I am waiting until it's time to go to the bus stop for New York.
Zion seemed to come up a lot this last week. Sunday's Best gathered to hold a Thanksgiving Potluck. It was magnificent! The turkey was worth the wait, Japanese curry was a treat, pie and cobbler, green beans, fantastic mashed potatoes, and more than enough for everyone. Then we talked on Zion. What is it? Will we see it? Is it really to be seen? Where will it be? What will it do?
The tenth article of faith was quoted, "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." Is this a timeline? If it is then Zion will form before Christ comes and after the gathering the lost tribes. It was mentioned by separate sources that ten of the tribes have been identified in Mongolia and in Russia (not surprising as that is the East of Jerusalem. Oh, a shout out to the Hmongs, they claim that they return to Mongolia, the land of their fathers, when the pass away). Or what if the gathering is what incites Zion to start forming a physical location? Or what if the gathering is by tribe, each claiming its own land but all tribes being united in heart and mind? Will we call Zion by its name before Christ comes, will we recognize it for what it is while we live in it?
And what does being of one heart and one mind mean? I pondered that a lot with my companions. I imagine being of one heart means having the same desires. And when it was just me with my companion then I felt being of one mind meant having the same methods to reach our goals. But to apply to a community that feels exclusive. The gospel is not a funnel. We do not all become the same as we come closer to Christ and Heavenly Father. There are certain things that move us forward but has God treated all His children the same when they make mistakes? No, because He knows as long as we are alive we can change so He gives each of us our best situation to succeed. He needs diversity and so will Zion.
We were talking about the Millenium during priesthood earlier that day. The two subjects go together well. We were talking about Satan during those thousand years. He will be bound. Why? Because of us? Christ will not come and suddenly everyone will be converted to His kingdom. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, but that can simply mean they accept Him as the best leader for the moment. They do not have to follow Him, especially not with their hearts. Think of when Christ came to the Americas. It took a long time before everyone agreed to the new order. So the opportunity to sin will still be open to all.
Revelation reports that before Christ comes there will be a great battle. I imagine it might be fought between Zion and those of the Sign of the Beast. What that sign will be I don't know. But those without the sign will be denied food, shelter, medicine, and safety. What will designate who gets to have a sign or not? I don't know. But they'll be different so they will be sent away. Maybe they'll think differently and hold protests asking that everyone be let into the cities. Maybe they'll look different and want to not shave their armpits. Maybe they'll dream differently. Maybe they'll love differently. I do not know why they'll be rejected. But I do know that they'll be welcome in Zion. That will be our duty, protecting the rejected of society. Imagine that. We, as a church and people, will be responsible for accepting the rejects: the gays, the extremists, the hippies, those who occupy Wall Street, the high school drop outs, the multi-racial, the neo-nazis, the bald, the handicapped, and everyone else who doesn't fit in (not that these groups do not fit in, but they are groups historically separated by the mainstream). Are you ready for that? Could you be one of the founders of Zion? And to make it more strenuous, we won't turn them away if they do not believe as we do. We will accept them without reservation. If they seek to destroy us, our peace, our families, our religion, or our God we might turn them away. We might. I hope we won't though. As long as they live in peace we will never turn them away, even if they hate us for helping. Are you ready?
Zion seemed to come up a lot this last week. Sunday's Best gathered to hold a Thanksgiving Potluck. It was magnificent! The turkey was worth the wait, Japanese curry was a treat, pie and cobbler, green beans, fantastic mashed potatoes, and more than enough for everyone. Then we talked on Zion. What is it? Will we see it? Is it really to be seen? Where will it be? What will it do?
The tenth article of faith was quoted, "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." Is this a timeline? If it is then Zion will form before Christ comes and after the gathering the lost tribes. It was mentioned by separate sources that ten of the tribes have been identified in Mongolia and in Russia (not surprising as that is the East of Jerusalem. Oh, a shout out to the Hmongs, they claim that they return to Mongolia, the land of their fathers, when the pass away). Or what if the gathering is what incites Zion to start forming a physical location? Or what if the gathering is by tribe, each claiming its own land but all tribes being united in heart and mind? Will we call Zion by its name before Christ comes, will we recognize it for what it is while we live in it?
And what does being of one heart and one mind mean? I pondered that a lot with my companions. I imagine being of one heart means having the same desires. And when it was just me with my companion then I felt being of one mind meant having the same methods to reach our goals. But to apply to a community that feels exclusive. The gospel is not a funnel. We do not all become the same as we come closer to Christ and Heavenly Father. There are certain things that move us forward but has God treated all His children the same when they make mistakes? No, because He knows as long as we are alive we can change so He gives each of us our best situation to succeed. He needs diversity and so will Zion.
We were talking about the Millenium during priesthood earlier that day. The two subjects go together well. We were talking about Satan during those thousand years. He will be bound. Why? Because of us? Christ will not come and suddenly everyone will be converted to His kingdom. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, but that can simply mean they accept Him as the best leader for the moment. They do not have to follow Him, especially not with their hearts. Think of when Christ came to the Americas. It took a long time before everyone agreed to the new order. So the opportunity to sin will still be open to all.
Revelation reports that before Christ comes there will be a great battle. I imagine it might be fought between Zion and those of the Sign of the Beast. What that sign will be I don't know. But those without the sign will be denied food, shelter, medicine, and safety. What will designate who gets to have a sign or not? I don't know. But they'll be different so they will be sent away. Maybe they'll think differently and hold protests asking that everyone be let into the cities. Maybe they'll look different and want to not shave their armpits. Maybe they'll dream differently. Maybe they'll love differently. I do not know why they'll be rejected. But I do know that they'll be welcome in Zion. That will be our duty, protecting the rejected of society. Imagine that. We, as a church and people, will be responsible for accepting the rejects: the gays, the extremists, the hippies, those who occupy Wall Street, the high school drop outs, the multi-racial, the neo-nazis, the bald, the handicapped, and everyone else who doesn't fit in (not that these groups do not fit in, but they are groups historically separated by the mainstream). Are you ready for that? Could you be one of the founders of Zion? And to make it more strenuous, we won't turn them away if they do not believe as we do. We will accept them without reservation. If they seek to destroy us, our peace, our families, our religion, or our God we might turn them away. We might. I hope we won't though. As long as they live in peace we will never turn them away, even if they hate us for helping. Are you ready?
