up in her glory?" "Where will thy temple stand unto which all nations shall come in the last days?"
Joseph's anxiety was relieved with the receipt of Section 57, the first revelation given in Zion, Brother Esplin said. "The incomplete nature of the response may have surprised some. In Section 57 the Lord answered Joseph's third question, where the temple would stand, but seems to have deliberately dodged the first two."
Missouri was thus designated as the land the Lord had appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints and the land of promise and the place for the city Zion. Furthermore, Independence was designated as the "center place," with a plot for the temple west of the courthouse.
Twelve days later, what is now Section 58 was received with further instructions and began addressing Zion as both a people and a place, Brother Esplin said.
It is in some ways an outline of the principles upon which Zion is to be built, he said, specifically these: the practical use of agency ("It is not meet that I command in all things"), that the gospel is to be preached from that place and to go forth unto all nations, and establishing purity of heart through repentance.
"These principles, then, become a pattern for how to become Zion-like," Brother Esplin said. "Interestingly, each of them is touched upon in the following sections."
Brother Esplin concluded his presentation with the poetic words of Edward Partridge, "one of those who first moved to the city Zion," and the one who was tarred and feathered there in persecution for his faith. The words, set to music, are in today's hymnbook as No. 41: "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise."
